Years ago, when I worked in the restaurant business, there were occasions when we would take a children’s high chair and turn it upside down in order to put an infant in a carrier, in the upside down high chair. It was ingenious, so we all thought.
One night, as I was taking an order from a customer, out of the corner of my eye, at another table, I saw one of the upside down children’s high chair, began to topple, and I reached over, grabbed it and prevented the fall.
---hold on to that thought for a few minutes----
Today, we are taking a break from the 7 Feasts, but will conclude next Sunday.
As a reminder, on the 24th, It’ll be your chance to share with us what you have gleaned in this study of the 7 Feasts of Israel.
Lisa, will you come up here for a minute?
Roman and Rhenae will you join us?
---Introduce to the church Roman as a new deacon for Cross Point Church----
Today’s message is titled:
Being an Acts 6 Servant
Give them the gifts
Ask them to be seated in from row.
Today’s sermon, is especially for you!
So, the next time you are asked:
“have you ever felt like the pastor’s sermon was preaching to you” you can confidently answer “yes”!
Church, as I present today’s message please know that when I say “Roman” or “Roman and Rhenae”, I’m addressing you as well.
So I may not say it, but this is letting YOU know, I am addressing us all. Fair enough?
Today’s message is found in Acts chapter 6.
Please turn there and stand with me as we honor God while reading His word.
BODY
Read Acts 6 from my bible.
Church, I want you to know that after counseling with Dan about 3 months ago, Lisa and I approached Roman and Rhenae, asking them to pray about, and have a genuine discussion about him becoming a deacon @ CPC.
I gave them some info to look over, and encouraged them to get with me, regarding any questions or concerns they may have.
I also encouraged them to include their children in @ least one discussion regarding this matter.
Lastly, I requested they take all the time they needed, as it was not a “light” decision, and assured them, that whatever their decision was, all would be good!
Fast forward a couple of months.
Last week, I mentioned a revelation that came to me during my most recent Tres Dias weekend.
I intentionally did not reveal that revelation (see what I did there?)
Let’s visit that for just one moment.
Most of you do not know, but I fast during nearly every Tres Dias weekend I serve.
I do this for different reasons.
During this weekend, I was questioning my motivation for such fasting.
Was my intent right?
Was my heart right?
What was I expecting to gain as a result of my fasting?
During a intensely reflective moment in the weekend, God put this on my heart:
Cross Pointe Church does not have the leadership in place for growth!
There is an entirely different type of conversation that we won’t have today, but know this: I understood what God said, and gained peace by what He put on my heart!
Remember, this happened a couple of months after approaching Roman about becoming a deacon!
At this point, we had not yet gotten a response from Roman.
A few days later, I approached Roman about this matter, and he said he was ready to accept the role as deacon @ CPC.
After that, I believe we met on two additional occasions to solidify his response. On one of those occasions, I made sure Rhenae was there!
We had a really good visit, along with Dan and Joy. Mexican food may have been involved???
Exposition-
Together, I’d like us to take a closer look @ Acts 6, as I comment on several of these verses.
The heading or pericope in NKJV, of this portion of the chapter reads:
Seven chosen to serve
Acts 6:1 “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.”
Ever heard in complaint in the church? I mean, I know you haven’t at CPC, I mean in any other churches?
The best I can tell, this is the first recording of an issue inside the church.
The two factions in the church were:
The Hebrews-natives of Israel who spoke the Hebrew, or Aramaic language, and
The Hellenist who were Jews, but natives of the Greco-Roman world and spoke Greek.
The church was experiencing in growing pangs, and as a result, some things were being overlooked.
We see even in the early church, there was not perfection.
I believe sometimes we go to church expecting perfection, then having disappointment when perfection isn’t found.
I read this recently. If your church’s shortcomings distress you, ask yourself: “would a perfect church have me”?
Here’s my point: If the answer to the above question of “would a perfect church have me” is no, then go about beginning today to make your church better.
The 12, were presented with a problem.
Acts 6:2 “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.”
It is my belief that the apostles didn’t think themselves ABOVE serving tables, but rather they needed to continue to devote themselves to God’s word.
Obviously this was a real issue that required a real solution.
They needed help and recognized that fact!
In regards to the importance of serving tables, I’d like to go back to the Great High Chair Incident as it later became known as. Either that or I made that up this week!
Do you think those parents of that high chair that I prevented from toppling over, walked away with a slightly different perspective of serving tables? I know I did. That was over 30 years ago, and it wasn’t my child!
Roman, this is no mundane task that you are accepting. It is a vital aspect of a healthy, growing church!
Acts 6:3 “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;”
Acts 6:4 “but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.””
I find it interesting that v2 says:
Acts 6:2 “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.”
but something vital is added in v4
Acts 6:4 “but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.””
Not only the ministry of the word, but prayer as well.
Church, here’s something we can never forget;
We must continually be in prayer, but spiritual warfare is continuous!
I’d like to go back to v3 for just a quick minute:
Acts 6:3 “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;”
I want y’all to know that of these 15 verses, this is the one I’ve struggled with. Please allow me to attempt to explain.
Years ago, I was part of an upstart church, and was the first elder appointed in that church.
As the church began to grow, we; as a church voted for the elders and lay pastors (deacons).
To a large degree it became a popularity contest.
Qualifications were not discussed, nor presented. Simply a list of “candidates”.
Notice the qualifications in v3:
Good reputation
full of the Holy Spirit
Wisdom
The apostles were getting into some “meat” weren’t they.
Also, in that church that I was part of, we had entirely too many occasions to vote for a pastor.
This is where I saw first hand that essentially the process of voting for a pastor, was window dressing, while a corruptive abuse of power percolated for control.
I say all of that church, to explain why this decision was made without the prior presentation to you.
No malicious intent whatsoever.
Now back to scripture:
Acts 6:3–4 “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; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.””
I cannot definitively state that the “whom we may appoint” is exclusively the apostles, or the church and the apostles, however; I believe the “we” is the apostles solely.
Acts 6:5 “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,”
This may have been the first and only time “the whole multitude” was pleased. Can I get an amen?
Roman, there will be some decisions made, and actions taken, that just may not please everyone. Welcome to leadership!
I believe because the apostles were so intent on doing the right thing in response to the issue, they choose 7 Hellenists.
Acts 6:6 “whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.”
The laying on of hands in this situation was not to receive the Holy Spirit because we see in v3 and 5 this had already taken place.
This was about setting them apart and confessing on these men the responsibility of carrying out the ministry they were charged with!
Acts 6:7 “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.”
Couple of noteworthy mentions about this verse:
Priests were converted!
then the word of God spread- this is the first of 6 progress reports found in Acts.
Acts 6:7 “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.”
That’s good news isn’t it. I would say that is progress!
Roman, I believe I speak for the church when I say we look forward to hearing reports of progress from you, from time to time!
Now we move to the second half of Acts 6.
The heading or pericope of this passage is:
Stephen is arrested
Stephen is accused of blasphemy
Acts 6:8 “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.”
Church, we need to be cognoscente of the fact that wonders and signs are not an exclusive characteristic of apostolic ministry.
Stephen was not an apostle, but he was full of faith and power.
Roman, I’m convinced that when we increase our faith, we increase our power!
Acts 6:9 “Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.”
The Synagogue of the Freedmen, were a group of Jewish slaves who had been freed from Rome, and had formed a synagogue in Jerusalem.
Tell story of the Beverage Director...
I thought “Synagogue of the Freedmen”, anybody can have a title!
This is for humorous illustration only. If you are a descendant of the Synagogue of the Freedmen, please don’t be offended!
Didn’t take long for Stephen to stir the pot did it?
Roman, oftentimes doing the right thing for God, stirs the pot!
Acts 6:10 “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.”
Oh darn, lookout, they weren’t able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Hallelujah!
Church, testifying of our faith, is not about saying all the right things.
Listen to me. It is a spiritual battle that requires the wisdom and the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, as witnesses.
Acts 6:11 “Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.””
We’re going to come back to that.
Acts 6:12 “And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council.”
Acts 6:13–14 “They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.””
Do you realize Jesus faced nearly the same charges and accusations?
Roman, Rhenae and family hear me on this:
In all likelihood, you will face attack!
Those saying you aren’t worthy.
You don’t deserve.
You don’t qualify.
You may even face attack from false witnesses.
Seek God
Reach out to your church family.
We will go to battle with you, with Jesus as our Supreme Leader!
Acts 6:15 “And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.”
Even Stephens enemies could recognize God’s presence in his life!
Church, is that you and me?
Can our enemies see God’s presence in our lives?
As a follow up, I want to encourage you all to read two passages:
Acts 5:34-39 repeat a couple of times
Acts chapter 7 in it’s entirety.
Let’s wrap this up:
In Acts 6, we see spiritual warfare, and Satan’s strategy in the church:
Division /Disunity/Distraction
Acts 6:1 “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.”
Acts 6:9 “Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.”
Corruption and Persecution
Acts 6:10-14 completely about corruption and persecution
Church, I want to throw this challenge out to us:
Have their backs
Be there when they need us
Pray, pray, pray
Here’s my challenge to you Roman and Rhenae:
Be willing to serve God in whatever way He call you to serve
Be full of the Holy Spirit, like Stephen
Honor Holy Scripture:
2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Strive to be like Jesus in all you do-this is the process of sanctification.
Always remember that you never know whose life you will be a part of changing for God’s glory.
I can’t help but consider that Stephens live and death impacted Paul’s life for God’s glory.
Congratulations you are officially part of the problem-solving side of the equation of church!
Johan bring in the children
Present certificate
Call Dan, Jimmy and Malcolm to say a word.
Call church to circle the family, and pray over them.
