Getting charged up Message given at Grace Church, Molokai

February 28, 2010

Philippians 3:17-4:1 17Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. 1Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

How many of you were prepared for a disaster when the tsunami warning sirens went off yesterday morning? Were your kits assembled? Or did you pull out your flashlights, click the switch, but nothing happened? I can't count the times that's happened at our house when we need the light immediately. The batteries are dead. So we grab fresh batteries, screw off the cap, insert them and then there is light. But once in a while we notice that when we try to shake out the old batteries there are some flaky brown chips of… something coming out. So I whack the flashlight on the counter a few times and then a crusty, acidic two-battery mess falls out. The batteries have died and started corroding because we haven't used time. Ever happen at your house?

You want to be ready for emergencies? Paul tells us this morning "17Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us." In other words Paul said to his fellow Christians in Philippi "do as I say and do as I do." Can you even imagine being able to say that to people without sounding conceited?
Paul wasn't stuck on himself - in fact it was the opposite. He wasn't being proud, when he said, "Imitate me." He could say it sincerely, because what he meant was: "Follow my example, as long as I am following the example of Christ." How can we learn anything just by watching someone?
A herd of African elephants needed to be thinned out so the authorities killed off a number of the older males and moved a group of females and young bulls to another area. It wasn't too long after the move that white rhinos in that area were being killed, not by poachers, but by the young bull elephants that were trying to prove their elephant-hood. One elephant even organized a gang that began attacking tourist buses.
To solve the problem, the authorities shot some of the troublemakers. And then they came up with a better solution. They released a few old males from another area into the troubled neighborhood. The older males immediately began to bring the young bulls into line. It appears the young elephants didn't know how to act in their day-to-day living without the example of the older elephants to teach them. Just as the elephants needed an example to follow, so also we need an example to follow in our day-to-day Christian living.
Do you know someone whose batteries are nowhere near dead? They are so charged up in knowing and serving Jesus Christ that they want to know God even more deeply? Follow their example!
I'm told battery life is extended through consistent, regular use, followed by regular recharging. In fact, a sure way to allow a battery to deteriorate, as I just said, is to never use it at all. In fact they recommend that you take rechargeable batteries and drain them all the way and then give them a deep recharge.
Paul was like a rechargeable battery. He worked best when he was regularly drained and then completely recharged. In fact in 2 Corinthians 4 he wrote, "4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."

Paul is saying here that he knows that the deep charge comes from knowing Jesus personally and intimately, even by being completely drained by suffering through the toughest times so that the power of Christ's resurrection can be stronger through him.

Knowing Jesus and feeling His power gave Paul the desire to go deeper. But too many of us are like batteries that never get used. We can get fully charged up but then we don't use our energy loving others as we love ourselves. We may come to worship, maybe even start a Bible study, or sign up to go to HIM. But if we don't love the Lord and serve Him with the energy we store up we will get stale, weak, and even corroded. Our problem is that our batteries never get used. All that energy that is stored up is never dispensed. And all the people watching us will see is a storage unit of love and power sitting here. But when we reach out from the heart we discover that the greatest blessings come from Him when we focus on others.
Not all of us get regular charging. We come to the Lord only on special occasions or when things are real bad. We plug in well for that brief time and might even leave worship feeling great, but after awhile our lights begin to dim. We go about trying to live good lives but at times something starts to tickle the back of our minds.
Jesus withdrew from serving the crowds periodically to rest and recuperate, and we need our own times of R&R as well. Just as a battery that never pours out the power and love that's been stored will soon wear out, so will one that's never recharged. But the whole point of a battery is to be charged and ready at all times to give power and light. We are charged by the power of the Holy Spirit to be His light to shine and serve in the darkness.
Are you in need of a blessing from God? The surest way to receive it is to be a blessing to others. Get drained by sharing the love you're storing.
Jesus Christ was, and is, a blessing to us-through service. There are so many ways to serve, especially the little ways we tend to overlook. Look for places to shine the light of Christ and just do it. We live in a dark world and yet most of us hang out in well lit places - you know, with our friends or family who already feel the love. Jesus told His disciples, "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them." How about instead of loving those who already love you, share a meal with someone who needs a friend, share hug, a card, step out in a challenging new role of service to the body of Christ, or take Jesus outside the walls of our church by service in our community.
Pastor Wayne Cordeiro says that the fastest way in to see the king is through the servant's entrance. Few of us will ever be allowed through the front doors as royal guests. Yet there are people who get to see professional athletes and rock stars up close every day who couldn't hit a baseball or a high C note if their lives depended on it. How do they get close? They get close by serving. They tape ankles, bring towels, change guitar strings, serve water, or hold the doors open. We get closer to Jesus by serving the people He loves too.
Have you ever said to yourself, "I'm not qualified to teach Sunday school"? Thank heaven Pua Akaka didn't say that! She's preparing to take on the 3rd-6th graders from Lei next month. And Lei is praying about taking on the preschoolers. Pray for them. Have you ever thought "I'm too stressed to prepare a meal for my sick neighbor," or "I have enough friends, why do I have to get to know someone new?" If those thoughts echo in your mind, don't worry-my point isn't to make you feel guilty. I want to share what I've learned over the years: the way to acquire new skills, lift my spirits, get renewed energy, and ultimately be built up by others … is to serve, because God has established a timeless, unchanging relationship between being a blessing and receiving a blessing. And then others can see what we're doing and imitate us!
Listen to verse 21in the New Living Translation, "He will take these weak mortal bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same mighty power that he will use to conquer everything, everywhere." That can be also translated that God will transform our humble bodies; supplying us with the power we need to serve Him. He has already given each of us gifts, talents, and desires: even if we don't know about them. They are like hidden treasure in a sunken shipwreck, just waiting for us to let God bring them to the surface. They are His gifts so that we can be His treasure.

Have you ever watched the Discovery Channel and watched them salvage a shipwreck? They bring up these barnacle-encrusted blobs. Then they show the salvage crew washing them and chipping away the crust. When they are done, what once looked like a dull rock is now polished silver or gold. When God brings our gifts to the surface, He works with us too. You might look like an ordinary rock or like an old crusty and rusted blob. But in His hands and with His power He can recharge you and transform you into beautiful pieces of silver and gold to serve Him and to reflect His light- so get charged up to be used up in Jesus' name. AMEN

Return to Sermon page.