Tonight’s passage is about the birth of the idea of having deacons. This was the birth of a whole new level of ministry in the church. What we need to note is that the office of the deacons was set up to meet a need in the church for day to day ministry. The head ministers had to have help in order to fulfill their preaching mission.
It was the duty of the ministers to study God’s Word and to preach it. That’s all. That doesn’t sound like much to have to do but if you are going to do a service to God and deliver HIS message, the minister must be tuned in to God, praying, meditating on His Word, and putting that message into a format that the public can relate to.
READ v. 1. We find as chapter 6 opens that there was a problem in the church. Some widows were being neglected. Two groups or cliques were seen in the church, and one was complaining and grumbling about the actions of the other. One group felt its needs were not being met; it was not getting a due share of the attention and care it deserved.
Now there were reasons why this division had developed.
1. The church had grown rapidly. When any organization grows quickly, all kinds of problems arise, and most of the problems center around how to handle the growth. The church needed to minister to the new members, but it was having a hard time handling and reaching out to everyone. The head ministers, the apostles in this case, could not get to everyone.
2. Another reason for the division was there were different groups or cliques coming into the church.
- There were the Hebrews, the Jews who were born and reared in Palestine. They spoke Aramaic. They rejected all Greek and Gentile culture completely, and used only the Hebrew Bible in its original Hebrew language. The point is this: the Hebrew or Palestinian Jews were very closely knit. They despised the Gentiles. They believed the Gentiles were eternally cursed by God.
- Then there were the Grecian Jews who were known as the Hellenists. These were the Jews who had been deported, scattered, and dispersed all over the world by the Romans.
The Grecian or Hellenist Jews had adopted Greek culture, spoke the Greek language, and used and read the Greek Bible (Septuagint). It’s probably this that lay at the root of the problem mentioned here. The Hebrew Jews were probably having a hard time getting rid of all their prejudice. Even though God had worked in their hearts to cleanse them from prejudice, they were still hanging on to some feelings against the Hellenists.
A lesson we learn from this is that people do and will form groups and cliques. But we must always be open and accepting, outgoing and friendly, giving and helping, humble and undeserving before each other, ministering and receiving ministry from all.
3. Another reason for the division was that the leaders of the church didn’t have enough help to look after every member. There are 2 things that need to happen when this problem arises.
a. The church has to get more help. It must seek out people who sense the hand of God on them and call them to minister and care for others.
b. The member must be willing to quit demanding so much of the head minister, to accept the ministry of other men who are called to minister to the flock of God.
4. The 4th reason for the division was that the church wasn’t adequately organized to minister to all. The leadership centered only upon the apostles. There was the need for another whole level of minister, ministers who could reach out to every single member.
5. A 5th reason for the division was there was apparently some favoritism being shown. Most if not all of the food being distributed to the needy was being handled by the Hebrew Jews. The Grecian Jews felt that their needy were being neglected and that favoritism was being shown to those who had need among the Hebrew Jews.
READ v. 2. The leaders called the whole church together. They didn’t deny that they had a problem. The leaders declared their primary call and mission was to concentrate on the Word of God, its study and proclamation.
The apostles could have been easily distracted, caught up in day to day ministry—the ministry of sitting and listening, serving and meeting the needs of the needy. I know that feeling. These needs must be met. But when the church grows there becomes too many people to be one-on-one with.
There’s a breaking point at which ministers need to put up a guard and protect their primary call to proclaim the Word of God. They must above all have time to prepare and preach and teach the Word. You can ask Denise, I can be sitting at my desk studying and writing and the phone rings and it is not uncommon for me to let it go to the voicemail. There are times when the train of thought cannot be interrupted.
The leaders suggested others be appointed to minister to the needy. Note that this was a suggestion for a whole new level of ministers. Up to this point the leaders of the church were the apostles. Now a new office was being created to help in the work of the ministry.
READ v. 3. So the problem was addressed, the church met with the leaders to discuss the problem and now they present a recommendation for the whole congregation to consider. Seven men needed to be appointed to handle this ministry.
Then the qualifications are listed. Note that they all center on spiritual qualities, upon the spiritual maturity of the men. Think about your deacon as we look at each of these qualifications.
1. Men who are known, bearing a good witness, having a good reputation. The deacon character was to be proven and beyond reproach. They were to be men of integrity, faithful and trustworthy: moral and upright, men trusted by all.
2. Full of the Holy Spirit. The deacon was to be conscious of Christ dwelling within him, aware of being filled with the fruit of the Spirit.
3. Full of wisdom: able to discern, see through, make judgments. This was especially needed now in handling the division that had arisen in the church. Improper handling by unwise men could only add fuel to the fire, causing further friction and tension.
READ v.4. The basic purpose of the deacon is to relieve the head minister so he will have time for prayer and the ministry of the Word. And that is really the twofold ministry of the church; prayer and the ministry of the Word. Everything else, as needful as some of them may be, must be secondary to these two great ministries. That means the head minister devotes his life to these two ministries and not be distracted or diverted from them.
It is through prayer that the believer reaches up and talks to God. It is in the Word that God speaks to the minister, to the flock, and to the world. That’s why it’s so important for the minister to spend hours and even days seeking God, finding out what God wants to say to him, the church and the world.
Imagine what a difference there would be if ministers were allowed to devote all their time to reading and studying God’s Word, and praying for God’s revelation. Instead of having to handle this dispute, or that complaint, etc. etc. etc.
Note the word “attention” ion v. 4. The Greek word used here means to continue steadfastly; to persevere; to continue on and on, sticking to it. Do you ever wonder what the minister’s job is? His job is to pray and pray and study and study and share and share, preaching and teaching the Word—without letting up. He is to be steadfast, persevering, continuing on and on in both prayer and in the Word.
READ v. 5. So the 7 were chosen. It’s not that important WHO they were. They were all practically unknown except for Stephen and Philip. The important points are these.
1. The church acted in love and humility. No one seemed to have any hurt feelings over the ones that were chosen. Every one of the 7 men chosen were Grecian Jews. Their names were Greek, not Jewish. So that means that the largest segment of the church had humbled itself to the minority.
2. It says the whole group was pleased. The body had been reunited as one in spirit and purpose, worship and ministry.
3. The fact that they were all Grecian Jews points toward God moving the church out into the whole world. Christ had commissioned the disciples to go into the whole world. He was preparing the church for the day that was soon to come, the day of persecution that would scatter the believers all over the world. These 7 men, being Grecian ministers, could touch the Gentile world wherever they went—by language, by training, and by culture. God was preparing the church without their knowing it for the day when they were to be scattered all over the world.
We, too, need to be rooted in love and humility so that God can use us in His eternal plan to reach the world for His Son Jesus Christ.
So the seven were chosen. The point to note is that they were men who had the qualities given in verse 3.
READ v. 6. Here we see the official ordination service. This was a specific moment when the newly elected men were set apart for their ministry. Before this moment they were not serving in the capacity with which they were now being charged. After the ordination service, they were to minister to the flock of God and meet the flock’s day to day needs. There were three specific parts to the ordination service. The church presented the men to the apostles. The church went to prayer; the ministers led all in prayer, and the ministers laid their hands upon the newly appointed deacons.
READ v. 7. The glorious three-fold results.
1. The Word of God increased as never before. The apostles were freed to concentrate on prayer and the Word. There was a new power in their witnessing and teaching.
2. The church grew. Many more people were reached with the gospel.
3. Some priests, a great number, were being reached for Christ. “They became obedient to the faith.” They were obedient to both receiving Christ and in following Christ. They embraced the gospel and lived the gospel.
And THAT, SEBC, is what the deacons of your church are to do for you and for me. And in my own opinion and experience, they are doing a wonderful job. I am blessed; we are blessed to have 10 men that have devoted themselves to the active deacon ministry. We are equally blessed to have 8 more men who have devoted themselves to the yokefellow ministry to help the deacons be even better in their ministry.
Hopefully you can see more clearly now that we are organized in a fashion set forth by God. And that’s why I think God continues to pour out His blessing upon us.
