Choosing the Seven

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Welcome Back
We pick back up in Acts Chapter 6. We skipped ahead. No one really knows how much time has passed since Pentecost. Some scholars think it has been as many as 5 years. But we do know a few things have happened in the church.
Peter and John were arrested, flogged, ordered to stop sharing the gospel and then released.
Many of the believers had sold land, and other things and given all the money to the church to help others. Ananais and Sapphira sold land, did not give all the money to the apostles, but said they did, and died, and most importantly the Church had grown immensely. 120-3120 (Pentecost)- Daily growth (Acts 2:47).
Acts 2:47 NIV
praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
The believers were taking care of each other.
Acts 4:32–35 NIV
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
But as they grew so fast, administration of things could not keep up and a problem came up.
And that brings us to our passage today.
Acts 6:1–7 NIV
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Problems will arise
Hellenistic Jews vs Hebraic Jews. Most likely meant the Greek Speaking Jews vs the Hebrew speaking Jews, but there were more differences than just language. They went to separate synagogues (possibly as many as 9 different ones in Jerusalem at the time). They had different culture and customs. Hellenistic probably came to Jerusalem from other places, while Hebraic probably grew up in Israel.
The key point here is that cultural differences had caused two groups. They were not necessarily out of unity, the passage does not mention that at all, but they were missing out on one group in particular.
It was the custom of the early church to minister to the widows. Remember James 1:27
James 1:27 NIV
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Taking care of widows has always been an important part of the church’s calling. Many widows had moved to Jerusalem, some with their husbands before they died, and some because the Temple was there and they could get help from priests. So, there was a large number of widows in Jerusalem, and the generosity of the believers led many of them to believe. But the Hellenistic widows were not receiving their daily distribution of food.
So the problem arose. The Hellenistic Jews complained. The problem got to the Apostles. Remember the Apostles were the in charge of the Early Church and made the decisions. So the Apostles did something about it.
Acts 6:2–4 NIV
So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

Focus on Your Job

The Apostles knew they had a job to do. That job was prayer and the ministry of the word. Remember the Apostles were called to witness to the world the life and resurrection of Jesus and to teach the world what Jesus (logos, the word) had taught them.
They also had a responsibility to prayer. I think this was a lot more than a quiet time. This was communal prayer. Prayer for healing, for guidance, for change. This was constant communication with God. Remember as they waited for the Holy Spirit, they were all together praying.
The key here is the Apostles had a job to do, and they needed to stay focused on what they were called to do. They cared very much about the widows and the taking care of the needy, but their job was ministry of the word and prayer. So, they instructed the disciples to choose seven men to take on that responsibility.
This is some great leadership tools here. “Do what only you can do.” That is basically what the Apostles are saying. Find the right people to do what only they can do. Empower them and let them go.
One of the best parts of Lake Shores Church. We desire to empower people to do what they can do. If God is laying on your heart something that needs to be done, we encourage you to do it. You don’t have to wait on some committee or approval, we try to help you accomplish God’s calling on your life.
This is an important part of this passage and an important thought for us in our daily lives. Stay focused on what you are called by God to do, and let others do what they are called to do. That works in your business, your family, Lake Shores, and the church universal.
Do what you are called to do!
Look again at verse 3. The Apostles set requirements for those who were to be chosen.
Acts 6:3 NIV
Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them

Known to Be Filled with Holy Spirit

Think about this. In order to be in charge of the distribution of food to widows, they had to be known for being full of the Holy Spirit and known to be full of wisdom.
Their lives showed God at work and their faith in him.
The Holy Spirit was their strength and guide. And it showed. It showed so much they were KNOWN by it.
Could you imagine if our lives were known by being full of the Holy Spirit? What if the leaders of every part of the church universal were known to be “full of the Holy Spirit.” Church meetings would look a little different wouldn’t they? They would be filled with statements like: “What is God going to do today?; “Can you believe what God did yesterday at _________________?” That would be a little different than many of the meetings we go to, wouldn’t it?
I challenge each of you to ask God to fill you with his Holy Spirit, so that you might be known as someone full of the Holy Spirit.

Known to Be Wise

But these men also needed to be known to be full of wisdom. I think this is the practical part. This was a huge job that required certain skills. So they needed to know how to do it. How to figure out the best way to do it. They had to know how to address the problem.
So, bottom line, they needed to have a vibrant, visible relationship with God, and the skills to fill the position. These are some good requirements for service especially in the body of Christ. I encourage you join me when you are looking for leaders to look for those same two requirements.
The Apostles agreed to hand the responsibility over to them to do it so the Apostles could do their job.
Acts 6:3–4 NIV
Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

Empower not Micromange

Two quick points here. They agreed to let the seven do the job. They did not micromanage them. And they expected the seven to do their job without needing to check in with the Apostles at every step. We never hear about this problem again and we never hear another mention of it.
That is what happens when you pick the right people to lead, isn’t it. They do the job they were called to do and you don’t have to worry about it. They feel empowered to run with it, and don’t feel the need to ask for permission at every step. This is so different than how most businesses and churches run today. Far too often, people feel like they either need micromanage every little thing or if they have been put in charge, they need to ask permission at every step. But here, it is so clear. The Apostles knew their job, and the seven knew theirs and did it.
So, the whole group was part of the decision and were pleased and the group did their job. They chose the seven.
Acts 6:5–6 NIV
This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
These men, most of whom we never hear about again, were selected to serve. They were presented to the Apostles and the Apostles did their job. They prayed for them and laid hands on them. They literally laid hands on them, but this is also figurative for they sent them out to the job God had called them to do. They empowered them. Pretty cool, huh?
Now look what happened.
Acts 6:7 NIV
So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

God’s Church Will Grow

The word of God spread- The Apostles
The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly. Everyone’s job.
A large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
When disciples do what they are called to do and live lives full of the Holy Spirit: The church grows rapidly.
I think there are some real application points here.
Are our lives known to be full of the Holy Spirit?
Do we stay focused on what God calls us to do or do we get distracted?
Do we empower people to serve without hindering them?
Who is being missed by us as a church?
Who is called to take over that ministry?
What is your calling?
There is so much need today. No one person can do it alone. We must all answer the call God has for us on our lives, and we need to keep focused.
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