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Acts 6:1-7 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Good morning, everyone. I wish that I could say that Nathan not being here today is the reason that I'm up here.
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! But that wouldn't be a sufficient excuse per se. I asked Nathan a couple months ago if he would allow me the privilege of preaching the Word of God again.
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And as the week drew near, work was insanely busy. And even as the days drew near to today, I feared quite a bit about my preparation, it not being sufficient.
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And I was really just afraid. So I had to go to Nathan and just seek counsel from him about this.
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And he just continued to encourage me to rest on the Lord and lean on the Lord, because ultimately every man that comes up here in the pulpit has to find a sufficiency in Christ to preach his Word.
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And my hope is that you'll bear witness of that today. And my hope is that I will bear witness of that today as well.
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Let me go ahead and just open us up in prayer and we'll dive into the Word together.
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Father, we praise you for this morning bringing together your children, brothers, sisters, families, husbands, and wives to hear the preaching of your Word.
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I pray that that would happen today, that it would be heard in this building.
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And I pray that it would also be heard in all of the other congregations that are gathering on this Sunday morning, Lord.
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I pray that this would be true.
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I pray that you would have us all understand what it means to see your young and early church and how that applies to us today,
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even as your church continues to grow and spread throughout all of the world.
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So let that be true today, Lord.
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And we ask this in your name, Christ. Amen.
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So open up with me to Acts.
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As most of you know, we have been going through the book of Acts since the beginning of the year.
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And this book can be, the title of the book can be somewhat misleading.
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For example, in my version it says, The Acts of the Apostles.
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It is true that this is a story, it's a written account written by Luke,
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about what the apostles were doing after the ascension of Jesus Christ.
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But I think, and others have mentioned this, that it's sufficient to say that this was the act of the Holy Spirit.
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After Christ ascended, he said that he was going to send a helper.
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And so only a couple of days later, when the disciples are gathering together, he sends the Holy Spirit to them.
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And they begin proclaiming the word of God all throughout Jerusalem and eventually into Samaria.
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And we're going to bear witnesses of that as you continue to come on Sundays,
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as you continue to meet on Wednesday nights to discuss these things.
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You're going to see that take place and unfold.
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And that's going to lead us all the way up to where we are today.
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Two thousand years later, you've all heard the gospel of Jesus Christ preached and proclaimed to you in some way or another.
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So it's incredible to see that continuation of the church after this book concludes.
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It's not the Acts of the Apostles, it is the Acts of the Spirit that's done that.
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So here we are in Acts 6.1.
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We kind of get to see a young child beginning to walk for the first time is how I like to imagine this.
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It's the growth of the church or the organization of the church.
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It is like a living, breathing organism, as I've heard it described.
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It becomes mature.
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It's understanding some of its faults and failures, how it can fine-tune itself by listening to the Spirit to serve others
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and to preach the gospel louder and throughout other places.
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And so what we're going to witness here in this text is a division that arises amongst the early church in Jerusalem
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and how the Spirit allows them to approach that and reconcile it.
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So read with me in Acts 6.1.
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Now at this time, while the disciples were increasing in number,
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a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Jews
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because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.
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So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said,
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It is not desirable for us to neglect the Word of God in order to serve tables.
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Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation,
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full of the Spirit and of wisdom,
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whom we may be put in charge of this task.
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But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.
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The statement found approval with the whole congregation,
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and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,
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and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolás,
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a proselyte from Antioch.
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And these they brought before the apostles,
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and after praying, they laid their hands on them.
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The Word of God kept on spreading,
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and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem,
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and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
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So I want to just lay out and brief the characters that you see here in this part.
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And we've got the disciples.
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It's referring to all the Jews that have now become Christians in Jerusalem.
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But we see two distinctions of Jews.
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We see the Hellenistic Jews mentioned here and the native Hebrews.
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Something I learned several weeks ago in Cog
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was that these Hellenists were actually from the Despora,
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which is the region outside of Jerusalem.
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They had come to Jerusalem during Pentecost.
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And at the time, they were heavily influenced by Greeks.
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They all spoke Greek.
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They partook in their culture.
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They partook in their art.
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All of these things that were very foreign to the native Hebrews.
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And then, other characters that we see,
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we've got the Twelve Apostles.
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So when you see the Twelve, it's referencing the Twelve Apostles.
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And then eventually, the Seven Appointed Deacons.
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And I'll get into that a little bit more.
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As I continue through this,
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I'm going to give you just kind of a line-by-line,
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verse-by-verse exposition.
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That's how a lot of us like to do it here.
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And there are six observances that I want you to make
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as I'm going through this.
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And you can write these down.
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I'm not going to be going back and forth to these.
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I just really want you to listen to the text
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and find these as I'm preaching on it.
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But these six observations
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are the success of the church thus far.
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So what have we seen?
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What successes in the church have we seen
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up to this point in Acts 6.1?
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What I call Satan's third attack on the church.
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Number three, the obedience of the apostles.
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Number four, the spirit solution.
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Five, the call to service.
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And then six, the result.
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And I'll go ahead and give that one away.
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But it's a reconciled and powerful church
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that we're going to see in Acts 6.7.
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So as we go into Acts 6.1,
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we see at this time,
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while the disciples were increasing in number,
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we believe this time is in a reference
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to only a couple of months
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since the ascension of Jesus Christ.
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When it says increasing in number,
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the word that they actually use for that is plethora.
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And that's obviously where we get the word plethora.
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It means a great many or a multitude of people.
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And the estimates of this are upwards of 20,000 people.
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Some even say that it could be up to 30,000 individuals
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that have come to know Christ
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through the preaching of the apostles
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and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
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And it says,
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A complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews
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against the native Jews
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because their widows were being overlooked in the daily food.
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This complaint that arises,
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this is an attack by Satan,
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is what I believe it to be,
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because we've seen that already happen
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a couple of times in the church.
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John's preached on it.
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Nathan has preached on it.
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We saw the persecution of John and Peter
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and later the other apostles when they were beat.
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That's what I believe to be the first.
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Then we see sin that divides the church and the giving.
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We see Ananias and Sapphira,
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how they're struck down by God.
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And then eventually we see this,
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this dysfunction,
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this disunity coming up in the church.
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And this is all an attempt by Satan
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to stop the growth of the church.
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That's what he was always trying to do.
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He was always trying to stop the Word of God
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from being spoken.
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In order to do this,
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he tried to put Jesus Christ up on a cross,
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but that was a plan all along,
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is that he had to go to the cross.
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He had to be crucified.
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He had to bear the wrath of God.
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Satan thinks that it's his plan,
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but it wasn't,
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hence the reason he rose from the dead.
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So this is just another effort.
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Now that Christ has ascended,
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he says to himself,
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how can I divide this church?
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How can I break it up?
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How can I make them less powerful than they are?
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And we're going to see that result,
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what happens from that.
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On the part of the Hellenistic Jews
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against the native Hebrews,
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now as I said,
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prior to knowing Christ,
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these Hellenists were more Greek
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than they were Jews.
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Obviously this caused a great amount of division
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when they came back to Jerusalem
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to worship during Pentecost.
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They tried to bring all of these foreign,
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just foreign cultures with them.
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So there were already divisions
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between these Jews
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prior to them being unified in Christ.
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As a matter of fact,
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the Hellenists were known
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for wanting to translate
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the Old Testament into Greek.
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And the native Hebrews said,
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no, this is specifically written in Hebrew.
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This is what it should be.
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This is what it should remain.
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But that's how much they wanted
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to somewhat be a part
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of the Jewish culture.
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And there was division because of that.
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So this is why I believe
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Satan chose these two groups of people
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originally to attack and divide
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because they already had
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dysfunction amongst them
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prior to coming to know the Lord.
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So he simply says,
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I'm just going to wedge myself back in there
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and I'm going to divide them once again.
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That didn't work despite his best efforts.
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They complained.
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They griped.
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They said,
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our widows are being overlooked
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in the daily serving of food.
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And I thought to myself,
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I said, well, how is that happening?
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I just tried to put myself
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in the shoes of the apostles
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or the people complaining.
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And I read some things,
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listened to things,
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couldn't really understand
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about how this conflict
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is coming about.
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How were people being overlooked?
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And you would say,
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well, there's 12 apostles,
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there's 20,000 people.
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Obviously, it'd be pretty easy
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to overlook a group of people.
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But we can see up to this point
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that thousands of people
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are being served
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by the hands of the apostles.
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And this is just a theory of my own,
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so you can take it for what it is.
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But it's quite possible
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that in their gatherings,
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in the servings of the tables,
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they would have the men
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come up and get the food
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that was sufficient for their families,
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that was sufficient for their wives,
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that was sufficient for their children.
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And the apostles would hand them out to them.
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They'd hand them out
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to all the men that came up.
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Well, if you've got a group of widows,
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that's the point,
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is they don't have any young men
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or any men
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that are able to come up
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and represent them.
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So that's a possibility.
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That is a theory
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of the reason why
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they could have been overlooked.
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And the fact is
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that they spoke Greek,
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so it's not like they could come up
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and tell the Aramaics,
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the ones who spoke Aramaic,
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that they were being neglected,
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that they were not having food,
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et cetera,
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or that they needed food.
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So, hence they're overlooked.
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As some of you may remember,
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I think John mentioned this last week,
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or maybe a couple weeks earlier
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from someone else,
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but one of the duties
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of the Christian church
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that we're going to see
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as it grows
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is James says this
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in James 1.27.
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He says,
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Pure and undefiled religion
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in the sight of our God and Father
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is this,
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to visit orphans and widows
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in their distress.
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And so that's a very simple duty.
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I think the apostles knew this,
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that it was their duty
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to be serving widows
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who could not be served
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in the home by men.
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But when they're being neglected,
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obviously the church is failing
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to perform one of its functions.
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So when they came together
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and complained
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to the apostles,
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the apostles said to them,
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they summoned the congregation
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and the disciples
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and said,
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It is not desirable
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for us to neglect
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the word of God
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in order to serve tables.
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And that word that they use
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for serve
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is diakone.
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And I'm going to explain that
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a little bit later.
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But that means to serve
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or to be a servant of.
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That's where we eventually
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get the word deacon from.
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And that's something
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I'm going to be talking about
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a little bit today.
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But when I first read this,
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and it says,
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It is not desirable
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for us to neglect
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the word of God
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in order to serve tables.
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I said to myself,
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Who are you as the apostles
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who think that you're too high
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to serve the low,
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to serve the widows,
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to serve the needy?
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That's where my flesh went.
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I've learned
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from constantly reading scripture
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that my flesh
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is much more critical
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than my spirit is
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because it wants to find
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a lot of faults
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in the word of God.
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So,
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when I asked myself though,
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when I prayed
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and I said,
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What do they mean by this?
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They're simply saying
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that it is their duty.
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They were ordained
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to preach
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and minister
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the word of God.
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That up to this point,
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they were able to serve
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maybe 10,
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maybe 15,000 people,
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but eventually
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it became too many
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to serve on a weekly basis.
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So they had to choose
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one or the other.
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They said,
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We can either continue
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preaching the word of God
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or we can serve the tables.
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They said,
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It is not desirable
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for us to neglect
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the word of God
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in order to serve tables.
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And what I mean
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by that ordination
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that they have,
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that duty that they had
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to preach the word of God,
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we see it a couple of times.
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We see it at the very beginning
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of Acts.
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And I want you guys
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to turn here with me.
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Turn to Acts 1.
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1.
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I'm going to read through 2
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and then I'm going to skip
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to verse 8.
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It says,
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Verse 8,
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And that's his direct decree
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to the apostles,
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that they would be witnesses
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of the word of God
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and what they've witnessed
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in Jesus Christ
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throughout Jerusalem
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and the rest of the world.
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It's also,
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I'm not going to make you turn here,
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but it's also an echo
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of what Luke also recorded
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in Luke 24, 44 through 48.
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What we see in Matthew,
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Matthew 28, 18 through 20.
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All of you are familiar
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with the Great Commission.
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This is a parallel text
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of where he's commissioning them
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to go out
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and be ministers of the word.
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But someone pointed this out
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to me recently.
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It's not just,
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this commission was not just
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found here in the New Testament.
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It was not just found
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in the Gospels.
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It was not just found in Acts.
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But it's also a reference
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to something in the Old Testament.
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St. Augustine said
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that the new is the old concealed
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and the old is the new revealed.
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That means that what we see
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in the Old Testament
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is a concealing
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of what we now see
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in the New Testament
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and vice versa.
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What we see in the New Testament
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is revealed to us
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of what was spoken of
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in the Old Testament.
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So turn with me
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to Numbers 8, 14.
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I'll give you all
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some time to get there.
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I'm going to read through verse 22.
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And I want you to see
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the parallels between
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the Jesus ordaining
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and blessing
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the original apostles
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and what we see
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the Lord's commandment
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for the Levites
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here in the early church.
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If you will.
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Thus you shall separate
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the Levites
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from among the sons of Israel
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and the Levites
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shall be mine.
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Then after that
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the Levites
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may go
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and to serve
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the tent of meeting.
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But you shall cleanse them
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and present them
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as a way of offering
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for they are wholly
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given to me
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from among the sons
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of Israel.
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I have taken them
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for myself
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instead of every first issue
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of the womb.
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The firstborn
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of all the sons of Israel.
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For every firstborn
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among the sons of Israel
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is mine
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among the men
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and among the animals
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and on the day
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that I struck down
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all the firstborn
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in the land of Egypt
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I sanctified them
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for myself
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but I have taken
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the Levites
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instead of every firstborn
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among the sons of Israel.
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I have given
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the Levites
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as a gift to Aaron
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and to his sons
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from among the sons
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of Israel
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to perform the service
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of the sons of Israel
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at the tent of meeting
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and to make atonement
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on behalf
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of the sons of Israel
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so that there will be
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no plague
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among the sons of Israel
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by their coming near
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to the sanctuary.
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Thus did Moses
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and Aaron
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and all the congregation
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of the sons
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of Israel
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to the Levites
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according to all
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that the Lord
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had commanded Moses
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concerning the Levites
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so the sons of Israel
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did to them.
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The Levites too
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purified themselves
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from sin
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and washed their clothes
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and Aaron presented them
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as a way of offering
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before the Lord.
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Aaron also made atonement
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for them
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to cleanse them.
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Then after the Levites
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went in to perform
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their service
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in the tent of meeting
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before Aaron
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and before his sons
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just as the Lord
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had commanded Moses
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concerning the Levites
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so they did to them.
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This is where he sets aside
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people,
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priests,
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holy priests
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to take care
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of the sacrifices
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that constantly
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had to be made
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for the sins of Israel
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but this is also
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the people
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that he chose
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to minister
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the word of God
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to his people
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and eventually
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God himself
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ordains the prophets
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to do the same
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to speak about
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the coming
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of the Christ.
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These are the men
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that are set aside
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and it's the same
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for the apostles
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in this era
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that they were set aside
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to minister
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and to preach
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the word of God
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and they said that.
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We can't neglect
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the word of God.
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This is of the utmost importance.
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So their solution
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is therefore brethren
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select from among you
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seven men
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of good reputation
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full of the spirit
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and of wisdom
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whom we may put
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in charge
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of the task.
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And this goes back
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to that word
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that I used
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for serve
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earlier.
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It's diakone.
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It means to serve.
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It means a servant of.
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That's what they're looking for.
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They're looking for servants.
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People who know
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how to serve
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these widows
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that are being neglected.
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So there are
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six qualifications
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that I could come out of
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or that I could pull
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out of this text.
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for these men.
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The original deacons.
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They say
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select from among you.
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So that means
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the people
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that were bringing
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the complaints to them
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they're saying
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well what we want you to do
19:41
is we want you guys
19:44
to get together
19:44
talk to one another
19:47
nominate
19:48
seven individuals
19:49
that you believe
19:50
can best serve you.
19:52
The reason
19:53
they had to be among them
19:54
is because they spoke
19:54
their language
19:55
they knew their culture
19:56
they knew what
19:56
their needs were
19:57
which even obviously
20:02
the apostles
20:02
had a hard time
20:03
doing that.
20:04
They were still men
20:05
nonetheless
20:06
but it was best
20:07
that they found
20:08
someone who was
20:09
similar to them
20:09
people within
20:10
their community.
20:13
Another qualification
20:14
and I want you all
20:15
to take this loosely
20:16
and I'll explain why
20:16
is he says
20:17
seven men.
20:20
In this time
20:21
they were looking
20:22
for men
20:22
to serve the widows.
20:23
They didn't have
20:23
the husbands
20:24
as I mentioned
20:24
they didn't have
20:25
the sons
20:25
so they needed
20:26
men to step up
20:27
and serve these widows
20:28
but that doesn't
20:30
necessarily mean
20:31
that deacons
20:31
from this day forward
20:32
had to be men
20:33
and there is
20:35
lots of evidence
20:36
for that in the
20:37
New Testament.
20:38
We see that with Phoebe
20:39
I think in
20:40
Romans 16.1
20:41
we also see
20:43
a description
20:45
of what a deacon
20:46
should be
20:47
what they should look like
20:48
and I'm going to go to there
20:49
I'm going to have everybody
20:50
go to there
20:50
in a little bit
20:50
that's in 1 Timothy
20:52
so I think
20:54
that there is
20:54
sufficient evidence
20:55
to say that
20:56
women can also
20:57
be deacons
20:58
in many cases
21:01
and the more
21:01
struggles that the church
21:03
has
21:03
as it's growing
21:04
you're going to find
21:04
things that
21:05
really only women
21:06
can confront
21:07
and serve
21:08
they can serve
21:09
a lot better
21:09
in some ways
21:10
to men
21:11
you'll notice here
21:14
that we don't have
21:15
men throwing
21:16
baby showers
21:17
for people
21:17
it's because
21:18
women are best
21:19
qualified for
21:20
something like that
21:20
they're better
21:21
to serve
21:22
in that role
21:23
another
21:27
observation is
21:29
they had to be
21:29
of good reputation
21:30
and here I want you
21:33
to go ahead
21:33
and turn
21:34
to 1 Timothy 3
21:36
I'm going to start us
21:46
off in 7
21:47
where Paul
21:49
is actually
21:49
telling Timothy
21:50
what the leaders
21:52
and the elders
21:52
and the deacons
21:53
need to look like
21:54
in the church
21:54
so in verse 7
21:56
he's actually
21:56
describing
21:57
the overseers
21:59
kind of the elders
22:00
however
22:01
he uses
22:02
the same word
22:02
here
22:03
that Luke uses
22:04
for good reputation
22:05
he says in verse 7
22:06
and I'm going to read
22:07
all the way through 13
22:08
and he must have
22:11
a good reputation
22:12
with those
22:12
outside the church
22:13
so that he will not
22:14
fall into reproach
22:16
and the snare
22:16
of the devil
22:17
deacons likewise
22:19
must be then
22:20
of dignity
22:21
not double tongued
22:22
or addicted
22:23
to much wine
22:24
or fond of
22:25
sordid gain
22:25
but holding to
22:27
the mystery of the faith
22:27
with a clear conscience
22:28
these men must also
22:30
first be tested
22:31
then let them
22:32
serve as deacons
22:33
if they are
22:34
beyond reproach
22:35
women
22:36
must likewise
22:37
be dignified
22:38
not malicious
22:39
gossips
22:40
but temperate
22:41
faithful
22:41
in all things
22:42
deacons must be
22:43
husbands of only one wife
22:45
and good managers
22:45
of their children
22:46
and their households
22:47
for those who have
22:49
served well as deacons
22:50
obtain for themselves
22:50
a high standing
22:52
and great confidence
22:53
in the faith
22:53
that is in Christ Jesus
22:55
so we see there
22:58
what Paul lays out
23:00
is the specific
23:00
qualifications
23:01
of the deacons
23:01
but he's only going off
23:03
of what he saw
23:04
in the original church
23:04
the early church
23:05
that was set aside
23:06
by the twelve apostles
23:07
the next qualification
23:11
the fifth one
23:12
is that they must be
23:13
full of the spirit
23:13
they must be proven
23:14
to have the Holy Spirit
23:15
within them
23:16
and third
23:19
fifthly
23:21
sorry
23:22
yeah fifth
23:23
and of wisdom
23:24
they must have wisdom
23:25
and they must also
23:28
be leaders
23:29
and I pull that from
23:31
that they may be
23:32
put in charge
23:33
of this task
23:34
they weren't looking
23:36
for someone
23:36
who just simply
23:37
had a good reputation
23:38
they weren't looking
23:39
for just Greeks
23:40
for Hellenist Jews
23:41
they were looking
23:43
for men
23:43
who could step up
23:44
as leaders
23:44
to serve the church
23:46
and then they go back
23:50
to what they originally said
23:52
the apostles do
23:53
they said
23:53
but we will devote
23:54
ourselves to prayer
23:55
and to the ministry
23:56
of the word
23:57
this I believe
24:00
to be the crux
24:01
of this portion
24:02
of the text
24:03
or of this text
24:04
is that the apostles
24:06
are remaining obedient
24:08
to what they were
24:09
originally called to do
24:10
and they're not deviating
24:11
from that
24:11
despite the dysfunction
24:13
that they're seeing
24:14
in the church
24:14
the two things
24:17
that they mention here
24:18
are prayer
24:19
and the ministry
24:20
of the word
24:21
Jesus prays upwards
24:24
of or at least
24:24
what we see recorded
24:26
in the gospels
24:26
upwards of 30 times
24:28
throughout his ministry
24:29
that's not including
24:31
parallel texts
24:31
so that's single
24:33
accounts of what we have
24:35
of Jesus praying
24:35
and we know that
24:36
John says
24:36
he didn't even record
24:37
he didn't record
24:38
anywhere near
24:39
what he witnessed
24:40
Jesus do
24:41
in his three years
24:41
of ministry with him
24:42
so there's no telling
24:44
how many times
24:44
Jesus prayed it daily
24:45
by himself
24:46
and with others
24:47
that was constant
24:49
and so the apostles
24:51
eleven of which
24:51
are the original
24:53
disciples of Jesus Christ
24:54
they're just simply
24:56
copying that
24:57
they're mimicking that
24:57
because they know
24:58
that it has been fruitful
24:59
they know that they
25:00
need to call upon
25:01
the Lord
25:01
so they do that
25:04
they say we can't
25:06
neglect that
25:07
Martin Lloyd-Jones
25:09
says this about prayer
25:09
he says
25:11
prayer is beyond
25:12
any question
25:12
of the highest
25:13
activity of the
25:14
human soul
25:14
man is at his
25:16
greatest and highest
25:17
when upon his knees
25:19
he comes face to face
25:20
with God
25:21
that's absolutely
25:24
what the apostles
25:24
of this time
25:25
understood
25:25
that everything
25:27
that was happening
25:28
within the church
25:28
in Jerusalem
25:29
was not on their
25:30
own accord
25:30
it was by them
25:31
calling out to God
25:32
saying we want this
25:33
to happen
25:33
we know that you
25:34
desire for this
25:36
to happen
25:36
so please make it
25:37
happen
25:38
and then we see
25:41
the ministry of the
25:42
word
25:42
or preaching
25:44
that's how that can
25:45
be also translated
25:46
again
25:49
this is simply
25:50
mimicking what
25:52
Jesus Christ did
25:52
if you think that
25:54
these were the first
25:55
preachers
25:55
of the word
25:57
then you're wrong
25:57
turn with me to
26:00
Matthew 23
26:00
or Matthew 4
26:02
yeah
26:03
Matthew 4
26:04
I'm going to start
26:17
in verse 23
26:18
and read through
26:26
verse
26:26
chapter 5
26:27
verse 2
26:27
Jesus was going
26:34
throughout all
26:35
Galilee
26:35
teaching in their
26:36
synagogues
26:37
and proclaiming
26:38
the gospel
26:38
of the kingdom
26:39
and healing
26:40
every kind of
26:41
disease
26:41
and every kind
26:42
of sickness
26:42
among the people
26:43
the news about him
26:45
spread throughout
26:46
all Syria
26:47
and they brought
26:49
to him
26:49
all who were ill
26:51
those suffering
26:52
with various diseases
26:53
and pains
26:54
demonics
26:54
epiletics
26:55
paralytics
26:57
and he healed
26:58
them
26:58
large crowds
27:00
followed him
27:01
from Galilee
27:01
and the
27:02
Decapolis
27:02
and Jerusalem
27:03
and Judea
27:04
and from beyond
27:05
the Jordan
27:06
when Jesus
27:08
saw the crowds
27:09
he went up
27:10
on the mountain
27:11
and after he
27:12
sat down
27:13
his disciples
27:14
came to him
27:15
he opened
27:16
his mouth
27:17
and began
27:18
to teach them
27:19
it can't be
27:21
any more clear
27:22
than that
27:22
Matthew
27:24
even wants
27:24
to tell you
27:24
that he had
27:25
to open
27:25
his mouth
27:25
to preach
27:26
the word
27:26
some of you
27:30
may know
27:30
that right
27:30
after this
27:31
he goes
27:31
into what's
27:32
known as
27:32
the sermon
27:33
on the mount
27:33
every religious
27:36
scholar
27:36
whether they
27:37
study
27:37
Christianity
27:38
or something
27:38
else
27:38
or all
27:39
religions
27:39
they are
27:39
all familiar
27:40
with the
27:40
sermon
27:41
on the mount
27:41
it's considered
27:43
one of the
27:43
greatest sermons
27:44
ever preached
27:44
Jesus knew
27:48
that if he
27:48
called everybody
27:48
together by
27:49
healing
27:49
if he healed
27:50
a few people
27:50
word would get
27:51
out
27:51
everybody would
27:52
come to be
27:52
healed
27:53
he said
27:54
I'm not here
27:55
to heal
27:55
everybody
27:56
physically
27:56
I'm here
27:57
to save
27:57
their soul
27:58
I'm here
27:59
to tell them
27:59
how to get
28:00
to God
28:01
he concludes
28:02
that sermon
28:03
or he comes
28:03
close to
28:04
near the
28:04
conclusion
28:04
of that
28:05
sermon
28:05
on the mount
28:06
tells them
28:07
that you
28:07
have two
28:07
options
28:07
you can
28:08
go through
28:08
the narrow
28:08
gate
28:09
that path
28:10
is hard
28:10
it's on
28:11
the narrow
28:11
way
28:12
or
28:12
you can go
28:14
through
28:14
the broad
28:14
gate
28:14
via the
28:15
broad way
28:16
that everybody
28:16
else goes
28:16
to
28:17
only one
28:18
of them
28:18
reaches
28:18
to God
28:18
the other
28:20
will lead
28:20
you to
28:20
hell
28:20
that's what
28:23
he preaches
28:23
to these
28:24
people
28:24
who are
28:24
sick
28:25
who are
28:25
dying
28:26
who are
28:26
needy
28:26
who are
28:26
poor
28:27
so all
28:30
we see
28:30
the apostles
28:31
doing is
28:32
the exact
28:32
same thing
28:33
Jesus also
28:35
tells the
28:36
people why
28:37
it is that
28:37
he preaches
28:38
the word
28:38
of God
28:38
and why
28:38
they need
28:39
to truly
28:39
understand
28:40
the word
28:40
of God
28:40
he says
28:41
this
28:41
and you
28:41
don't have
28:41
to turn
28:42
here
28:42
he says
28:42
this in
28:43
John
28:43
539
28:44
many of you
28:45
I'm sure
28:46
are familiar
28:46
with this
28:46
text
28:47
he says
28:48
you search
28:49
the scriptures
28:50
so that in
28:51
them you think
28:51
that you have
28:52
eternal life
28:53
it is there
28:56
that they
28:57
testify about
28:58
me
28:58
the scriptures
28:59
testify about
29:00
me
29:01
the Christ
29:02
and you are
29:05
unwilling
29:05
to come to
29:06
me
29:06
so that you
29:07
may have
29:07
life
29:08
there
29:10
there's a
29:11
record
29:12
I can't
29:12
remember
29:12
in which
29:13
gospel
29:13
it is
29:13
there's
29:14
a record
29:14
of eight
29:14
lepers
29:15
that come
29:16
to be
29:16
healed
29:16
by Jesus
29:17
so that's
29:19
eight individuals
29:19
who need
29:20
physical healing
29:20
only one
29:22
of them
29:22
comes back
29:23
one of the
29:23
eight
29:23
comes back
29:24
and praises
29:25
Christ
29:25
because of
29:27
what he's
29:27
done
29:27
has faith
29:29
in him
29:29
that he
29:29
is the
29:30
Messiah
29:30
so it's
29:33
obvious that
29:33
Jesus Christ
29:34
was not
29:34
there just
29:35
to serve
29:36
people with
29:36
their physical
29:36
needs
29:37
nor are
29:38
the
29:39
apostles
29:39
they need
29:40
to be
29:41
constantly
29:41
devoting
29:42
themselves
29:42
to the
29:44
word
29:44
Paul
29:47
echoes
29:47
this
29:47
charge
29:48
and the
29:48
reason
29:49
for it
29:49
in Romans
29:49
10
29:50
I want
29:51
you to
29:51
go there
29:51
with me
29:52
I'm going
30:06
to read
30:06
Romans 10
30:06
1-4
30:07
and I'm
30:12
going to
30:12
skip to
30:12
14
30:13
I know
30:14
that I've
30:14
done that
30:15
a couple
30:15
of times
30:15
skipping
30:16
in between
30:16
but what's
30:18
in between
30:18
there is
30:18
just as
30:19
fruitful
30:19
I promise
30:19
you
30:19
but just
30:20
for the
30:20
sake
30:20
of time
30:20
Paul
30:25
says
30:26
brethren
30:27
my heart's
30:28
desire
30:29
and my
30:29
prayer
30:29
to God
30:30
for them
30:30
is for
30:31
their
30:31
salvation
30:31
for I
30:33
testify
30:33
about them
30:34
that they
30:35
have a
30:35
zeal
30:35
for God
30:36
but not
30:37
in accordance
30:37
with knowledge
30:38
for not
30:40
knowing about
30:41
God's
30:41
righteousness
30:41
and seeking
30:43
to establish
30:43
their own
30:44
they did
30:45
not subject
30:45
themselves
30:46
to the
30:46
righteousness
30:46
of God
30:47
for Christ
30:48
is the
30:50
end of
30:50
the law
30:51
for righteousness
30:51
to everyone
30:53
who believes
30:54
verse 14
30:56
how then
30:58
will they
30:58
call on
30:58
him
30:59
in whom
30:59
they have
30:59
not
30:59
believed
31:00
how
31:01
will
31:02
they
31:02
believe
31:02
in
31:02
him
31:02
whom
31:03
they
31:03
have
31:03
not
31:03
heard
31:04
and
31:05
how
31:05
will
31:06
they
31:06
hear
31:06
without
31:07
a
31:07
preacher
31:08
and
31:09
how
31:09
will
31:09
they
31:10
preach
31:10
unless
31:10
they
31:10
are
31:10
sent
31:11
just
31:12
as
31:12
it
31:12
is
31:12
written
31:13
how
31:14
beautiful
31:14
are
31:14
the
31:14
feet
31:14
of
31:15
those
31:15
who
31:15
bring
31:15
good
31:15
news
31:16
of
31:16
good
31:16
things
31:16
however
31:18
they
31:19
did
31:19
not
31:20
all
31:20
heed
31:20
the
31:20
good
31:20
news
31:21
for
31:21
Isaiah
31:21
says
31:22
Lord
31:22
who
31:23
has
31:23
believed
31:24
our
31:24
report
31:24
so
31:25
faith
31:26
comes
31:26
from
31:26
hearing
31:26
and
31:27
hearing
31:28
by
31:28
the
31:28
word
31:29
of
31:29
Christ
31:29
it's
31:32
right
31:32
there
31:32
that's
31:35
why
31:36
I
31:36
believe
31:36
it
31:36
is
31:36
of
31:36
the
31:36
utmost
31:36
importance
31:37
that
31:37
these
31:37
men
31:38
do
31:38
not
31:38
stop
31:38
what
31:38
they're
31:38
doing
31:38
to
31:39
serve
31:39
the
31:39
tables
31:39
doesn't
31:41
mean
31:41
that
31:41
the
31:41
serving
31:42
of
31:42
the
31:42
tables
31:43
is
31:43
not
31:43
important
31:43
they
31:44
knew
31:44
that
31:44
it
31:45
was
31:45
if
31:47
they've
31:47
stopped
31:47
fulfilling
31:47
the
31:48
reason
31:48
that
31:48
they're
31:48
preaching
31:49
if
31:50
they
31:50
stopped
31:50
serving
31:51
others
31:51
like
31:51
Christ
31:52
served
31:52
others
31:52
what's
31:54
the
31:54
point
31:54
they're
31:55
wasting
31:56
their
31:56
time
31:56
so
31:58
back
32:00
to
32:01
Acts
32:01
the
32:02
statement
32:02
found
32:03
approval
32:04
with
32:04
the
32:04
congregation
32:04
this
32:06
is a
32:06
great
32:06
thing
32:06
because
32:06
now
32:07
they're
32:07
getting
32:07
to see
32:07
reconciliation
32:08
right
32:08
before
32:08
them
32:09
those
32:10
who
32:10
were
32:10
complaining
32:10
they're
32:11
told
32:11
this
32:11
by
32:12
the
32:12
apostles
32:12
and
32:12
they
32:12
say
32:12
okay
32:13
yeah
32:14
this
32:14
makes
32:15
sense
32:15
and
32:17
they
32:17
chose
32:17
the
32:18
seven
32:19
they
32:20
chose
32:21
Stephen
32:21
a man
32:22
full
32:23
of the
32:23
Holy
32:23
Spirit
32:24
even
32:25
though
32:25
it
32:25
says
32:25
that
32:25
Stephen
32:25
specifically
32:26
is
32:26
full
32:26
of the
32:26
!
32:26
Spirit
32:27
we've
32:27
got
32:27
to
32:27
go
32:27
back
32:28
to
32:28
the
32:28
qualifications
32:28
of
32:29
what
32:29
they
32:29
say
32:29
that
32:29
they
32:30
need
32:30
to
32:30
have
32:30
all
32:31
of
32:31
these
32:31
were
32:32
full
32:32
of
32:32
the
32:32
Spirit
32:32
but
32:33
I
32:33
believe
32:33
the
32:33
reason
32:33
that
32:33
Luke
32:34
emphasizes
32:34
Stephen
32:35
is
32:35
full
32:35
of
32:35
the
32:35
Spirit
32:36
is
32:36
because
32:36
what
32:37
we're
32:37
going
32:37
to
32:37
see
32:37
in
32:37
the
32:38
next
32:38
few
32:38
chapters
32:39
or
32:39
the
32:39
next
32:40
chapter
32:40
or two
32:40
as
32:41
we go
32:42
on
32:42
through
32:42
the
32:43
study
32:43
of
32:44
Acts
32:44
you're
32:45
going to
32:45
see
32:45
that
32:45
you
32:45
see
32:45
the
32:56
goes
32:57
on
32:57
to
32:57
save
32:58
an
32:58
Ethiopian
32:58
or
32:58
brings
32:59
the
32:59
Ethiopian
32:59
to
33:00
salvation
33:00
the
33:02
other
33:02
five
33:02
I
33:04
already
33:04
read
33:04
those
33:04
names
33:05
to
33:05
you
33:05
I'm
33:05
not
33:06
going
33:06
to
33:06
do
33:06
it
33:06
again
33:06
however
33:08
we
33:09
don't
33:09
see
33:09
them
33:09
mentioned
33:09
anymore
33:10
in
33:12
the
33:12
book
33:13
of
33:13
Acts
33:13
I
33:14
don't
33:15
know
33:15
the
33:15
reason
33:15
for
33:15
that
33:15
I
33:16
didn't
33:17
take
33:17
the
33:17
time
33:17
to
33:17
speculate
33:18
so
33:19
it's
33:19
probably
33:19
not
33:20
that
33:20
important
33:20
and
33:23
these
33:23
they
33:24
brought
33:24
before
33:24
the
33:24
apostles
33:25
and
33:26
after
33:26
praying
33:27
they
33:27
laid
33:27
hands
33:27
on
33:27
them
33:28
so
33:31
when
33:31
they
33:31
nominated
33:32
these
33:32
men
33:32
they
33:33
took
33:33
them
33:33
back
33:34
to
33:34
the
33:34
apostles
33:34
knowing
33:35
that
33:35
these
33:36
apostles
33:36
needed
33:37
to
33:37
approve
33:37
they
33:38
needed
33:38
to
33:38
see
33:39
that
33:39
these
33:39
men
33:39
had
33:39
those
33:40
six
33:40
qualifications
33:40
of
33:41
the
33:41
deacons
33:42
they
33:42
needed
33:42
to
33:42
know
33:43
that
33:43
these
33:43
men
33:43
were
33:44
capable
33:44
of
33:45
serving
33:45
the
33:45
widows
33:46
so
33:48
when
33:48
it
33:48
says
33:48
they
33:48
laid
33:48
hands
33:49
on
33:49
them
33:49
we
33:49
see
33:49
that
33:49
a
33:49
couple
33:50
of
33:50
times
33:50
we
33:50
see
33:50
that
33:50
both
33:56
healing
33:56
that's
33:57
when
33:57
hands
33:57
were
33:57
laid
33:57
on
33:58
people
33:58
sometimes
33:59
it
33:59
was
33:59
for
33:59
prayer
33:59
in
34:00
this
34:00
case
34:01
it's
34:02
really
34:02
the
34:02
leaders
34:02
what
34:04
I
34:04
see
34:04
is
34:04
kind
34:04
of
34:04
the
34:04
knighting
34:05
the
34:05
deacons
34:06
saying
34:07
they
34:07
laid
34:07
hands
34:07
on
34:07
them
34:08
I'm
34:08
sure
34:08
they
34:08
prayed
34:08
over
34:08
them
34:09
and
34:09
they
34:09
blessed
34:10
them
34:10
to
34:10
go
34:10
back
34:11
out
34:11
and
34:11
serve
34:11
the
34:11
widows
34:12
and
34:16
then
34:16
we
34:16
have
34:16
the
34:17
result
34:18
of
34:18
this
34:18
reconciliation
34:20
this
34:21
coming
34:21
together
34:21
of
34:21
the
34:21
church
34:22
this
34:23
agreement
34:23
that
34:23
they
34:23
have
34:24
the
34:24
election
34:25
of
34:25
these
34:25
seven
34:25
deacons
34:26
we
34:27
have
34:27
the
34:28
word
34:28
of
34:28
God
34:28
kept
34:28
on
34:29
spreading
34:29
and
34:30
the
34:30
number
34:30
of
34:30
the
34:31
disciples
34:31
continued
34:31
to
34:32
increase
34:32
greatly
34:32
in
34:33
Jerusalem
34:33
and
34:34
a
34:34
great
34:34
many
34:35
of
34:35
the
34:35
priests
34:35
were
34:35
becoming
34:36
obedient
34:36
to
34:36
the
34:36
faith
34:37
so
34:39
the
34:39
ESV
34:40
I
34:40
think
34:40
says
34:40
that
34:41
the
34:41
word
34:41
of
34:43
God
34:43
was
34:43
increasing
34:44
in
34:45
the
34:45
NSB
34:46
it
34:46
does
34:46
say
34:46
the
34:46
word
34:47
of
34:47
God
34:47
kept
34:47
spreading
34:48
because
34:50
people
34:50
kept
34:50
preaching
34:51
it
34:51
kept
34:52
spreading
34:52
because
34:52
people
34:53
kept
34:53
talking
34:54
about
34:54
it
34:54
twelve
34:56
apostles
34:56
were not
34:56
the only
34:56
ones
34:57
that were
34:57
preaching
34:57
the word
34:58
of God
34:58
were ministering
34:59
the word
34:59
of God
34:59
those
35:00
who were
35:00
being
35:00
healed
35:01
would go
35:01
back
35:01
to
35:01
Samaria
35:02
and tell
35:02
everyone
35:03
you've
35:04
got to
35:04
know
35:04
about
35:04
this
35:04
Christ
35:05
he's
35:07
come
35:07
believe
35:09
it or
35:09
not
35:10
the
35:10
Jews
35:10
crucified
35:10
him
35:11
but
35:13
he
35:13
rose
35:13
again
35:13
from
35:14
the
35:14
dead
35:14
and so
35:18
the result
35:19
of the
35:20
word
35:20
of God
35:20
spreading
35:21
is the
35:23
number
35:23
of
35:24
disciples
35:24
continued
35:24
to
35:25
increase
35:25
greatly
35:25
in
35:26
Jerusalem
35:26
and a
35:27
great
35:27
many
35:28
of the
35:28
priests
35:29
were
35:29
becoming
35:29
obedient
35:30
to the
35:30
faith
35:31
it's
35:35
obvious
35:35
that
35:35
Satan's
35:36
efforts
35:36
were
35:37
throtted
35:37
here
35:37
everybody
35:39
came
35:40
together
35:40
and they
35:41
went
35:42
back
35:42
out
35:42
and we
35:43
see that
35:43
word
35:43
used
35:44
again
35:44
that
35:44
pletheno
35:45
where
35:45
we
35:45
get
35:46
plethora
35:46
continued
35:47
to
35:48
increase
35:48
greatly
35:48
a great
35:49
multitude
35:50
of
35:50
people
35:50
more
35:51
than
35:51
20,000
35:51
people
35:52
were
35:52
coming
35:52
to
35:52
know
35:53
Christ
35:53
that's
35:56
a
35:56
wonderful
35:56
thing
35:57
when you
35:57
see
35:57
the
35:59
obedience
35:59
of the
35:59
apostles
36:00
and the
36:01
service
36:01
of the
36:02
deacons
36:02
together
36:02
what I
36:05
want to
36:06
exhort
36:06
or
36:06
challenge
36:07
this
36:07
body
36:08
to do
36:08
with
36:08
that
36:08
is
36:09
that
36:09
some
36:09
of
36:10
you
36:10
know
36:10
that
36:10
we're
36:10
going
36:10
to be
36:10
multiplying
36:11
and
36:11
creating
36:11
a new
36:12
body
36:12
here
36:12
pretty
36:12
soon
36:13
an
36:14
extension
36:14
or a
36:14
branch
36:15
of
36:15
Christ's
36:15
family
36:15
in
36:16
flowery
36:16
branch
36:17
I think
36:19
it's in
36:19
flowery
36:19
branch
36:19
or is it
36:20
in
36:20
Gainesville
36:20
Oakwood
36:23
right in
36:24
between
36:24
so as
36:28
we go
36:28
and do
36:29
that
36:29
these
36:31
are the
36:31
two
36:31
things
36:31
that you
36:32
cannot
36:32
neglect
36:32
it's
36:33
the
36:33
preaching
36:34
of the
36:34
word
36:34
and
36:35
prayer
36:35
it's
36:36
designated
36:37
for men
36:37
to be
36:37
doing
36:38
praying
36:40
faithfully
36:40
and often
36:41
and then
36:43
the service
36:43
to those
36:44
people
36:45
that are
36:46
coming
36:46
coming to
36:47
hear the
36:47
word of
36:47
God
36:48
they're
36:49
not
36:49
going to
36:49
be
36:49
saved
36:50
they're
36:50
not
36:50
going to
36:50
know
36:51
who the
36:51
Christ
36:51
is
36:51
unless
36:52
they
36:52
hear
36:52
it
36:52
when
36:56
you
36:57
think
36:57
about
36:57
who
36:57
can
36:57
serve
36:58
I
36:59
guarantee
36:59
you
36:59
almost
36:59
everybody
37:00
in this
37:00
room
37:00
everybody
37:01
I
37:01
believe
37:01
has
37:02
something
37:02
to give
37:03
to the
37:03
body
37:04
we saw
37:05
this in
37:05
the early
37:05
church
37:06
I think
37:06
Daniel preached
37:07
on this
37:08
that they're
37:10
coming together
37:10
they're selling
37:11
all their
37:11
possessions
37:12
or they're
37:12
giving
37:12
they're
37:12
divvying
37:13
out all
37:13
their
37:13
possessions
37:14
to whoever
37:14
had
37:14
need
37:15
so when
37:18
that happens
37:18
there's a
37:19
great service
37:19
that's going
37:20
on to these
37:20
people that
37:21
are in
37:21
need
37:21
and we're
37:23
able to be
37:24
those people
37:24
too
37:24
I want to
37:27
read to you
37:27
from a quote
37:28
or a quote
37:29
from
37:29
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
37:30
from a book
37:31
that several
37:31
of us have
37:32
been reading
37:32
called
37:33
Life Together
37:33
he says
37:36
that the church
37:37
does not need
37:38
brilliant
37:39
personalities
37:39
but faithful
37:42
servants
37:42
of Jesus
37:44
and the
37:45
brethren
37:45
those who
37:47
are seeking
37:48
to serve
37:48
Christ
37:49
and those
37:50
who are
37:50
seeking
37:51
to serve
37:51
their
37:51
brothers
37:52
around
37:52
them
37:52
this is
37:53
what
37:53
Christ
37:53
says
37:54
love
37:55
your
37:55
brothers
37:55
as you
37:55
love
37:56
yourself
37:56
that's
38:00
all that
38:01
we need
38:01
to do
38:01
we don't
38:03
need to
38:03
have
38:03
programs
38:04
if it
38:05
ends up
38:06
being
38:06
ten of
38:06
you guys
38:07
in a
38:07
room
38:07
in Oakwood
38:08
be
38:09
faithful
38:10
to preach
38:11
the word
38:11
of God
38:11
be
38:14
faithful
38:14
to know
38:15
the needs
38:16
of those
38:16
there
38:17
and serve
38:17
them
38:18
now we're
38:20
kind of
38:20
hindered
38:21
here
38:21
in my
38:21
opinion
38:21
that we
38:22
don't have
38:22
a lot
38:22
of diversity
38:23
in this
38:24
church
38:24
and when I
38:25
say diversity
38:25
I mean
38:26
different
38:27
ethnicities
38:28
you're going
38:29
to look
38:29
around you
38:29
the majority
38:30
of us
38:30
I'm going
38:33
to be so
38:33
bold to say
38:34
all of us
38:34
are white
38:36
Caucasians
38:37
that doesn't
38:38
mean that you
38:38
come from
38:39
the same
38:39
types of
38:40
backgrounds
38:40
some of
38:41
you
38:41
many of
38:41
you
38:41
come from
38:41
broken
38:42
homes
38:42
many of
38:43
you come
38:43
from poor
38:44
homes
38:44
it's
38:44
absolutely
38:45
true
38:45
but when
38:47
you get
38:47
amongst a
38:47
group of
38:48
people
38:48
like those
38:48
in Oakwood
38:49
and Gainesville
38:49
they come
38:51
from those
38:51
same
38:51
backgrounds
38:51
but they
38:52
also have
38:52
something
38:52
that the
38:53
Hellenist
38:53
Jews
38:53
had
38:53
they have
38:54
a different
38:54
language
38:55
they have
38:56
a totally
38:56
different
38:56
culture
38:57
those are
38:59
the ones
38:59
that I'm
38:59
hoping
39:00
that we're
39:01
able to
39:01
reach
39:01
with the
39:02
gospel
39:02
of Jesus
39:02
Christ
39:03
you
39:06
have to
39:06
be
39:07
faithful
39:07
we
39:07
have to
39:08
be
39:08
faithful
39:08
to
39:09
serve
39:09
them
39:09
I want
39:15
to close
39:16
with
39:18
a
39:19
passage
39:20
from
39:20
1 Corinthians
39:21
13
39:23
I'll take
39:30
that back
39:30
1 Corinthians
39:32
12
39:32
there's
39:36
great
39:36
application
39:37
that goes
39:37
on
39:37
into
39:38
chapter
39:39
13
39:40
and I'm
39:41
sure that
39:42
everybody
39:42
in here
39:43
that's
39:43
been
39:43
married
39:43
or
39:43
is
39:44
married
39:44
in a
39:45
ceremony
39:45
has heard
39:45
this
39:45
verse
39:46
but
39:46
that's
39:46
one
39:47
of the
39:47
reasons
39:47
I'm
39:47
not
39:47
going
39:47
to
39:47
read
39:48
it
39:48
instead
39:51
I'm
39:52
going
39:52
to read
39:52
the
39:52
context
39:53
and that's
39:55
prior
39:55
to that
39:56
so
39:57
in
39:59
chapter
39:59
12
40:00
verse
40:01
14
40:01
listen
40:05
carefully
40:05
so this
40:05
applies
40:06
to
40:06
everyone
40:07
everyone
40:08
that's
40:08
in this
40:08
room
40:09
if you
40:10
are
40:10
serving
40:11
Christ
40:11
if you
40:11
know
40:11
Christ
40:12
if you
40:12
confess
40:12
with your
40:13
mouth
40:13
and believe
40:14
in your
40:14
heart
40:14
that Jesus
40:15
Christ
40:15
is Lord
40:15
all of
40:16
you
40:17
are one
40:18
of these
40:18
members
40:19
of the
40:19
body
40:20
for the
40:23
body
40:23
is not
40:24
one
40:24
member
40:25
but
40:25
many
40:25
if
40:27
the
40:27
foot
40:27
says
40:28
because
40:29
I
40:29
am
40:29
not
40:29
a
40:30
hand
40:30
I
40:31
am
40:31
not
40:31
a
40:31
part
40:32
of
40:32
the
40:32
body
40:32
it
40:33
is
40:33
not
40:33
for
40:34
this
40:34
reason
40:34
any
40:34
the
40:35
less
40:35
a
40:35
part
40:35
of
40:35
the
40:35
body
40:36
and
40:37
if
40:37
the
40:37
ear
40:37
says
40:38
because
40:39
I
40:39
am
40:39
not
40:39
an
40:39
eye
40:40
I
40:41
am
40:41
not
40:41
a
40:41
part
40:41
of
40:41
the
40:41
body
40:42
it
40:43
is
40:43
not
40:43
for
40:43
this
40:43
reason
40:44
!
40:44
any
40:44
the
40:44
!
40:44
less
40:45
a
40:45
part
40:45
of
40:45
the
40:45
!
40:46
If
40:48
the
40:48
whole
40:48
body
40:49
were
40:49
an
40:49
eye
40:49
where
40:50
would
40:51
the
40:51
hearing
40:51
be?
40:53
If
40:53
the
40:53
whole
40:53
were
40:54
hearing
40:54
where
40:55
would
40:55
the
40:55
sense
40:55
of
40:55
smell
40:56
be?
40:57
But
40:57
now
40:57
God
40:58
has
40:58
placed
40:58
the
40:58
members
40:59
each
40:59
one
41:00
of
41:00
them
41:00
in
41:00
the
41:00
body
41:01
just
41:01
as
41:01
he
41:01
desired
41:02
if
41:03
they
41:04
were
41:04
all
41:04
one
41:05
member
41:05
where
41:06
would
41:07
the
41:07
body
41:08
be?
41:09
But
41:09
now
41:10
there
41:10
are
41:10
many
41:10
members
41:11
but
41:11
one
41:11
body
41:12
and
41:13
the
41:13
eye
41:13
cannot
41:14
say
41:14
to
41:14
the
41:14
hand
41:15
I
41:15
have
41:15
no
41:16
need
41:18
of
41:19
you
41:19
on
41:20
the
41:20
contrary
41:21
it
41:22
is
41:22
much
41:23
truer
41:23
that
41:23
the
41:24
members
41:24
of
41:24
the
41:24
body
41:24
which
41:25
seem
41:25
to
41:25
be
41:25
weaker
41:26
are
41:26
necessary
41:27
and
41:28
those
41:29
members
41:29
of
41:29
the
41:29
body
41:29
which
41:30
we
41:30
deem
41:30
less
41:30
honorable
41:31
on
41:32
these
41:32
we
41:32
bestow
41:32
more
41:33
abundant
41:33
honor
41:33
and
41:34
are
41:34
less
41:35
presentable
41:35
and
41:36
our
41:36
less
41:36
presentable
41:37
members
41:37
become
41:38
much
41:38
more
41:39
presentable
41:39
whereas
41:40
our
41:40
more
41:41
presentable
41:41
members
41:41
have
41:42
no
41:42
need
41:42
of
41:42
it
41:42
but
41:44
God
41:44
has
41:44
so
41:44
composed
41:46
more
41:46
abundant
41:46
honor
41:47
to
41:48
that
41:48
member
41:48
which
41:48
lacked
41:49
so
41:50
that
41:50
there
41:50
may
41:50
be
41:50
no
41:50
division
41:51
in the
41:51
body
41:51
that
41:53
the
41:53
members
41:54
may
41:54
have
41:55
the
41:55
same
41:55
care
41:55
for
41:56
one
41:56
another
41:56
and
41:58
if
41:58
one
41:58
member
41:58
suffers
41:59
all
42:00
the
42:00
members
42:01
suffer
42:01
with
42:01
it
42:01
if
42:03
one
42:03
member
42:03
is
42:03
honored
42:04
all
42:05
the
42:05
members
42:05
rejoice
42:06
with
42:06
it
42:06
let
42:08
!
42:09
let
42:08
me
42:09
pray
42:09
to