Chosen to Serve | Acts 6 | Fervent Church

[SPEAKER_00]: All right, so Acts chapter six, we're continuing our verse by verse study through the book of Acts, so we've been in this book for a few months now.

[SPEAKER_00]: And what we've seen thus far is the start of the church, right, some of you might be like, if you think about church in today, it's kind of normal, there's a bunch of churches everywhere.

[SPEAKER_00]: But it wasn't always that way.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like, well, where did the church start?

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, it started with the Book of Acts.

[SPEAKER_00]: When Jesus said, hey, I'm going to go away.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to prepare a place for you.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I'm going to send the Holy Spirit and then the Holy Spirit comes in dwells and empowers his people to go and do the work of ministry.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now, if you remember, Jesus said at one point to the disciples, greater things than these,

[SPEAKER_00]: And he's speaking of Jesus' works that he's doing, and he said, you will do when the Holy Spirit comes.

[SPEAKER_00]: And that's literally what we're seeing in the Book of Acts is these ordinary men and women who are filled with the Holy Spirit, who believe in Jesus, who have given their lives, surrendered their lives to live for Jesus and proclaim His gospel.

[SPEAKER_00]: And they're empowered by the Holy Spirit and they're doing incredible things.

[SPEAKER_00]: If you've been going through the study with us, or

[SPEAKER_00]: at least you're familiar with the book of Acts.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like you know that these things are not normal every day things.

[SPEAKER_00]: We saw Peter tell a lame man who's never walked the day in his life, get up and walk.

[SPEAKER_00]: And in Jesus' name, he was walking again, or walking for the first time, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: Which is pretty incredible.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so just all that to say there's just incredible things that's something to know.

[SPEAKER_00]: And we've seen throughout these few chapters here is that there's thousands of people at this point who have given their lives to serve Jesus, to follow Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: And they're just as far as we can tell they're all in.

[SPEAKER_00]: The church is growing, and almost daily every time you read, it's like the next verse or five verses later, all of the sudden it's like, and God increased their number, and the word of God went out and did its work, and there was 3,000 added or 2,000.

[SPEAKER_00]: You see, you guys know what I'm saying, the church is growing, but every time the church is growing and moving forward, we've also noticed if you haven't picked up on this yet.

[SPEAKER_00]: Is that every time God takes a step forward and he does something in and through his people and draws people unto himself, it seems as if Satan also takes a step forward to make an attack.

[SPEAKER_00]: If you see it, I don't think I'm over emphasizing this though here you might think, well that's a stretch Nick, but I would say I would argue that's the opposite.

[SPEAKER_00]: We saw an Acts chapter 3.

Acts 3 · chapter mention

[SPEAKER_00]: Peter heals the guy again tells him get up and walk and right instead of celebrating what he had done the people start to accuse him and attack him and say in whose name have you done this and then at the end of it Peter and John are arrested they're thrown in jail right like what like I just helped this guy who's never walked in his life and I said in Jesus name get up and he was healed it wasn't me it was him

[SPEAKER_00]: it was Jesus, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: And they said, no, you can't preach about Jesus, because Satan doesn't want the message of Jesus to get out.

[SPEAKER_00]: So they're arrested in Acts chapter 4.

Acts 4 · chapter mention

[SPEAKER_00]: We see that they're threatened.

[SPEAKER_00]: They're commanded, don't preach Jesus name anymore at all, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: And then they go out, they're let go, then in Acts chapter 5,

Acts 5 · chapter mention

[SPEAKER_00]: we saw that scene has this other strategy where he starts to try and attack from within which we're going to see a little bit more of that today but he tries to attack from within and if you're here or you know the study or the story and an ice and sapphire husband and wife who were united but they were united in their uh... their sin

[SPEAKER_00]: They were united in their deception and they said, hey, we're going to sell all this, but we're going to hold some back, but we're going to tell them that it's everything, but we're going to keep some for ourselves.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now, the sin wasn't that they kept some for themselves.

[SPEAKER_00]: The sin was that they made it seem as if they had given everything.

[SPEAKER_00]: And in turn, they lied, not just to men, but the Scripture says they lied to God.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then Peter says, why is Satan filled your hearts?

[SPEAKER_00]: So we see that Satan tried to corrupt from within because I believe Ananias and Sophia were probably believers.

[SPEAKER_00]: Why would they go and sell their property and give anything at all if they hadn't believed a little bit at least in Jesus?

[SPEAKER_00]: And so we see how Satan changes his strategy, tries to attack from within.

[SPEAKER_00]: But each time we see this attack, we see that the church grows.

[SPEAKER_00]: Luke tells us over and over again, and we're going to see even in Acts chapter six today,

[SPEAKER_00]: which I need to open up there, there we go.

[SPEAKER_00]: In Acts chapter six today, that the church is going to continue to grow, because every time the church is attacked, God's people are attacked, God comes through, and God's Word goes out to even more people.

[SPEAKER_00]: We also saw them at the end of chapter five that the apostles were arrested again.

[SPEAKER_00]: Right there in the temple preaching Jesus, and they're like, didn't we tell you to not preach Jesus?

[SPEAKER_00]: And so they arrest him and put him into prison, then you remember what happened is that an angel of the Lord came and let him out in the middle of the night, and then they went back to the temple in the next morning.

[SPEAKER_00]: They go, the authorities go to look, see if they're in jail.

[SPEAKER_00]: They're not there where they had to like, well, those guys, they're back in the temple.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, like, just imagine the scene, like it's just like, what is going on here?

[SPEAKER_00]: The God gave him a command, said, go and stand in the temple and speak all the words of this life.

[SPEAKER_00]: And it was a command to just stand in simple obedience.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, it might cost you everything.

[SPEAKER_00]: But it will be worth it far more than you can even believe.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so they go and they stand in the temple, unashamed, preaching Jesus, beat us up, threaten us, they don't matter anymore.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like, we're going to stand for Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so we see this, that every time the church is attacked,

[SPEAKER_00]: that the church continues to grow and the disciples, they're just, they're, I don't know, all in unashamed, not afraid of anything and I love it.

[SPEAKER_00]: So today's message title is called chosen to serve.

[SPEAKER_00]: We're going to see this here in a minute, but in chapter six as we kind of get into the set the scene, some scholars believe that there's probably around, this is conservative, I believe,

[SPEAKER_00]: 10,000 believers at this point in time.

[SPEAKER_00]: So this is probably a few months after Jesus has ascended.

[SPEAKER_00]: We don't know exactly, but I mean, last we heard and what was it, Acts chapter four, or five even, there was 5,000 men, not including women and children.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so again, scholars would believe that there's probably roughly again conservatively 10,000 people.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's a huge church.

[SPEAKER_00]: Right?

[SPEAKER_00]: Can we just agree?

[SPEAKER_00]: That's a lot of people.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know what we would do if 10,000 people were here.

[SPEAKER_00]: I just wouldn't be possible anymore, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: But just imagine for with me for a minute, an early church.

[SPEAKER_00]: All they have is Jesus teaching.

[SPEAKER_00]: Not saying that that's not enough because it is.

[SPEAKER_00]: Right, but like I all they have is Jesus example, Jesus teaching the new testament that we're reading today hasn't been written yet, so they can't go and say well what did he say?

[SPEAKER_00]: Let's go look it up and act chapter six.

[SPEAKER_00]: They're living it out as we as they speak, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: And so just imagine 10,000 people and it's like well how do we how do we do this?

[SPEAKER_00]: How are we doing church?

[SPEAKER_00]: There's a lot of questions, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: And with that, there's going to be a lot of problems, because people have problems and problems aren't always a bad thing.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think sometimes we think problems are evidence that God isn't working and that we're doing something wrong, but I think I would argue the opposite is true that problems.

[SPEAKER_00]: show that God is working in this to some degree and that there's things to do, there's places to serve problems to solve and the question isn't whether problems will come in this life or in the church because we'd like to think that we come to church and everything's perfect.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I think people give up on the church because they find that

[SPEAKER_00]: We're all imperfect people and I just wish we could see that.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like we all have problems.

[SPEAKER_00]: We all have things that we're going through but we're better together and we're better with Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's going to do a good work in us.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so the question isn't, is problems going to come and our church, there will be problems.

[SPEAKER_00]: There has been problems.

[SPEAKER_00]: Some of them are easy, small, easy to solve problems.

[SPEAKER_00]: Some of them are like, got to pray for days on end and just hope and pray that God will come through problems.

[SPEAKER_00]: But there's going to be problems.

[SPEAKER_00]: And the question for you and I to consider today is how will we

[SPEAKER_00]: God's people respond when problems arise.

[SPEAKER_00]: Today we're going to see that God doesn't just solve this problem that comes up in the text just by a miracle, but he solves the problem by calling faithful men to answer and serve faithfully and even what might seem small insignificant matters.

[SPEAKER_00]: So let's read Acts chapter 6, verse 1, 3, says, now in these days,

Acts 6:1

[SPEAKER_00]: Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenist arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.

[SPEAKER_00]: There's the problem.

[SPEAKER_00]: Says verse two, in the 12th, some in 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.

[SPEAKER_00]: Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit

[SPEAKER_00]: And so this is the start of what we're going to look and unpack today.

[SPEAKER_00]: But just notice here is that Luke begins this and he says the disciples were increasing in number.

[SPEAKER_00]: If you just kind of read and you look at a big picture like Luke says there's this work of God that happens, there's usually some type of attack or opposition, but then there's increase, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: And that's kind of the pattern we've seen so far.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I think Luke wants us to see Luke's the author of Acts that you can't stop God's work.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's going to do what he's going to do and the church again is growing.

[SPEAKER_00]: People are coming to Christ.

[SPEAKER_00]: But then we see there's this complaint, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: Another translation might say that there's grumbling.

[SPEAKER_00]: murmuring might be in your Bible there to paint on what translation you have, but there's this complaint and what's the complaint?

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, the complaint to try to help us understand there's two groups of people.

[SPEAKER_00]: They're both followers and believers of Jesus, though.

[SPEAKER_00]: So let's understand that.

[SPEAKER_00]: But they come from different backgrounds.

[SPEAKER_00]: And you and I here today, like, we come from different backgrounds, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: You probably have a different upbringing.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so when we talk about culturally, how, like, what does your view?

[SPEAKER_00]: It might be a little different than mine, or the person sitting next to you.

[SPEAKER_00]: But I think if we, if we all believe in Jesus, we're united in Christ, amen.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so these people, they're united in Christ.

[SPEAKER_00]: They believe in Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: They believe the gospel.

[SPEAKER_00]: I believe they've repented of their sins, and they've given their life to Jesus, but there's two different people.

[SPEAKER_00]: There's the Hellenist.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now the Hellenist are basically

[SPEAKER_00]: Greek Jews, if that makes any sense, okay?

[SPEAKER_00]: And so they're Jewish people, but they would speak primarily Greek because that's what they were taught.

[SPEAKER_00]: Right, that's the world they grew up in.

[SPEAKER_00]: Rome ruled the world back then.

[SPEAKER_00]: Roman culture was very much into Greek culture, and all of that stuff.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so just as trying to say, it's simply, it's like, they spoke Greek.

[SPEAKER_00]: And there's nothing wrong with that, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like just think about some of us here today.

[SPEAKER_00]: You might have come from a family that spoke a different language.

[SPEAKER_00]: And you come in here today.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like, OK, well, you spoke Spanish growing up.

[SPEAKER_00]: I speak English doesn't mean that there's anything wrong.

[SPEAKER_00]: There's just different cultures.

[SPEAKER_00]: And that's fine.

[SPEAKER_00]: So the Hellenist are these Greek speaking Jews who kind of grew up in the Greek world a few wills.

[SPEAKER_00]: So they had a different view.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then there's the Hebrews.

[SPEAKER_00]: The Hebrews are what you think of when you think of Jewish people.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like they're speaking Hebrew.

[SPEAKER_00]: They're speaking probably air-make as well.

[SPEAKER_00]: And they are your kind of textbook.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jewish men and women that grew up in primarily Judea in that area, and so we have these two groups of people.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then the complaint here, the complaint that they have, it says, by the Hellenist, so the Greek Jews arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so now this is,

[SPEAKER_00]: A complaint, but I mean, maybe it's just a point as well.

[SPEAKER_00]: We read it sometimes and we get to think, well, maybe this is like, I don't know, divisive, angry, complaint, like their right and a message put in the agape box complaint.

[SPEAKER_00]: They're all mad about who knows.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know, but I think that this definitely has the potential to cause division.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so that's what I mean by when God takes a step forward, people are coming to Jesus, Luke opens the chapter by saying the disciples were increasing in number, but then he says, and then there was a complaint.

[SPEAKER_00]: Then there was this inward threat.

[SPEAKER_00]: Right, because complaints, I mean, complaining is staining.

[SPEAKER_00]: I've said that before, if you read through Paul's letter to Philippians, he talks about complaining in grumbling, and that basically taints our witness to the world.

[SPEAKER_00]: Right, when you're out there complaining and grumbling about anything and everything, I mean, and you're trying to tell people, like, hey, you should believe in Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: He has everlasting lives.

[SPEAKER_00]: He can give you joy and peace, but you're just grumbling and complaining all the time.

[SPEAKER_00]: Do you think that's appealing to anyone?

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, like, just honestly,

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like, I mean, your life sounds miserable.

[SPEAKER_00]: I, you hate everyone.

[SPEAKER_00]: No, I don't want anything to do with Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: So we shouldn't be grumbling and complaining.

[SPEAKER_00]: So there's a complaint that arises.

[SPEAKER_00]: So it's kind of this threat, though, like, oh, no, what are we gonna do?

[SPEAKER_00]: Then again, the disciples, the early disciples, the 12.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, they're new to this.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, there are a few months in and their church is 10,000 plus people in size.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now, they wouldn't have a building, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: They didn't have a huge mega church as you might call today, but they definitely, they were a mega church in a sense.

[SPEAKER_00]: They're meeting each other's homes and wherever they can meet and get together.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so it's growing all this and then there's this growing complaint.

[SPEAKER_00]: And the complaint there, again, is that the widows, specifically of the Hellenist, are being neglected.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so let's look at what happens there.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so verse two, says in the 12, the 12 disciples there, they summon the full number of disciples, got everyone together, and they said it is not right.

[SPEAKER_00]: that we should give up preaching the Word of God to serve tables.

[SPEAKER_00]: So the first thing they say is, okay, there's this problem, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: They've brought it to their attention.

[SPEAKER_00]: Hey, our widows, these women who have lost their husband, who were to care for, because that's something that they would do.

[SPEAKER_00]: That wasn't just new to the church.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's part of even Jewish culture in the temple.

[SPEAKER_00]: And they would give to the widows and support the widows and care for the widows.

[SPEAKER_00]: But what they're saying is, hey, the Hebrews, their widows, they're being cared for,

[SPEAKER_00]: the Helleness, the Greek side of things were not.

[SPEAKER_00]: And you could see how this could get pretty, I don't know, it could be a fiery situation pretty quick, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: Like this could be dangerous here.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then the first thing that they say they get them together and they say it's not right that we should give a preaching the word of God to serve tables.

[SPEAKER_00]: It could seem as if they're like, hey, this is beneath us, but that's not what they're saying.

[SPEAKER_00]: What I want you to see today is that as we go through this text, that there's people who have very specific callings, and they know they're calling, and they're going to, as we can say in our culture, stay in your lane.

[SPEAKER_00]: They're going to stay in their lane and Peter, John.

[SPEAKER_00]: They know what Jesus died for them for, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: He knows they know what they're supposed to do.

[SPEAKER_00]: They're supposed to go and preach and teach, because if we don't preach and teach the gospel, how will they know?

[SPEAKER_00]: How will they hear?

[SPEAKER_00]: How are they going to come to repentance?

[SPEAKER_00]: We're too good for that.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now I want you to, again, just think about that for a minute.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think that's at all what they're saying, because Jesus, He was their example.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jesus is our example.

[SPEAKER_00]: What did Jesus do?

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, at the night of the last supper, He washed His disciples' feet.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like it doesn't get much more humble than that.

[SPEAKER_00]: And just to try to paint the picture, to wash someone's feet in that day in age was like the lowest of low job.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like the servant made, washed your feet as you came into the house because your feet would be dusty and they would wash your feet.

[SPEAKER_00]: So what Jesus did is he took literally the lowest form of servant, washed his disciples' feet and he says, hey, and you do likewise.

[SPEAKER_00]: So the disciples, they know, we're called to serve in any way, any shape, any form.

[SPEAKER_00]: But again, I think the 12 disciples specifically, they know their job is to go and preach and teach everything that Jesus taught them.

[SPEAKER_00]: Because after all, I mean, Jesus told them the great commission, go and teach all that I have taught you, baptize in them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, it's like that's their command.

[SPEAKER_00]: They received that first hand.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so there's this in this scene,

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know, sensitive situation, there's a genuine need for sure, but there's also genuine calling that I think the disciples understand.

[SPEAKER_00]: God specifically entrusted them with preaching God's Word and leading the church spiritually.

[SPEAKER_00]: So just consider for a moment as you think about this, they're not saying that we're too good for it, they're saying we know what God's call is to do.

[SPEAKER_00]: If they hadn't neglected their calling to preach and teach, the church wouldn't be growing.

[SPEAKER_00]: People wouldn't become an Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: There wouldn't be these problems because there wouldn't be people.

[SPEAKER_00]: You understand?

[SPEAKER_00]: And so what did they do though?

[SPEAKER_00]: So let's look at this.

[SPEAKER_00]: It says verse 3,

[SPEAKER_00]: 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.

[SPEAKER_00]: So what do they do, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, they're filled with the Holy Spirit.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think they're trying to push this off and say, well, let's just forget about it and we'll think about it at our next board meeting or whatever it is.

[SPEAKER_00]: No, they're saying, okay, what do we do?

[SPEAKER_00]: We're going to raise up more servants.

[SPEAKER_00]: Because when problems arise, or even opposition arises, it also brings opportunities.

[SPEAKER_00]: Opportunities for men and women to step in, to step up, to fill these needs, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: And that's what they see here.

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, there's a need.

[SPEAKER_00]: You're clearly telling us there's a need that we didn't.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think it was intentional by any means.

[SPEAKER_00]: There's 10,000 people.

[SPEAKER_00]: There's literally no way to know every need for every person.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know what I mean?

[SPEAKER_00]: And so,

[SPEAKER_00]: What do they do though?

[SPEAKER_00]: They raise up more people, brothers, go pick out from among yourself.

[SPEAKER_00]: So what are they saying they're saying to the Hellenists, Jews, you guys pick out some leaders.

[SPEAKER_00]: From your own group, like it doesn't have to be the Hebrews, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: Because you might be a little biter and jaded towards them at this point in time.

[SPEAKER_00]: You guys pick out some leaders, seven men, specifically seven, and then give some qualifications,

[SPEAKER_00]: Men of good repute, which would mean a good reputation, good character.

[SPEAKER_00]: Can't just pick anyone.

[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, that dude's passionate.

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, yeah, well, is he passionate about the right things?

[SPEAKER_00]: Is he passionate about God?

[SPEAKER_00]: God's word, people getting to know Jesus or is he just like, always a gifted speaker?

[SPEAKER_00]: And so maybe we should put him in charge, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm sure Judas looked like a good money keeper at one point.

[SPEAKER_00]: And he's a great,

[SPEAKER_00]: CPA and you can trust him with your finances all the while he's stealing money the whole time you know I'm saying I'm just saying character matters and so he says you got to find people that are looked at well In Proverbs Solomon writes that good character a good reputation is should be and is more desirable than silver or gold Now let that sit in for a minute

[SPEAKER_00]: Some of us are like, well, I love some more money, more financial, blessing, whatever it is, but God's Word says a good name is better than having money in riches.

[SPEAKER_00]: What's your reputation?

[SPEAKER_00]: If we're here today and we're like, man, we've got a need.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I need seven men to come up and take charge, to fill this need, to start to lead here.

[SPEAKER_00]: And we need seven guys a good reputation.

[SPEAKER_00]: What would we have?

[SPEAKER_00]: What would people say about you?

[SPEAKER_00]: Would you be someone we might consider?

[SPEAKER_00]: The early church, he says, hey, you guys got a problem.

[SPEAKER_00]: Find seven men of good character.

[SPEAKER_00]: And you know, it's like, I'm sure they are probably like, okay, I know one guy and another person shines in.

[SPEAKER_00]: What about Steven?

[SPEAKER_00]: What about this guy?

[SPEAKER_00]: What about him, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: And they start to think, but it's not just someone of good character, good reputation, but also someone who's full of the spirit.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, they gotta, obviously, they gotta be a believer.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's can't just be anybody.

[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, cool, they got good management skills and went to business school, whatever.

[SPEAKER_00]: It doesn't, they's like, no, he's gotta be full of the spirit.

[SPEAKER_00]: Full of the Holy Spirit, which means you have to believe in Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: All right, there's clear qualifications to this thing.

[SPEAKER_00]: And you got to understand, too, even in the church.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I, there's clear qualifications when serving in the church and serving in the ministry, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: The God calls us, too.

[SPEAKER_00]: And in this day and age, I mean, churches get sued because they have a job, say they have a coffee shop.

[SPEAKER_00]: Some churches have a coffee shop, and they hire baristas to work there.

[SPEAKER_00]: But then they'll get sued or in trouble.

[SPEAKER_00]: because they say can only be for Christians, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: Because in all of a sudden, now you're, what's the word?

[SPEAKER_00]: They're, um,

[SPEAKER_00]: Discrimination, you're discriminating, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: But in Scripture, very clearly, it's like, well, you gotta be a believer.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know what I mean?

[SPEAKER_00]: You gotta believe in Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: You gotta be full of the Spirit and you cannot be full of the Spirit if you do not believe in Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: If you've not surrendered to Him as your Lord and Savior.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so he's gotta be a good reputation.

[SPEAKER_00]: So he's gotta be full of the Spirit.

[SPEAKER_00]: He says, also, and of wisdom.

[SPEAKER_00]: So it's not just some guy who doesn't like cool.

[SPEAKER_00]: He loves Jesus and he's passionate.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's gotta be wise.

[SPEAKER_00]: And to be wise means you've got to know some things.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, knowledge and wisdom are definitely different, but knowledge is like you know something.

[SPEAKER_00]: Let's just say, math, how many of you guys love math?

[SPEAKER_00]: good.

[SPEAKER_00]: Great.

[SPEAKER_00]: Awesome.

[SPEAKER_00]: Or I'm in good company.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't like it either.

[SPEAKER_00]: All right, one of my teachers is like, you're so good at this.

[SPEAKER_00]: You want to go to the more advanced one.

[SPEAKER_00]: No, absolutely not.

[SPEAKER_00]: Trying to get in, get out.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't want to do math ever again.

[SPEAKER_00]: And this day in age, we don't need to.

[SPEAKER_00]: We got calculators.

[SPEAKER_00]: I can, sorry, don't kids.

[SPEAKER_00]: Don't listen to me.

[SPEAKER_00]: Do your math.

[SPEAKER_00]: Learn how to do it.

[SPEAKER_00]: But it does just say, knowledge is like, I know two plus two.

[SPEAKER_00]: I know how to do addition.

[SPEAKER_00]: Wisdom is like, okay, now I'm going to actually use it in real-day real life, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, we're going to go out and you're going to buy something at the stores.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, okay, now I get it, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: Knowledge is knowing something, Wisdom is applying knowledge to your life.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so you've got to know some things, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: You've got to learn about Jesus, learn about God so that you can apply God's work to your life.

[SPEAKER_00]: Otherwise, how are you going to know what to do?

[SPEAKER_00]: So these men, it's like, go find seven of them, good reputation.

[SPEAKER_00]: They got to be thought of well before you guys.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I want to put someone in charge that you guys are going to be complaining about later.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now I'm going to say I told you to have someone a good reputation, but you knew he was a liar or you knew he was a thief, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like, understand that.

[SPEAKER_00]: But you got to be full of the spirit.

[SPEAKER_00]: And he's got to be full of wisdom.

[SPEAKER_00]: They got to be full of wisdom.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then he says, the last part says, whom we will appoint for this duty.

[SPEAKER_00]: So they do have a say in the matter.

[SPEAKER_00]: The apostles, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: They're really disciples, the 12.

[SPEAKER_00]: They say, hey, it brings seven.

[SPEAKER_00]: And we're going to check them out.

[SPEAKER_00]: Make sure that they're good, they're good reputation.

[SPEAKER_00]: They love Jesus, they're full of the Spirit.

[SPEAKER_00]: And they're full of wisdom.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then we're going to, we will appoint them, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: So they still have a play in this.

[SPEAKER_00]: So verse 4, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: So we're going to get these seven to fill this need.

[SPEAKER_00]: But we, the 12, will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.

[SPEAKER_00]: We'll devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's their focus.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's their calling.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, we all should be people who want to pray and ministry of the Word.

[SPEAKER_00]: And that's going to look different in people's lives.

[SPEAKER_00]: But just understand this, that the seven men are called to fill a rather simple need.

[SPEAKER_00]: They're not called, like, oh, you're going to preach to thousands.

[SPEAKER_00]: Although we're going to see one of them next week, Steve, and he preaches one of the, I mean, one of the greatest wise sermons ever, and it's almost seems like off the cuff when he's just being persecuted and eventually he's going to be stoned and killed, but he preaches a sermon and he knows Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: So it doesn't mean you're not going to preach Jesus, but these men, they're stepping up to fill a role.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's rather simple.

[SPEAKER_00]: You're going to take some of the money, some of the proceeds, and you're going to go care for the Hellenistic Greek Jewish widows.

[SPEAKER_00]: You're going to help them out in their time of need.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's not super complex, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: And it's not definitely not flashy, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like not something you're like, oh, well, I'm the, you know, I don't know what the title might be, but the whole point is like it doesn't matter what the title is.

[SPEAKER_00]: The point is God has called them to something, and the question is, will you, or will they, in this point, will they fulfill it, will they be obedient, will they be faithful to do what God has called them to do?

[SPEAKER_00]: And so, and then the apostles again, they're like, we're going to be devoted to what God's called us to.

[SPEAKER_00]: So he says, verse five, says, and what they said, please the whole gathering.

[SPEAKER_00]: So like the solution that's been proposed to solve the problem, they liked it.

[SPEAKER_00]: He said, okay, cool.

[SPEAKER_00]: We'll find seven people.

[SPEAKER_00]: From our own people, we'll bring them to you guys.

[SPEAKER_00]: You can check them out, and you guys can,

[SPEAKER_00]: move forward with them or not, what I love about this though is how God raises up people from within to solve the problem that they first noticed in the first place.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know what I'm saying?

[SPEAKER_00]: And so I think this is how I worked at our old church back in Calvary, Tucson, my pastor, Robert, and this is one of the things like, I learned, I had some wisdom and staff meeting.

[SPEAKER_00]: If you have a cool idea, like you need to go pray about and think about before you start telling Robert about it because if you tell Robert about it, he'll say, that's a great idea, Nick, you're in charge of it.

[SPEAKER_00]: I didn't want to do it, I was just saying it was cool.

[SPEAKER_00]: I thought you should do it or someone else, you know?

[SPEAKER_00]: But it's like, that's the thing, God will open your eyes to things, to needs, to problems that do need solving.

[SPEAKER_00]: And you might think, well, Nick, you're neglecting this area or that area or the church is missing doing this.

[SPEAKER_00]: But it couldn't be that maybe because God's call me to preach God's word,

[SPEAKER_00]: things from the perspective that you see.

[SPEAKER_00]: And that's not a bad thing.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's not something for you to get angry at me about and it's not something for me to get angry at you about, but it's something where like, well, what does God show new?

[SPEAKER_00]: And maybe just maybe God's calling you to feel that gap.

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, I think we need to do this ministry, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: At our old church, I mean, I swear there's like a hundred different ministries, and that might not, I feel, I meant it as an exaggeration, but it might actually be accurate.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like there was a knitting and crocheting ministry.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, there was a military fellowship, a men's fellowship, a women's fellowship.

[SPEAKER_00]: There was the young adult's group, which is what I oversaw, which was awesome and fun.

[SPEAKER_00]: But then there's like, oh, there's the singles ministry.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, there's the 50s plus, I mean, it was never ending.

[SPEAKER_00]: But like, it was just something, though, where someone at some point in time said, hey, there's a need.

[SPEAKER_00]: We got a lot of,

[SPEAKER_00]: 50s plus people and we want our own fellowship and we want our own thing, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like, and I think at one point, Robert's like, cool, like, pray about it, and let's do it.

[SPEAKER_00]: If you want to do it, like, you're going to do it.

[SPEAKER_00]: You're going to lead it, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like, and it gives opportunity.

[SPEAKER_00]: Problems bring opportunities for people to step up into places to serve in which they weren't serving before.

[SPEAKER_00]: You see how a God will work in that way.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so sometimes the answer to your own problem that you see is you.

[SPEAKER_00]: God saying, hey, you fill that void.

[SPEAKER_00]: You step up into that service area to fill that gap, because that's literally what's happening here, right Peter or the Apostle say, you guys choose seven of your own people to go serve and fill this void of what's going on.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so he says, what they said, verse five, please the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen,

[SPEAKER_00]: A man full of faith, and of the Holy Spirit, and we'll know more about him, we'll talk more today, but also next week.

[SPEAKER_00]: There's Philip, Procours, Necanner, Timon, and Puma, no, just kidding, Timon, Parminus, and Nicholas, there we go, see, my name's in the Bible, it's not great, although it's mine has that heach.

[SPEAKER_00]: But a proselyt of Antioch,

[SPEAKER_00]: These, they set before the apostles, so they find their seven.

[SPEAKER_00]: I imagine it took some time, it wasn't just like in 30 seconds, like, hold on, Peter.

[SPEAKER_00]: We got some guys in the back, we'll bring them out.

[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe it was quick, but anyways, I imagine it took some time.

[SPEAKER_00]: They brought them before the apostles.

[SPEAKER_00]: These are the people, the men that we believe can fill this need for this ministry.

[SPEAKER_00]: And it says that they, the apostles, they prayed and laid their hands on them.

[SPEAKER_00]: There's something important about that.

[SPEAKER_00]: There's something significant there where that's a sign of like, hey, like, we believe in you, but we're also asking God to empower you.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I think there's something powerful when we pray for one another, and we lay hands on one another, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, I think some people are weirded out by it, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: And if you're new to church, it probably does seem weird, but it's biblical.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, hey, can I pray for you?

[SPEAKER_00]: In ministry before it's like I'll just ask someone is okay if I put my hand on you like your shoulder.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, it's like, but this is biblical.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I don't know what it is about it, but God's called us to do these things.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so when we're, I don't know, in listing someone into a ministry, like we want to pray for you.

[SPEAKER_00]: We want to lay your hands on you and ask that God would annoy you and empower you to do the ministry that God's calling you to do.

[SPEAKER_00]: And for these guys, again, it's a rather simple task, but it's not taken lightly.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's not taking any different than if they were to, to ordain a new pastor to preach and teach, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: The same thing's true.

[SPEAKER_00]: We're gonna pray for Him and lay hands on Him.

[SPEAKER_00]: But if you're gonna be in a smaller ministry, it's still ministry.

[SPEAKER_00]: Every ministry matters.

[SPEAKER_00]: All the small things, medium-sized things, big things, they all matters.

[SPEAKER_00]: There is no insignificant ministry or task in the kingdom of God.

[SPEAKER_00]: you know that right like literally everything we're talking this morning with the media team a little bit just like everything that we're doing like it matters like it has a bigger purpose there's people out there hearing the gospel and like as we come together to fill these things like it matters our kids ministry you might think well setting up tables and chairs not big deal well we need the kids to have somewhere to sit in somewhere to meet like those little

[SPEAKER_00]: can get to know Jesus, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like every thing matters when it comes to ministry, when it comes to people knowing Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I think these early disciples, they obviously know that, they take it serious, they lay hands on them, and it says, verse 7, and the Word of God continue to increase.

[SPEAKER_00]: Again, remember, like Luke keeps coming back.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like there's a little opposition,

[SPEAKER_00]: So there's a complaint that arose.

[SPEAKER_00]: There's the potential for some pretty extreme conflict and division, and I think that was Satan's part, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, oh, look, they love those people, but they're not loving the other people well.

[SPEAKER_00]: What are you going to do about it, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: And who knows how Satan was working there, but then it says, but they came together.

[SPEAKER_00]: They're united in the Holy Spirit, and it says the Word of God continued to increase.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's what happens when faithful men and women step up to serve and small ways, big ways, everything in between, God's Word goes out, and God's Word increases.

[SPEAKER_00]: People get to know about Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now understand this, that every time we do something, doesn't mean that someone's going to come to receive Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I've realized that as a church planter and our team, too, it's like, I mean, it's, you guys know a lot of my story or some of it, I used to be rebellious, I guess we'll say, drugs, alcohol, things of that nature, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: And I'll tell you this, it's super easy to pack a house with people when you got the right.

[SPEAKER_00]: Things at the party, you know what I'm saying?

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like, hey, come on over here, we're having a keg or everybody comes and they tell all their friends and their friends tell their friends.

[SPEAKER_00]: So when you got these complete strangers in your own house and what's going on, this is out of control, I didn't mean for it to have, but try to lead someone to Jesus, the way the truth of life, like something that actually matters, that's gonna affect your eternity forever, it's hard.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's super hard, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: And so, like, we need faithful men and women who are just willing to go be faithful stewards of whatever God has called you to do and understand, don't get discouraged when you went out there and you did what God said, well, God put this person on my heart to ask them how they're doing and it seems like things got worse or they stopped talking to you.

[SPEAKER_00]: No, you did what you were called to do.

[SPEAKER_00]: And that's all you're responsible for.

[SPEAKER_00]: You and I were not responsible for people's responses, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: I felt that way before, like, man, God, if we would just, like, more people would hear and come to know Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: And it's like, again, it's incredibly hard, but my job is to preach to the Word of God, to preach the truth.

[SPEAKER_00]: If people come to know Him, to believe in Him, to repent, to learn God's Word, I mean, that's between them and the Lord.

[SPEAKER_00]: But understand that even when you're doing the obedient thing and it's not going as planned, God will still use that.

[SPEAKER_00]: And this is the scary part for me as a pastor.

[SPEAKER_00]: When I read God's Word, it's like, by me preaching God's Word, and you sit in here today, hearing God's Word, like you will be held accountable for what's you're hearing today.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like when you get to heaven one day, or you stand before God, each and every one of us will, and you might say, well, I never knew.

[SPEAKER_00]: How would you ever told me that?

[SPEAKER_00]: I feel like God, I mean, he's a gracious, merciful God, but I feel like by that time when we come to the judgment seat, the grace and mercy, it's already been extended and you've rejected it, and I feel like at that point, like if we're talking a court case setting, I feel like God's going to pull up all the evidence of what about that time and you're at church.

[SPEAKER_00]: and Nick preached on an Acts chapter six.

[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, about that time when you're at your grandma's church, or your friends' church, and you heard of the gospel.

[SPEAKER_00]: What about that time, your friend at work, asked you if you know Jesus, and can they pray for you?

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I feel like all these little things are gonna come to account at some point in our life.

[SPEAKER_00]: And that makes me a little bit nervous for like some of you guys.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm like, I don't want to preach, and I don't want you to use it to judge someone later.

[SPEAKER_00]: But again, my call, my duty is to preach.

[SPEAKER_00]: God's word.

[SPEAKER_00]: Your job is to decide if you want to believe it and follow him or not.

[SPEAKER_00]: But then again, God's calling each and every one of us to little things.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know what it might be in your life.

[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe it's to serve more in our church.

[SPEAKER_00]: That could be.

[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe it's something super-like outside of church.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's just that person at work.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know what it might be.

[SPEAKER_00]: But God has a role for us to serve and for us to do it faithfully.

[SPEAKER_00]: And when we do these things faithfully, God's Word goes out.

[SPEAKER_00]: God's Word goes out to do the work that he intends it to do.

[SPEAKER_00]: It says, and so for them, the Word of God it continues to increase.

[SPEAKER_00]: Understand, God's Word doesn't ever return void.

[SPEAKER_00]: It goes out.

[SPEAKER_00]: It does the work it needs to do.

[SPEAKER_00]: Says in the number of disciples multiply greatly in Jerusalem.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I love this part.

[SPEAKER_00]: Says in a great many of the priests,

[SPEAKER_00]: became obedient to the faith.

[SPEAKER_00]: We're talking to some miracle work in stuff going on, like the priests, the guys who were like, anti-Jesus who probably were on the council, like, yeah, crucified Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now all of a sudden, they're coming to faith.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, eyes are being opened.

[SPEAKER_00]: When God's word is being preached, and I just love it there.

[SPEAKER_00]: But verse eight, let's move on and I'll try to go through this part in a good amount of time.

[SPEAKER_00]: Verse A says in Steven, so he's one of the seven.

[SPEAKER_00]: We get a little closer view.

[SPEAKER_00]: This is where a TV show, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like now we're going to zoom in, we're going to have an episode or two on Steven.

[SPEAKER_00]: So Steven, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now I think this is something to note because you're like, well, wait a minute.

[SPEAKER_00]: Wasn't he like appointed to care for the widows?

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like distribute the needs, like the proceeds, the money, whatever, might be, bring them food on Tuesday night.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know what it is, but like, wasn't that his job?

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, it is.

[SPEAKER_00]: And he's being faithful to do it, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: And he's full of grace.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's full of power, and I love this.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's doing great works and signs among the people.

[SPEAKER_00]: Because that's not the only thing God had for him.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, it's like, well, my job just to care for the widows and I don't want to do anything else.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, no, he has opportunity to share Jesus in many other ways.

[SPEAKER_00]: And he has one of the greatest opportunities that we'll see come to unfold next week.

[SPEAKER_00]: Verse 9 says, then,

[SPEAKER_00]: Some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the freed men, as it was called, and of the sirenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Sicilia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.

[SPEAKER_00]: So, again, we see the pattern.

[SPEAKER_00]: God's work goes out, the number of the church increases, and then comes opposition.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like right on time and I think this week it even takes something from this in our own life Because you might be beat up from discouragement Like why am I always being attacked?

[SPEAKER_00]: Why am I always being tempted?

[SPEAKER_00]: Well because Satan doesn't want you to believe in Jesus He doesn't want you to follow Jesus He doesn't want you to give your life for Jesus And so if we can understand that Like well I'm being attacked Maybe it means that God's doing something in my life And we could draw encouragement from it

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I'm saying so many people will give up because it's like, well, it's just too hard.

[SPEAKER_00]: Right?

[SPEAKER_00]: I can't overcome this temptation.

[SPEAKER_00]: This thing just keeps bothering me over and over again.

[SPEAKER_00]: But again, Satan wants you to fall.

[SPEAKER_00]: But I mean, if he wants you to fall, I think it's encouraging because it means God got something for you to do that has eternal significance.

[SPEAKER_00]: eternal significance there, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: So again, like God's word goes out, people respond, and then opposition comes in.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's why sometimes you guys come to church and you're like, man, I'll just want to live for Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: I want to give my life to Jesus, and I'm done with those things, but then you leave here, and then Monday comes, and then the attacks come, or the discouragement, because God's doing something in your life, and then again, it's almost like right on cue,

[SPEAKER_00]: The attacks come.

[SPEAKER_00]: Have any of you noticed that in your life, ever?

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, my wife have noticed this.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, Saturday nights, like, when there's going to be an attack of some sort, and maybe you could say we over-spiritualize things, but I don't think we are.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's almost like I could just like, I can tell you the hour something's going to happen, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like, it could just be like our kids or just, I don't know, out of control.

[SPEAKER_00]: Some happens.

[SPEAKER_00]: Anyways, but it's just like every time, like Saturday nights, like we've got this plan, it's going to be great and then the plan just blows up and explodes in our face and it's like, nope, it's not great.

[SPEAKER_00]: What are you going to do?

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like, well, for me, like, God, you got to help me here.

[SPEAKER_00]: I got preached tomorrow and right now I'm kind of angry at my kids and what's going on in this situation.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, it's a tax that come and that's just part of our story in a way.

[SPEAKER_00]: But again, it's almost like right on schedule.

[SPEAKER_00]: I could almost tell you, like, every time it's going to happen, then I can tell you this.

[SPEAKER_00]: Tomorrow, I'm going to face some kind of attack where I'm going to feel some kind of discouragement of what am I even doing?

[SPEAKER_00]: Is this even matter?

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm just being brutally honest right now.

[SPEAKER_00]: Some of you guys are like, what are you talking about?

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm a human.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm just telling you they're like, the attack's going to happen.

[SPEAKER_00]: I know it's going to happen and that means I need to pray tomorrow.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, they need to get in God's word and be like, okay, God, I know this is going to happen.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's going to come into my life to try to attack me to bring me down.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's what Satan wants to do.

[SPEAKER_00]: But I know that you have a plan to call for my life and I got to stay true to what you got for me.

[SPEAKER_00]: I need to find my encouragement from the Lord, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: And so again, these people, they're going out, they're doing the work of God, opposition comes in, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: This dispute arises with Stephen, but we're going to find out it's much more than a dispute.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's not a disagreement or an argument.

[SPEAKER_00]: This is going to be a whole setup.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so check it out, verse 10.

[SPEAKER_00]: But they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit which with which he was speaking.

[SPEAKER_00]: So just imagine, right, they're coming on the scene, Steven's full of grace and power, the Holy Spirit.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's doing wonders and signs and miracles.

[SPEAKER_00]: Telling people about Jesus and what we're going to see next week is like, he's telling them a lot more than just about Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's going all the way back, Old Testament to Abraham days to tell them of the truth.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so you can just imagine, right, the Pharisees, the religious leaders are probably like,

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, bringing up an Old Testament scripture and then Stephen's like, actually, that's totally about Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, well, what about the lies?

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, well, Jesus fulfilled the law.

[SPEAKER_00]: All right, well, what about the Passover?

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, Jesus is our sacrificial lamb.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like, you could just imagine the same words.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, they're trying to argue, trying to win, and you can't win when you're believing a lie.

[SPEAKER_00]: You can't win, right, because Stephen knows the truth.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so when he's just bringing the truth and he's full of grace, I believe he pried it graciously, he wasn't like you idiots.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's just like, he just telling him the truth, man, Jesus loves you, Jesus died for you.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, it's all about Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: I just want you to know and believe in Jesus and then they just couldn't stand it.

[SPEAKER_00]: They couldn't withstand the wisdom and the sky's smart.

[SPEAKER_00]: He knows this stuff.

[SPEAKER_00]: Are they couldn't stand the spirit because God's Holy Spirit was moving in him and through him.

[SPEAKER_00]: They could stand and says, verse 11, then they secretly instigated men, who said, we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.

[SPEAKER_00]: So now they're lying.

[SPEAKER_00]: Did he speak about Moses and God?

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm sure he did.

[SPEAKER_00]: And now they're twisting his words to say if something he did, it says, and they stirred up the people.

[SPEAKER_00]: Are they getting more people involved?

[SPEAKER_00]: It says, in the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council.

[SPEAKER_00]: So now they've arrested him.

[SPEAKER_00]: for is what's happening, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: Because they couldn't stand what he was saying, which was the truth.

[SPEAKER_00]: So the verse 13, they set up false witnesses.

[SPEAKER_00]: Now it's a set up, like no question at all.

[SPEAKER_00]: Set up false witnesses who said, this man never ceases to speak words against this holy place, the temple, and the law, for we heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place,

[SPEAKER_00]: and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so now they're setting them up now.

[SPEAKER_00]: Does this sound familiar?

[SPEAKER_00]: If you've been in the church and you've read the Bible specifically, the gospel accounts, this should sound pretty familiar.

[SPEAKER_00]: Because this is exactly what they did to Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: All right, Jesus is going out there full of grace and truth.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's speaking the truth, he's preaching the truth, he's healing people, he's doing many signs and wonders.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, Jesus is God in the flesh and the people, they saw it and they couldn't stand him, so they made up lies.

[SPEAKER_00]: They got a bunch of people together and they got false witnesses.

[SPEAKER_00]: And they twisted his words, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like, some of this, I'm sure Stephen actually said, but they're like, but if we were to go in a court setting, it's like, well, you took it out of context.

[SPEAKER_00]: We take something out of context, like it's not true anymore.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, understand that, like, there's this guy back in Arizona, and we would disagree a lot about ministries, certain pastors, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: And he's like, well, did you hear this pastor?

[SPEAKER_00]: And what he said and preached about the blood, he'd show me a clip, a 22nd clip.

[SPEAKER_00]: And this is a guy that I would listen to a lot.

[SPEAKER_00]: And from the 22nd clip, it'd be like, yeah, that dude's a heretic.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, that dude is leading people astray.

[SPEAKER_00]: But for me, I'm like, I actually listen to the whole sermon.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so I'm like, did you listen to the whole thing?

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like, because that clip was a illustration of what he was trying to get the point across.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know what I mean?

[SPEAKER_00]: It's like anything can be taken out of context.

[SPEAKER_00]: So yeah, he might have said something of that nature, but you've twisted it to try to seem like something else.

[SPEAKER_00]: And so they've set them up just like they did with Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: They're going to arrest him.

[SPEAKER_00]: They're going to put him on trial.

[SPEAKER_00]: We could say.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then eventually what we'll see at the end of chapter seven next week is that he actually dies.

[SPEAKER_00]: He gives his life for Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: He becomes the first martyr.

[SPEAKER_00]: Verse 15, our last verse of today, then we'll wrap up here pretty quickly.

[SPEAKER_00]: This is an gazing at him, so the council looking at Stephen, all who sat in the council saw his face was like the face.

[SPEAKER_00]: of an angel, all right, and this is where we'll land the plane.

[SPEAKER_00]: All right, his face is like the face of an angel, what does that mean?

[SPEAKER_00]: Does that mean he actually looked like a charibom, a little baby angel?

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know, you know, or a mighty angel, we think of these little baby angels, but I think an angel would actually be pretty frightening and scary.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's just my own opinion.

[SPEAKER_00]: We have never seen one.

[SPEAKER_00]: But what does it mean?

[SPEAKER_00]: His face looks like that of an angel.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think what it means if we look kind of deeper and understand it.

[SPEAKER_00]: If you remember the Old Testament when Moses, he didn't see God's face because you remember most like I want to see you.

[SPEAKER_00]: And God's like, you can't.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm just like, no, no, no, I want to see you.

[SPEAKER_00]: Seriously, like, you know, and God's like, no, like, literally you can't.

[SPEAKER_00]: Or because you'll die, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, this is my own paraphrase of it.

[SPEAKER_00]: But like, that's what's going on.

[SPEAKER_00]: So he's like, okay, I'm gonna hide you in this rock.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like in this cliff here, I'm gonna pass by.

[SPEAKER_00]: Once I pass by and like the trail of my robe, then you can look.

[SPEAKER_00]: Right, and then Moses looks.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's the glory of the Lord.

[SPEAKER_00]: When he comes down from the mountain, you guys remember what happened?

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, he had to wear a veil over his face and you're like, like Moses, like, what's going on?

[SPEAKER_00]: He's like, women wear vails and you're, you know, I don't know.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's just probably weird scene, but it's like, cause he's seen the glory of the Lord.

[SPEAKER_00]: And literally his face, shown with glory, could that be what Stephen's face looked like, maybe so.

[SPEAKER_00]: But I also think it's probably more so that he had the face of an angel, like he had peace.

[SPEAKER_00]: in the midst of intense opposition.

[SPEAKER_00]: Did Stephen know that he might die that day?

[SPEAKER_00]: I bet he did.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I bet he wasn't scared at all.

[SPEAKER_00]: Says that later in chapter seven, I think he looks up and he sees Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I feel like he had perfect peace.

[SPEAKER_00]: He had all confidence in God.

[SPEAKER_00]: I hate what I'm doing is what God has called me to do.

[SPEAKER_00]: I've been chosen

[SPEAKER_00]: For this, and I'm gonna faithfully serve, even if it means that I'm gonna breathe my last today.

[SPEAKER_00]: And that pretty hard core, like it's a consider.

[SPEAKER_00]: Chosen to serve, what does God call you to do?

[SPEAKER_00]: He's chosen you.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's died for you.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's literally made a way for you to know him, to live for him, and to be faithful in the works that he has for you.

[SPEAKER_00]: So that other people wouldn't know him, but are you answering that call?

[SPEAKER_00]: Because honestly, we make excuses while that's hard.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't have time, it's stressful, I'm tired, busy, you know what I mean?

[SPEAKER_00]: We have all these excuses to not do the one thing.

[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe we're scared, you know, God put someone on your heart at work.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I'll be honest, again, just being brutally honest.

[SPEAKER_00]: There's times when God will stir up my heart at work.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I'm honestly, I kind of have argued with God like God, I don't want to pray for him right now.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, anyone, sorry, pray for me.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, you guys are perfect.

[SPEAKER_00]: You guys pray for everyone all this time.

[SPEAKER_00]: But there's times, and I'm just like, God, I don't want to.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, like, like, literally, you know, and I have to wrestle with God in that and it's like, okay, well, I need to just go do that one thing, but it can be scary.

[SPEAKER_00]: And we like, talk ourselves out of it.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I don't know why we do it because it's like, well, what they're gonna think, I'm a Jesus freaking, like, for me at work, I'm like, they already know him a pastor, so it's not weird if I ask him, like, hey, can I pray for you?

[SPEAKER_00]: But still, I feel some kind of insecurity, like they're gonna think I'm a weird Jesus freak, which I am anyways, you know, like, but it's like, just do the thing.

[SPEAKER_00]: But like, if what have God called you to be Stephen today, hey, you're gonna go and you're gonna preach my word and you're gonna breathe your last today here on this earth, but you will be with me in paradise afterwards.

[SPEAKER_00]: This is your last day on earth, would you go and be faithful to Jesus?

[SPEAKER_00]: Would you go do what he's called you to do?

[SPEAKER_00]: Even if it was small and insignificant, like, pray with your coworker, right, or pray for your coworker?

[SPEAKER_00]: But like, what if he's calling you?

[SPEAKER_00]: That's, what is he called you to do?

[SPEAKER_00]: You are chosen, you are loved, and you do have a purpose.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I just pray that you'd have, I don't know, a desire, a heart to just pray and ask God, well, what is it?

[SPEAKER_00]: What do you want me to do?

[SPEAKER_00]: How do you want me to serve?

[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe it's something in this church, maybe it's something outside in your Monday through Saturday, life, I don't know.

[SPEAKER_00]: By my hearts, my hopes desire for us for you guys is, I don't know, just want to figure it out and then you want to do it faithfully, just to honor God.

[SPEAKER_00]: Amen.

[SPEAKER_00]: So, Father, we thank you for your words today, God, it is good, it's exciting, it's alive and active, Lord, and I just pray that this morning, God, we've considered your word and the things that you're doing in the early church, Lord, and I pray that we'd be encouraged and even convicted in a way as we consider that this is what you want to do today in our church.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'll just still calling people to serve you.

[SPEAKER_00]: to serve in ministry, you're still calling people to start new ministries, Lord, and you're calling people to be faithful unto you, God.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I've just prayed at this morning as we close and worship and communion.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's you would start to stir our hearts, our minds, Lord of what it is that you're calling us to do and to be a part of.

[SPEAKER_00]: And maybe for some of us that we are doing that one thing faithfully, God, I pray that you give us encouragement, Lord, as we know, attacks will come.

[SPEAKER_00]: discouragement will come, and temptation will come, but I pray that you would encourage us, that you would strengthen us, Lord, to persevere, to continue on, to not give up, Lord, to fight the good fight, Lord, and that we could live alive to be pleasing to you.

[SPEAKER_00]: I would bring glory to you, Lord, and that would lead other people to you.

[SPEAKER_00]: And we pray this in Jesus' name.

[SPEAKER_00]: Amen.