Morning Sermon

September 16, 2007

A Ministry of Mercy

Text

Phil. 1:1 "Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

That's the introduction to the book of Philippians, a book addressed to all the saints. All of God's people. Together with the bishops and the deacons. Last week we focused upon the bishops, a word referring to overseers, rulers, governors in the church, men also identified as Elders. Those with the responsibility to exercise the authority of Jesus Christ in his body on earth. Now, today, the deacons.

We see these two groups again in, 1 Tim. 3:1 "This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work."

After a description of qualifications, we then read,

1 Tim. 3:8 "Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."

So this is how we are to conduct ourselves in God's church. We are to ordain Elders in the every church, more than one, to rule and govern. And we are to ordain Deacons. But who are they? And what do they do?

Interestingly, many churches that believe the word of God to be true in matters of doctrine ignore the distinction between Elders and Deacons, and appoint or ordain Deacons as those in authority over the church and ignore the whole presence of Elders entirely. Others seem to ignore the importance of Deacons altogether, and emphasize only the presence of Elders. But Scripture addresses the importance of both. Within the church, all the saints live together with those among identified as Elders and those identifies as Deacons.

Yet, again, who are they? And what do they do? I believe the answer to that question lies in our text in Acts 6. I admit that these men are not called "Deacons" here, but I also believe that the context makes it clear that the same distinction here is made with what Paul later establishes between Elders and Deacons. So these seven men ordained to office in the church in Jerusalem were the first deacons. And their ordination shows to us,

I. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MINISTRY OF MERCY WITHIN THE CHURCH. Fundamentally, that's what Deacons do. They oversee the ministry of mercy. And that ministry is clearly,

A. Practical ministry shown to those in need. How practical? v.1

Literally, the reference is to the daily "ministry." The daily service. Or even a bit more specifically, the daily distribution. There were some widows being neglected in a daily distribution of ministry. There is no necessary implication of anything being done intentionally. There is no necessary implication of division or divides between the Greeks and the Jews, but there clearer is a concern. A complaint is raised, presumably to the Elders who bear the responsibility of oversight in the church.

But what is being overlooked? Well, what daily ministrations to the needs of widows is most obvious? If it isn't clear in your mind that the reference is to providing meals or some sort of food, then that should be even clearer in, v.2

They were to serve tables. Tables upon which food was prepared and eaten. Serving tables meant then exactly what it means now. Providing a meal. Setting food before someone. Even enjoying feast. And so these widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.

Now, stop and think just a moment. Think about how significant that ministry is, by its elevation to such a place of prominence here. The church took care of the widows, in the most practical and personal of ways. They provided them food.

This ministry of mercy became a bit more organized as the church developed over the coming decades. We read in,

1 Tim. 5:8 "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9 Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. 11 But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some have already turned aside after Satan. 16 If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows."

The underlying ministry described there is the "number of widows" identified as recipient of the mercy ministry of the church. Those without families to take care of them, those with lives that have demonstrated their faithfulness to Christ. Those widows were are really widows, widows indeed, widows in true need, let them be cared for by the ministry of the church.

And so, says James, James 1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."

You see, religion is practical. And nothing is more practical than taking care of people in need. And no one is more obviously in need than a widow without family. So the church is called upon to meet those needs and provide for those daily necessities such as food. It is a vitally important ministry.

That importance is also emphasized by what is also emphasized here, even of primary importance, namely the ministry of the word. And what we see is,

B. Practical mercy shown in conjunction with the ministry of the word. v.2

Now, in one sense, a practical ministry of mercy seems to be of secondary importance to the ministry of the Word, but because of its identification here, I would describe it with slightly different words but significantly different meaning. A practical ministry of mercy is second ONLY to the ministry of the Word. And second, not meaning optional or unimportant, but second to be done in conjunction with the Word not instead of it. v.3-4

So, clearly, the church ought never to forsake or even diminish the importance of the ministry of the Word. But neither should the ministry of the word ever be conceived of in the church separated from or without the attendant ministry of mercy.

That becomes pretty clear in, 1 John 3:16 "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth."

And maybe even clearer, James 2:14 "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

So here is was in the church at Jerusalem, very early on in the life of the Christian church during the age of the apostles, the church was engaged in a most practical ministry of mercy to widows in need, a ministry place on par with the ministry of the word itself. It is a ministry given great importance as well in the life and teaching of our Lord Jesus.

Mat. 25:31 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 "And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 'I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' 40 "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

So the church must serve Christ by serving one another, especially to the least of these "my brethren." And to accomplish that ministry, to be sure that no one is overlooked and no one slips through the cracks, as we say today, there should be men put in church. So we see in our text how the provision is made for,

II. THE LEADERSHIP OF THE MINISTRY OF MERCY WITHIN THE CHURCH. This, too, emphasizes its importance. Men are ordained to lead it. Of necessity. v.3

A. The necessity of men to oversee this ministry. A necessity defined by apostolic example and authority. v.2-3

This wasn't just a good idea. It was a necessity. This wasn't just something that happened in Jerusalem. This was given as an authoritative example about which we have no freedom to agree or disagree. This is how the church is to be ordered. There are to be men of good reputation and wisdom who are to be appointed over this business of mercy ministry.

But not just any men. Only qualified men. So in verse 3, Luke describes for us,

B. The qualifications of men to oversee this ministry. They are broad and general qualifications, but not at all different in substance from the more specific list found in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Here, they are to be men of good reputation. Men of good report. Men who, by their lives, have earned the honor and respect of others in the church. And as Paul mentions to Timothy, men who have earned even the respect of non-Christians.

1 Tim. 3:7 "Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."

Such a man must also be "full of the Holy Spirit." In other words, a man whose life is governed and controlled by the power of the holy spirit. A man who lives by faith, not by sight. A man whose life demonstrates the power of God at work in the person and presence of the Holy Spirit. And who demonstrates the necessary gifts to be used in this work of ministry.

Such a man is, therefore, full of wisdom also. He is a man of discretion, understanding, insight, and practical abilities. Able to discern, and able, therefore, to help those in need.

Thus we read of the actual men in verse 5, beginning with Stephen. And notice how he is described, "a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit."

That is the broadest definition of the qualifications for the office of deacon. There would be no difference here from the office of rule we call the Elder. There are spiritual qualifications, qualifications that refer to their growth in grace and maturity in the Lord. They are to be men full of faith, evidently and obviously living by faith. And men full of the Holy Spirit.

Surely even those qualifications lend great weight to the emphasis upon the importance of this ministry of mercy within the church. This work is so important, so vitally necessary to the well-being of the church, that only the most spiritually mature men are qualified to undertake its leadership. And therefore, be ordained.

Something happened to these men, these seven. v.5-6

The laying on of the hands, here of the apostles. We studied the importance of that last week. We call it ordination. Label it what you want. It is the laying on of hands by the apostles, and then after the end of the apostolic age, the laying on of hands by the elders, by the presbytery. It is a solemn and significant outward sign by which the Holy Spirit sets apart a man for office and ministry within the church. And so that ordination is not merely for elders, but also for deacons, the second of the two ordained offices within the church.

They are appointed, according to verse 3, again with all the implications from last week about the authority of God himself at work in that act of obedience among men. They are appointed, elected also by a show of hands by the people, and put into office of the laying on of the hands of the elders. That's how a church is supposed to function. Among all the saints, there are these men ordained to the office of Deacon as well as men ordained to the office of Elder.

And the specific focus of the office of Deacon is this ministry of mercy so warmly illustrated by the eagerness with the early church made sure that their widows were well fed and cared for.

James 1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."

Let me end as our text ends, with a description of,

III. THE BLESSING OF GOD UPON THE CHURCH. It's a marvelous description, one that makes you realize that doing what is right is not only good because it right, but also because it is richly rewarded by God. Doing what is good and right brings about that blessing, as we read in, v.7

Can anyone imagine any greater blessing? Two things, really, involved in that, and the first is that this diaconal ministry, or ministry of mercy, within a church becomes,

A. An occasion for the spread of the Word of God. "Then the word of God spread." There is nothing here of a mere social gospel, the gospel of doing good works of charity as the sum and substance of the Christian life. There is nothing here of mere social work as the application of the gospel. Instead, there is a conjunction between this ministry of mercy and the ministry of the word. And clearly, obviously, that work of mercy became the means by which God open the door for the gospel ministry. Word and deed go together, and that is not only a challenge for us to consider, that is the promise of God's blessings upon our labors. Sometimes, it becomes very much evident that the reason God blesses the ministry of the word within a church is because they have made themselves active in the ministry of mercy.

Perhaps the best illustration of that in our own broader church experience is the mission work in Uganda, the Karamoja station. There is a medical facility at the missionary compound. It used to be staff with a missionary doctor, Dr. Herb Pravius, who reluctantly had to leaved because of the health of his daughter, but it is still staffed by a couple nurses. They give medical care, basic, fundamental, rudimentary care, that is often the difference between life and death especially among, even more often the difference between blindness and sight. And who else is part of that mission? Well a deacon, a full-time deacon missionary, who builds things and fixes things. And more importantly, who teaches the Karamojong how to do simple farming and how to do simple things to provide for their own sustenance.

And then, there are those two ministers of the word, Al Tricarico and David Okken. Preaching the gospel and teaching of the love and mercy of Christ. And they are now traveling into neighboring villages with gospel messages, even as they visit with the patients waiting daily at the medical facility for attention.

A church has been established. Believers have been baptized. And the gospel goes forth. All built upon the foundation of a most practical expression of a diaconal ministry of mercy. That's how God works!

So we ought to pray as Paul would urge us to pray,

Col. 4:2 "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak."

Pray for an open door for the Word, and as you pray recognize and realize that God has already demonstration one such possible open door. Ministering to the diaconal needs of God's people. A ministry of mercy.

In Jesus' words, Mat. 10:42 "And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."

A cup of cold water. That's what we offer. Food for the hungry. A drink for the thirsty, clothes for the naked. In the name of Christ, with the love of Christ. That's the calling of church in the ministry of mercy, and it surely is that this diaconal ministry is so often used by God as,

B. An occasion for people to be added to the church. v.7

Don't miss these emphases upon the addition of people to the church. Just because we aren't seeker sensitive doesn't mean don't want people to come to the church. Just because we are small doesn't mean that we really want to stay small. We want people to be added to the church, because that's what a church is and does. The kingdom of Christ grows, and that growth is seen in the church. The church grows, and surely God's richest blessing is that described in,

Acts 2:47 "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."

Here is Acts 6, a broader context. Widow women being fed meals every day was the context in which "the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem." And even the Jewish leaders were impressed, "a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith."

A demonstration of love, love acted out in the care of those who are in need. That's how people are often added to the church.

John 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Let me urge you to consider the great importance of this diaconal ministry of mercy. Don't think of our deacons simply as the men who count the money, mow the grass, and remodel the bathrooms. They do all of those things, to be sure, things most necessary and helpful for the church. But much more so, they are to be the ones with responsibility and authority to see that the church is engaged in showing mercy to those in need. In the most ordinary, practical and personal of ways. Most of all, and first of all, in that necessary care of those most in need.

That's who we are, or at least, who we are to be. Thus I'll end with a greater description of that, a more full description of what we ought to look like as a church, if it could be said that all is well among us. This is a healthy and vital church, the one described in,

Acts 4:32 "Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need."

Indeed, 1 John 3:16 "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth."

James 1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."

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