Acts

the apostles. And when they had prayed they laid hands on them. Then the word of God spread and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem and a great number of and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. May God richly bless both the reading and the hearing of his holy word. Now throughout our studies in the book of Acts we and especially we emphasized this last week that there are three main things that are crucial and have that have been established and they will be repeated throughout the book of Acts. Three critical and crucial facts that dominate the book of Acts. The first one is that the book of Acts is essentially about the continuing work of the crucified and resurrected Christ through the spirit and empowered work of the apostles in the proclamation of the gospel of sovereign divine grace. So the book of Acts is about the continuing work of the crucified and resurrected Christ specifically through the spirit as the spirit empowers the apostles to proclaim the sovereign or the gospel of the sovereign grace of God. Now the proclamation of this message of grace results in the creation of the covenant community and within that covenant community the dynamics of that same grace is displayed in them. So the book of Acts is primarily about the continuing work of the crucified and resurrected Jesus through the spirit empowering the apostles to proclaim the message of sovereign grace and the message of grace creates the covenant community and within that covenant community that grace that is proclaimed is now displayed. So that is the on that's that's a major that is a major theme that is is a crucial fact in the book of Acts. That this is the work of the spirit. This is the continuing work of Christ through the spirit through the apostles in the proclamation of the message of the gospel of sovereign grace which itself creates a community of grace in which the grace that is proclaimed is displayed. Now it is displayed that grace that is proclaimed is displayed in the dynamics of the life of the covenant community. It is declared to the rest of the world for the purpose of evangelism. So here's the first fact that that is a critical part to the book of Acts. That the book of Acts is about the continuing work of the crucified and resurrected Savior through the spirit as he empowers the apostles to proclaim the message or the gospel of sovereign grace. That message of sovereign grace creates a covenant community in which that same grace is displayed. And the grace that is displayed is what propels the covenant community in the dynamics of evangelism to share that good news that sovereign grace to others. But we see also that a second thing that that is persistent and it is a fact throughout the book of Acts that it's you see it found in various places throughout the book. And that is and we noted this especially last week the persistent opposition the persistent opposition to both the display and the declaration of the message of grace. We know that Satan doesn't want that message to get out and so we see early on as early as chapter 4 that there is opposition to this message. In fact the book of Acts will conclude with Paul being in prison for the cause of this message. So we see that even though the one thing that is consistent and persistent throughout the book of Acts is the proclamation of the message or the declaration of the message and the display of that message through the within the covenant community created by it. We also know that until Jesus returns there will be opposition to that word that is preached. Opposition not only to the preaching of the word trying to keep it or hinder it from going forth in declaration but also opposition raised to hinder it from being displayed. And both of these things are it's in both of these areas that we will see opposition. Now the primary source of this opposition is according to scripture Satan or the evil one. That's who opposes the the word and he will use any means at his disposal. He will use the evil that is already within men's hearts. He will use external and internal means to try to keep the word from going forth. Satan is the one who opposes the proclamation and the demonstration of the sovereign grace of God. Second Corinthians chapter four Paul puts it this way in verses three and four. He articulates this point by saying that even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing whose minds the God of this age has blinded it who do not believe lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God should shine on them. Brothers and sisters, Satan does not joy or rejoice in the gospel going forth. Satan is not as opposed to any great things that we do. The one thing that he does not want is for the word of God the sovereign grace of God to be declared to helpless, hopeless sinners. I've often said that Satan wants us to hear law because law condemns. He doesn't want us to hear the gospel because the gospel partens and so Satan relishes in the gospel not going forth. Not only does he not want it to go forth but he doesn't want it to be displayed among the people of God. He doesn't want Christians to live in the light of the gospel. He does not want the testimony of those. He doesn't want to see the testimony of joy that comes from those who have been called out of darkness into the marvelous light. He does not want people to see grace on display by those who have been called into the light. He doesn't want that. That's why he relishes in disruptions. He relishes in conflict within the body of Christ because he wants to hinder the gospel from either going forth in proclamation or he wants to drown out or shadow or cloud the light of those who have been brought into the covenant community. Satan therefore attempts to hinder belief in the gospel by either preventing it from going forth or from veiling the minds of hearers when it does go forth. But here's a third truth that travels throughout all of the pages of the Book of Acts and we see in the first place the continuing work of Christ through the proclamation of the gospel and the creation of the covenant community in which that gospel is on display. We see also that what is going to be with us throughout the Book of Acts and throughout redemptive history is resistance to that word. But thirdly, we are reminded throughout the Book of Acts that the purpose and the power of God both in the declaration of his gospel and the display of the message of grace within the covenant community will never be frustrated. The purpose and power of God in the declaration of the gospel will never be frustrated by the enemy and the purposes of God in displaying that grace within the context of the covenant community. It will never be ultimately victorious or will never be defeated because the enemy does not want the light to shine doesn't mean it won't shine because God's purpose is for the glory of the grace of the message of the gospel would be declared from his people until his son returns and he has determined and it is his purpose that the light of the glory of the gospel would be reflected in the hearts of those who embrace it and even through all of their failures and sins that very light will ultimately shine and Satan will not be victorious. The power and the purpose of God in both the declaration and in the display of the gospel will never ever be frustrated. Well in our text this morning we will look at the potential. We'll look at the potential for hindering the hindering of the gospel from both its display as well as its declaration. Okay, we're going to look at the potential. It doesn't happen. There are some hiccups along the way but we will look at the potential for the hindering of the gospel from both its display and its declaration. Now in chapter 5 the potential for the hindrance came from the threat of the religious leaders. That's where the threat that's where the potential came from. What if the disciples or the apostles had had said okay well that's the law of the land we can't preach and teach in the name of Jesus so we won't do it. What if they had done that then at that point we know God's purposes would not have been frustrated but certainly it would have hindered the word from going forth. And perhaps it did cause some people to second guess whether or not they should sign on with this group. Perhaps it did cause a few evangelists to really think about whether they wanted to continue to proclaim the word but that's one that we will always see in brothers and sisters let me point this out that we should be mindful that even as we speak this morning that physical threat of to those who would preach the gospel or teach in the name of Jesus is realized by brothers and sisters in various parts of this world. Their place is right now that it is illegal for Christians to publicly call on the name of Jesus. I was reading just a secular article I was it was they weren't even talking about missionaries but they were just talking about strange laws in different parts of the world and they went on to listen in the different places in the parts of the world in which it is illegal to proselytite in the name of Jesus in other words to evangelize. So even as we speak and we do have to be careful we touched on this last week that we don't call persecution that we don't call that which is not persecution persecution especially when Christians are being persecuted but understanding we always want to make everything so personal not realizing that when brothers and sisters of the faith are persecuted in any part of the world that's our persecution. It doesn't have to come directly to our doorstep in the same way that it has come to them to make it ours it is ours. When Christians are beheaded for not denying the name of Jesus that's our brother that's our sister when Christians are imprisoned for praying publicly that's our faith and so likewise to understand that this this physical threat that's this this external physical threat that's what was threatening to hinder the word from going forth but in our text this morning we see that the potential for the word hindering the word from going forth is not coming from the external threats it's not coming from anything outside of the camp it's not coming from the religious leaders but we see that it comes from within comes from within the fellowship itself there's a first thing that we should note or observe in this passage notice the non or the potential from non doctrinal and secondary matters to hinder both the display and the declaration of the gospel of grace notice the potential for non-doctrinal in other words not of a doctrinal issue or or nature and it's secondary clearly to the purpose of the church but how this non-doctrinal this secondary matter can potentially hinder both the display of grace as well as its declaration and verse one we are told that there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution a couple of things we need to look here look at here first off what's meant by Hellenists Hellenists refers to the Jews who were born outside of Palestine and who spoke Greek okay so it's not talking about it's not talking about Greeks in general those who are our Gentiles because at this point the gospel had not been extended to the Gentiles so those who were included here are our Jews who were natural descendants of Abraham but for a number of reasons a number of of persecutions and and and other reasons they had been scattered throughout other parts of the of the world and they are called Hellenists because they grew up outside of Palestine and they spoke Greek so it's in fact you noticed that in Peter's first letter he refers to those Christians of the diaspora those who had been dispersed and Peter is written in Greek meaning that he wrote in Greek and he wrote to those who understood Greeks and so that's what's meant by the Hellenists and Hellenists but here's the second thing what is meant by the daily distribution we're not really clear here but it probably has something to do with the efforts that we have seen earlier in Acts in Acts chapter 2 and also later in chapter 4 with with believers coming together sharing in common meals and making sure that the needs of those who were impoverished were being met now one of the characteristics of God's covenant people in the Old Testament is that the two the three groups that they made sure that in fact that the law required that they look out for were the widows the orphans and those who were poor so so what we see on display in this new covenant community is is through the overflow of the spirit in the hearts of individuals that they have compassion we know for the poor because they've already we've already seen the accounts of where they take care of the poor but in this instance it refers to the widows so the daily distribution probably has something to do with the monies that are gathered for the relief of the poor and ministering to the widows possibly since it refers to daily administration possibly those widows who needed financial relief who were being fed by the church not the community hold in mind we're not talking about they they weren't this isn't a soup kitchen okay this is Christians ministering to the needs of other Christians now don't misunderstand me I'm not saying that Christians should not be engaged in soup kitchens I'm saying this is not yet okay so as they were ministering daily to the needs of the widows here's what seems to have taken place these Jews who were born outside of Palestine were considered as outsiders and those who were born within Jerusalem or who lived in Jerusalem and who were born within the parameters of Palestine somehow they viewed those who were born outside of Palestine as being less authentic in other words they questioned the authenticity of their Jew card and so therefore they took it upon themselves to somehow in some way neglect can you imagine this widows because of where they were born and so you notice here that this this is what's taking place so so it's because of where they were from and and so in this sense and in this sense and this action this action this is this is certainly not the displaying of the grace of the gospel this is antithetical and it's in direct contrast to what we read in chapter 4 verse 32 where it says now the multitude of those who who believed were of one heart and soul until they found out where some were born you see they were connected and we we idealized the church and and here's what we see we see that they had all things in common they were of one belief and they were of one heart until they started hanging out and somehow a difference was being made can you imagine this that you're going to make a widow someone who's lost their husband and you we're not talking about this isn't the state this isn't well this this isn't a county worker these are Christians who have been purchased by the blood of Christ and they look at a widow and are more concerned about where they are born more than they are about they are been they have been born again others and sisters this isn't a display of grace this isn't loving as we've been loved and this isn't an operation it happens it ought not happen but it has happened you can imagine the resentment and the tensions because of this neglect this neglect this this neglect and this this complaint and and and in fact I'm sure notice what it says it doesn't say that the widows are the ones who complained it says the helleness so now it's in a sense they've unionized

there are such things as Greeks and helleness and Jews even though they're all Jews even though they're all Christ this is what's taken place but not only do we see what's taken place here notice secondly in verse two that this contention this contention based on one's place of birth now carries over not only into the display of grace which obviously is obscured the grace of God is obscured in such a petty trifling complaint it's not that it's not present it's just obscured but secondly notice in verse two that this contention which already has hindered a proper display of grace from the people of God also has a potential effect of hindering the declaration of the word of God by the apostles and verse two we are told that the the apostles make it clear that that tending to this matter and it's not to say that it's a trivial matter it's trivial it's petty but it's not a trivial matter the fact that it's a contention makes it serious it is a serious matter when Christians discriminate against each other so they understand the seriousness of it it's a serious matter when Christians linger in hatred and resentment and sound and act like the world when they deal with each other it is a serious matter and because it's a serious matter the apostles understand somebody needs to tend to this but notice what they say in verse two it's it's clear that that the apostles they make it clear that tending to this matter would take them from the word of God and so in verse two he they say to the the the twelve say that we should not leave the word of God to serve tables and we'll look at what it means to serve tables in a moment I don't think they were individually are the ones who were distributing the food but but notice that they they say it's not it's not desirable it's not the best thing it's it's a matter that needs to be tended to but this isn't a matter that should take us away from the ministry of the word this is also reiterated in verse four in verse four the apostles make it clear that their priority ought to be prayer in the ministry of the word I don't think they're referring to the act of preaching and the act of teaching in and of itself and this particular instance I think what they what they mean because obviously they're not distributing food while preaching and teaching is going on so this isn't it's not saying that if we do this then we won't be able to preach but I think what is what is alluded to here is the preparation that goes into preaching and that goes into teaching and here's the point that if we give ourselves to this matter then we'll take ourselves away from that which we ought to be focused on which is the preparation and the preaching and the teaching of the word you see brothers and sisters again what they are alluding to is what ought to be the priority and this should be the priority of every church in fact it's not it ought to be the priority it is the priority of the church it is the only question is whether or not we as local congregations recognize what our priorities are God has already told us what our priority is and so in other words here's the point the point is that tending to this matter will take them away from prayer from the prayer and the preparation that is necessary for the ministry of the word and the effect of that would be not good sermons that's what the what is the effect if you have those who are supposed to be set apart for the ministry of the word and they don't have time to focus on the word because they have to deal with prejudices among God's people and whatever else that is attached to and certainly there are many overlapping tensions and conflicts as a result of this prejudice mindset towards Jews who were born outside the Palestine where do you begin to deal with that and so in dealing with this it would have taken them away from the primacy of preaching and preparing to preach the word and the ministry of prayer notice what Peter and the rest of them say that's not desirable that's not good and the reason is not good is because the thing the church ought to be about in fact the very reason you have widows to minister to the very reason you have a community is because of the ministry of that word and so here's what they are saying the point is attending to this matter will take them away from prayer and preparation that is necessary for a fruitful ministry of the word and the effect would be seen in their declaration and so the ministry of the word ought to be the priority of the church and if it's the priority of the church then those who are called to that ministry ought to be set free to pursue it but here's a third thing to note recognize look at the solution that the apostles present hey here's the problem the problem is that that Christians are not acting like Christians that's the problem is not saying that they're not but he's saying they're not acting like they're Christians and and so somebody needs to deal with this and so here's the solution that the apostles given verse three it says seek out seven men of good reputation full of the Holy Spirit and full of wisdom that we may appoint them over you or to these matters to to look over these matters so in other words here are some qualifications you go look out and look and find people who meet these qualifications and then bring them to me and we'll see whether or not they meet those qualifications and then we will appoint them to these matters it does tell us that that this is a serious matter but here's a couple of things that stands out to me and by the way this is these are the first deacons of the church these are the first officers of the church outside of the apostles and the elders and so here's what we see it's kind of interesting and as I was about to say Paul enlarges in the qualifications for this office later in first Timothy chapter three but there are two things that stand out to me about these qualifications or about the solution offered by these apostles in the first place here's the first thing that stands out first of all notice how few these men are seven seven two seven men that's in proportion to what seems to be a rather large congregation in chapter two verse 41 we are told that 3,000 became believers on the day of Pentecost alone we are told later in chapter five that multitudes of men and women were at it and then we are even told later here that that the congregation was multiplying yeah we don't know how many of them were widows but it seems like the daily distribution wasn't just confined to the widows but it was the widows that were being neglected in the distribution so it seems like seven seems to be a small number it's amazing that we get churches and we we are so stuck on numbers that it's got to be and we've listened to all of the scientists you need this many in proportion they had seven seven deacons seven seven deacons now they weren't just any old deacons they weren't a lower standard of deacons they were of the high the high caliber but seven in proportion to a membership of thousands seems to be a small number here's the second thing you notice remember what the problem is the problem seems to center around food distribution right but notice that the qualifications for those who are to oversee it has nothing to do with food distribution notice that the qualifications for those who are to be appointed those who are appointed by the apostles the qualifications that are described here are all spiritual in nature they are to be spiritual they are to be mature they are to be wise full of the spirit and perhaps one of the reasons that they needed to be approved by the apostles was because they were the ones those who at the oversight of those congregations were able to determine whether or not it was true wisdom and so what might looks like wisdom may not have been and so you bring them to the apostles and the apostles will say okay yeah this this is what we're talking about and then we will put them over these matters but here's what I find interesting that these few men who are are set apart to take care of this work and the qualifications for their office is not the ability to do you know sing or anything like that I remember asking brother once about the office of Deacon he said well I would love to but I can't sing I don't see singing well the reason he said that is because the church tradition he had come from what the Deacons did was lead what is known some of us are familiar with the devotional service where the Deacons would lead him and then pray and I said first off there is no such thing in all of worship is devotion so there is no prelim there's no warm-up show to devotion or to worship and we don't see singing as a qualification so it provided me a great opportunity as to why I had talked to this brother about being a Deacon I said I didn't call you because of I didn't ask you to consider this office because of your singing ability here's what the scriptures describe as your qualifications I see you as a man of wisdom I see within you I see I see evidence of the Holy Spirit you have a good reputation that's why I'm coming to you the brothers and sisters here's what I would suggest I suggest that the reason for both the number as well as the qualifications for the office of Deacon is that these men were selected to oversee the distribution to oversee the the distribution and not to actually serve tables but to deal with the conflicts that had arisen you see notice what what what they say that find find these men it says that we may set them over appoint them over this business appoint so in other words whatever whoever was already taken care of the distribution left them continue to distribute but the Deacons were to be dispersed so that they could deal with how the distribution took place in other words I don't think they replaced anyone in terms of of those who were actually doing the work but it seems as if the Deacons were to be present to be eyes and ears and to make sure that the Spirit of the fellowship that the Spirit of the transaction was not being poisoned by the ways of the world that is already manifested self in the thinking of the people in other words brothers and sisters I think the issue here is not the matter of just making sure that the food distribution is more equitable in other words make sure they didn't they weren't I don't think they needed these qualifications to make sure that the the hell in this widow's were given given the same amount as the Palestinian no you don't need to be full of the Spirit to do that but you do need the wisdom of the Spirit to check those who see something wrong with brothers and sisters because of where they were born you see you do need the discernment of the Spirit to see those tensions that others may not be aware of and to nip it in the bud in other words what these seven men were supposed to be is an example and an extension of the doctrine they had received under the feet of the apostles and so therefore the process was to continue but look at what's happened here without any arm being raised against the church without any threat any other new threat coming in here's what could potentially happen that somehow food something food food tangible food that can spoil so it becomes a point of contention among those who have been saved by the bread of life

somehow grace that has called them out of darkness makes them think there's its darker outside of Palestine than it is in Palestine somehow they are comparing their ethnicity or the point of origin and thinks it's more than our common origin in Christ brothers and sisters go to the business meeting in which that was discussed and tell me how the grace of God is on display we are saved to be light and listen here's the potential it didn't happen but here's the potential not only was the witness of the church compromised by this this issue but in dealing with it potentially the ministers of the gospel would have needed to leave the preparation necessary for full orb presentation of Christ from all of scriptures to go and referee stuff that that seems like coming off of an elementary school playground you see the gospel that's that's not a threat that's not coming from that's not coming from the religious leaders that's not coming from outside that's coming from inside these things this issue has the potential of of shouting the message or the witness of grace and hindering the apostles from clearly and freely proclaiming it all brothers and sisters I think these deacons were chosen so that they could challenge the professing Christian to look at their brother and sister through the lens of Christ and not through the lens of the world let me give four observations in conclusion first off we see the priority of the church is the ministry of the word and since the priority of the of the church is the ministry of the word then even the mindset of the church ought to be in the promotion and propagation of that ministry of the word that means at least a number of things but on the one hand it means that those who are pointed to the ministry of the word must be free to prepare in it and shame on the preachers I I was sharing with the brother last week I said you know here's the great here's the great blight in our in our generation that we have malnourished Christians because we have poorly prepared sermons and as is here's the concern is that that I think ministers those those who are in ministry ought to be devoted to the things of ministry and if it's sometimes being being by vocational is necessary but the aim ought to always be towards fully devoted to the word of God and here's I listen to a lot of sermons and brothers and sisters trust me it doesn't take six hours to prepare much of the jump that I hear six hours to get up and say that he's a way out of no way it didn't take six hours to say that and brothers and sisters if the priority of the of the church ought to be the proclamation of the word the the ministry of the word then we need to free ministers to be in the word but ministers who have been free to be in the word need to be in the word Hey man we need to spend time in the word and I like what it's what's added here in prayer I didn't I didn't understand I you know we all pray and but I didn't understand for years the the priority and the necessity of prayer as a part of the preparation process and it's not just praying over the word it's praying over the souls that will be receiving that word so here's what we see in the first place the priority of the church is the ministry of the word both both in its declaration and in its demonstration in other words our priority ought to be that the gospel of grace is proclaimed but it also ought to be that we are concerned that in our gathering small and great that the gospel that is proclaimed is displayed that's why Paul says or Jesus says love one another as I have loved you and so it is important as Paul says as we are children of God we ought to be imitators of God and walk in the light secondly understand this that because our priority is the ministry of the word in both demonstration and in declaration secondly therefore Satan's desire is to either to hinder either the demonstration or the declaration or both here's what Satan wants he he doesn't really care what the Supreme Court says or whatever he doesn't really care about this you know so much that we think he's concerned about all he wants all he cares about now if he can get some help in other areas if we just mess up and live raggedy he loves that sure but here's what he wants more than anything he doesn't want the name of Jesus proclaimed and he doesn't want the truth of Jesus reflected in a dark world that's why Peter Jesus could call Peter he said you know Peter and Caesarea Philippi you know you you are the Christ the Son of the living God and Jesus even acknowledged his flesh and blood didn't reveal that to you Peter but but my father who was in heaven and then Jesus goes on to talk about the things that he must suffer and then Peter says no we won't have that and rebuilt Jesus and Jesus says you get behind me Satan you're trying to keep me from the cross get behind me saying you're concerned about the things of the world and brothers and sisters even Christians can be consumed by the things of the world and become satanic in our speech and our thoughts but here's third thing we should be mindful of the secondary things that can either hinder the proclamation or the declaration or or the display I should say of the message of grace or both we should be we should be mindful that that all of our opposition and I've I fully believe that for the most part in in the foreseeable history or the foreseeable future American Christians do not have to worry about the threat of external forces coming into our places of worship telling us that we cannot call on the name of Jesus but here's what we do have to our what we have to guard against little foxes that sneak in that that that shout the light of grace the small things that take our ministers away from ministering in the word I like what Paul says when he prays he asks the the collotions I think to pray for him and he says pray for me that the word of God would have free course through me brothers and sisters things secondary things can cause Christians to act like they're not Christians it's amazing free food that's all this is about free food

but it has the potential for drowning out the fact that we have been saved by a wonderful grace and it has the potential from keeping the minister away from being given to the word of God so that when he stands it seems like he's been in the word of God I love what it says you know when they were when the apostles were first arrested or on the day of Pentecost and and people heard them and and they said you know what these men have been with Jesus I wish more of our sermons reflected that the ones who preach it have been with Jesus that we have spent time laboring in his laboring in his word and we have we have considered the implications of his word and we have we have we have measured out his word and proclaimed it none of this stuff well I just I just let the spirit lead me I don't prepare no brothers and sisters the ministry of the spirit is with the prepared mind and here's how secondary things can keep us be aware of that that secondary things what is it that splits our churches not doctrinal matters is these matters the fourth and finally brothers and sisters here's another thing that we should be mindful of as we see this passage we can see that this can happen to the best of our churches it can happen we see nothing but good things about this church thus far we had the little scenario with with Adonias and Sophia but that was a private thing every time we see about the church described as being gathered corporate me it's always in positive terms there's no new heresy that's hit them it's the old nature that's not been subdued by the gospel of grace but here's what we love about this and here's what's true of the people of God we see the fight in verse seven that the word of God spread it's like a big parenthesis because we see we see at the end of chapter four at the end of chapter five excuse me in verse 42 and daily in the temple and in every house they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ and then in verse seven is the other end or so that's the statement and then here's the parenthesis verses one from six of chapter six and brothers and sisters here's here's what makes this so humbling and here's what makes this so so so so it pierces that if this can happen in a church where Christ is clear and central how much more can it happen when Christ is not as clear and not as central oh brothers and sisters let us not minimize the effects of minimizing the person and work of Jesus and how do we maximize Jesus and what we proclaim and how we perform you see in other words as he is made much of it challenges and changes what we think and when he is minimized and we will look at others as well as whether it's in the church or out of the church we will look at others according to the lens of the world rather than who we are in Jesus when we make much of Jesus it's not that food distribution doesn't take place it just doesn't become the center of conversation but when we make little of Jesus that which takes place trumps our Lord and our Savior my prayer is that we would see a church in our generation we would be a church in our generation where the the false thoughts and failures of dealing with fallen people is a reality but it's dealt with and it never becomes bigger than Jesus himself amen