Collaborating
Notes
Transcript
But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.
So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”
Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.
So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.
Collaborating with One Another
There is no hierarchy in ministry for the kingdom
-Peter and the other 12 were anointed to share what they had seen and experienced in their time with Jesus.
- This work that was needing to be done was vastly important for the work God was doing in the community....if it was not something God was leading them to do they would not have continued this ministry.
-Going back to Acts 2:42 the administration of food and sharing resources was something that was inspired by the Holy Spirit (we are going to look deeper into this next week) and thus this work was needing someone who was being lead and anointed for this work.
-James writes of this very topic and shows the anointing on this work in James 1:27
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
—Finding a place to collaborate with the rest of the body is a part of the spiritual growth for each and every person.
-When there is a feeling of spiritual stagnancy in your life ......if there is not sin that has crept into your life then finding a place to serve....according to James is a way into break through and spiritual growth where God’s blessings will continue to pour out into our lives.
-Our spiritual lives were never meant to be a cerebral practice of mental ascension, but a living out what God is doing with in our hearts.
God has designed each one of us to serve in unique ways
-I would go as far to say that Peter would not have done very well with this ministry.....not every person is called to every position. God gives us grace to work in what he has called us and to work through what needs to be done among the body. What does this phrase mean?
The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, “They will come from all directions and attack us!” So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows.
Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”
When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. But from then on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. The leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah who were building the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. All the builders had a sword belted to their side. The trumpeter stayed with me to sound the alarm.
-The delegation of ministry to the right people who have a passion for that ministry is just as important to us as the body as completing that ministry ourselves.
-If you have seen a certain ministry at Melwood in the past and you dont see that ministry happening now....we need to ask ourselves if this is something we are passionate about doing as a community....would you be willing to take leadership of that ministry?
-If not then we know that the ways we are accomplishing what God has called us to do will look different because those members of our body are different today than they were previously.
Collaborating with the Holy Spirit
No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him.”
But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.
When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.
As we spend time in the presence of the Holy Spirit he will reveal to us the desires of his heart
-Jesus wants to dream through our lives
-Using our Holy Imagination brings us a step closer to the reality of Your Kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
-This is a spiritual gift that is available to all who spend time listening......plumbing the depths of the Spirit
Application
Waste time in the presence of Jesus
indiscriminate periods of time just soaking in his presence
praying....this is not talking the whole time
worshiping.....has nothing to do with singing....telling him who he is Lord you are.....pick a characteristic of Jesus
writing....what you have seen him do, what you would like to see him do....write down any responses you hear in the Spirit so you can test them against scripture and with other believers.
working
Listening/reading to scripture
Find ways to use the gifts/abilities God has given you to bless His world
-This year I, along with the rest of the leadership team, am working to resource you with ways that you can serve in various areas of the ministry of Melwood in all levels of our quarantine.
-If you are willing or wanting to leave your house ....there is ministry waiting for you.
-If you don’t want to leave your house there is ministry for you.
-We are going to find ways that you can participate in the ministry of the body as much as you desire whether it is from the comfort of your house or out participating at your level of comfort.
-It is vital that we work out what God is working in us