Serving With Purpose: It Takes A Whole Church

“Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” Acts 6:3

At this moment in the church’s early history it hit a crises moment. The Load of proclaiming the Gospel had increased as many new believers were coming to Christ. The church was growing leaps and bounds which offered a new type of ministry…the ministry of serving one another’s needs!

Jesus said the kingdom of God would be given to the poor. There were many who were poor in spirit and much more who were poor in health, wealth, and various needs. After spending three and a half years of being discipled by Christ, the early believers knew that the main purpose of the the church was to preach the Gospel, meeting the spiritual needand living out the message by fulfilling the physical need of those who came into the church. In this case it was the Grecian widows who were being overlooked and this brought an extra burden upon the church.

The Apostles were not able to give themselves over to the word of God as they were called to do and was having to serve tables. It did not mean that the serving tables was a burden, but it had become somewhat of a distraction from their original calling. So they decided to appoint seven mean to be servants, or what we call Deacons, full of the Holy Spirit, to handle this vital part of the new found church. It was these seven men who took it upon themselves to schedule, organize, and see through the meeting of these needs. But it took more than just these men. I am sure that they coordinated other believers in this task and that this effort was a combined effort to meet the objectives that the apostles were proclaiming through the message…which was “Love the Lord with all of your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)

The point is that It takes a whole church to accomplish God’s will in the Gospel and in the world.. Paul said that “We are all laborers together.” (1 Corinthians 3:9) We all have been given our own particular gifts to be used in furthering the kingdom of God and these all should “work together for good tho them who are called according to His purposes.” (Romans 8:28) He has placed gifted people in the church to be the visionaries and others to carry out those visions. Both are not independent of one another but dependent on one another. Most importantly in whatever capacity or position one may fill, it is vitally important that he or she be filled with the Spirit..

Some may ask What is my place? What is my gift? This question should be directed primarily to God. It is he that “Gives gifts unto mankind.” (Ephesians 4:8) So I would encourage you today to seek the Lord and allow him to help you find your place in serving. The fruit of salvation is serving. The best way we can serve God, is by serving others!

Pastor Robby