"A
Different Kind of Star"
Text: Philippians 2:3-11
"May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by
Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen,
and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion
forever and ever. Amen." - 1
Peter 5:10-11
Dear Fellow-Inheritors of the Lord's goodness:
There are many rather strange
and delicate tensions in the life of every Christian opposing forces or
extremes between which the child of God must navigate. There is the struggle
between communicating necessary and edifying information, on the one hand, and
gossip on the other. There is the struggle between sharing good news about yourself and bragging; between charity and enabling sinful
laziness; between mission work and sheep stealing. In all these areas (and so
many more) we struggle for consistent balance.
This morning we focus on one
such struggle in particular, the tension that will forever exist between Godly
aspiration and sinful ambition. And more than that, we will examine also the
different sort of a heart that produces each. In viewing the star that lead the
Magi to Jesus, we are reminded that our calling is also to be different kinds of stars. The text that
will form the basis of our study this morning is found in Paul's Letter to the
Philippians, the Second Chapter:
NKJ Philippians 2:3-11 Let nothing be done through
selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others
better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6
who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with
God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant,
and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance
as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even
the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him
and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the
name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth,
and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
So far the
verbally inspired words of our God.
Ever aware that these are, in fact, inspired
words and therefore true and applicable in every regard, so we begin this
morning with this simple prayer: Sanctify us through your truth, O Lord.
Your word is truth. Amen.
To get a handle on our topic
for this morning we need to peal away several layers and to thereby look
honestly into the core of at least one aspect of the typical human heart. We do
this again this morning by using a few questions. You may recall that I have asked
you in the past whether or not you would like to be famous, well known, or at
least universally respected.
That's probably not a fair
question. Not because it isn't relative or important, but because Christians
almost instinctively know the "right" answers to these sorts of
questions, the answers that cast us in the most flattering and godly light.
Most of us would therefore answer in the negative, since to admit that we would
like to be famous would almost certainly make us appear vain or selfish. But is
that the honest answer for most of us?
There is, in the vast
majority of human hearts, a natural desire to be noticed, appreciated, admired. We don't necessarily want the paparazzi snapping
long range photos of us in our back yards, or rabid fans hounding our every
move, but who here thinks that it would be anything but flattering to be well
known and universally respected?
The fact is we tend to be
fascinated by fame. Even more to the point, the vast majority inwardly crave to
be on the "inside" with famous people. Who wouldn't find it
personally gratifying to be able to list a famous sports hero or someone of
worldwide fame and importance - like the President of the United States as a
personal friend? Can anyone here honestly say that it would be no big deal to get
a personal phone call from your friend the President? How much more then to be
famous yourself? Honesty forces us to admit that fame carries a certain
undeniable allure.
The real question that we
need to address is, "Why?" "Why
do human beings crave fame or notoriety?"
The "Why?" is what gives
us an insight into the main problem we seek to address this morning; it lays
bare an aspect of our sinful hearts that we need to correct. We need to
recognize that the human heart not only craves fame and recognition, that
craving has self-centeredness at its very core. Why else would anyone want to
be famous but for selfish reasons? Why would anyone
want to be a star or universally recognized and respected if not to feed one's
own ego? And yet even Christians desire it and therein lies
the problem. We want something even though it is clearly not a good,
God-pleasing thing. That's a problem.
Where does such information
or insight take us? It ought to take us to the foot of the cross in humble repentance.
The Lord does not beat around the bush when it comes to his opinion of human
arrogance and our natural craving for personal glory. In Psalm
101:5 the Lord tells us: "The one who has a haughty look and a
proud heart, him I will not endure." Again in Proverbs 16:5: "Everyone
proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; though they join forces, none
will go unpunished."
The fact is this sort of desire is not a nothing. We well
might all share it in common, but that certainly doesn't make it right. It is,
in fact, a rather startling revelation to most of us when we realize just how
cavalier or casual we can be about the sinful condition of our hearts. This is
nowhere more apparent than when we contrast what we have just come to recognize
about our own hearts with what we find in our text for this morning. In fact
take a look again at just the first few verses and note well the stark
contrast: "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in
lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than
himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own
interests, but also for the interests of others."
If
you will recall, we introduced this whole topic by pointing out the tension or
struggle that challenges the Christian in so many aspect of life in
particular this morning we are focusing on the tension between Godly aspiration and sinful ambition. The first few
verses of our text instruct us as to how to identify and distinguish between
the two. There is certainly nothing wrong, in and of itself, with aspiring or
working to improve your own quality of life. God himself gave the following
command to Adam and his wife in the perfection of Eden: "Be
fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the
fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that
moves on the earth." (Genesis
1:28) You will also note that our text
does not tell us to look only to the
interests of others; it tells us to look also
to the interests of others.
The fact is man does not have
to be encouraged to look to his own needs. The direction of our text, however,
is outward a direction that is anything but natural to the sinful human heart.
Think about this for a moment in connection with our natural desire for
notoriety or stardom. How at odds such desires are with the flow or direction
of our text. How could any quest for personal fame ever fit with these holy
words from our text: "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or
conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem
others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of
others." The obvious answer is that no quest for personal fame and stardom could
ever coexist with these inspired words, and in so admitting we lay bare the
problem that we are addressing this morning. Our hearts flat out need work,
which is where our text comes in.
The
Holy Spirit is obviously well aware of the benefit of an example in passing on
godly behavior and attitude. That is undoubtedly why the Holy Spirit included
an example in our text a mentor to show us the kind of heart God wants to see
in his children. The example, of course, is God's own Son, and our text sums up
his holy example with these words: "Let this mind be in you which was also
in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it
robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation,
taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And
being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to
the point of death, even the death of the cross."
Think of
the fame and notoriety that Jesus could have enjoyed on earth. He possessed miraculous powers beyond our
comprehension. He could have used those powers to secure the loyalty of an
unlimited following. On more than one occasion they tried to make him king, but
he refused. In fact he purposely made statements that alienated many of his
followers, until only a few remained. Why would he do such a thing? He did it
so that you and I could join him in heaven. He did it so that you and I could
escape an eternity of utter misery in hell. He did it, in other words, for
everyone except himself.
Our text tells us that Jesus "humbled Himself and became
obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." You know full well why
such a thing was necessary. That "death of the cross" was
necessary to pay for our sins. It was necessary to remove the barrier that we
had erected to separate us from our God. In other words, the entire birth,
life, and death of Jesus was directed outward all
for the benefit of you and me. That was what Jesus aspired to do; that was his
sole purpose and goal. He labored struggled day and night so that you and I
might join him one day in paradise.
By
this point you might well be wondering why such a topic is brought to the fore
on Epiphany Sunday. Why, in other words, ask about our desire to be stars in
this world on this particular day? The fact is a star plays a prominent role on
this day, doesn't it? It was that mysterious star of Bethlehem that led the
first Gentiles to the Savior. So again we ask: You want to be a star? How about
a star like that? How about the kind of star that reflects or redirects the
glory, praise, and attention onto another onto your Savior Jesus Christ?
The
star that the Magi followed simply handed off its glory to Jesus. That done, it
apparently returned to obscurity, its job completed.
Again, how bare our hearts
are laid. There is no personal glory in such stardom, which makes it a rare
aspiration indeed. Yet what is that other sort of "stardom" (the
worldly kind) compared to bringing the Savior into the hearts and lives of
dying sinners? You want to be a star? Then reflect the love and glory of your
Savior, "that at the name of Jesus
every knee might bow, in heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." God grant each
of us such holy, selfless, loving aspirations, for when all of the vanities of
this world are swept away, the only star-power that will have any lasting
significance is that which led souls to their Savior Jesus. God grant us the
love and humility for such service, for such truly noble aspirations. Amen.
Scripture Readings and Sunday Bulletin for January
6, 2008
NKJ Isaiah
60:1-6 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the
glory of the LORD is risen upon you. 2 For behold, the darkness shall
cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the
LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. 3 The Gentiles shall come to your
light, And kings to the brightness of your
rising. 4 " Lift up your
eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; Your sons shall come from afar, And your daughters shall be
nursed at your side. 5
Then you shall see and become radiant, And your heart
shall swell with joy; Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.
6 The multitude of camels shall cover your land, The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba shall come; They shall bring
gold and incense, And they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD.
NKJ Matthew
2:1-12 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea
in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to
Jerusalem, 2 saying,
"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star
in the East and have come to worship Him."
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and
all Jerusalem with him. 4 And
when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together,
he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they said to him, "In
Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 'But you, Bethlehem, in the
land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you
shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.' " 7 Ά Then Herod, when
he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star
appeared. 8 And he sent them
to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and
when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship
Him also." 9 When they
heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the
East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child
was. 10 When they saw the
star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young
Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had
opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and
myrrh. 12 Then, being
divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed
for their own country another way.
NKJ Philippians
2:3-11 Let nothing be done through
selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others
better than himself. 4 Let
each of you look out not only for his own interests,
but also for the interests of others. 5
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God,
did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no
reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness
of men. 8 And being found in
appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death,
even the death of the cross. 9
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above
every name, 10
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of
those on earth, and of those under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Bismarck, ND
58501 (701) 223-4885 Cell: (701) 425-5483
Mr. Mark
Johnson, President (222-1855)
Mrs. Eileen McEnroe, Organist
Michael Roehl,
Pastor mjroehl@bis.midco.net
Epiphany Sunday January 6, 2008
|
The
Opening Prayer by the Pastor
The
Opening Hymn ‑#4- (Brown Hymnal)
"God
Himself Is Present"
The Order of Morning Service Red Hymnal
page 15.
The Scripture Lessons: (Printed on the bulletin
insert)
The Old
Testament Lesson: (Isaiah 60:1-6) How clearly
the Prophet here foretold the events of the first Epiphany or manifestation of
Jesus Christ as the Savior of all mankind Jews and Gentiles alike. We take
for granted that we gentiles were included in God's mercy. We have no such
right to assume, yet we thank our God for extending his love to us all.
The Gospel Lesson: (Matthew 2:1-12) Our Gospel
lesson serves as the center-piece for our entire Epiphany celebration. Though
the Promise of a Savior was repeated in the Old Testament to both Jews and
Gentiles, this text reveals without question that God has invited all men to
come to Jesus Christ and be saved. In Epiphany we celebrate how God made known
his Salvation to an undeserving world.
The
Confession of Faith ‑
The
Nicene Creed (Red Hymnal page 22)
The
Pre‑Sermon Hymn ‑#124-
(Red Hymnal)
"O
Lord, Our Father, Thanks to Thee"
The
Sermon Text: Philippians 2:3-11 (Printed on the back of this bulletin)
"A Different Kind of Star"
"Create
In Me" (The Offertory)
Red Hymnal page 22
The Offering, followed by the Prayers
The
Pre-Communion Hymn -#125- (Verses 1, 3-5) (Red Hymnal)
"The Old Year Now hath Passed Away"
The
Preparation for Holy Communion (Red Hymnal page 24)
The
Distribution -Hymn #305- (Red Hymnal)
"I Come, O Savior, to Thy Table"
The
Nunc Dimittis (Red Hymnal page 29)
The Benediction
The
Closing Hymn ‑#123-
(Verses 1-3, 8) (Red Hymnal)
"Our
God Our Help in Ages Past"
Silent
Prayer
Attendance ‑
Last Sunday (51) 2007 Average (56)
This
Week at
Today -10:00 a.m. Worship Service w/
Holy Communion
-11:15 a.m. Fellowship Hour
-11:30 a.m.
Tree "un-decorating"
Monday -10:00
a.m. Pastoral Study Conference in Hecla
-7:00
p.m. Outreach
Committee Meeting
Wednesday -6:00
p.m. Confirmation & Bible History
-7:00 p.m.
Midweek Bible Study
Next Sunday -8:45 a.m. Sunday School and Bible Class
-10:00
a.m. Worship
Service
-11:00
a.m. Fellowship
Hour
Outreach Committee A meeting is scheduled for tomorrow
at 7 p.m. Please see Chairman Mike McEnroe for details.
Pastor at Study Conference
The
Pastor is scheduled to attend a Study Conference in Hecla tomorrow, returning
God willing in time for the 7:00 p.m. Outreach meeting.
Family Game Night A family game night has
been scheduled for Friday, January 25th. Please contact Eileen
McEnroe for more details.
Midweek Schedule We return this week to our
regular midweek schedule, as listed above.
Pastor Out of Town Pastor Roehl is scheduled
to conduct ILC Building Committee meetings on Friday in Eau Claire. Please note
that the new church cell phone number is (701) 425-5483.