Acts 6:1-7
Misunderstood
• Bill Smith, a country shopkeeper, went to the city to buy goods. They were sent immediately and reached home before he did. When the boxes were delivered, Mrs. Smith, who was keeping the shop,, uttered a scream, seized a hatchet, and began frantically to open the largest one.
“What’s the matter, Sarah?” asked one of the bystanders, who had watched her in amazement. Pale and faint, Mrs. Smith pointed to an inscription on the box
It read “Bill inside.”
• In the pre-World War I days, ex-President Taft had a reception at the White House which was attended by Government officials. Members of the Army an Navy, members of the Diplomatic Corps, and leading Washington citizens. As these lined up to shake hands with the President, the President’s tailor also fell into line. As he reached the President, the latter grasped his hand remarking, “You look familiar to me, but I can’t just place you.” “Why Mr. President,” he replied, “I made your pants,” “Oh, yes, yes, why how do you do Major Pants,” was the president’s reply.
• Arabian Proverb
The mistakes of the learned man are like a shipwreck which wrecks many others with it.
- When we are misunderstood there is the - COMPLAINT
- GRUMBLE
- MURMUR
- Israel afraid of the enemy -- Sentenced to 40 years wandering
Numbers 14:27 (KJV)
How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
- Korah over leadership - Rebellion - Ground Swallowed
Numbers 16:41 (KJV)
But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD.
1 Corinthians 10:10-13 (KJV)
Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Jude 16 (KJV)
These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
Jude 16 (NKJV)
These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
Philippians 2:14-15 (KJV)
Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
- Acts 5 Satan Without ---- (Ananias, with Sapphira)
-Acts 6 Satan Within --- v.1 Disciples
Acts 6:1 (KJV)
And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
- Difference of Opinion
- Responsibilities
- Bills
- Duties
-Uncontrolled Situations
- Decisions to make
- Problems
- Misunderstanding
• Families
• Friends
• Neighbours
• Relatives
• Job
• UNSAVED
How To Solve Misunderstanding
1. Communication
v.2
Acts 6:2 (KJV)
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples [unto them], and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
- Listen to both sides
2. Plan
v.3
Acts 6:3 (KJV)
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
- Emphasize the Spirit
Philippians 4:8-9 (KJV)
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
3. Implement
- They put into action their decision
Acts 6:5 (KJV)
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, - a crown
a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and
Philip, - fond of horses - [Power - Beauty - Speed}
and Prochorus, - Leading in a choric dance
and Nicanor, - Victorious
and Timon, - Deeming (judge) Worthy
and Parmenas, - Faithful
and Nicolas - Victory over the people
a proselyte of Antioch:
- Supported & backed up by prayer
Acts 6:6 (KJV)
Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
4. The Results
- Clarity of purpose
Acts 6:7 (KJV)
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
- Arresting
- Delivering
- Illuminating
- Cleansing
The Wrecking Crew
I stood on the streets of a busy town,
Watching men tearing a building down:
With a “Ho, heave, ho,” and a lusty yell,
They swung a beam and a sidewall fell/
I asked the foreman of the crew,
“Are those men as skilled as those you’d hire if you wanted to build?”
“Ah, no,” he said, “no indeed.
Just common labor is all I need.
I can tear down as much in a day or two,
As would take skilled men a year to do.”
And then I thought as I went on my way,
Just which of these two roles am I trying to play?
Have I walked life’s road with care,
Measuring each deed with rule and square?
Or am I one of those who roam the town,
Content with the labor of tearing down?
Misunderstood
“Three Steps Forward Two Steps Back
P.25
By Charles Swindoll
Few things are more difficult to live with than being misunderstood, Sometimes it’s downright unbearable.
When you are misunderstood, you have no defense. And have you noticed that when you are misunderstood, no matter how hard you try to correct the misunderstanding, it usually gets worse? You go full loaded, ready to “set them straight,” and all you do is dig yourself deeper! The harder you work, the worse it gets and the deeper it hurts. Its sting can be paralyzing.
A close friend of mine has an acquaintance in Texas who is a young attorney. He is a member of a sizable la firm run by a rather traditional kind of boss who enjoys a special kind of ritual at Thanksgiving time. Every year this young attorney participates in the ritual because it means so much to his employer.
On the large walnut table in the board room of the office suite sits a row of turkeys, one for each member in the firm. I isn’t just a matter of “if you want it, you can have it; if you don’t, your can leave it.” The members go through some rather involved protocol.
Each man stands back from the table and looks at his turkey. When his turn comes, he steps forward and picks up the bird, announcing how grateful he is to work for the firm and how thankful he is for the turkey this Thanksgiving.
This young attorney is single, lives alone, and has absolutely no use for a huge turkey. He has no idea how to fix it, and even if it were properly prepared he has no way to use all its meat. But because it is expected of him, he takes a turkey every year
One year his close friends in the law office replaced his turkey with one made of paper-mache. They weighted it with lead to make it feel genuine, and attached a real turkey neck and tail to make it look just like a real turkey. But it was a bogus bird through and through.
On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, everyone gathered in the board room. When it came his turn, this young man stepped up, picked up the large bird, and announced his gratitude for the job and to the turkey.
Later that afternoon, he got on the bus to go home. With the big turkey on his lap, he wondered what in the world he would do with it. A little further down the bus line, a rather run-down, discouraged-looking man got on. The only vacant seat on the bus was the one next to our young attorney friend.
He sat down and they began to talk about the holiday. The lawyer learned that the stranger had spent the entire day job-hunting with no luck, that he had a large family, and that he was wondering what he would do about Thanksgiving tomorrow.
The attorney was struck with a brilliant idea; This is my day for a good turn. I’ll give him my turkey!
Then he had a second thought, “This man is not a freeloader. He’s no bum. It would probably injure his pride for me to give it to him. I’ll sell it to him.”
He asked he man, “How much money do you have?”
“Oh, a couple of dollars and a few cents,” the man answered.
The attorney said, “I would like to sell you this turkey.” An he placed it on the man’s lap.
“Sold” The stranger handed over the two dollars and whatever coins he had. He was moved to tears, thrilled to death that his family would have a turkey for Thanksgiving. He go off the bus waved good-bye to the attorney. “God bless you. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I’ll never forget you.” The bus pulled away from the curb, as both men smiled.
Can you picture this man going home, and announcing as got inside the front door, “Kids, you’ll never believe what a nice man I met today! Come here, look what I have.”
Then he’d lay the thing down, I’m sure, on the kitchen table and begin to unwrap the brown paper, only to find this fake glob of paper and lead weights, with only a real neck and real tail. What the man probably said, Simon and Schuster couldn’t even publish!
The next Monday, the attorney went to work. His friends were dying to know about the turkey. You cannot imagine their chagrin when they heard the story of what happened. I understand, through my friend, that they all go on the bus every day that week, looking in vin for a man. who , as far as I know, to this day still entertains a misunderstanding about a guy who innocently sold him a fake turkey for a couple of bucks and a few cents.
That’s misunderstanding!
