Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Spiritual Gifts from God | Above are the
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September 10, 2023
“Spiritual Gifts from God: Part Five”

1Corinthians 12:1, “Concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.” 4-5, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.” 7, “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” 18, “But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.” 27, “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.”

Every believer is gifted to serve in the body of Christ, the church of God: (cf. Romans 12:6-8) prophecy [proclaiming God’s Word], serving [ministering to the basic needs of believers], teaching [interpreting and explaining God’s Word], exhorting [encouraging obedience to God’s Word], giving [generously and freely to those in need], leading [guiding or governing by example, with diligence],  showing mercy [expressing compassion and empathy, in order to lesson another’s burdens and comfort their sorrows].

Last we we studied about one of ordained offices in the Church, that of Elders [who the man is within the Church] or Overseers [what the mans does in serving the Church] , also called Pastors or Shepherds [how the man.

Acts 20:17, “From Miletus [Paul] sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.” 28, “ Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

1Peter 5:1-3, “Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.

The men who lead the church as Elders, are provided with a blend of the gifts recorded in Romans 12:6-8, as prophecy, teaching, exhorting, and leading; for their main work is to manage and care for the flock of God, as Paul writes (Ephesians 2:12-14), “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

Today we will study what the Bible tells us about the other ordained office given to the Church as a gift from God, the office of Deacon [Greek diakonos = servant].  The men and women who care for the church as Deacons, are provided with a blend of the gifts recorded in Romans 12:6-8, as serving, giving, showing mercy.

There is only one place in the New Testament where we find the qualifications given for the office of Deacon; these qualifications are listed after, and yet include some of the same qualifications given to the office of Elder/Overseer.                          1Timothy 3:8 says, “Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain.”  “Likewise” refers back to 1Timothy 3:1, which states, “If any man aspires to the office of overseer…”                    That indicates deacons occupy an ordained office, as overseers do.  So in the church there is to be a plurality of godly men (overseers in 1Timothy 3:1; elders in Titus 1:5) who are responsible to lead and care for God’s church, and they are assisted in caring for the flock by the deacons.

The biblical emphasis is not on the organization or the office; but instead on the servant-leader’s spiritual qualifications in 1Timothy 3; Titus 1, and his or her responsibility and duty to serve the Church of God.

The qualifications for Deacon are about personal and spiritual character.

Personal character…  First, deacons must be dignified (1Timothy 3:8).  This means that they must be worthy of respect and do not treat serious things lightly.

The Greek word for “dignity” is semnos, which means “venerable, honorable, reputable, grave, serious, and stately.”  The same Greek word appears in Titus 2:2, which says that older men “are to be dignified, temperate, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.”

A deacon must not be “double-tongued,” i.e., not one who says one thing to one person and something else to another; but instead, they are always consistent and truthful in what they say.  Next, deacons are not to be addicted to wine; but instead are to be know for their sober-mindedness and self-control.  Finally, Paul says that deacons should not be fond of dishonest gain (deacons sometimes handle church funds), we know that desires for financial gain can corrupt a person and have brought many to ruin.

Spiritual character…  Deacon’s must hold (1Timothy 3:9), “to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.”  In other words, deacons must have convictions based on sound biblical doctrine, leading to a clear conscience, based on faith in the Lord the application of God’s truth in their life.

Deacons must first be tested (1Timothy 3:10), “then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.”  Before a person is officially appointed as a deacon, he or she must have proved themself to be faithful in serving the Lord, so as to be above reproach or any accusation for sinful living.  Those who are not above reproach are disqualified from serving as deacons.

1Timothy 3:11 begins, “Women must likewise be dignified.”  Again, “likewise” relates back to an office of the church.  Contrary to the King James Version’s translation of that verse, “Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things,” we know Paul was not talking about the wives of deacons, there is no pronoun used to refer to wives; in fact, the word for wives is not in the text, but instead it is the Greek word for women.  Also, since there are no comments about the wives of elders, why would there be any comments about the wives of deacons?

The Greek word for “women” in 1Timothy 3:11 is gunaikas.  Apparently Paul used that term to be specific since there is no feminine form of diakonos, and otherwise it would be assumed that deacons could only be male, since the very same form of the word diakonos is neutered, being both masculine and feminine; it would have been unclear for Paul to use just the term diakonos if he wanted to refer to female servers, so he identified them as women.

Are there any references to female deacons in the Bible?  In Romans 16:1 we read, “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant [diakonos] of the church which is at Cenchrea.”  Phoebe was recognized by the church for her service.  It is very possible, although it is not clearly stated, that she served in an official capacity as deacon in the local church in Cenchrea.

1Timothy 3:12, concerning male deacons, is the same as 1Timothy 3:2, concerning male elders, saying they must be, “the husband of only one wife.” The Greek text in both passages actually reads that he is to be, “a one-woman man,” single-mindedly devoted to his wife, or fiancé, or girlfriend.  This is not talking about whether or not a man is married, or has been divorced, it is talking about him being totally faithful and devoted to his own wife.

Deacons, if married, are to be (1Timothy 3:12) “good managers of their children and their own households” this is applied to elders (1Timothy 3:4), with the additional verse 5 saying, ”if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?.”  And so, a deacon must demonstrate some kind of management ability, by the way he manages his own children and household, just as an elder must do.

Although specific personal and spiritual qualifications must be met by those who serve in the office of deacon, every member of the Body of Christ should seek to exemplify those qualifications, whether they serve as a recognized office-holding deacon, or simply as a servant to the Family of God. The qualifications of 1Timothy 3 should be a goal and a guideline for every believer.

Philippians 1:1-6, “Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

So then, we see that there are two distinct church offices described in 1Timothy 3: elders (male only), and deacons (male and female); but what is the major difference in the manner and the method of service between elders and deacons?  Elders must be equipped and capable to both teach and lead the flock of God, whereas deacons are to serve under the direction of the elders, as they maintain awareness of the basic needs among those in the congregation.

Elders have the primary ministry responsibility of Teaching the Word, and Shepherding the Flock of God; whereas, the deacon’s primary function is to care for the flock’s basic needs, by providing various forms of support: familial, physical, emotional, spiritual, and sometimes financial.  In this way, the elders are freed up to pray, study the Word, oversee and lead the church.

In a special sense, the deacon’s task sums up the essence of spiritual greatness.  Our Lord said (Matthew 20:26-28), “Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,” (Mark 10:45), “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

The Lord Jesus Himself, then, is the model for those who would step into the deacon’s role.  It is a role of service, of sacrifice, and of commitment to others’ needs.  The reward of the deacon’s office is not the temporal glory that comes from human admiration and praise, but rather the eternal blessing that comes from living a life of spiritual service to the glory of God, at the end of which they will, no doubt, hear (Matthew 25:21), “Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a few things, [and so now] I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”

 
Pastor Mike
>’(((><

Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Spiritual Gifts from God | Above are the
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September 3, 2023
“Spiritual Gifts from God: Part Four”

The past three Sundays I have taught about the Spiritual Gifts from God that have been given to those who belong to the church of God.  The first and foremost gift is the Holy Spirit, given at Pentecost, when God’s Church on earth was birthed.  And then, to all who believe in Jesus Christ for salvation, spiritual gifts were given so that we may serve God and one another as members of God’s Family.

To the Church, God has given the gift of Elders to shepherd, manage, and care for the Flock of God.  God has also given to the Church, the gift of Deacons who are to serve under the leadership of the Elders for the purpose of caring for the basic needs of those who are members of God’s Church.

        Today it is my desire to help you understand the qualifications of and the responsibilities given to the Elders.  But in case you may have missed one of the last few weeks, and also,  to remind those who were present, I will highlight the primary truths in Scripture concerning spiritual gifts.

1Corinthians 12:1, “Concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.” 4-5, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.” 7, “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” 13-14, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.” 18, “But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.” 27, “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.”

Every believer has been gifted to serve in the body of Christ, the church of God.  Spiritual gifts from God are listed in Romans 12:6-8:  prophecy [proclaiming God’s Word], serving [to minister to the basic needs of believers], teaching [to interpret and explain God’s Word], exhorting [to encourage obedience to God’s Word], giving [to generously and cheerfully give to those in need], leading [to guide or govern by example, with diligence],  showing mercy [expressing compassion and empathy, in order to lesson another’s burdens and comfort their sorrows].

For the sake of unity and order in God’s Church, God has clearly established specific leadership to oversee and care for His children.  Numerous passages in the New Testament indicate that the terms “elder” (presbuteros), “pastor” (poimen), and “overseer” (episkopos), all refer to the same office, that of Elders, who are not distinct from overseers and pastors; the terms are different ways of identifying the same men.

The qualifications for an overseer in 1Timothy 3:1-7, and those for an elder in Titus 1:4-9 are the very same: this man must be above reproach; He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity; he must teach what aligns with God’s Word, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict; And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, displaying God’s approval.

Elders are repeatedly mentioned in the Book of Acts, during the time when there were still Apostles and Prophets in the Church, before the completion of the Bible; however there is absolutely no mention of Deacons in the Book of Acts.

Acts 11:29-30, “And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea. And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.”

Acts 14:23, When they [Paul and Barnabas] had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Acts 15:4, “When they [Paul and Barnabas] arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.” 22-26, “Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, and they sent this letter by them, ‘The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings. Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls, it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.’”

Acts 16:4, “Now while they were passing through the cities, they were delivering the decrees which had been decided upon by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem, for them to observe.”

Acts 20:17, “From Miletus he [Paul] sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church,” saying to them (verse 28), “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God.”

Peter also uses the very same three terms to describe those whom God has placed in leadership over the Church of God.

1Peter 5:1-3, “Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for [dishonest] gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.”

The different terms speak to who the man is (an elder), i.e., mature in the faith and knowledgeable of God’s Word; what the man does (overseer) in leading and managing the flock; how the man does it (shepherding) feeding and caring for the sheep by equipping, and exhorting them with God’s Word..

These men are given to the flock by God (Ephesians 4:11), “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.”

The consistent pattern throughout the New Testament is that each local body of believers is shepherded by a plurality of God-ordained elders. Simply stated, this is God’s clear mandate concerning church leadership, to guard and care for the flock.

Nowhere in Scripture is there a local assembly ruled by majority opinion, congregational vote, a committee, or by a single pastor.  The Apostle Paul left Titus in Crete and instructed him (Titus 1:5) to, “appoint elders in every city.”  James instructed his readers (James 5:14), “Is anyone among you sick?  Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him.”  Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:23), “appointed elders for them in every church”.

In Paul’s first epistle to Timothy (1Timothy 5:17), he referred to, “the elders who rule well” in the church at Ephesus.  The book of Acts indicates that there were “elders” in the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:2, 4; 21:18).

Again and again, reference is made to a plurality of elders; in fact, in every New Testament use of the term elder, it is plural, except where the apostle John uses it of himself in 2nd and 3rd John, and Peter uses it of himself in 1Peter.

Nowhere in the New Testament is there a reference to a one-pastor church. It may be that each elder in a city had an individual group in which he had specific oversight; but the church was seen as one church, therefore decisions were made in unity, as the whole church, not the individual parts.

The biblical norm for church leadership is a plurality of elders, overseeing and governing, while feeding, protecting, and caring for the sheep.

There is great benefit to a plurality of unified leadership, for this combined counsel and guidance helps assure that decisions are not self-willed or self-serving but of one mind, as the original 120 believers and followers of Christ were (Acts 1:14), “These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer.”

Acts 2:46-47, “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple… praising God and having favor with all the people.”

Romans 15:5, “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 2:2, “Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

The people of God, and especially the leadership God has ordained for the Church, must be of one mind, one Spirit, one purpose.  If there is division among the elders in making decisions, the elders must study, pray, and seek the will of God together until a unified consensus is achieved.

The character and effectiveness of any church is directly related to the quality of its leadership. That’s why Scripture stresses the importance of qualified leaders and gives specific standards for evaluating those who would serve in that position.

The specific qualifications for elders are found in 1Timothy 3:2-7; Titus 1:6-8, but the single, overarching qualification is to be “above reproach,” that is, he must be a leader who cannot be accused of any sinful pattern in his personal life, marital life, family life, social life, business life, or his spiritual life.  In this way, elders are to be a model to the congregation (1Peter 5:2-3) as they, “shepherd the flock of God…  as overseers, …proving to be examples to the flock.”

What about women Pastors-Elders-Overseers?

1Timothy 2:12-14, “I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man.  For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression”

In 1Timothy 3:2-7, ten times the masculine gender is used to refer to an overseer; and in 1Timothy 2:12-13, it is clear that in the church, women are to be under the authority of the elders, as is everyone else; but also, they are excluded from teaching men or holding positions of authority over men.

Women have opportunities to serve in very important roles in the church: ministering to other women, caring for shut-ins, teaching children, serving in leadership concerning children, women, fellowship, outreach, benevolence, and missions, etc. However, a woman is not to be in spiritual leadership over men in the church or serve as Pastor-Elder-Overseer; for God ordains that church leadership be male.

As the apostolic era came to a close, at the completion of the Canon of Scripture, beginning with Genesis and ending with the Book of Revelation, the office of elder emerged as the highest level of local church government. Thus, it carried a great amount of responsibility. There was no higher court of appeal and no greater resource through which to collectively know the mind and heart of God, in reference to biblical authority in regard to issues concerning the church of God.

The primary function and responsibility of an elder is to serve as a leader of the church (cf. 1Timothy 3:5). That involves specific duties as spiritual overseers of the flock, for elders are to determine church policy, i.e., belief and practice (cf. Acts 15:1-16:5); manage the church (cf. Acts 20:17-28); affirm and set apart other elders (cf. 1Timothy 4:13-16; 2Tim. 2:2-7; Titus 1:5); rule, teach, and preach (cf. 1Timothy 3:2; 4:13; 5:17-20; 2Timothy 4:1-5; 1Thessalonians 5:12); exhort obedience to God’s Word and refute false teachings (cf. 2Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9); to act as shepherds, setting an example for all the flock, as one who must give an account to the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ (cf. 1Peter 5:4).

2Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is inspired by God [God-breathed] and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man [women and child] of God may be adequate [complete], [fully] equipped for every good work,” and this, to the glory of God.

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

Scripture declares the biblical mandate for church leadership is a plurality of God-ordained men, who have been granted unified authority and oversight for everything done in and through the church, always in alignment with and in submission to God’s Word, for the purpose of equipping the people of God for good works of service, by building up of the body of Christ.

1Thessalonians 5:12-13, “We [Paul, Silvanus, Timothy] request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work.”

1Timothy 5:17, “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.”

Hebrews 13:17, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”

Next week we will study the other Office ordained by God to serve the Church, the office of Deacon. We will look at how deacons are selected, what responsibilities they have, and how they are to fulfill their duties under the leadership of the Elders.

Ephesians 4:1-7, “Therefore I …implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” 29-32, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

 
Pastor Mike
>’(((><

Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Spiritual Gifts from God | Above are the
Sunday Service audio and YouTube recordings
 
Links from Our Website:
 
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Sermon Notes (pdf)
 
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 August 27, 2023
“Spiritual Gifts from God: Part Three”
 

The past two Sundays I have taught about the Spiritual Gifts from God that have been given to those who belong to the church of God.  The first and foremost gift was the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  Then, to all who believe in Jesus Christ for salvation, spiritual gifts were given that we may serve God and one another.

1Corinthians 12:1, “Concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.” 4-5, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.” 7, “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” 13-14, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.” 18, “But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.” 27, “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.”

Every believer has been gifted to serve in the body of Christ, the church of God (cf. Romans 12:6-8) prophecy [proclaiming God’s Word], serving [minister to the basic needs of believers], teaching [to interpret and explain God’s Word], exhorting [to encourage obedience to God’s Word], giving [to generously and cheerfully give to those in need], leading [to guide or govern by example, with diligence],  showing mercy [expressing compassion and empathy, in order to lesson another’s burdens and comfort their sorrows].

Read Acts 1:1-5, 9-15…  Jesus was crucified and buried, but He rose from the grave and then appeared to hundreds of His followers over a 40 day period, after which, He ascended back into heaven.

Read Acts 2:1, 4-5, 7-8…  God’s Spirit came to those 120 faithful believers, who then began to proclaim God’s message in the languages of Jews who had come from outside of Israel (listed: 5 people groups, 11 regions) vv. 9-11a), verse 11b, “we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.”

By Acts 2:41, the number of believers had increased from 120 to about 3,120; and (verse 42) they continued to meet together, devoting themselves to God’s Word, Fellowship, Communion, and Prayer and (2:47), “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. ”

By Acts 4:4, the number of believing men increased to about 5,000 (adding women and children, that number could have easily been 20,000 believers); and it didn’t stop growing (Acts 5:14), “And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number.”

Satan attempts to disrupt the growth and spread of God’s Church.

Read Acts 4:32-5:16…  Ananias and Sapphira (a wealthy couple who converted to Christianity) had attempted to lie to God about the amount of money they had received for the sale of their property, and given to the apostles to be used for needs of the growing church.  They didn’t need to lie about it, it was their property they sold; but it would appear that they wanted to be held in high esteem by saying that they gave all the money form the sale to the Apostles, this lie then, was not just to the Apostles, but to God, for the Holy Spirit of God was in them, and so, it cost them their lives.  This struck fear among the people, but as we just read, it did not inhibit the growth of the true church of God.

Read Acts 5:18-21, 25-27, 33-34, 38-42…  Peter and John were repeatedly arrested, beaten, and threatened, but this did not deter the church from praising God or inhibit the church from growing.

Read Acts 6:1-6…  It was very difficult for 12 apostles to care for such a large crowd of people’s spiritual needs, let alone for the physical needs of so many who had come from other regions, and were now without the support of their own homes, extended families, and personal finances (no debit/credit cards).

It would appear that Satan continued to try and retard or perhaps extinguish growth in the church and cause chaos among those coming to Christ.  There was a growing conflict between the Hebraic and the Hellenistic Jews; which could have easily hindered and disrupted the church’s witness and growth, if it was not resolved quickly.

The Grecian (Hellenistic) Jews were Greek speaking Christian Jews who had been raised in Greek cultures. The Hebrew and Aramaic speaking Jews were native to Israel.  The conflict centered around the daily distribution of food to widows; it was complained by the Grecian Jews that their widows were being overlooked, probably due to the rapid growth of the church, and because they were a minority they weren’t being treated equal to the native Hebrew widows.

This problem [complaint] could have intensified into a split or division in the church (no denominations yet).  The care for widows in Jewish society was expected and taught in the OT (Deuteronomy 24:19-21), “When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not go over it again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow.”

It is also taught in the NT (1Timothy 5:3-5), “Honor widows who are widows indeed; but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day.” 8, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 16, “If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed.”

The Apostles were aware of the problem, but they did not want to neglect their main responsibilities: Prayer and Proclamation of the Word of God (6:2-4), “in order to serve tables,” so they called the people together, and sought to “select from among [the believers] seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. [So they could continue to] devote [themselves] to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

With probably 20,000 or more people in the church at this time, the 12 apostles were very busy, praying to God and receiving God’s Word to proclaim among the people, to equip, encourage, and exhort the believers, while shepherding and overseeing the growing flock of God.

The seven men who were selected in Acts 6, to serve, were not officially “deacons,” because neither of the two offices ordained by God for the church, that of Pastor-Elder-Overseer, and that of Deacon, had yet been instituted by God, according to the NT chronology.

       Paul writes (Ephesians 4:12), that prophets, apostles, pastor-teachers were given by God to the church “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.”

At this point in the narrative of the church, the apostles had been put in place to lead and care for those who were placing their faith in Christ; eventually, leadership and oversight would go to the men who would serve as pastor-elder-overseer, whom God would call from among the people, to govern and shepherd the church of God.

The church was rapidly growing, and it was not in its best interest for the spiritual leaders to devote so much of their time to the collection, safeguard, and distribution of the finances and resources of the Church, which were being used to provide for the needs of this growing family of believers.

The apostles brought God’s Word to the church, and although they didn’t have Bibles, commentaries, CD’s, or DVD’s, they had spent three years being personally taught by God’s Son, and now God’s Spirit [Spirit of Christ, Romans 8:9; 1Peter 1:11] lived in them and reminded them of everything Christ had done and said, along with being given new revelation to proclaim to the people.

1Peter 1:20-21, “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”

Jesus Christ crucified, resurrected, and coming again, should be the major topic and main content of the sermons being given by pastor-teachers today.

       The apostles had instructed the people to choose seven men from among the body of believers; men who were known for their integrity and faithfulness (Acts 6:3), men “who are known to be full of the Spirit of God and God’s wisdom.

The believers choose these seven men from the family of God; all of these men (cf. Acts 6:5) were godly Grecian Jews [Greek names] who knew the needs of the Grecian widows better than anyone. They were brought before the apostles, who would make the final decision (Acts 6:6), “the apostles prayed and laid their hands on them,” setting apart these seven men for a specific work, and affirming God’s support for them to carry out this serving ministry of purchasing food for the daily distribution among those in need.

The church had grown so rapidly, it was no wonder some people’s needs were being overlooked. This problem was causing discord between the Jewish nationals and the Jewish transplants, all of them believers; it could have easily escalated into a major division between them, but the apostles, empowered and led by God’s Spirit’s, maintained unity among this large fellowship of believers, so that they remained one in mind and spirit, unified as the family of God, though made up of many different cultures and traditions.

These seven men (mid-30’s A.D.) carried out some of the functions that deacons would later perform when the office of Deacon [diakonos, “one who serves,” “one who ministers” within the flock of God] was officially instituted (mid- 60’s A.D.) with the qualifications being given in 1Timothy 3:8-13.

There is no mention of deacons anywhere in the book of Acts; but a plurality of men holding the office of elder-pastor-overseer is clearly referred to (Acts 14:23), “When they (Paul and Barnabas) had appointed elders in every church… they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed,” (Acts 20:1), “From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them (Acts 20:28), “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood,” although the qualifications for pastor-elder-overseer weren’t given until 64-65 A.D. (1Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9).

Devotion to God’s Word, Prayer, Christian Fellowship, and Celebrating the Lord’s Supper, all of these main priorities of the early church brought honor, glory, and praise to God, and caused the church to grow; and very soon, persecution would cause many in the church to leave Jerusalem to go into Judea, to Samaria, and to the very ends of the earth (cf. Acts 1:8).

Read 8:1-4…  One of the seven men who the apostles had set apart to care for the daily needs of the church in Acts 6, Stephen, had just delivered a fantastic message of rebuke to the Sanhedrin (Acts 7), declaring how men just like them (self-righteous hypocrites) had persecuted the prophets sent to them by God, and had killed the Messiah, who had come to save them.

The religious leaders (Pharisees, Sadducees, Priests, Teachers of the Law) thought they had ridded themselves of their major nemesis, Jesus of Nazareth and those who believed in and followed Him.

The followers of Christ did not remain silent after Jesus’ ascension; in fact, they were proclaiming the risen Christ in the streets of Jerusalem, even at the Temple.  Repeatedly Peter and John the main leaders of the church in Jerusalem, had been arrested, beaten, and threatened, but they wouldn’t be silenced.

Stephen had spoken to the religious leaders with power and wisdom, as if he were the teacher and they were the students; their response was to have him stoned to death and Saul (later to be called Paul, Acts 13:9) was right there giving approval to his death (Acts 7:58), “When they had driven him [Stephen] out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.”

See again Acts 8:1-3…  Up to this point, most of the persecution toward Christ’s followers had been directed toward the leaders, the apostles.  But now the persecution was going to come upon all those who confessed and followed Jesus.

The believers began to scatter, except for the apostles who stayed to evangelize Jerusalem; in fact, many fled from Jerusalem and went to Judea and Samaria after Stephen was laid to rest, for Saul was intent on destroying the church.

Read Acts 8:4-8…  Persecution didn’t silence the followers of Christ or put out their fire; instead, it seemed to spread and ignite in other places driven by a new found courage.  Philip, like Stephen, was one of the seven men who had been set apart by the apostles in chapter 6.  Philip goes to Samaria to proclaim Christ while also healing the lame and demon possessed, as Jesus had done many times

God is amazing!  He now uses persecution against the church, to send the believers, who have become very comfortable in their Christian fellowship in Jerusalem (cf. Acts 2:42-47), to now go to Judea, Samaria, and to the outer parts of the earth, in order take God’s message into the world.

Philip (Acts 8:5) is the first missionary mentioned in the Scriptures.  Do you remember when Jesus (cf. Acts 1:8) told His followers to proclaim the gospel first in Jerusalem, then Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

As these first believers and followers of Christ spread out across Israel and its neighboring regions/countries, Pastor-Elder-Overseers would be put in place to provide care and leadership for the many churches that were being founded; likewise, there arose a need for Deacons to serve the many needs of the members of the Church of God, wherever groups/flocks of God’s people gathered together.

Next time together we will look at the specific qualifications and duties given in Scripture for the two offices ordained by God to serve His Church: Pastor-Elder-Overseers, and Deacons.

 
Pastor Mike
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Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Spiritual Gifts from God | Above are the
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August 20, 2023 –  (AM Insert)
“Spiritual Gifts from God, Part two”

John 1:12-13, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

John 3:3,“Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 6-8, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

1John 3:2, “Beloved, now we are children of God,”

2Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

1Peter 4:10, “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

1Corinthians 12:1, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.” 7, “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” 13-14, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.” 27, “You are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.”

Colossians 1:18, “He is head of the body, the church.”

Romans 12:6a…  God gives gifts to His children (1Corinthians 12:7), “for the common good,” 11, “to each one just as He determines,” (1Peter 4:10) “serve one another.”  John MacArthur says, “God gives His gifts to us for others.”

Romans 12:6b… prophecy – Proclaim God’s Word: prior to the completion of the Bible, Prophets & Apostles; since the completion of the Bible, Pastor-Teachers.

1Corinthians 14:3, “One who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.

Romans 12:7a… service – Wherever there is a need in the church or among the body of believers, this gift moves the believer to fulfill that need, e.g., buildings & grounds, music, slides, janitorial, visiting the sick and shut-ins, giving to the poor, helping those in need, ushering, greeting, arranging flowers, paying the bills, preparing and serving communion, social committee, Sunday School, nursery, etc.

Romans 12:7b… teaching – To systematically be, “able to teach,” God’s Word; whether public proclamation, person to person, or in writing (Acts 20:20-21), “I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Matthew 28:19-20, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Romans 12:8a… exhort – To come alongside other believers to encourage and persuade them to obey and follow God’s Word; but also warning and reproving wayward believers, concerning sin in their lives.

1Corinthians 4:14, “I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.”  Galatians 6:1, “if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.”

1Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another.”  Hebrews 10:24, “And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.”

Romans 12:8b… giving – This is sharing your resources with those who are in need, out of a genuine concern and compassionate response to needs.

Acts 2:44-45, “And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.”

Romans 12:8c… leading – To guide or govern with steadfastness both in the home and in the church.

1Timothy 3:1, 4-5, “It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.” “He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?).”

     Romans 12:8d…  showing mercy – Expressing sympathy, with sensitivity, to those who are suffering, to help lessen their afflictions or sorrows.

James 2:15-16, “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?”

1John 3:16-18, “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”

Showing mercy is expressed when we visit those in the hospital, those confined to their home, those in jail, those who are homeless and perhaps friendless, those who are suffering loss, and those with special needs that aren’t commonly met or fulfilled by others.  Showing mercy is most exemplary of Christ Himself.

Proverbs 14:31, “He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors God.”

Romans 10:9-10, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” 13, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord [for the forgiveness of sins] will be saved.”

All true believers and followers of Christ are members of God’s Church, God’s Family. the Flock of God, and God’s greatest gift to us is His own Son, ,Jesus Christ who (1Corinthians 15:3-4), “died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

Our greatest gift to God is to tell others about Jesus Christ: crucified, resurrect4d, and coming again.                 

Next week we will study the two distinct offices ordained by God:

The office of Elder-Overseer-Pastor (male only), to provide spiritual leadership within the Church, through shepherding and overseeing the people of God.
The office of Deacon (male and female) to serve the basic needs of those in the Family of God.

Pastor Mike Hale

Bible Text: various | Speaker: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Spiritual Gifts from God | Above are the
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August 13, 2023
“Spiritual Gifts from God: Part One”

God provides all we need to know Him, and to grow in our relationship with Him, and with each other, as we seek to tell others about Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior.

How does a person come into an intimate and eternal relationship with the God of the universe?

When Jesus began His ministry He said (Mark 1:15), “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Ephesians 1:1-12, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him [Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.”

Ephesians 1:13-14, “In Him [Christ], you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”

Paul says when you hear [understand] the truth of the gospel [salvation through Jesus Christ], and you believe it; at that moment you receive forgiveness for all your sins [past, present, future], and you are granted eternal life from God; this is confirmed by the presence of God’s Spirit [the Holy Sprit, the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of Christ] in you, for God’s Spirit marks you as God’s own possession, causing you to be born again into the family of God.

John 1:12-13, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Just as you were conceived in your mother’s womb and biologically born, in order to enter this world, you must be born-again, spiritually born into God’s family by the Spirit of God, in order to enter the kingdom of heaven.

The greatest gift from God is that everyone who confesses Christ, those who believe in His name are given the right to become children of God, children born of God’s Spirit, children born from above.

In John 3:3, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:6-8, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

And so, the new birth, spiritual birth, being born again, is likened to the wind. Although it cannot be seen, the effects are clearly visible: kites flying high in the sky, windmills turning, ships driven by sails full of wind, destruction caused by hurricanes and tornadoes.  This new birth is spiritual, it cannot be seen, but the change in behavior it causes can and should be seen.

See Acts 2:1-11…  When those 120 believers were filled with God’s Spirit on the day of Pentecost, they began to speak languages they did not know, so that Jews who were in Jerusalem from different countries and cultures were able to hear the message of God in their own language.

Those who hear and believe the message are saved, having repented of their sins and trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Peter proclaimed (Acts 2:36-38), “‘Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.’ Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent [and believe], and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;’”.

James 1:17-18, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights… …In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.”

2Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

It is the sovereign act of God, by His own authority, plan, purpose, and provision, that we receive birth into His family, forgiveness for sins, and eternal life.

1John 1:1-9, “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

God’s Word tells us (Romans 3:10-12) no-one is good (by human works, attributes, or will), not one; but we are justified, made righteous (Romans 3:23-24), by believing in God’s Son to save us.

Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 5:8, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 8:1-2, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

2Corinthians 5:21, “He [God the Father] made Him [God the Son] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Romans 10:9-10, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” 13, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord [for the forgiveness of sin] will be saved.’”

If it were not for the gift of God’s Grace, through God’s Spirit, we would have nothing, we would be nothing, and we could do nothing pleasing to God.

Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

God gives spiritual gifts to all of His children, so that we might serve together in the family of God, in God’s church, for the glory of God the Father and God the Son.

1Peter 4:10-11, “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1Corinthians 12:1, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.” 4-7, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

11, “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”

Spiritual gifts are given by God for the “common good,” to every believer, for the purpose of serving one another, as we serve the Lord.

Just as there are MANY different organs and parts in a physical body, there are also many diverse gifts and functions among the members of Christ’s body.

1Corinthians 12:12-13, “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

14, “For the body is not one member, but many.”

18, “But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.” 27, “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.”

Some of our physical body parts are more exposed and perhaps considered more important to the function of the body (eyes, ears, mouth, hands, feet); but there are hidden organs and parts of our body (brain, heart, muscles, blood vessels), that we may not give as much attention to, that is, not until the less noticeable parts begin to fail or are not functioning properly.

Just as our physical body parts work together and are contained in one body, connected together and created to work in unity; so it is with the spiritual body of Christ, the church, where our spiritual gifts are used to honor God and to edify the body of believers (1Corinthians 12:7), “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good,” Ephesians 5:1, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.”

     The unique giftedness God grants to every believer is similar to an artist who takes a pallet, with small amounts of many different colors on it, dips a brush into one of the colors, and then another, and perhaps another, creating a unique color, different from all the others.  Each member of the body of Christ is a unique gift to the other members, with various talents, attributes, experiences, weaknesses and strengths.

Every believer is meant to be a unique gift in the body of Christ, the Church of God, living in harmony with other believers, single-minded and unified in the purpose of glorifying God, as we individually, yet corporately, serve the Lord as the people of God.

1Corinthians 12:11, “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.” 27, “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.”

Next week we will study, in Romans 12, the spiritual gifts which have been given to all those who belong to Christ, for the common good, i.e., for the mutual benefit and edification of the whole Body of Christ, every member of God’s Family is specially gifted to serve in God’s Church; and this is done by God’s Power, through God’s Spirit, according to God’s Grace, for God’s Glory.

2Corinthians 13:14, “[May] the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God [the Father] and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all [now and forever, Amen].”

 
Pastor Mike Hale