Acts 6:1-15
Prejudice—within the early
church—church taking care of widows—giving food—Greek speaking women not being
taken care of as the Hebrew speaking women.
The Twelve apostles knew their
calling—their task within the body of Christ—“the ministry of the Word of
God.” If they were diverted from “their”
calling from God, the church would not grow and expand as God wanted it to.
Nothing wrong with waiting on
tables—organizing a food ministry—serving in this way IF that is what God calls
you to. But they knew they had a
different calling.
Qualifications within the church
for this food distribution ministry—“full of the Spirit and wisdom.” Whether the task is what we think to be a
spiritual task (preaching/teaching the Word) or a physical ministry (food
ministry)—there was a spiritual qualification—“filled with Spirit” and wisdom.
Delegation—this ministry would
be “turned over” to others from the Apostles.
Released to others to carry it out.
Were the apostles too good to do
it? No, it was a very important
task/ministry of the early church. But
an apostle—a pastor—cannot do everything.
If he or they do that, the total ministry will suffer.
Easy for churches to expect
their pastor to do everything—and in some churches—for members to do
nothing. Several problems with
that. One, the pastor is not called to
all of it. He is called especially to
pray and to preach/teach the Word of God.
When he neglects that for other things, the church suffers.
Another problem with him doing
everything is that not everyone is gifted to DO everything. Each Christian has a gift and calling from
God to put into use within the body of Christ.
When each does less than that, the church suffers.
A third problem with
pastor/apostle doing it all is that it does not allow others to grow
spiritually or grow in using their call and gift from God. Stagnation in the Christian faith for any of
us is wrong! We each are called to
grow—to minister—to serve as God leads us and shows us. Ephesians 4 says a pastor should “equip the
saints for the work of service.” That
means letting others do the ministry—not do it all himself.
Especially note the names
Stephen, Philip, and a man, Nicolas from Antioch—we heard of another man from
Antioch—a man named Barnabas. The story
in Acts will continue especially through these men. These men did “more” than expected of them
through this ministry of food, but they did not do “less” than expected.
Where are the people here who
are “full of faith” and the “Holy Spirit”?
God calls each of us to be that—but God especially uses those who are to
enable to church to grow.
v. 7 “So the word of God spread. The number of disciples increased rapidly.”
Disciples—not just followers or
“hangers on”—remember disciples are learners, committed followers, those
seeking to pattern their lives after Jesus.
Every Christian is called to become a disciple.
Rest of chapter and into chapter
7, “Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and
miraculous signs.” Called to “wait on
tables”—because of being full of Holy Spirit and wisdom”—but he did MORE than
just that ministry. He did not do
less—He did MORE—and that is the spirit of discipleship—and the Spirit of God’s
leading.
Stephen shared his
faith—preached—taught in power—v. 10, those who opposed him “could not stand up
against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.” Stephen did MORE, not less.
What was the difference in his
life? “full of Holy Spirit and spiritual
wisdom.”
Are you full of the Holy Spirit
and spiritual wisdom? Some say they
are—but the proof is in the living—in the service—in what people see from one’s
life.
A disciple is “full of the H.S.
and spiritual wisdom”—full of faith.
So lies were told by those who
opposed Stephen—that he taught blasphemy.
They did not want to believe that Jesus was Messiah.
In chapter 7, we will
find more of the story of Stephen before the Sanhedrin Council. God will use him powerfully especially in the
life of one young man as he testifies on Jesus’ behalf. One young man—but a man who would be called
by God to a ministry that you and I have benefitted from greatly.
If you want to know more, read
chapter 7.
What is your ministry in your
church—this body of Christ—what does God want you doing?
Are you “full of the Holy
Spirit” and “spiritual wisdom”? Are you
doing things that aid you in being full of the Spirit and wisdom? A disciple will do more than expected, not
less.
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