James: Finding Joy in Trials

This morning I’m not going to read all of chapter 5 for you. I want you to go home and read chapter 5. However, I do want to briefly look at the first story about two people named Ananias and Sapphira.

Some people get confused about this story. They wonder why they were struck dead on the spot. I want you to understand, the sin wasn’t that they didn’t give all their money for the land they sold. The sin was they lied about it. They said they gave all of it and didn’t actually give all of it. It was their land and they could sell the land and give what they wanted, but they liked the prestige of giving and wanted everyone to think they were better than they were. They were also greedy. So, they gave a little and said they gave more. They lied and that is why God took them out. This was not the first time that God did this.

In the book of Joshua, when taking Jericho, God said the spoils of Jericho are His. After that, they could have what they wanted. The Israelites went out to face Ai and were defeated. Joshua asked God why were they defeated. God’s response, there is sin in the camp. They discovered it was Achan and they killed Achan and his family.

God is telling us that He will not tolerate and unholy unions. God does not like selfish pride and deceitfulness among those who claim to be born-again, Spirit-filled followers of Christ.

So, hopefully I have cleared this story up for you today.

Be sure to read the rest of chapter five on your own. It is a great reminder of the great miracles and ministry that the disciples did. The church continued to grow in numbers. The disciples continued to face persecution, but they wouldn’t let that deter them. Look at verse 42.

Acts 5:42 NIV

42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

For the next few minutes, I want us to focus on the first seven verses of Acts chapter 6. If you have your Bibles, go to Acts 6. We will begin reading at verse 1

Acts 6:1–7 NIV

1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” 5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

As you can see, since the church began, there has been tremendous growth that has taken place in the early church.

Wouldn’t you agree that growth is a good thing? Also, wouldn’t you agree that God wants more people to have a relationship with Him?

As a church grows, there are challenges that the church will face, especially in a diverse community of believers.

As we grow, we will need to address the problems that may arise. We must pay close attention to areas of potential neglect. As you see a problem, like no enough workers to meet the needs of the youth or kids, or maybe you see that the lawn care workers need help, or a light bulb needs changed, that is where you come in to take care of the things that need taken care of. There may be a process we have to go through to take care of it, but you recognize that there is help needed.

So the disciples got together and decided that it would not be right for them to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait tables.

Acts 6:2 NIV

2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.

There may be times, more now than in the past, that you won’t see me put up tables and chairs. That is not what God has called me to do. God has called me to Pastor this church. In the past, I have done you a disservice by setting up tables, mowing the lawn, and all the other things I have done. I was wrong and I apologize. Going forward, my focus will be on equipping you to do the work of the ministry. I will be teaching you how to connect with people, how to serve, how to grow, how to go, and how to worship.

The disciples knew that something had to be done to take care of the needs of the people in the church but they shouldn’t neglect the ministry of the Word of God.

We must prioritize our calling and not let the small things to get in the way of what God is calling each of us to do.

There must be a balance between meeting spiritual and practical needs.

A proposal was made to pick seven men in the church that were full of the Spirit and wisdom to fulfill this responsibility.

Every area of ministry is important. We all need the Spirit to help guide us in the work that God is calling us to do.

Each of you has been given the wisdom that you need to do specific ministries. There are some things that you don’t want me to do.

If you had to have a knee replacement, you don’t want an auto mechanic doing the job, do you? The auto mechanic doesn’t have the wisdom to do a knee replacement surgery. Just like you wouldn’t want an orthopedic surgeon fixing the engine in your car.

We want the right people in the right place at the right time, so that we can see God’s vision fulfilled.

When we put the right people in the right place, that frees me up to be committed to prayer and preaching. This is what keeps the church healthy.

Acts 6:5 NIV

5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

If you remember from verse 1, the Hellenistic Jews, those that spoke Greek, were complaining that the Hebraic Jews, those from Hebrew dissent, their widows were being more taken care of in the daily distribution of food.

The names of those chosen in verse 5, all of them had Greek names, suggesting that they are obvious hellenists. The church was being sensitive to those that had needs.

It is also during this time that we are introduced to Stephen. Verse 5 calls him a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.

They made it a point to choose people that were full of faith, people that exhibited wisdom, and above all else, people that were full of the Holy Spirit.

Do you see a common practice here in the book of Acts? They were people that took the Spirit with them. We need the working of the Spirit moving throughout our church.

It is so important that you have the Spirit with you in everything that you do.

After these seven were chosen, they prayed for each one by laying their hands on them.

Acts 6:6 NIV

6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

As you are being commissioned for service, it is important that we lay hands on you and pray and ask that God will give you direction on how to serve.

Each ministry position is important to God. When we lay hands on you, we are showing the unity and support of the entire church.

Verse 7 gives us the results of what they put into place that day. It says…

Acts 6:7 NIV

7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

3 things happened that day because they fulfilled the needs of the church.

1. The Word of God spread.

Because the disciples were able to focus on the preaching of the Word and prayer, the Word of God spread. More people got to here the Gospel message.

The main focus of the christian church is for the Gospel message to be preached throughout the world.

Romans 10:14–15 NIV

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

We must make sure that God’s message is preached.

2. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly

Why did they see the number of disciples increase rapidly? Because they were being obedient to what God was telling them to do.

They were putting the right people in the right place at the right time.

The disciples were able to focus on discipling the believers and preparing the new believers for the work of the ministry.

When the church operates in harmony, with each member fulfilling their role, the gospel advances, and the church flourishes. Effective delegation leads to expansion of ministry.

3. A large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

There were religious leaders that were beginning to see the results of the disciples faith and they were coming to faith in Christ.

Do you see the power of a unified church coming together to do the work of the ministry?

The church’s witness becomes more powerful when it is unified in purpose and balanced in both spiritual and practical ministry.

We must expect God to work mightily when we are faithful in serving.

God will honor those that serve Him according to His calling. It is time for everyone to step out in faith and do the work the Lord has called you to do.

In the seven verses, we get a powerful image of delegation and servant leadership in the church.

It is important for us to be balanced in both spiritual and practical ministry. You can’t be all spiritual and expect the church to grow. Just like you can’t be all practical and expect the church to grow either. You must be balanced.

We must put spirit-filled leaders in place in order to created a perfect balance.

So, here is your challenge today. Listen to these questions and then answer them sincerely.

Will you rise to serve in the roles God has called you to?

Will we, like the early church, be unified and sensitive to the needs of others as we grow in ministry?

I want to ask our leadership team to join me, if you are a part of a ministry here at Connect Church, we want to pray over you and commission you to serve. From greeters to teachers to cleaners, each ministry we want to pray and ask for a special anointing to fall on you as you do the work that God has given you to do.

Come now.