“The Body Works”

I want to postpone the series about “Jesus the Passover Lamb” for this Sunday and give you a primer for where we are headed in the next series entitled: ”We…the Body.” It's about the Church, that is, the Body of Christ – and it's important for all of us to find our gift and to use it in the body of Christ.

The Body needs all of its parts functioning to be effective. The book of Acts describes the early church -it says that 3,000 people came to faith on the day of Pentecost alone. Later it grew to 5,000 men, and so the number of believers was growing dramatically…which was a great thing, but the 12 apostles could not effectively handle all of the responsibility.

Acts 6:1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

The apostles that Christ had chosen, 11 plus the one they chose to take Judas's place, are the ones that are called to preach and to teach - but they are using all of their time waiting on tables.

 You're saying to yourself - well what's the issue? Are they too good to wait on tables? No, that's not the issue, the issue is that they're not using their gift in the Kingdom. The Lord had empowered them to preach the gospel, to evangelize, to cast out demons and heal the sick and now they're waiting on tables and they weren't functioning in the gift that God had given them.

So, a team of 7 deacons were set apart for the work of the ministry, they were commissioned and released to do their ministry of attending to the widows and so now instead of 12 people serving in the local body, you have 19 individuals who are gifted by the Holy Spirit and serving effectively.

 Now, two of those deacons - Philip and Steven - are tremendously used by God- they are gifted like an “apostle” - they function in healing and evangelism, but there's no one in the early church telling them to “stay in their lane” - they have a gift and they need to use it in the Kingdom.

So, this dispatching or releasing of workers is something that's done in the early church and we need to be a “releasing Church” likewise; a place where you find your gift that God has given you and where you use it in the Kingdom.

Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or via livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for “The Body Works.”  

Blessings,

Kevin