The Ministry of Deacons

In Philippians 1:1, among those Paul addressed were  “ deacons .” Deacons comprise a unique office and  function in the local church. God organized the  church to have deacons—special servants to carry out  certain tasks within the work and organization of the  local church.

Humanity has craved power. Jesus observed this  as a problem of the Gentiles:

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know  that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion  over them, and they that are great exercise authority  upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but  whosoever will be great among you, let him be your  minister; And whosoever will be chief among you,  let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man  came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and  to give his life a ransom for many [Matt. 20:25-28].

Yet, Jesus recognized servanthood as greatness. Therefore, deacons are special because of their ministry in the kingdom.

While some deacons in the brotherhood have a  title, but no job assignments, others have job assignments  but are not carrying out their duties. In each extreme case,  deacons and the congregation must cooperate to fulfill  each role in the congregation.

The term deacon simply means “servant” or  “minister.” Their role pertaining to leadership is unique  in that on one hand, they are not leaders. While they  must have certain characteristics to serve in a particular  function (cf. 1 Tim. 3:8-13), they are simply servants  with responsibilities. On the other hand, they are  leaders, because their responsibility (and the leadership  inherent within such responsibility) makes them leaders.  For example, in Acts 6, the apostles encouraged the  congregation in Jerusalem to select seven “servants”  to be responsible for the daily ministry to the widows,  solving the problem that had arisen in the process. Did  they serve? Of course, they did. Yet, did they lead? The  position in which the apostles placed them inherently  carried with it responsibility, and with such, an amount  of leadership. Such is also true concerning elders and  deacons in the local church setting.

To show such is true, deacons are to involve the  congregation in their work, not simply do the work  themselves. Proper delegation is very important in not  only fulfilling the work of the church, but also executing  proper organization in the entire body of Christ working  as a single unit. When Paul described the church as  a body in First Corinthians 12, he did so recognizing  the importance of every single individual member.  Therefore, elders, deacons and ministers are not to do all  the work of the church. Deacons especially must involve  the members in their work.

Deacons must exercise responsibility. One cannot  be a deacon without understanding responsibility and  dependability. The church will greatly benefit when  congregations appoint deacons who understand these and  exercise them in fulfilling their appointed roles.

Therefore, while the seven men of Acts 6 were not  necessarily deacons, they do serve as a model for such  an office. When the church properly utilizes deacons  and they work diligently under the supervision of the  elders, great things will happen! “ And the word of God  increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in  Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests  were obedient to the faith ” (Acts 6:7).

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Forsaking Attendance

Forsaking the Attendance of Christian Assemblies

Question – Please tell me why Christians miss many assemblies of the church; offering no reasons for their absences. Isn’t it essential to spiritual growth to be present at all the assemblies if possible?  – Allen G.

Answer …  Hebrews 10:24-27 – Perhaps one of the most often violated instructions in the New Testament is the admonition found in Hebrews 10:24-27 – 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (KJV) There is no plainer command found in the New Testament for Christian to be faithful in attendance than these four verses. Yet; many members of the congregation will be absent from the assemblies several times each month. I am not suggesting that there is never a time when a faithful Christian will miss an assembly.  The problems of health, family, and emergencies will cause many Christians to miss a service occasionally but for a member or family to absent themselves from the assembly two or more times monthly on a continuing basis is surely a sign that faithfulness is not important to them. Perhaps there is more than one cause of their unfaithfulness; please note the following list:

Perhaps they are too involved in worldly pursuits – Titus 2:11-12 – 11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (KJV)

It is also true that many Christians do not consider it needful to be at all meetings of the church; many consider the Lord’s Day {i.e. Sunday} as the only day needed for complying with the admonition to partake the Lord’s Supper, etc. But the Scriptures state

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 – 1 now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. – Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Acts 20:7 – and upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (KJV)

NOTE — Acts 20:7 — [And upon the first day of the week] Showing thus that this day was then observed by Christians as holy time. Compare 1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10. [To break bread] Evidently to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Compare Acts 2:46. So the Syrian understands it, by translating it, “to break the Eucharist”; that is, the Eucharistic bread. It is probable that the apostles and early Christians celebrated the Lord’s Supper on every Lord’s day.  — (From Barnes’ Notes)

NOTE ALSO: Christians all; are to grow spiritually – requiring attendance at Bible study, gospel meetings, special classes, etc.

2 Peter 3:18 – But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

1 Peter 2:2 – As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (KJV)

Ephesians 4:15-16 – 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Every Christian ought to seek to grow on a continuing basis; I have been a preacher of the gospel for 52 years and I still am learning more and more as I attend Bible study both as a teacher and as a learner in the teaching of others. We must always do all that we can to gain knowledge so that we can teach others as someone taught us; as Paul instructed Timothy long ago – cf. 2 Timothy 2:1-2 – “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (KJV)

I do not know all the reasons for absences at Bible study and other worship times but I am convinced that the Christian who loves the Lord and wants to please him as well as to grow as they ought; will attend every worship privilege and every study session that they possibly can. Don’t you?

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Resolutions

Resolutions: Great Resolves of the Heart

It was a time of war.  Israel had been oppressed by the Canaanite King, Jabin, for twenty (20) years.  Jabin’s right hand man, Sisera, had nine hundred chariots of iron (Judges 4:2-3).  With so many chariots, who could withstand him?  Nevertheless, when the children of Israel cried out to God, He heard, and raised up Deborah as a judge (Judges 4:3-4).  At his request, Deborah went with Barak, and defeated the armies of Jabin, and Sisera died at the hands of a woman, Jael (Judges 4:8-24).

After this great victory, Deborah wrote a song found in Judges 5.  In this song, she praises God for the victory, and recounts the circumstances that led up to the battle.  One expression in this song that catches the attention is found in Judges 5:15-16, “By the watercourses of Reuben There were great resolves of heart.  Why sattest thou among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben There were great searchings of heart” (ASV).

One might think that this thought is a compliment, but it is actually a criticism.  You see, while the tribes of Zebulun and Naphthali enjoined the battle, Reuben stayed at home with their flocks.  They passed great resolutions in their assemblies, but could not take themselves away from their comfortable pastoral life.  One commentator says:

Deborah first of all mentions the tribes which took no part in the conflict (Judges 5:15-17), and then returns in Judges 5:18 to the Zebulunites, who staked their life along with Naphtali for the deliverance of Israel from the yoke of the enemy. The enumeration of the tribes who remained at a distance from the conflict commences with Reuben (Judges 5:15 and Judges 5:16). In this tribe there did arise a lively sympathy with the national elevation. They held meetings, passed great resolutions, but it led to no practical result; and at length they preferred to remain quietly at home in their own comfortable pastoral life.

Many have “great resolve of heart,” but fail to execute upon those resolutions when it is time to act.  These “resolves” take many practical forms.  The Pharisees’ oaths in Matthew 5:33-37 were such “resolves.”  Failing to follow through on our commitments would be categorized as being such a “resolve.”  Passing national laws and then failing to enforce them may be categorized as such “resolves.”  It is good to have great resolves, but if we do not have the follow through to go with it, resolutions are meaningless, hypocritical, and at worst downright deceitful.

It has been said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.  We may intend to do the right thing, have our heart right, and even say the right things, but if those intentions are not backed up with solid action, our intentions become vain.  James said it like this:

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed (James 1:22-25).

How many of us prefer the comfortable pastoral life to the life of service that Jesus’ demands?  Do we come to worship each week with great resolves of heart, but do nothing thereafter?  It is good to have a good heart, but it is better for that good heart to be followed by good activity of faith.  Let’s resolve not to be sideline Christians, but to put on the whole armor of God and engage the enemy (Ephesians 6:10-18).

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Applying the Greatest Command

What words would you use to sum up the law of Moses? If your answer dealt with sacrifices and commandments, your understanding has been influenced more by the Jewish leaders of the first century than by how God intended for it to be. Jesus showed the true nature of the law when He said, “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 22:40). We know these two greatest commandments but sometimes fail to see their application to the nature of the Old Testament.

Take time to look at the opening words of the greatest commandment, “You shall love the Lord your God will all your heart . . .” (Matt. 22:37). The greatest commandment begins with having the Lord first, not just in our minds, but in our hearts! God wants our devotion to Him to begin with total devotion originating in giving our whole heart to Him.

We should pray with our whole heart. David said, “I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; be merciful to me according to your word” (Psa. 119:58). He looked back at the past and his prayer life involved his entire heart when he prayed. In this same psalm, he looked at the present. “I cry out with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord! I will keep your statutes” (Psa. 119:145). There is a great difference between saying a prayer and praying with our whole heart. The next time someone says, “Let’s bow our heads as we pray,” make sure that your whole heart is involved in this prayer. This is part of the greatest commandment!

We should sing with our whole heart. The heart of David involved his whole heart when he sang God’s praises. “I will praise You with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing praises to You” (Psa. 138:1). It involved his whole heart when he assembled to worship with others. “Praise the Lord! I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation” (Psa. 111:1). There is a marked difference between singing and singing with all our heart. The next time someone says, “Let’s sing,” make sure that your response involves your whole heart in the song. This is part of the greatest commandment!

We should teach others with our whole heart. Look again at the words of David. “I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all your marvelous works” (Psa. 9:1). Jesus’ words, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks,” show why David’s heart had to teach others. There is nothing more detrimental to the faith of those being taught than a teacher whose whole heart is not involved in his teaching. This is part of the greatest commandment!

Let us pray, sing and teach with our whole heart!

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Lost?

Can the Saved be Lost?

Many believe and teach that once an individual is saved he cannot be lost. However, the Scriptures clearly teach that a child of God can forfeit his salvation and be eternally lost. Many passages speak of the conditional nature of our future salvation. The apostle Paul reminded the Christians in Corinth of the gospel by which they were saved “if ” they held fast to the word which was preached to them (1Cor. 15:2). The word “if” places a condition on salvation for the child of God. To the children of God in Galatia Paul wrote, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Gal. 6:9). The word “if” here implies if we as children of God do lose heart we will not reap the reward. The writer of Hebrews declared we are of Christ’s household “if we hold fast our confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end” (Heb. 3:6). Why do the Scriptures make these conditional statements about salvation if once we are saved we cannot be lost?

The Scriptures point out the conditional nature of our future salvation by giving solemn warnings against apostasy (falling away as to be lost). The apostle Paul in warning the Corinthians against apostasy realized he too could fall away and be lost. He said “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (1Cor. 9:27). Certainly, if there was a possibility for the apostle Paul to be rejected, then we too could be. Right after that statement he used the example of the Israelites who fell from God’s favor by their disobedience and were not permitted to enter the promised land. Paul’s conclusion was, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1Cor. 10:12). The Hebrew writer declared, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being let us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of if” (Heb. 4:1). These are solemn warnings against falling away and being lost. Therefore, why give the warnings if once one is saved he is always saved?

The Scriptures also speak of examples of those who did fall away. Among some who became Christians at the preaching of Philip was a man by the name of Simon. When he later became covetous of the apostles’ power, Peter told him, “Thy money perish with thee…for thy heart is not right in the sight of God…I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity” (Acts 8:12-24). Paul wrote to some who had at one time been faithful, but now had turned back to Judaism. He said “Christ is become of no effect unto you . . . ye are fallen from grace.” (Gal. 5:4)

These are but a few of the many passages where the Scriptures plainly teach that salvation is conditional based upon our faithful obedience. Only if we are faithful unto death will we receive a crown of life (Rev. 2:10).

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