It is so important that we are serving God according to our calling and gifts. In this message, Pastor Brian explores Acts 6 in which the apostles delegated ministry to seven other men, so that they could focus on their calling: the Word of God and prayer.
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Committed To Your Calling
Acts 6:1-7
Intro:
- Satan’s New Attack. “Complaint” (grumbling, murmuring) – 6:1. Probably murmuring against the apostles, because they had received the relief money and were expected to distribute it fairly. These widows were unable to earn their own living, and had no family to support them, so Church stepped in to assist.
Satan has 3 main tactics: Persecution (Ch.4-5); Corruption (5:1-11) and Distraction (6:1-7). If Satan can’t do mischief from the outside (persecution of religious leaders), he will try to do so from inside. Real possibility of their unity being threatened. Up to this time, were in “one accord” (1:14; 2:46; 4:24; 5:12). Happened when disciples increasing. 5:14. In midst of explosive church growth, something happened to threaten this infant church. In 5:42 we see that every day, in the temple and from house to house, the apostles kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. However, in Chapter 6, there is a temptation for the apostles to leave the Word of God. Apostles believed leaving Word would be a grave mistake (6:2). Then in 6:7, we find the result of NOT leaving the Word. Word kept on spreading and number of disciples continued to increase… Satan would like to get every church distracted from teaching the Word, and focused on anything else.
- Hellenistic Jews – lived outside Palestine, spoke Greek, Greek-cultured, read Septuagint, visiting Jerusalem for Feast of Pentecost. Native Hebrews – lived in Israel, spoke Aramaic, read Hebrew Scriptures. Native Hebrews felt bit superior to Hellenists. Different backgrounds, spoke different languages, and read from different Scriptures. Subtle rift, and now getting worse. Had always been rivalry between these 2 groups. Now threatened to appear in Church. Potential for division.
- Potentially serious problem. There was a need to be met, and work to be done. Who was to do it? Here find need for all of us to serve according to God’s call on our life. Apostles knew their calling (minister the Word), so they appointed 7 others to serve tables.
1. The Temptation To Neglect God’s Call On Your Life:
A. Had Considered It: “it is not desirable for us to neglect..” Thought about it, come to settled conclusion. Desirable means “pleasing.” Not pleasing to Lord.
B. Why Were They Tempted? Tempted to rush in & begin to serve tables. Why?
- Perhaps felt guilty if they didn’t: Distributing possessions to needy in Ch.4. In habit of distributing money to needy. Well, Hellenistic Jewish widows were needy! Not to complete it would have made them feel irresponsible and like they weren’t doing what was right.
- Genuinely Loved People: God’s people hurting, feeling neglected, perhaps feeling needs being intentionally overlooked because were Hellenists. Probably tempted to step in just to stop pain & misunderstanding.
- Saw Genuine Need not Being Met: if nobody doing anything, felt they must. “Who Does The Work”. I’ve got to do it, because no one else is doing it!
C. The Temptation In Our Lives: tempted to get involved in all kinds of things God has never called us to do because of guilt, sense of responsibility, love for people, or because we see a need no one else is meeting.
2. The Need To Know God’s Call On Your Life:
A. The Apostles Knew God’s Call: 6:2,4. Not to serve tables, but to devote selves to prayer & Word. “Devote” same word in Acts 2:42. “Intense and persevering application, unwearied effort.” Knew that God-given call was to be consumed in ministry of Word & prayer. Knew that to do this would not be able to do other things.
B. Apostles Knew Couldn’t Do It All: if going to be effective in ministering Word, couldn’t be dividing up time in hundred different directions. Only had so much time and energy. Had to focus it where God called them. Our mistake – think we can do it all, and that God wants us to. Think busyness is sign of spirituality. Chicken with head cut off. “Look at the activity in that chicken. Look how fast he’s moving. He’s busy, busy, busy!” Only reason so busy is cuz cut off from the head. Momentarily will collapse in exhaustion.
C. Jesus Didn’t Try To Do It All: Jn.17:4; 5:19.
D. What Is Your Calling? ALL of us have a calling. All must function or whole body suffers. Eph.1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.” Now, take out “Paul” and “apostle”. Then put your name in there and your God-given role.
- To Serve: notice that all are serving. 7 serve tables. 12 serve Word (6:4). Some serve physical food, while others serve spiritual food.
- What Gifts Has God Given You?
- What Are You Motivated To Do? look forward to doing it, satisfies you.
- What Do You See God’s Blessing On?
3. The Way To Fulfill God’s Call On Your Life: In one word it is “Delegate”.
A. The Apostles Delegated This Task To Others. They did not serve tables. They were not above serving tables. If Jesus was not above washing His disciples’ feet, we are not above anything. The issue is not whether we are “above” a task. It is whether we should be the one who does that task. All were to serve. Some would serve tables. Others would serve the Word (6:4). Shouldn’t speak of only some being in “The Ministry.” Every Christian is in “the ministry!” The issue is not whether we should serve. Issue is HOW we should serve! God has gifted and wired all of us differently, and we will be most effective when we are doing what God has called us to do.
B. What Would Be The Cost If The Apostles Tried To Serve The Widows? The Word of God would be hindered. False teaching would come. The gospel would not go out. Grave harm would come to the work of God!
C. The Apostles Solicited the Involvement of the Congregation. 6:3. They did not impose their solution on the whole church. They presented a problem, and asked them to get involved in coming up with a solution. The apostles asked the church to select 7 men to handle this ministry. The apostles took the lead in solving this problem, but they did not do it alone. We should follow this example today. When a problem arises in the church, the Elders should take the lead in seeking to solve it, but they should involve the whole church. For example, when the church needs another Elder, it is wise for the Leaders to give the church the opportunity to give feedback about a prospective Elder’s life and ministry, before appointing him as an Elder.
D. The Apostles Affirmed The Congregation’s Decision. 6:6. After the church chose the 7 men, the apostles laid hands on them, and set them apart to this ministry.
E. The 7 Men Had To Meet Certain Qualifications. 6:3. What were the qualifications? 1) Of Good Reputation; 2) Full of the Spirit; 3) Full of Wisdom. Only three qualifications. Good reputation – known for living a godly, upright life. Full of the Spirit – the gifts and fruit of the Spirit overflowed from his life. Full of Wisdom – known for coming up with wise solutions to problems.
4. The Result of Committing To God’s Call On Your Life: 6:7
A. Others Freed To Serve: 7 given opportunity to function in God-ordained tasks. If apostles did it all, 7 wouldn’t have chance to minister. Eventually find Stephen & Philip being used in greater way. Signs, wonders, preaching, If try to do everything, might be hindering spiritual growth of others.
B. Apostles Freed To Be Devoted To Calling: no burnout, frustration, exhaustion.
C. Word of God Kept On Spreading: The ministry of the Word would have suffered. It was the ministry of the Word which God was using to convert the lost and mature the saved. In 6:7 it says “The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.” The implication is that if the ministry of the Word was hindered, the advancement of the kingdom would suffer. So, for the apostles to neglect the Word, even to do something as good as help widows, would have a bad result. Since apostles gave selves to Word, can now keep on spreading & multiplying. Disciples continue to multiply greatly. Great many of priests became obedient to faith!
Conclusion:
Identify What God Has Called You To. What spiritual gifts has God blessed you with? What motivates you? When do you most see God’s hand on your life? Where all three of those align, you will find your calling.
Give Yourself To that Calling With All Your Might. In Romans 12, Paul says in verse 6, “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if serving, in his serving; he who teaches, in his teaching…” In other words, if your spiritual gift is serving, then give yourself to serving. If it is teaching, then give your time and energy to study and teaching. Pretty simple right? Devote the majority of your time to exercising the gift God has given you.
Group Questions:
- Do you know what your spiritual gifts are? If so, what? The rest of the church can help in this.
- What kind of service do you find motivating and exciting and fulfilling?
- What kind of service have you seen God’s hand on the most? What does the rest of the church see in this regard?
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