Called to Serve

Acts 6:1-7

Acts 6:1–7 NKJV

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. 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. 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; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 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, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. 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.

The Jerusalem Christian community had witnessed considerable growth; and as is so often the case with rapid increase, administrative problems developed.

With growth happens issues happen.

Its part of the process.

When growth happens in your life problems come. It comes with its new set of issues.

The great Philosopher Biggie Smalls said, “More money more problems”

So you have the Hellenistic Jews and The Hebrew Jews who are now converted.

The Hebrew Jews they spoke Aramaic and the Hellenistic Jew spoke Greek

Hellenistic Jew was equavilate to the Liberals in these days and the Hebrews Jews were like the conservative.

The Hebrew Jews where in the majority because the Hellenistic jews where connected with Diaspora Judaism so they came as migrants back to Jerusalem.

Luke gives us an honest look at the age-old problem of prejudice. This was not essentially a racial division, since these people were all Jews; but we do see a definite cultural problem. The “outsiders” didn’t act, talk, or live like the pure-blooded Palestinian Jews, so they were treated like second-class citizens.

I think diversity is a great thing but we have to be careful that we don’t allow that diversity to cause disunity.

1 Corinthians 1:22–25 NKJV

22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

The Jews and the Greeks had two different ways of doing life.

adThey h two different ways of thinking

The Jews wanted a sign, the Greeks wanted wisdom

The Jews where looking for Power and the Greek where looking for philosophy ( love of wisdom) .

But Paul preached Christ crucified, which was a stumbling block for the Jews and foolishness for the Greeks.

But Christ if the power of God and the wisdom of God.

The Hellenist having entered into this Judeo- Christian world view possibly felt like they where second class citizen’s.

vs 1 - I like this verse because they didn’t campagne, they didn’t say why won’t you find a culturally sensitive church that would be more accepting.

They just pivoted.

But they found a solution to resolve the issue and kept ministry going.

They realized that these people are my brothers and sisters and at the end of the day we just find ways to make it work though theres cultural differences.

They Apostles didn’t go out protesting they just said lets get someone to deal with this issue. Because we got more important matters to attend to.

Its time to elevate the main thing! We can be so consumed whether someone likes me or not and completely miss out on the gospel.

People are going to hell and we can be worried about a temporary hiccup.

We search for resolutions to these matters so the gospel can have free reign.

So the machine can continue. So the work can continue.

1 Timothy 5:3–4 NKJV

3 Honor widows who are really widows. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.

Firsts its the family obligation to take care of the widow

Now theres a curtain quality of widow that should be taken under account.

1 Timothy 5:5–6 NKJV

5 Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. 6 But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.

1 Timothy 5:7 NKJV

7 And these things command, that they may be blameless.

She has to be blameless not perfect but blameless

So if the widow is out here in these streets.

If the widow is loose and not walking with God. The obligation isn’t as pressing.

1 Timothy 5:8 NKJV

8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Any family member who neglected his first obligation to family has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

In context it seems like this verse is speaking about how the children to take care of the parents.

It speaks about ones failure to provide for his widow.

Failure to provide meaning that theres a failure to think ahead, to provide for the needs in-advance.

Its not providing as a request is needed but before there is a request.

This verse speaks about the responsibility of the family to take care of one another.

Denial of the faith isn’t speaking about how somehow you forfeited your rights to salvation or how some how you lost it.

But you have failed allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life.

Titus 1:16 NKJV

16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

There are different ways one can deny the faith one can repudiate it out right or to deny it through ones actions.