Christianity’s Close Call (Part C)

All ready to report the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until mid-July and if you want to follow the Bible on this point today be up to midnight. Romans chapter 1, for I long to see you said Paul, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift so that you may be established more than just saying you know Abraham was from Mesopotamia. That's Bible study. This needs to be that there has to be something that God is bringing out just for that audience. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston.

Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of acts. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, and now here's Pastor Rick with the conclusion of his message called Christianity's close call as he teaches in acts chapter 6, I got into ministry serving waiting on tables and it was wonderful as a noble and a high work for the Lord. We have many table servants here. I serve this table to Pope.

We have others that serve other tables throughout the church. Every Christian is encouraged to to find where they belong in a church if you just at the phase we are just receiving the word consent and receive the word until God says otherwise. In fact, it took me two years to figure out. I should be serving.

I wasn't the brightest light bulb in the lamp by the well one day sitting in the pew right about that area in which of the church and the announcer came up with very monotone. We need ushers in the and God said, you should get that get into that and and I did and I never I have not stopped serving Simpson so don't undervalue the announcements God can speak to you. They are also. Anyway, other ministries were not to take away from their ministry, Jesus apostles were majoring in the majors and many churches have stopped in the book of Kings is a story of the wicked King Ahab was commanded to go execute the wicked king Ben had that Syria and he doesn't execute him. He spares his life. So the prophet is dispatched and he goes he's going to means that you should've killed him not schedule be more problem and but to illustrate his point.

He acts as though the prophet acts as though he is a soldier that lost his prisoner and he says to the king first Kings 20 verse 40 while your servant was busy here and there he was gone he makes his point of Kings pretty mad with him quest providences hides me just made my parable to you, but the point is made from Scripture. He had one thing to do by command and that was to take care of that prisoner, but he was busy with this and that and he lost what he was supposed to retain there is a lesson that is.

That was the meaning of the parable that King was supposed to do what he was assigned to do when he got into being a politician came he got into other thing is wicked anyway. This word for serve. Here diagonals from we get our English word deacon. Now we know not refer to our directly as to our ushers here. For example, as deacons, because all that serve in the church are deacons from those who sing to those who work the cameras of those in the chapel store the café. The children's ministry, those who clean your all deacons your all servants in that sense, ushers actually is a word that comes to us from the Latin and means doorkeeper that goes back to the book to the Bible does it not the doorkeepers in the house of God. They were some serious guys that mean is a honorable position when you come to this church. I see the men often open the doors for you to let you in and lock them to keep you know they don't do that, but it's a good idea too many Christian activists are loyal to a cause and not to causes of Christ, the person of Christ and Satan attacks us there so if you have a church or you're in a church and you you succeed you achieve your goal objectives.

Now you've got a fight to retain them because they going to be forces in the way of humans claiming Christ going to come in and try to take it from you because many Christians. They visit a church they feel entitled they feel distant title to come in and just take over Gaza, verse three. 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, church workers from church attendees.

They were not important. They raise them up from the it within this goes back to Exodus chapter 18 Moses summarize this yet again in Deuteronomy and Deuteronomy 1 he looks back at the many years ago and is so Moses was overwhelmed, but his father Jethro said to him you doing too much. You've got to delegate some of this work, and in his advice.

Choose wise, understanding and knowledgeable man from among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you and make them and that's what happened. That is exactly what happened and ended helped the people survived that wilderness experience and so there's the precedents biblically for the apostles to choose those of understanding and knowledge from among the tribes in this case the church. The people were allowed to nominate who they thought should take on this task is made perfect sense. The apostles might not of been so familiar with all of the Hellenistic Jews are there a lot of ways that could have gone on the could of said listen, you know what will let them choose this way. This backfires that build them. That would've been wise that I don't I don't think that was for thinking. I think they just felt I choose Julio comfortable with just delegating this out because the people felt cheated and to have their own impositions as overseers greatly reduce the tension that he says of good reputation, character proceeds, mention of being filled with the Holy Spirit. You notice that some claim to be full of the spirit, but their behavior says otherwise.

Maybe they just not developed yet. They are full of the spirit of the just not developed as a Christian, you still have a lot of the world and at your new crew a new believer can be full of the Holy Spirit in just a little clumsy still. First Timothy chapter 3 where Paul addresses these things in the church is is but let these also first be tested and let them serve as deacons being found blameless. Let them service servants. That's what he's saying. Another of the Greek words as as as its root errand boys those who go on Aaron servants read and that's who we are.

We are unaware about the king's business is not a derogatory, menial tasks, honorable position to be a servant to be an errand boy for God Almighty. I'll take it. David said I'll be a doorkeeper in the house of God. Really, that's just wonderful. But there are those that think when they come to a church that they should be allowed to serve right away, but the Bible says no let them first be tested. You know who they are and they don't really know who you are. I get to know each other a little bit first Corinthians 4.

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful steward is someone who manages someone else's property and all servants of Christ manage what belongs to him, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, not people of talent, people of character people of God being a hard worker is not enough. We need more if if that's all you have than you you you leaving your letting other resources that you do have and are not developing your letting them waste away evaporate. But if you are filled, you will work hard because the love of the Lord will compel you Christian character is not in good doing Christian character is not in good doing it is in Christ likeness and that Christ likeness will do good and this is the did the balance between show me your deeds, and also your faith show me your faith and I'll show you my deeds. It's that the sub perfect balance paradox is not a contradiction character counts because it exerts influence it influence admit it makes things happen or not or stops things from happening. So men of reputation, but otherwise enough. Okay the good but they wise enough for this job full of the Holy Spirit.

Okay, yeah, there is no disputing that. But have they been tested to see how they operate under pressure wisdom okay there wise, but do they have the spirit is all tied in together and if they arrived over the years we've come across. Christian get offended at this, just like they just say I'm here now and you need to know that you need help and I'm on that helper and move over, and we we we left them so at them so hard we will him for pointing at them holding ability giggling okay we don't do that, but the flesh would like us to do that we don't never reuses disappointing enemies were very take ups work very seriously and I make the jokes like that because I know that you are thinking the same thing. You're in my spot. Anyway, whom we may appoint over this business. Well, you can either support pastoral authority or you can challenge it. The people here are going to support Paul Mr. Garth challenge it.

Which one are you in the picture pastoral authority. It is not a power trip. First Peter five verses one through three lead right out not as morning over the flock which shepherds of the house of God, you have to lead, but you're not a tyrant. It is guarded gift to the church and those who ignore this again should be ignored because they are dis-regarding what Scripture clearly says and this subtle deception to redirect pastors from prayer and ministry of the word and that catch that now ministry of the word goes far beyond Bible study. It is a little annoying.

The someone says all I want to do is teach the Bible yeah well the pastors are in the trenches with the people the whole lot more than just teaching the Bible teaching the Bible is paramount but are you taking hits for the people. Are you putting up with what the the stuff that Christians can sling at you. Are you upholding what God has said to uphold, no matter the criticisms that come your way, this church has had a high concentration of men serving in the children's ministry. Fortunately, not the nursery but with the other children they are teaching the word of God and that means learning the word of God. If you can't teach children you got a question if you're able to teach adults. Children will put you into a whole another zone when the good in you parents. You know this because they asked these questions man with that come how do I know the answer to the head.

I don't that's why rather teach you than them there smarter.

Well, verse four, but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word. If they do not pray then how will they know what to say if they do not pray.

How will they know how to apply what has been said, we are interdependent.

This goes back as they could from second Chronicles chapter 31. Moreover, this David setting up the temple worship. He commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute support for the priest and the Levites that they might devote themselves to the law of Yahweh.

I love how the Bible ties into everything you can make this stuff up if a human author.

This it would be so clumsy with the misfits would be all over the place. They're locked in and the bigger the deeper you dig into them. The more you find it supernatural pastors, not just giving a Bible study is supposed to deliver a message. Acts chapter 4 Peterson, for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard Fleming's gonna get with God to do that and that's exactly what happened with Peter. They walk with Christ for 3 1/2 years. Acts 20 verse seven now on the first day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. And if you want to follow the Bible on this point today be up to midnight. Romans chapter 1, for I long to see you said Paul, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift so that you may be established is more than just saying you know Abraham was from Mesopotamia. That's Bible study. This needs to be that there has to be something that God is bringing out just for that audience and I like the cyst prayer and the ministry of the word notice to the order because it is significant first prayer, then ministry of the word. They made a point to speak to God before they spoke to men and that is the simple meaning in the ministry of the word it says here at the bottom of verse four.

Jesus told Peter to feed his lambs tend to see and feed his sheep and the feeding is a metaphor for the teaching of the word of God and that attending is the ministry of the word, going beyond just the teaching.

But yet the hospital visits to the marriage ceremonies to premarital counseling. The counseling's in the problems that come up in the lives of people there at the graveside, administering the word of God. The ministry of the word, a congregation should demand this if they're not getting Luke chapter 1 talks about.

I did a lot of research on this, he says, just as those from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered to us. I got goosebumps reading this because this is from God to us, gives us that confidence that can't be shaken easily.

Paul wrote the Titus holding fast the faithful word is he is been taught that he may be able by sound teaching sound doctrine both to exhort and convict those who contradict are you picking up the bullets.

These are bullets for us to use against the forces of hell. Don't forget these things because Satan does not want you to have them as special in your heart does not want you to uphold. He wants you to compromised verse five in the sink please the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip prosperous Michael timeline part me and us and Nicholas a proselyte from Antioch Christianity at work and the saying please the multitude. Thank God it can be done if they can do it we can do with a look at this. Is there with you but they had faith us to had was that mean God is not impart faith anymore. Judges chapter 5.

This is when Deborah and Barack RX. I keep doing that and I need to correct it defeated the Midianites and they wrote a song about it when leaders lead in Israel. When the people willingly offer themselves. Bless Yahweh the church is to lead by consent. And that's a picture of it from Judges 5 verse two and they chose Stephen then void me and he is a dynamo. Stephen is the one is going to pulsate anyway. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.

Yahweh became the first modern in the church church wasn't established until Pentecost we had Christianity phase in through of course our Lord since his cross and his resurrection.

The apostles did not dictate the nominations they of course included the people Stephen stood out for these men just name come from the 3000 that were saved at Pentecost. We don't know for sure. Philip is mentioned and Philip. He became really the first missionary of the church we read this about him when Paul goes to visit him and accept 21 Philip the evangelist, he moved up he started out just serving tables and next thing you know God is miraculously using him as he becomes a pastor and then he's known as the evangelist's daughters were just quick to sing songs of praise to the Lord carrying the gospel to Samaria and also the those the event with the Ethiopian looking. I'm so looking forward to these events. The other men prosperous Michael Norton Timon arming us.

We don't we know nothing else about that now there is this article shallow stuff here and there, but we can't count on the loose history of the Bible doesn't say anything else.

Nicholas, a proselyte Nicholas like Luke was a Gentile, and Nicholas became a Jew. He was attracted to the Jewish faith, not ethnically, religiously, and in doing this, he then becomes a Christian follows it to its conclusion. The Messiah is Christ, he realizes that and that's an interesting one know Cornelius will come along. The corneas would be the first Gentile news did not become a proselyte, though he loved the Jewish people. Verse six, whom they set before the apostles and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. They didn't just say okay these are your nominations, that's fine. They prayed as lawyers anything were missing here about these people is anything we should know about these people before we go ahead and go forward with this Christ given authority was not wasted in these men nor the church, and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.

They place their hands on them to pray for them. That's what this means. This was now spiritual and officially spiritual their appointment.

We practice it to this day. It was practice in Deuteronomy 34 where Moses did this laid hands on Joshua Jesus uses our hands as his hands.

He uses our voice to say what he wants to say this is that interdependence that I was referring to if you are totally dependent on God and in the sense that I'm using it. Then the how can he get anything done through you.

You waiting for him to do it all. If you are interdependent with God as he is arranging to get a lot done that way_someone since were totally dependent on God. That is not the context that I am using it verse seven were almost done, then the word of God spread in the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith says is exciting to be in Jerusalem right now.

This then the word of God spread is Luke emphasizes throughout acts is the direct outcome of how Christianity responded to the injustice, how they lovingly responded to that threat.

That was a very close call again.

What would've happened if the apostle said okay with that nevermind Scripture nevermind prep, what would it look like what what would you look like if there was no prayer and no no Scripture in your life and you claim Christ. What would what would happen to what would not happen to you may will put it that way. What could happen to you if you are child of prayer and a student of the word. I doesn't mean you've got to be in a writing dissertations on the Greek or something like that. It just means you need to be in the word you're at least your devotional time and put it into action. The apostles being clear about their role, their calling and which was to pray and to preach in the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem. Again, emphatic. The first task of the believer is not to make disciples. The first goal of a new believer is not to make disciples.

It is to be a disciple, then that makes disciples otherwise.

Matthew seven how can you say to your brother, let me remove the speck from your eye and look you have a plank sticking out your own salsa basic principle of addressing oneself first.

Now waiting to be perfect, but certainly beginning the necessary steps you know if you been around Christianity long enough and you been around other Christians you're discipling incident is just the bits of beautiful process where people learn Christianity without other Christians I've learned so much about pastoral ministry from Chuck Smith that I would be like so many other churches.

Well, maybe not that bad but WI just so much I've learned about one of the one of the great ones a seamless ministry.

We are ministered to word and you don't even know you not even mindful of all the things that go into making an environment by which you can sit without distraction and receive what God has to say is so much that goes into it. So many servants that make it happen well and a great many of priests were obedient to the faith with these guys become the problem that ends up in Antioch with these guys be so possessive of their heritage that they would not give in to grace with the transition from the law of Moses to the grace of Messiah Christ be too much for them when they cling to what God was making obsolete people do it today. They come from really a denomination or another church and they cling to something either the Bible and said this is not the way to do it is very difficult sometimes for people to learn this with baby the Judaizers would make life miserable for the apostle Paul would they be new wineskins or old wineskins. When the spirit of God poured into them with a burst and make a mess all over the place because they refuse the flexibility that was offered to them through grace this coming to Christ of the priest would be something that the devout Jews likely were really upset about, and this would contribute more than likely to the confrontations that Stephen is going to do you see him is that Stephen is going to be up in their face is not going to put up with it any enemy but but that wasn't for Philip to do that we have to understand that's who God made in Stephen. He did not do the same thing in Philip but he used both of them in a very mighty way. So in closing the lessons from the book of acts are they unpleasant to you because you've learns Christianity in a different way of a different brand of church or you seeing that you know this is how they the first Christians did it, and is preserved for us to follow the example being disciple or are you and flexible to me to know some things in the Bible. I don't care that whole thing about turning the other cheek likes that is your name, but that's that mental wholeness move you've been listening to cross reference radio daily radio ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia. As we mentioned at the beginning of today's broadcast. Today's teaching is available free of charge at our website.

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