Many Are Called But...
By: Pastor Ben Aguirre
Acts 6:3
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;
As the early Church grew so did the needs. Peter and the apostles knew that their primary role was to attend to the Word of God and prayer. In order to fill the gap the first deacons were selected. Seven men who had specific attributes. A good reputation and full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom. Now we must understand this was to serve tables! The early church held to high standards that were somewhat deeper than just a willing heart.
We also know that several of these men went on to fulfill ministries. Phillip later on held a revival in Samaria with great power, signs, and wonders. He is later called “the evangelist” in Acts. Stephen became the first Christian martyr for the Lord after being noted as a “man full of faith and the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5). It is noted that a third time “full of faith” is mentioned related to Stephen in Acts 6:8: “8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.”.
I have selected these texts to highlight the qualities of character held by these men who served as deacons in the early church. My intent is to bring focus to the reader to see his or her self in these accounts. Deacon simply mean “servant”. Not a title but a calling. One that was/is obeyed from the hearts.
When Paul later on mentions deacon qualification to young Timothy he writes,
10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. (1 Timothy 3:10)
This leads us to understand that they were observed in their calling before recognition. This is in part why Jesus said, “many are called but few chosen” ( Matt. 20:16). Every Christian has a calling. But how do I get on the road to fulfilling that calling? The simple answer is, be faithful. Faithful to God, faithful to read and study the Word, faithful to pray, faithful to Church, faithful to give, faithful to live right, faithful to forgive wrongs, etc.
Even faithful to stick with something until I am released by my authority and continue to do it well.
Many years ago I had a young man show up at Church wearing a suit and tie. A very clean cut nice young man. As soon as I saw him the Lord said to me, “He has come to get into your pulpit.”. At the end of the service he met me at the door with a firm handshake. “How do I get into your program for ministry in this Church?”, he said. I responded, “Be faithful”, as I squeezed his hand back. I never saw him again.
You see, there are many called and anointed people who will never answer their call. They say, “I am called” but without faithfulness they will never go anywhere. It really does take more than the calling, more than the anointing. It takes all of those with faithfulness. Learning to be faithful is a proving ground for your call. It takes effort, exposes character, bad or good habits, laziness, sloppiness or just the temporary excitement of something new. It requires a willingness to stick with it no matter what comes. It does require pain and difficulty at times. It will also require putting forth the effort even when no one else is. I will end with this thought from the apostle Paul,
1 Corinthians 4:2
2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
Faithfulness has an important part to play in how our calling is fulfilled. Make it a priority in your life today.
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;
As the early Church grew so did the needs. Peter and the apostles knew that their primary role was to attend to the Word of God and prayer. In order to fill the gap the first deacons were selected. Seven men who had specific attributes. A good reputation and full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom. Now we must understand this was to serve tables! The early church held to high standards that were somewhat deeper than just a willing heart.
We also know that several of these men went on to fulfill ministries. Phillip later on held a revival in Samaria with great power, signs, and wonders. He is later called “the evangelist” in Acts. Stephen became the first Christian martyr for the Lord after being noted as a “man full of faith and the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5). It is noted that a third time “full of faith” is mentioned related to Stephen in Acts 6:8: “8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.”.
I have selected these texts to highlight the qualities of character held by these men who served as deacons in the early church. My intent is to bring focus to the reader to see his or her self in these accounts. Deacon simply mean “servant”. Not a title but a calling. One that was/is obeyed from the hearts.
When Paul later on mentions deacon qualification to young Timothy he writes,
10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. (1 Timothy 3:10)
This leads us to understand that they were observed in their calling before recognition. This is in part why Jesus said, “many are called but few chosen” ( Matt. 20:16). Every Christian has a calling. But how do I get on the road to fulfilling that calling? The simple answer is, be faithful. Faithful to God, faithful to read and study the Word, faithful to pray, faithful to Church, faithful to give, faithful to live right, faithful to forgive wrongs, etc.
Even faithful to stick with something until I am released by my authority and continue to do it well.
Many years ago I had a young man show up at Church wearing a suit and tie. A very clean cut nice young man. As soon as I saw him the Lord said to me, “He has come to get into your pulpit.”. At the end of the service he met me at the door with a firm handshake. “How do I get into your program for ministry in this Church?”, he said. I responded, “Be faithful”, as I squeezed his hand back. I never saw him again.
You see, there are many called and anointed people who will never answer their call. They say, “I am called” but without faithfulness they will never go anywhere. It really does take more than the calling, more than the anointing. It takes all of those with faithfulness. Learning to be faithful is a proving ground for your call. It takes effort, exposes character, bad or good habits, laziness, sloppiness or just the temporary excitement of something new. It requires a willingness to stick with it no matter what comes. It does require pain and difficulty at times. It will also require putting forth the effort even when no one else is. I will end with this thought from the apostle Paul,
1 Corinthians 4:2
2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
Faithfulness has an important part to play in how our calling is fulfilled. Make it a priority in your life today.
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