Tag Archives: widows

ACTS THE SEQUEL…A NEW CHAPTER – 12

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“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.””

‭‭Acts‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Cracks were appearing in the fellowship…first, hypocrisy, now racism. Isn’t is amazing, yet inevitable, that “the flesh” begins to make its appearance, even in the very “temple of the Holy Spirit”, the church?

The next crack that appeared to threaten the church…complaining…dissatisfaction! Something was not right. This spelt danger…subtle but real. Satan’s tactic was first, always, to drive in a wedge between people …and the trigger? 

Of course, Jew versus Gentile…he would pull the inevitable “race” card.

In the culture of that day, Jew versus Gentile was the hot potato…and still is today. Is not the existence of Israel the cause of the chasm between east and west…the source of contention, hostility, and war? It will be the final issue that Jesus settles when He returns to set up His kingdom on earth. 

In the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and providence, He inspired Paul to record the infallible truth about the issue. Jesus dealt with “racism”…all racism everywhere…by the cross. 

“Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Gentiles were once cut off from God, outside the covenant, separated and without hope. Then Jesus died…and everything changed. 

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus died to accomplish something amazing and impossible…to reconcile Jew and Gentile… to create a new human  “race”…to obliterate the hostility and unite them into one. 

“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This is awesome! There is no government, no legislation, no education, no prescription on earth that can do what Jesus did.  He destroyed the hostility and created a new unity

…and the devil tried his best to undo what Jesus did. 

This new phenomenon the Holy Spirit had created…a body of people who thought and acted as one…has to be disrupted. Satan’s first, subtle tactic was discontent…not warfare…just dissatisfaction…get self a little ruffled…just enough to stir up the silt…muddy the waters…just a little!

“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.”

Somehow, in the peaceful and orderly life of this new community, someone had allowed a distinction to creep in. Some received and others didn’t That’s all…but it was enough to stir the pot. The have-nots began to murmur, quietly at first…then louder until those at the helm heard. 

Once again, grace stepped in, wisdom prevailed, and peace was restored. Once again, the Holy Spirit was in charge…steering the ship into quiet waters…and slowly but steadily unfolding the way in which this church, this temple of God, the Holy Spirit, would take shape and be built…in the world but not of it…by Jesus Himself…to ride the storms of persecution, deception, infiltration, and every form of opposition and sabotage through the centuries…until it is revealed in its glory when Jesus returns. 

We, who are in integral part of this story, have the assurance that the same Holy Spirit who fell on the people…gave birth to the church…and initiated the process…will be steering the ship to the end of time. He has already written the final chapter…when Jesus returns to claim His bride…the church…perfect, complete, and intact…made up of Jew and Gentile…just as He has promised. 

To be continued

THE BOOK OF ACTS – GROWTH BRINGS ITS OWN OPPORTUNITIES

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CHAPTER 6 

GROWTH BRINGS ITS OWN OPPORTUNITIES

“During this time, as the disciples were increasing in numbers by leaps and bounds, hard feelings developed among the Greek-speaking believers — “Hellenists” — toward the Hebrew-speaking believers because their widows were being discriminated against in the daily food lines.

So the Twelve called a meeting of the disciples. They said, ‘It wouldn’t be right for us to abandon our responsibilities for preaching and teaching the Word of God to help with the care of the poor. So, friends, choose seven men from among you whom everyone trusts, men full of the Holy Spirit and good sense, and we’ll assign them this task. Meanwhile we’ll stick to our assigned tasks of prayer and speaking God’s Word.’

“The congregation thought that was a great idea.” Acts 6:1-5a (The Message).

It had to happen sometime! However idyllic the early church appeared to be, the people were still ordinary people, with evidences of their “humanness” coming through now and then. How this “racist” attitude crept in we do not know. Perhaps there was another “rotten apple” in the box who deliberately side-lined the Hellenistic widows; perhaps it was a simple oversight; perhaps it was an administrative omission. Who knows?

However it happened, it caused ill-will which had to be corrected quickly before their unity was compromised. What a lesson for us! Preserve unity which is a fundamental characteristic of a Spirit-led church and the Holy Spirit is free to move in the church and in the community.

Jesus set a great deal of store on unity. It was the zenith of His high priestly prayer in John 17. “‘My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.'” John 17:20-21 NIV).

Why is oneness so important to God? God is one; He created us in His image to be one with Him and with one another. Unity of this nature is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit but it is our responsibility to guard and maintain unity in the Body. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3 (NIV).

A simple plan to delegate solved their problem and set the church back on course to be a witness to the unbelieving world that Jesus had come from the Father and that the Father loved them as He loved Him – (John 17:23).

The early church was a genuine product of “evolution” — not an organisation with a set structure but a living organism that developed as it grew. Its function determined its leaders, and the gifts of individuals and the needs they met determined their ministries.

It is heartening to see how the apostles knew and protected their ministry from “needs” that could easily have crowded out their calling. Here was godly wisdom in operation. They knew what they had to do and were not so high-minded that they took on everything themselves instead of sharing the load with suitable people.

How many spiritual leaders fall into this trap! Pastors and ministers can be so insecure that they are afraid to delegate in case someone overshadows them and threatens their ministry. It is the person secure in God and in his or her calling and gifting that can develop a team of people who minster effectively because:

  1. They do what they are called and gifted to do.
  2. They are not doing what they don’t like doing and are uncomfortable in.
  3. They are able to develop their gifts and skills doing what brings them joy and fulfillment.
  4. Many more people benefit from the wider ministry of the team.
  5. The church experiences the power and blessing of unity.

The church is a not a game with most of the members sitting on the grandstand watching the experts play. It is a family in which everyone takes part in family life so that they can all grow up together.