by: Pastor Jim Pelletier
TEXT: Acts 6:1-7 NKJV
INTRODUCTION: About 5 years of the Spirit Filled Church (Acts 1:1-5:42)
Timeline:AD 30 – Pentecost (Acts 2), AD 36 – Stephen is martyred (Acts 7)
The beginning of the 7 deacons is no earlier or later than AD 34 or 35.
Christ died. Christ rose. AND… Christ ascended.
The disciples could not hang out at the Cross or Tomb, they had to move forward.
At the coming of the Spirit: 120 gathered, then 3000 suddenly, then another 5000 at the Temple.
Growing daily in spirit and numbers, they ate, gave, worshipped and learned together.
As the Church became high profile, its enemies became very visible.
Arrested twice and beaten by those who sponsored the crucifixion of Christ.
Holiness was the rule, compromise unacceptable; the fear of the Lord was in the presence of God.
With faithful hearts and pure lives, they walked in the miraculous.
As fast as the miracles and people came, so did the money and the meeting of needs.
Christ’s intervention in human history loosed purely charitable giving among men.
The first building created for church services didn’t exist until 400 years after Christ.
1. A GOOD PROBLEM
Acts 6:1-7 NKJV (1) Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
The Church first called itself “disciples”. Praying a one time prayer or having a one time experience does NOT make you a disciple. Unless you follow through and follow Christ, you are not His disciple (Matthew 10:24-25; Luke 14:27; John 10:27-28)
Hellenists (probably Jews from Greek territories and culture) verses Hebrews: is this prejudice or culture clashing? Is this the Devil or growing pains? It can be up to us. (Hebrews 12:14; Romans 12:10-11)
“Distribution”: Greek “diakonoia: service, ministry, attendance, mission” – same word used by the original apostles to describe their work (see 1:17). Where we get our word: deacon. (1John 3:17)
We invented social programs! However, they were not the centerpiece of the Church, then NOR should they be now (John 17:3). Nonetheless, our faith is not visible as real without real works (James 2:14-18).
2. GOOD LEADERSHIP
(2) Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. (3) Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; (4) but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
Leaving your assignment is leaving the Word of God (1Corinthians 7:19-20; 1Peter 4:10-11;Colossians 2:5-10). (“The tyranny of the immediate”, Good works VS anointed works, Balance or Backbone?)
You can only serve where you are assigned to serve, otherwise you are in the way or out of the loop… in rebellion or ignorance. (Matthew 7:21-23)
Three initial criteria for young leaders: 1. “good reputation” (1Timothy 3:7), 2. “full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom”(Exodus 31:3), 3. “whom we may appoint” (submitted to oversight)(Matthew 25:23).
“We will give ourselves continually”: The Spirit must take precedent over the flesh in the life of a disciple of Christ, and especially among His leaders. (Galatians 3:2-30, Romans 8:12-14)
Do you ever say “NO”?
Do you really walk in God’s love without God determining your boundaries? (2Corinthians 5:14).
3. A GOOD RESPONSE
(5) And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, (6) whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
The disciples received the direction of the Apostles and found seven, who were then received by the Apostles. (Jesus had layers: Luke 4:11-12; Matthew 17:1). Jealous when left out, prideful when let in.
7 disciples became 7 servants became 7 leaders. They stood up in humility and submission when called to service. Stephen and Philip moved into greater Kingdom service because of their. (1Peter 5:1-6)
4. GOOD RESULTS
(7) Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Because a problem was solved in order…
Because a second layer of leaders were established…
Because the Body of Christ, the disciples, submitted to leadership and obeyed them…
Because disciples were faithful to their placement by God…
Because people were willing to rise up and take a higher profile and serve others…
Because the young Church was Spirit filled, holy, obedient, willing to serve God…
“THE WORD OF GOD SPREAD”(Isaiah 55:10-13) and
“THE NUMBER OF DISCIPLES MULTIPLIED” (Malachi 4:2)
Even former enemies changed: “AND A GREAT MANY OF THE PRIESTS WERE OBEDIENT TO THE FAITH” (Proverbs 16:7)
