This message was preached by Colin Dr via zoom Word of Grace Church, on July 26 2020. For the audio please click here. For the worship please click here
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES IN THE EARLY
CHURCH
There was a time
of supernatural growth. Acts 2:42, 4:4, 5:14 and on and on and one. Would you
have wanted to be a part of that church?
However, in
the middle of this move of the Spirit and Word it was not a perfect church.
Some people are looking for the perfect church.
Charles Spurgeon “If I had never joined a church
till I had found one that was perfect, I should never have joined one at all;
and the moment I did join it, if I had found one, I should have spoiled it, for
it would not have been a perfect Church after I had become a member of it.
Still, imperfect as it is, it is the dearest place on earth to us.”
ACT6:1-7
The great threat the church was facing here was food! Can you imagine that? They were
fighting over a leg of chicken as it were.
What were
the challenges the church faced?
1. Greek widows felt neglected. This was a large church. The church was split on linguistic
line i.e Greek and Hebrews. The Greek widows were not getting reactions. Today
in this pandemic people are facing problems. We have all kinds of mindsets.
Some of them are:
Divorce mindset – When something goes wrongs we leave and find another
church. The Greek widows did not have this mindset even though there was a
problem. How did they handle it? They brought it up to the leaders. It came to
the notice of the leadership.
Matt 18:15. If your brother sins against you. This is what
they did.
Indian mindset – talk to everyone else but the person
We need to be a part of the solution and not the problem.
Acts 6:3 choose 7 and full of the Spirit and wisdom.
The Greek believers were made a part of the solution. They got involved to sort out the problem.
That is the biblical mindset.
Consultant – maybe some people come into the church like this. They tell
what to do but will not help. They will find fault with everything.
Consumer - They treat the church as a Restaurant. They scope the church as if it’s
a restaurant for what is on the menu. They come with the mindset that their needs
should be met by the church. In a family, we all chip in and help to serve and
cook the food.
2. Some people expect the leadership to
do everything
To be effective everyone needs to carry the load and not just
the main leader
We have an enemy who lives to deceives us. He shows us something
shiny, John8:44, that is actually worthless. They choose seven men. How did
they choose them? They were wise and spirit-filled.
We may think that this is a menial job but not in the kingdom.
Stephen and Philip were among them (v8).
Stephen was full of God’s grace and power. He did miraculous
signs.
Acts7 Stephen preached a brilliant sermon and became the
first martyr. Acts6:15 His face was like that of an angle.
Chapter 7:59 Stephen
died like Jesus. He forgave his persecutors.
The Bible records the life of
Philip.
Acts 8:4 Philip went
to Samaria- saw the miracles, cast out demons, healed the cripple- great joy in
the city.
Acts8:26 Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. The church was
growing but were challenges. Whenever we face challenges, we have a choice how
we respond.
Be a part of the solution rather than the problem.
As we serve god these are stepping-stones to begin greatly
used by God. Satan will try to deceive you. Look for every opportunity you can grab
to serve.
Don’t wait to be asked. Where is the need? How can you serve?
The result is the Word of God spread and the kingdom of God advanced
rapidly.
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