Empowered
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Review ALL IN series. Purpose for the series: how where we are as The Shed is where they were then…
1 Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.
2 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.
3 “Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.
4 “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
5 The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.
6 And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.
7 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.
Title: Empowered
Summarize last week: Unstoppable… (God builds the church)
Remember Gamaliel’s advice:
38 “So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown;
39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”
It is interesting that the scripture makes the point that if God does it, it can’t be stopped, but immediately follow with the strategy the apostles begin to develop…
This is a pattern we see in scripture throughout the Old and New Testaments, that God empowers his people to do what He called them to.
Abraham
1 Now the Lord said to Abram,
“Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
Joseph
2 The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.
3 Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and how the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand.
Solomon
11 God said to Solomon, “Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king,
12 wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor those who will come after you.”
In the ministry of Jesus, it was the same…
He empowered them, then sent them out to do the job…
1 And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases.
2 And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing.
This is the pattern… God gives the ability, then expects that ability to be used…
He empowers, then sends…
He equips, then expects…
In Acts 2, God pours out His Spirit, then Peter preaches a sermon that sees a 3000 member altar call.
In Acts 3, God heals a lame man, then Peter and John face their first persecution from the religious leaders of the day, but in the process 5000 more people are saved.
In Acts 4 God shakes the room with His glory, then the church sees a new sense of generosity that provides for the ministry.
But what we see start to happen in Acts 5 is the apostles adjusting to the rapid growth in the first four chapters…
In the same pattern, the first four chapters are God building the church, then expecting the apostles to do what Jesus trained them to do in caring for His people…
And now in Acts 6, the author points out:
1 Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.
While they were increasing in number…
They were growing, and growth requires adjustment…
Acts A. Need for Servants (vv. 1–2)
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.
Just because it’s the church doesn’t mean there aren’t human problems…
Even in the church, we must continue to grow…
Part of growth is uncovering our own hidden biases.
We grow when we address.
Notice, they didn’t just ignore what was happening, they addressed it…
2 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.
3 “Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.
4 “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
They didn’t sweep it under the rug…
They didn’t ignore the problem…
They saw what was happening, heard the complaint, and took action…
God had already empowered them to do ministry. He didn’t open heaven and fix the issue Himself…
He expected His ministers to do their job…
In the same way, He calls and empowers us in every day life and expects us to do OUR JOB!
Expound
Not everyone is called to preach.
Not everyone is called to lead worship..
Not everyone is an intercessor…
When the apostles looked at this issue, they decided to follow the pattern of Jesus and empower others to fill the gap.
You can’t do everything and maintain excellence…
You will end up in a place of mediocracy if you don’t focus on your purpose and vision…
The first thing you have to figure out is what your vision is. What’s the goal God has put in front of you.
What does He want you to achieve?
Then, if it doesn’t move you toward your goal, do you need it?
This is the pattern: God will empower, and He expects you to carry it out.
What has God called you to?
What has God told you not to do?
Where has God called you to go?
What’s holding you back from it?
Altar Call
Deacon Process:
In light of the biblical pattern provided in these scriptures, we want to follow that pattern in all things we do.
Let God empower us as individuals and as a body, then do the work.
This is where strategy and goals come in. God empowers and we carry it out.
Mention the Vision and moving forward
In this chapter, the apostles instructed them to choose men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom…
These men are not called by a title yet, but they are a precursor to what will later be called Deacons.
In fact the word used for “serve” when serving tables in mentioned is diakonia and one who preforms this ministry is a diakonos which is where we get our English word Deacon.
Explain our Deacon rotation, the nominations, and pass out the packets
While they are being distributed, explain the “new business” process and the corresponding paper in the packet.
Business Meeting will be on January 26th at 6pm just before Meet’n’Eat.
The deadline for deacon nominations and New Business is January 19th.
