Where Most Needed - Part 1

Acts 6:1-8 “Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

Continuing in our church’s Sunday sermon series through the book of Acts, Pastor Kyle stated that all of us overlook valid needs around us and suggested four reasons why. (1) We are busy with legitimate things. Nobody has the time to address every problem. But we have been gifted by God and have a great calling for what we “should be” doing. Edward Everett Hale wrote: “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.” (2) We knowingly bring old mindsets into our faith. The Apostle Paul speaks in Romans 7:14-20 and Galatians 5:16-17 concerning our “fallen flesh” this side of heaven. Because of the sin-nature of the flesh desires, the influence of our God-reject world system and the temptation of the Evil One, we all carry sin that creeps into our Christian life and uses tiny issues to divide the church. Live by the Spirit; keep in step with the Spirit, align your will with the will of God, change your mindset towards the Lord and His Holy Word. Do not be distracted; pay attention to what God says.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

(3) We misunderstand a situation. Sometimes, our expectations are not other’s expectations … and may not be God’s expectations. The child of God is given the spiritual gift of communication by direct contact via prayer. We have to remember that when we ask of the Lord, the answer could be yes, no, later, or I have something better in mind. We are all accustomed to taking care of ourselves and watching out for “Number One”, so sometimes feelings get hurt, but do not think that people nor God do not care.

Romans 3:22-24 “The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

(4) We are sinners. We underestimate the magnitude and extent of the Fall of Mankind. We all have selfish tendencies where we do not notice what is going on around us. In the process of sanctification (growing into the likeness of Christ), we are not sinless, but sin less … working to get sin out of our life while walking with the indwelling Holy Spirit. We shamefully sin against a just and holy Creator Father God. We are responsible to “make it right”, once we become aware. Only we and God knows our thoughts and emotions. May they be pleasing in the eyes of the Lord. 

Let's continue Pastor Kyle's message tomorrow about Christian Service.

In Christ, Brian