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“Deacons– Waiting On Tables”
As we continue our thoughts concerning the office of deacon, and those who are
to be placed within that office we come to the place where we must now consider
the nuts and bolts of the office; the “waiting on of tables."
Even as we move into this area of thought we still need to be mindful of the
spiritual aspects of the office and of the man who we are considering for the
office of deacon.
The man considered for the office, (and only after his spiritual qualities
have been established,) is to be a “business man.” Now it is time to
consider the secular qualities that he must have to serve in the office
of deacon. As you will recall in Acts chapter six, the apostles said, “It is
not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables” (Acts
6:2). This phrase “not reason” means that with is not reasonable or
plausible. These apostles were at that time filling both offices. They were
performing the work of an elder, pastor, and deacon, and it was proper and
fitting that they should do so. However, beloved these apostles; although they
were wondrously blessed of God in their office; they are still only flesh and
blood, and they were designed thus by God with certain limitations…and with that
being clearly understood, they simply could not do it all!
This brings our minds to consider Moses in Exodus chapter 18, when the children
of Israel left the land of Egypt, and he “sat to judge the people: and the
people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.” It took Moses all
day to perform this duty before God in his service to God’s people. Well as it
happened Moses’ father-in-law saw this and he understood the enormous weight
that was on Moses so he said, “What is this thing that thou doest to the
people? Why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee
from morning unto even?” It was clear to him that this was far too much of a
burden for Moses to carry all by himself, so he suggested (and no doubt this was
according to the inspiration of God,) that he take and “teach them ordinances
and laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that
they must do.” And that he ought to seek “out of all the people able men,
such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them,
to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers
of tens: And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that
every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall
judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with
thee. If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be
able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.”
So Moses did what his father-in-law suggested; he “chose able men out of all
Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of
hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And they judged the people at
all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter
they judged themselves” (Exo. 18:13-37).
And we find a similar situation here in the first church at Jerusalem between
the gospel ministry and the office of deacon. In addition, we can clearly see
that it was not “reasonable” for everyone in the church to expect them to
perform all of this labour alone. Therefore, God the Holy Ghost provided the
church; elders/pastors and membership with the blessing of deacons!
These things are necessary in their service to the Lord and to His elect people
in the church. Here we find the first seven were “appointed” or ordained “over
this business.” What business? Why it is the business of the church!
Therefore, as it was then, so it is now, the first men who occupied the office
of deacon were without any doubt businessmen! The word “business” comes
from the Greek word chreia, (khri'-ah) and it means “need.” In
addition, this Greek word is translated in our King James Translation as “need,”
and we see that it is translated in this manner no less than twenty-five times
in the New Testament. Only once in this passage is it translated as “business.”
Thus, we can clearly see that there is NO scriptural authority to say
that the deacons are to be the sole financial leaders and decision makers of the
church. It has always been and it is so today, the duty of the WHOLE
BODY to govern itself by and through the leadership of the Holy Ghost, and
NOT solely through the work of the flesh of man. There are some who have
suggested that all finance committees should be made up only of deacons, this is
simply not the case, no, the work of the deacon is the business of the church,
or whatever business that the church deems necessary for the deacon to care for.
No dear child of God, we as the church of God must always be mindful that it is
the church, which has this authority. The deacon, just like the elder is the
servant of the church. Moreover, he too, like the elder/pastor is to provide the
leadership, by which the congregation ought to follow, but this leadership MUST
be under the direct leadership of God the Holy Ghost! However, we must remember
his calling is to the service of the church and to the aid and assistance and
direct support of the ministry within the church. In addition, with this in mind
it is good and desirable to choose out a godly man who possesses leadership
ability and some good old common sense with effective expertise.
And we find that this “saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose
Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus,
and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom
they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on
them” (Acts 6:5-6). And the church was blessed in this wonderful work
because we read in Acts 6:7 that “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.”
Next time we’ll try to go over and consider the Apostle Paul’s letter to young
brother Timothy in First Timothy chapter three, and look at the practicable
qualities that are found there in.
Elder Thomas McDonald
Divide the Word, Not the Baby
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
I have an inclination in study to search for the inescapable
conclusion. When I hit a wall on a subject or reach a point where no other
solution fits, that becomes my new starting point. I take that theory and test
it backwards. Let me give you an example.
An
internet forum in which I participate asked when a person’s name is written in
the Lamb’s Book of Life. Dozens of answers were proffered, from the expected
“as soon as a person confesses and accepts Christ” to the rapid penning of names
on the day of final judgment. Of course, the confusion exists because the word
of truth is not being rightly divided.
I hit the conclusion wall in the book of Revelation, Chapter
5. The book mentioned there is the Lamb’s Book of Life, and it is sealed with
seven seals. Some conclusions we must draw here include: a) the sealing is not a
recent event; b) if it required someone of Christ’s authority to open it, it
was penned by no less of an authority, and c) it is the book of salvation
holding the names of God’s elect.
Rev 17:8 …and they that dwell on the earth shall
wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of
the world
Logic tells us that if some names were not written in the book of
life from the foundation of the world, the ones that were written must have
occurred at that time.
Of course, this is recurring and refreshing doctrine to us. But the
religious world cannot fathom this, because they believe the Lamb’s Book of Life
is opened and closed every time a sinner accepts Christ, a new name is written,
the book is resealed and remains that way until another sinner – wait, one just
fell away, his name will have to be erased, blotted out. Gonna need many more
seals…
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Why all the
confusion? It’s all because of failure to rightly divide the truth. We
aren’t instructed to divide truth from falsehood. The bible’s already
done that for us. We are to rightly divide this truth, and apply it
properly, from other truth, which has its own application. |
Let’s look at another example continuing with our “book” study. We
know the Lamb’s Book of Life is from eternity, and we know the names written
there are safe, yet we read in other places:
Exd 32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if
not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
Exd 32:33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath
sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
Deu 29:20 The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of
the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that
are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his
name from under heaven.
Psa 69:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the
living, and not be written with the righteous.
Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to
another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard [it], and a book of remembrance was
written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his
name.
If we fail to rightly divide the word of truth, we too could make
the error of thinking the Lamb’s book of life is an ever-changing rolodex with
names entering and leaving upon every act of sinful man.
Just because something is recorded in the scriptures concerning the
actions of men, doesn’t mean the Lord changes his doctrine as a result. David
instructed men to count Israel. He made instruments of music to praise God.
Both were wrong actions, yet today, so-called churches thrive on numbers and
music and very little doctrine.
Solomon was wiser than any natural man ever born, and in a classic
dispute, he resolved the case of the grieving mother by dividing or discerning
the truth of the matter. None of us expected to read in the chapter that
followed two women happily leaving the throne with half a baby each. Yet, if we
fail to test scripture against scripture, we end up with half a doctrine, and as
pitiful as the analogy sounds, that half of a doctrine is dead.
Moses showed God his love for the people he had led out of bondage
by asking his name to be removed from the book. We don’t know if this is the
eternal book of life, but either way, Moses’ can’t impact that eternal book any
more than you or I could.
Having your name removed from the book of the living – well, we all
go the way of the earth, so we know that’s not the Lamb’s book of life in Deu
29:20 and Psa 69:28.
And the book of remembrance, sounds about as timely or earth bound
as possible. It certainly wouldn’t be applicable in eternal heaven.
That leaves us only one verse to deal with in order to have a full
understanding:
Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in
white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I
will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Our inescapable conclusion here tells us this book, which can be
opened and blotted, can not be the book hosting the names of God’s elect
children. It speaks of no seals. It must be a timely book. Let’s use the
wisdom of rightly dividing the word of truth to keep the baby whole.
Bro. Royce Ellis
Notes on Matthew
Chapter 3 Part 3
Water Baptism
Matt. 3:5 "Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all
the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing
their sins." Obviously from the above we gather that many people went out to
John in wilderness and were baptized of John in the river Jordan, confessing
their sins.
John, at that time, was the only man on earth who had the authority
to baptize with water baptism. This is proven by the following scripture: Matt.
21:23 "And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of
the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest
thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? 24 And Jesus answered and
said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like
wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John,
whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves,
saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then
believe him? 26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold
John as a prophet. 27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he
said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things." The
Lord plainly tells us that John's authority to baptize came from God. God sent
John to baptize and Jesus later walked approximately sixty miles one way to the
only person on earth that had that authority to be baptized of John.
In addition we read in Luke 7:29 "And all the people that heard him,
and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30
But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves,
being not baptized of him." This passage also shows that at that time John was
the only one who had the authority to baptize.
Later the Lord authorized the apostles and others that were properly
ordained to baptize with water baptism:
1. Mark 3:14 "And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him,
and that he might send them forth to preach."
2. John 4:1 "When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had
heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2 (Though Jesus
himself baptized not, but his disciples,)"
Peter tells us of the purpose of water baptism in 1 Peter 3:21 "The
like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away
of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by
the resurrection of Jesus Christ." Water baptism does not put away the filth of
the flesh (sin), but it is the answer of our conscience that is made good (by
the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus) to the call to serve the Lord. Baptism
shows forth the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Notes on Matthew
Chapter 3 Part 4
Fruit Bearing
Matt. 3:7 "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come
to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you
to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for
repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our
father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up
children unto Abraham. 10 And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the
trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down,
and cast into the fire."
The Pharisees and the Sadducees had come to be baptized of John for
the wrong reason. John said, "Who hath warned you to flee the wrath to come?"
They had come for the purpose of fleeing the wrath to come. They were under the
misconception that if they were baptized they would be exempt from the wrath to
come. Water baptism does not exempt someone from eternal wrath, but rather
shows forth the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is through
the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus that we are delivered from our
sins. Deliverance from sin is not a works system. We are not delivered from
our sins by being baptized in water. Rather water baptism gives glory to God
for his having delivered us from our sins.
John also called these Pharisees and Sadducees a generation of
vipers. This may seem like harsh words, but certainly, it described the nature
of those Pharisees and Sadducees who were coming to John demanding water
baptism. A viper is a poisonous serpent. These Pharisees and Sadducees were
bearing forth the nature of the serpent in the Garden of Eden. John told them
to bring forth fruits meet for repentance. John went on to say that every tree
that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.
There are only two kinds of trees in the world, good trees and evil
trees. The following three passages of scripture tells us about these two types
of trees:
1. Matt. 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in
sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them
by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so
every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth
evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt
tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is
hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know
them."
2. Luke 6:43 "For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit;
neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 44 For every tree is known
by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush
gather they grapes. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth
forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart
bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth
speaketh."
3. Gal. 5:19 "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are
these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry,
witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell
you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things
shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law."
From the above we make the following observations:
1. A good tree can only bear good fruit.
2. An evil tree can only bear corrupt fruit.
3. If the fruit we see is good fruit, then it must come from a good
tree.
4. If the fruit we see is corrupt fruit, then it must come from an
evil tree.
5. The works of the flesh is corrupt fruit, therefore, it comes
from an evil tree (flesh).
6. The fruits of the spirit are good fruit, therefore, they come
from a good tree (spirit).
7. Therefore, the flesh cannot bring forth good fruit.
8. Similarly, the spirit cannot bring forth corrupt fruit.
9. Man that is not born of the Spirit has only one nature and that
is a flesh nature. He can only bring forth wicked works.
10. Man that is born of the Spirit has two natures and that is a
flesh nature and a spiritual nature. Therefore, he can bring forth two types of
fruit, both evil and good.
The Pharisees and the Sadducees that came to John's baptism were
only bringing forth evil fruit. They were not showing the evidence of a
repentant life. Thus, John refused to baptize them. Therefore, a person who
comes seeking to press into the gospel kingdom through water baptism should
manifest in his life that he has been born of the Spirit of God. He does this
through manifesting the fruits of the Spirit.
Elder Vernon
Johnson
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