1 00:00:30,659 --> 00:00:33,539 And go to the Book of Acts, chapter number six. 2 00:00:33,539 --> 00:00:37,259 Been a long time since I preached from Acts, chapter number 3 00:00:37,259 --> 00:00:37,619 six. 4 00:00:39,619 --> 00:00:43,779 And I want to try to be very practical tonight. 5 00:00:46,339 --> 00:00:50,859 You were told, as we was here last Sunday night, that you're going 6 00:00:50,859 --> 00:00:57,119 to be voting on a deacon, a new deacon to take the place of another 7 00:00:57,119 --> 00:00:57,479 one. 8 00:00:57,719 --> 00:01:02,159 And then he's just, whoever it is, gonna finish out the rest of 9 00:01:02,159 --> 00:01:02,679 this year. 10 00:01:03,559 --> 00:01:09,639 And then I think around, is it January or end of December when you 11 00:01:09,639 --> 00:01:10,999 vote for new deacons? 12 00:01:11,639 --> 00:01:14,199 And so I want to talk about that a little bit tonight. 13 00:01:14,759 --> 00:01:19,039 And in the Book of Acts, chapter number six, we find the first 14 00:01:19,039 --> 00:01:22,039 time that deacons are mentioned. 15 00:01:23,549 --> 00:01:26,189 How many of you have ever served as a deacon, are serving now 16 00:01:26,189 --> 00:01:27,949 or you've ever served as a deacon? 17 00:01:27,949 --> 00:01:29,549 Serving now or ever served. 18 00:01:29,949 --> 00:01:30,829 Okay, good. 19 00:01:36,029 --> 00:01:40,269 After over 50 years of ministry and most of those pastoring, 20 00:01:40,909 --> 00:01:46,029 some of my greatest blessings were my relationship with my deacons. 21 00:01:47,469 --> 00:01:52,279 I mean, that they're some of my closest friends that ever had. 22 00:01:53,719 --> 00:01:57,959 And I emphasize relationship. 23 00:01:58,279 --> 00:01:59,679 We had a good relationship. 24 00:01:59,679 --> 00:02:04,479 We at one time had 28 deacons serving at the same time. 25 00:02:04,479 --> 00:02:06,839 They weren't just a few and all on a big list. 26 00:02:06,839 --> 00:02:07,879 And they took turns. 27 00:02:08,439 --> 00:02:16,609 At one time, we had 28 deacons in the deacons meeting, and I look 28 00:02:16,609 --> 00:02:17,489 forward to them. 29 00:02:18,769 --> 00:02:24,529 I want to be positive tonight, but I've met with lots of pastors 30 00:02:24,529 --> 00:02:29,169 who can't say what a blessing it was to them. 31 00:02:29,249 --> 00:02:31,569 They've had some difficult things happen. 32 00:02:32,209 --> 00:02:33,249 Don't have to happen. 33 00:02:34,049 --> 00:02:37,569 Every church is different and situations are different. 34 00:02:38,449 --> 00:02:40,209 But it's some of my greatest blessings. 35 00:02:40,209 --> 00:02:44,839 But I'm gonna be honest, there were some times when they were burdens. 36 00:02:45,479 --> 00:02:48,719 I'm gonna be very plain tonight and hopefully practical and 37 00:02:48,719 --> 00:02:52,199 helpful and make it positive, and you can think about that and 38 00:02:52,519 --> 00:02:54,839 put it into your own life. 39 00:02:55,719 --> 00:02:57,319 God can use deacons. 40 00:02:57,799 --> 00:03:01,999 The great potential of a deacon, if he's the kind of man he 41 00:03:01,999 --> 00:03:02,519 should be. 42 00:03:06,279 --> 00:03:07,159 It's amazing. 43 00:03:08,119 --> 00:03:12,799 God can use deacons, and the devil can use deacons, just like 44 00:03:12,799 --> 00:03:15,599 God can use preachers and the devil can use preachers. 45 00:03:16,799 --> 00:03:17,359 Mm. 46 00:03:22,879 --> 00:03:24,079 Same thing with Christians. 47 00:03:24,959 --> 00:03:28,559 But it's a very sobering and serious matter to choose deacons 48 00:03:29,519 --> 00:03:33,839 and to serve as a deacon, which is what the word means. 49 00:03:33,839 --> 00:03:35,439 Deacon means servant. 50 00:03:36,969 --> 00:03:37,369 Okay. 51 00:03:37,369 --> 00:03:38,089 Are you with me? 52 00:03:38,169 --> 00:03:38,489 Sure. 53 00:03:38,489 --> 00:03:40,009 It's getting quiet awful fast. 54 00:03:40,889 --> 00:03:42,409 But a deacon is a servant. 55 00:03:42,409 --> 00:03:43,529 They're not rulers. 56 00:03:44,569 --> 00:03:46,769 They're not necessarily businessmen. 57 00:03:46,769 --> 00:03:50,089 They're there to serve, to help, to encourage, to be a blessing. 58 00:03:52,729 --> 00:03:53,889 Don't answer this question. 59 00:03:53,889 --> 00:03:57,289 Don't raise your hand, but when's the Last time a deacon here 60 00:03:57,289 --> 00:04:01,889 just came up to you for no reason, shook hand, said, can I just 61 00:04:01,889 --> 00:04:03,129 have a quick prayer with you? 62 00:04:04,749 --> 00:04:06,989 Just pray that God will bless you and use you and help you. 63 00:04:07,229 --> 00:04:09,909 Don't raise your hand, but wouldn't that be something to have 64 00:04:09,909 --> 00:04:11,229 a church full of deacons? 65 00:04:11,229 --> 00:04:13,229 And they just went around praying with everybody. 66 00:04:13,549 --> 00:04:16,349 Now, I know we pray for everybody, but I'm talking about 67 00:04:16,669 --> 00:04:19,749 getting off to the side with someone taking their hands. 68 00:04:19,749 --> 00:04:20,309 So let me. 69 00:04:20,309 --> 00:04:21,869 Let's just have a word of prayer together. 70 00:04:30,119 --> 00:04:34,439 I have only a few opportunities left here to preach 71 00:04:34,439 --> 00:04:38,439 at Heritage, and I don't mind telling you, it's going to be very 72 00:04:38,439 --> 00:04:39,839 difficult to leave you people. 73 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:43,319 I tell you what, we have gotten such a blessing being here, 74 00:04:43,799 --> 00:04:47,759 but at some point, you know, it's time to move on. 75 00:04:47,759 --> 00:04:50,919 And you have been such a blessing and such. 76 00:04:51,159 --> 00:04:53,959 We got some memories we're going to take with us, and I hope 77 00:04:53,959 --> 00:04:55,759 we'll get to see you from time to time. 78 00:04:55,759 --> 00:05:00,919 Still, we're not going to go hide anywhere and stay in touch with 79 00:05:00,919 --> 00:05:01,119 you. 80 00:05:01,119 --> 00:05:02,559 You've been such a blessing. 81 00:05:03,439 --> 00:05:07,959 But I want to make the messages as led by God to help and 82 00:05:07,959 --> 00:05:11,639 encourage and in light of what's going to be happening here. 83 00:05:11,639 --> 00:05:15,839 So in the book of Acts, chapter six, we find the very first 84 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:21,599 time that they're mentioned and God put it in there for us. 85 00:05:22,319 --> 00:05:26,639 There's only two offices for the church as mentioned in the Bible. 86 00:05:26,639 --> 00:05:29,079 One is pastors and the other are deacons. 87 00:05:31,319 --> 00:05:35,199 And so in Acts, chapter six, it says, and in those days, this 88 00:05:35,199 --> 00:05:38,839 was the early days of the church, it had been started by Christ 89 00:05:39,158 --> 00:05:41,719 himself during his earthly ministry. 90 00:05:42,199 --> 00:05:44,439 The church did not start at Pentecost. 91 00:05:45,879 --> 00:05:47,999 It was altogether before Pentecost. 92 00:05:47,999 --> 00:05:50,759 Yes, most people, they say, yeah, it was Pentecost when the church 93 00:05:50,759 --> 00:05:51,079 started. 94 00:05:51,079 --> 00:05:53,479 No, that's when the church was empowered. 95 00:05:54,039 --> 00:05:57,159 That's when the Holy Spirit came into those believers. 96 00:05:57,719 --> 00:06:00,199 And there were some great things that happened, but the church 97 00:06:00,199 --> 00:06:01,079 was in existence. 98 00:06:01,079 --> 00:06:02,919 And so in those days, watch this. 99 00:06:03,079 --> 00:06:07,759 When the number of the disciples was multiplied, now there 100 00:06:07,759 --> 00:06:08,799 were many disciples. 101 00:06:08,799 --> 00:06:10,359 There were only 12 apostles. 102 00:06:11,079 --> 00:06:13,399 Apostles and disciples are not the same. 103 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:18,999 You may refer to the twelve apostles as disciples because a disciple 104 00:06:19,099 --> 00:06:19,259 is. 105 00:06:19,489 --> 00:06:23,569 Is not only a follower, but a learner of Christ. 106 00:06:25,009 --> 00:06:27,569 We get the word discipline from disciple. 107 00:06:28,369 --> 00:06:31,569 When we discipline our children, they ought to understand 108 00:06:31,809 --> 00:06:35,849 why we're doing it and they ought to understand the lesson from 109 00:06:35,849 --> 00:06:36,129 it. 110 00:06:36,689 --> 00:06:37,329 Amen. 111 00:06:38,129 --> 00:06:42,009 So many kids get spankings and they don't really know what they 112 00:06:42,009 --> 00:06:42,449 did wrong. 113 00:06:42,449 --> 00:06:44,249 Or they may know, but they don't know why. 114 00:06:44,249 --> 00:06:45,009 It was wrong. 115 00:06:46,069 --> 00:06:51,109 And there's a fine line between child abuse and disciplining 116 00:06:51,109 --> 00:06:54,949 children in love and teaching them and sitting down with them. 117 00:06:55,269 --> 00:06:58,109 And then if you have to, you don't always have to spank them. 118 00:06:58,109 --> 00:07:00,269 Sometimes you can just counsel and talk with them. 119 00:07:00,269 --> 00:07:02,949 But I think if you do spank them, I think it's a good thing to 120 00:07:02,949 --> 00:07:08,349 give them a big hug afterwards and say, dad loves you, Mommy, your 121 00:07:08,349 --> 00:07:12,359 mama loves you, and we're going to always love you. 122 00:07:13,709 --> 00:07:15,709 And I got spankings when I was a boy. 123 00:07:16,429 --> 00:07:18,029 Cause my parents loved me. 124 00:07:18,509 --> 00:07:19,589 And parents need. 125 00:07:19,589 --> 00:07:20,829 I mean, kids need that. 126 00:07:21,869 --> 00:07:24,029 You don't hear it very often anymore these days. 127 00:07:25,149 --> 00:07:28,029 But it says the number of the disciples was multiplied. 128 00:07:28,029 --> 00:07:32,389 That's talking about the church, the early church, the disciples, 129 00:07:32,389 --> 00:07:33,629 the members of the church. 130 00:07:33,869 --> 00:07:41,919 And there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews. 131 00:07:41,919 --> 00:07:44,719 You know, the Greeks and Hebrews were in the same church. 132 00:07:44,719 --> 00:07:48,159 The Gentiles and the Jews were together. 133 00:07:48,159 --> 00:07:49,639 And that had never happened before. 134 00:07:49,719 --> 00:07:53,239 And it took some adjustment, but they got. 135 00:07:53,719 --> 00:07:54,759 There was murmuring. 136 00:07:56,439 --> 00:07:59,119 Remember, if you don't, in case you forget, let me tell you 137 00:07:59,119 --> 00:07:59,399 again. 138 00:07:59,959 --> 00:08:03,719 Murmuring is when you complain to the wrong person. 139 00:08:05,279 --> 00:08:08,639 When you complain to somebody and they don't know and they don't 140 00:08:08,639 --> 00:08:11,239 have all the facts or they can't do anything about it, then 141 00:08:11,239 --> 00:08:12,559 you're talking to the wrong person. 142 00:08:14,239 --> 00:08:14,879 Okay? 143 00:08:15,599 --> 00:08:18,559 Murmuring doesn't have a good connotation in the Bible. 144 00:08:19,919 --> 00:08:20,959 God takes it. 145 00:08:20,959 --> 00:08:22,439 He gets offended very easily. 146 00:08:22,439 --> 00:08:25,079 By the way, we need to get more worried about what offends God 147 00:08:25,079 --> 00:08:26,319 instead of what offends us. 148 00:08:27,439 --> 00:08:27,999 Amen. 149 00:08:28,799 --> 00:08:31,999 That's what it means to fear God, is to be careful about God and 150 00:08:31,999 --> 00:08:35,039 not not offend God. 151 00:08:36,079 --> 00:08:37,599 But there were murmurings. 152 00:08:37,999 --> 00:08:40,279 The church was growing and growing and growing. 153 00:08:40,279 --> 00:08:41,439 And there was murmuring. 154 00:08:41,439 --> 00:08:41,839 Why? 155 00:08:42,639 --> 00:08:44,559 Well, because they're widows. 156 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:45,519 Can you imagine that? 157 00:08:45,519 --> 00:08:48,319 Their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 158 00:08:49,839 --> 00:08:53,959 The Bible has a lot to say about widows and how we're to take 159 00:08:53,959 --> 00:08:57,119 care of them in the church and through the church. 160 00:08:58,569 --> 00:09:00,089 And so they had been neglected. 161 00:09:00,409 --> 00:09:01,929 And so there was murmuring. 162 00:09:02,649 --> 00:09:04,289 Why don't somebody check on them? 163 00:09:04,289 --> 00:09:05,729 Why don't somebody take care of them? 164 00:09:05,729 --> 00:09:07,849 Why don't somebody feed them? 165 00:09:08,489 --> 00:09:10,449 Why don't somebody do something? 166 00:09:10,449 --> 00:09:13,209 There's some that are sick and no one's checked on them. 167 00:09:14,088 --> 00:09:18,489 And the bigger a church gets, sometimes the easier it is to overlook 168 00:09:18,489 --> 00:09:18,809 people. 169 00:09:19,929 --> 00:09:24,569 Okay, and I'll share this with you in a moment, but one of the many. 170 00:09:25,099 --> 00:09:30,379 To me, the Bible bears this out of the responsibilities of a 171 00:09:30,379 --> 00:09:35,659 deacon Is to just go around and check on people, make sure they're 172 00:09:35,659 --> 00:09:36,459 doing okay. 173 00:09:39,499 --> 00:09:42,979 A lot of churches do what we did there at Victory. 174 00:09:42,979 --> 00:09:44,459 And every church is different. 175 00:09:44,699 --> 00:09:46,219 That doesn't mean you have to do it. 176 00:09:46,219 --> 00:09:49,379 But one reason I wanted a lot of deacons is because we took our 177 00:09:49,379 --> 00:09:53,019 church membership and we divided it up between all the deacons. 178 00:09:54,069 --> 00:09:55,589 And so every deacon had. 179 00:09:55,909 --> 00:09:58,709 Because we had a large number of deacons, they would have like 180 00:09:58,789 --> 00:10:01,269 20, 15, 20, 25 families. 181 00:10:01,989 --> 00:10:05,429 Each Deacon would have them to check on them, to pray with them, 182 00:10:05,429 --> 00:10:08,389 to call them to make sure they're doing okay. 183 00:10:08,389 --> 00:10:11,069 And if they were having a real serious problem, they would come 184 00:10:11,069 --> 00:10:13,829 to me and say, preacher, I don't know if you know this, but 185 00:10:13,909 --> 00:10:14,749 brother and Mrs. 186 00:10:14,749 --> 00:10:17,269 So and so are going through a very difficult time. 187 00:10:17,269 --> 00:10:19,309 Because preachers can't really remember. 188 00:10:19,309 --> 00:10:22,029 Everybody can't think, check on everybody. 189 00:10:22,589 --> 00:10:27,389 And one or two deacons, you've had three recently, I think, and 190 00:10:27,549 --> 00:10:28,269 now two. 191 00:10:31,069 --> 00:10:34,349 For just two men that are deacons now, to check on everybody 192 00:10:34,509 --> 00:10:38,589 and to call on everybody, that would be quite a challenge. 193 00:10:38,589 --> 00:10:39,229 Amen. 194 00:10:40,509 --> 00:10:41,789 It's a lot of work. 195 00:10:42,829 --> 00:10:45,399 And so that's what happened. 196 00:10:45,959 --> 00:10:49,679 So then the twelve, there's the apostles, called the multitude 197 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:56,159 of the disciples unto them and said, it is not reason that we should 198 00:10:56,159 --> 00:10:58,639 leave the word of God and serve tables. 199 00:10:58,639 --> 00:11:02,039 Now, they were not saying, we're too good to do that. 200 00:11:02,039 --> 00:11:03,599 No, they were serving tables. 201 00:11:03,599 --> 00:11:07,519 They were taking food of the widows, and they were taking care 202 00:11:07,519 --> 00:11:11,249 of the children, the orphans and other people that were sick. 203 00:11:11,489 --> 00:11:14,729 But they also had to study and they had to pray and they had to 204 00:11:14,729 --> 00:11:16,689 counsel and they had to do a lot of other things. 205 00:11:16,689 --> 00:11:19,729 And they said, the church is growing so big. 206 00:11:21,169 --> 00:11:25,289 What they were saying is if we don't get some help, you're just 207 00:11:25,289 --> 00:11:26,849 gonna show up in our preaching. 208 00:11:26,929 --> 00:11:28,009 Cause we're not prepared. 209 00:11:28,009 --> 00:11:31,049 We're not spending enough time in prayer and studying of the word 210 00:11:31,049 --> 00:11:31,569 of God. 211 00:11:32,129 --> 00:11:33,249 Does that make sense? 212 00:11:33,649 --> 00:11:35,249 I think it's pretty logical. 213 00:11:37,399 --> 00:11:41,959 Wherefore, brethren, they said, look ye out among you seven 214 00:11:42,039 --> 00:11:48,359 men of honest report full of the Holy Ghost. 215 00:11:49,239 --> 00:11:52,719 You know, every time now I read a scripture or think about the 216 00:11:52,719 --> 00:11:53,199 Holy Ghost. 217 00:11:53,199 --> 00:11:57,679 I think of Dave McCracken because he did such a marvelous job 218 00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:00,519 on explaining the filling of the Holy Spirit. 219 00:12:02,049 --> 00:12:06,769 And so he's speaking to these, to the church. 220 00:12:07,809 --> 00:12:08,769 Pick out seven. 221 00:12:09,009 --> 00:12:10,449 I don't know why I picked seven. 222 00:12:11,009 --> 00:12:13,409 I'm not sure what size the church was. 223 00:12:13,969 --> 00:12:17,009 I don't think the Bible means that every church has to have seven. 224 00:12:17,009 --> 00:12:18,129 No more, no less. 225 00:12:18,689 --> 00:12:19,689 Depends on the size. 226 00:12:19,689 --> 00:12:21,409 Of the church and the needs of the church. 227 00:12:21,409 --> 00:12:22,369 Do you agree with that? 228 00:12:24,209 --> 00:12:26,369 So it happened that they thought seven would do it. 229 00:12:26,369 --> 00:12:28,449 Full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom. 230 00:12:31,639 --> 00:12:33,999 I don't know about you, but I always need more wisdom. 231 00:12:33,999 --> 00:12:36,519 And wisdom comes from God and God's Word. 232 00:12:36,919 --> 00:12:43,159 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth liberally, 233 00:12:46,039 --> 00:12:49,319 whom we may appoint over this business? 234 00:12:50,199 --> 00:12:52,599 You give us seven names, seven men. 235 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:57,849 We'll meet with them and we'll appoint those men to do certain things. 236 00:12:58,969 --> 00:12:59,609 Okay. 237 00:13:01,369 --> 00:13:06,649 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the 238 00:13:06,649 --> 00:13:07,769 ministry of the Word. 239 00:13:09,289 --> 00:13:11,849 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. 240 00:13:13,289 --> 00:13:14,809 And they chose Stephen. 241 00:13:14,809 --> 00:13:15,689 Oh, yes. 242 00:13:15,689 --> 00:13:17,209 Now we remember Stephen. 243 00:13:17,529 --> 00:13:20,769 We forget sometimes he preached one of the greatest sermons 244 00:13:20,769 --> 00:13:21,249 in the Bible. 245 00:13:21,249 --> 00:13:22,369 And he was not a preacher. 246 00:13:22,369 --> 00:13:23,099 He was a deacon. 247 00:13:23,809 --> 00:13:26,049 Does that mean every deacon should preach? 248 00:13:26,129 --> 00:13:28,689 Well, I don't know that it necessarily means that. 249 00:13:29,489 --> 00:13:33,409 But I think a deacon ought to be ready to stand up if he's needed. 250 00:13:33,409 --> 00:13:36,809 If there's no preacher today, something happened and there's nobody 251 00:13:36,809 --> 00:13:37,089 else. 252 00:13:37,089 --> 00:13:39,488 At least he can get up and read some scripture and pray. 253 00:13:39,489 --> 00:13:40,129 Amen. 254 00:13:40,929 --> 00:13:43,489 I don't think you have to be a preacher to be a deacon. 255 00:13:44,529 --> 00:13:51,819 But in this case, Stephen, a man full of faith in the Holy Ghost. 256 00:13:53,019 --> 00:14:00,859 And then there was Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and 257 00:14:01,339 --> 00:14:08,179 Parmenas and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch, whom they set 258 00:14:08,179 --> 00:14:09,419 before the apostles. 259 00:14:09,499 --> 00:14:11,259 So the Church picked out seven. 260 00:14:11,499 --> 00:14:14,139 They set them before the apostles, and when they had prayed, 261 00:14:14,989 --> 00:14:16,949 they laid their hands on them. 262 00:14:16,949 --> 00:14:17,549 I'll take. 263 00:14:17,709 --> 00:14:19,709 I'll explain that here in just a few moments. 264 00:14:19,869 --> 00:14:24,189 They weren't given special power through their hands. 265 00:14:25,789 --> 00:14:29,989 Some of our Pentecostal friends believed that they were kind 266 00:14:29,989 --> 00:14:31,229 of zapped with power. 267 00:14:32,269 --> 00:14:35,789 And by the way, you can have as much power as they have through 268 00:14:35,789 --> 00:14:37,149 the power of the Holy Spirit. 269 00:14:37,149 --> 00:14:37,789 Amen. 270 00:14:38,589 --> 00:14:43,479 But it was something that they did publicly to know that these men 271 00:14:44,679 --> 00:14:47,239 are set apart for this particular thing. 272 00:14:48,599 --> 00:14:49,639 Now, verse seven. 273 00:14:50,599 --> 00:14:52,559 The Word of God increased. 274 00:14:52,559 --> 00:14:53,399 There you go. 275 00:14:54,519 --> 00:14:58,679 And the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem 276 00:14:59,239 --> 00:14:59,959 greatly. 277 00:15:01,159 --> 00:15:06,679 And a great company of the priests, that had to be Jewish priests, 278 00:15:07,209 --> 00:15:08,809 were obedient to the faith. 279 00:15:08,809 --> 00:15:13,889 They got saved when the preacher had more time to prepare 280 00:15:13,889 --> 00:15:15,529 and study for the Word of God. 281 00:15:16,089 --> 00:15:21,449 And these seven men were called out and started holding down 282 00:15:21,449 --> 00:15:22,089 the murmuring. 283 00:15:22,089 --> 00:15:22,369 Right? 284 00:15:22,369 --> 00:15:24,449 That was the first reason there was murmuring. 285 00:15:24,449 --> 00:15:26,969 If there'd been no murmuring, there'd been no deacons. 286 00:15:28,169 --> 00:15:31,449 So in a way, a deacon was to be a peacemaker. 287 00:15:32,659 --> 00:15:33,459 You agree with that? 288 00:15:34,259 --> 00:15:36,979 I mean, there was problems There was some arguing over who's 289 00:15:36,979 --> 00:15:37,459 going to do. 290 00:15:37,459 --> 00:15:38,939 Why isn't somebody doing this? 291 00:15:38,939 --> 00:15:39,939 Well, why don't you do it? 292 00:15:39,939 --> 00:15:40,179 Me? 293 00:15:40,179 --> 00:15:41,139 Why do I have to do it? 294 00:15:41,139 --> 00:15:42,019 Why don't you do it? 295 00:15:42,579 --> 00:15:44,259 That was the kind of stuff going on. 296 00:15:44,899 --> 00:15:50,219 But it happened and went so well that the Bible says even a lot 297 00:15:50,219 --> 00:15:53,699 of the Jewish priests were born again, became saved. 298 00:15:55,219 --> 00:15:55,699 Wow. 299 00:15:56,979 --> 00:16:01,599 Does that mean that if people are being taken care of and we're 300 00:16:01,599 --> 00:16:05,199 all a family and we're growing together and when one weeps, we all 301 00:16:05,199 --> 00:16:08,839 weep and when one laughs, we all laugh and we rejoice and we check 302 00:16:08,839 --> 00:16:12,679 on each other and we hold each other up in prayer, does that mean 303 00:16:12,679 --> 00:16:15,079 that possibly more people would get saved? 304 00:16:15,239 --> 00:16:16,759 Absolutely, that's what it means. 305 00:16:18,039 --> 00:16:23,399 Sometimes churches can get so selfish and self centered and want 306 00:16:23,399 --> 00:16:29,219 everything my way and nobody gets saved because it's all about 307 00:16:29,219 --> 00:16:29,579 us. 308 00:16:31,499 --> 00:16:34,179 It can happen something. 309 00:16:34,179 --> 00:16:36,059 We have to be on guard all the time. 310 00:16:36,459 --> 00:16:37,499 So a great company. 311 00:16:37,899 --> 00:16:39,179 And then it says verse eight. 312 00:16:39,179 --> 00:16:45,139 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles 313 00:16:45,139 --> 00:16:45,859 among the people. 314 00:16:45,859 --> 00:16:49,659 Now remind you, the book of Acts was a transitional book. 315 00:16:49,659 --> 00:16:51,019 They didn't have a Bible yet. 316 00:16:52,049 --> 00:16:53,209 They didn't have church. 317 00:16:53,209 --> 00:16:54,609 And everybody opened their Bible. 318 00:16:54,849 --> 00:16:55,889 They didn't have one. 319 00:16:56,049 --> 00:17:00,009 They had the Pentateuch, they had some of the Psalms, they had 320 00:17:00,009 --> 00:17:00,849 the prophets. 321 00:17:01,809 --> 00:17:05,249 They didn't have the doctrines that you and I have in this Bible. 322 00:17:05,889 --> 00:17:11,169 And so because of that, God allowed the apostles and here one 323 00:17:11,169 --> 00:17:18,819 of the deacons actually had the gift of miracles that would impress 324 00:17:18,819 --> 00:17:22,379 people, not say look at me, but it was to authenticate. 325 00:17:22,939 --> 00:17:24,059 Is that a good word? 326 00:17:24,699 --> 00:17:29,139 They could authenticate that these men were of God because of 327 00:17:29,139 --> 00:17:30,779 the miracles they performed. 328 00:17:31,499 --> 00:17:35,699 And gradually when the Bible began the canonizing of the scripture 329 00:17:35,699 --> 00:17:39,019 and all scripture came together, well, gradually those gifts 330 00:17:39,179 --> 00:17:39,699 ceased. 331 00:17:39,699 --> 00:17:40,939 That's what the Bible says. 332 00:17:41,019 --> 00:17:43,899 When that which is perfect is come, that that which is done in 333 00:17:43,899 --> 00:17:45,019 part shall be done away. 334 00:17:45,019 --> 00:17:46,459 It's talking about the word of God. 335 00:17:50,928 --> 00:17:52,928 And so we're not to copy Pentecost. 336 00:17:53,968 --> 00:17:58,928 That's a lot of the churches today that are mixed up on this point. 337 00:17:59,648 --> 00:18:04,368 Denominations, they want to copy, they want to speak in tongues, 338 00:18:04,608 --> 00:18:08,528 they want to do miracles, they want to do this, they want to prophesy, 339 00:18:08,528 --> 00:18:09,968 they want to stand up in front of the. 340 00:18:10,608 --> 00:18:13,248 And they think that's they're more spiritual and all that. 341 00:18:13,819 --> 00:18:16,659 Well, there were apostolic gifts. 342 00:18:16,659 --> 00:18:18,379 They were not for everybody today. 343 00:18:19,739 --> 00:18:23,579 Why do we need tongues today when we have a Bible? 344 00:18:24,299 --> 00:18:28,259 I had a man sometime come to me in the morning service, kind of 345 00:18:28,259 --> 00:18:34,219 interrupted the service and he Said, God has sent me here to say 346 00:18:34,219 --> 00:18:34,539 something. 347 00:18:35,179 --> 00:18:39,339 I said, well, I didn't get the note, and so I'll talk to you after 348 00:18:39,339 --> 00:18:39,739 church. 349 00:18:41,049 --> 00:18:43,009 And thank God there was no problem. 350 00:18:43,009 --> 00:18:46,089 He sat down, left in the middle of my sermon. 351 00:18:47,289 --> 00:18:48,849 But they're men like that. 352 00:18:48,849 --> 00:18:52,089 But, you know, one time I remember talking to a man. 353 00:18:52,169 --> 00:18:53,689 He said, God told me to come by. 354 00:18:53,689 --> 00:18:54,729 They just came by the office. 355 00:18:55,289 --> 00:18:58,089 And he said, I had a vision last night. 356 00:18:58,889 --> 00:19:03,249 And God said, I need to go to Victory Baptist Church and talk to 357 00:19:03,249 --> 00:19:04,729 the pastor and tell him what he said. 358 00:19:04,809 --> 00:19:06,249 And there wasn't anybody else around. 359 00:19:06,249 --> 00:19:07,049 I said, okay. 360 00:19:07,799 --> 00:19:08,839 What did God tell you? 361 00:19:08,919 --> 00:19:11,479 He said, jesus is coming again. 362 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:14,119 I said, really? 363 00:19:16,839 --> 00:19:18,519 Back then they didn't go, duh. 364 00:19:20,919 --> 00:19:22,879 And that many times is the case. 365 00:19:22,879 --> 00:19:27,239 People will prophesy and share something that's in the Bible a lot 366 00:19:27,239 --> 00:19:27,879 of times. 367 00:19:29,319 --> 00:19:33,479 But they're mixed up, and we need to pray for people like that. 368 00:19:34,249 --> 00:19:35,329 Doesn't mean they're not saved. 369 00:19:35,329 --> 00:19:37,649 Maybe some of them are, maybe some are not. 370 00:19:37,649 --> 00:19:39,609 Maybe some Baptists are not saved. 371 00:19:40,169 --> 00:19:40,809 Amen. 372 00:19:41,689 --> 00:19:43,849 Just because you're Baptist don't get you to heaven. 373 00:19:46,969 --> 00:19:48,249 So there were miracles. 374 00:19:50,089 --> 00:19:51,889 And now watch this. 375 00:19:51,889 --> 00:19:52,849 It happens every time. 376 00:19:52,849 --> 00:19:53,529 Verse 9. 377 00:19:53,609 --> 00:19:55,689 Remember, we already got the murmuring fixed. 378 00:19:55,849 --> 00:20:00,479 But now it says, then there arose certain of the synagogue that 379 00:20:00,479 --> 00:20:04,279 was the Jewish temple, the Jewish place, which is called the 380 00:20:04,279 --> 00:20:10,079 synagogue of the Libertines and Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and 381 00:20:10,079 --> 00:20:15,999 of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 382 00:20:16,479 --> 00:20:17,679 Well, it didn't take long. 383 00:20:17,679 --> 00:20:20,319 I mean, you solve a problem and another one will come along. 384 00:20:20,959 --> 00:20:22,719 You don't get much time off. 385 00:20:22,719 --> 00:20:24,319 If it's the right kind of church. 386 00:20:24,719 --> 00:20:27,759 If a church is taking stands and preachers preaching the word 387 00:20:27,759 --> 00:20:31,829 of God and people are praying, witnessing, and the church is staying 388 00:20:31,829 --> 00:20:32,349 the course. 389 00:20:33,229 --> 00:20:36,989 You're going to have trouble with the devil if you don't. 390 00:20:36,989 --> 00:20:38,509 Something's really wrong. 391 00:20:39,389 --> 00:20:39,869 I know. 392 00:20:39,869 --> 00:20:40,429 I'm like you. 393 00:20:40,429 --> 00:20:42,589 Why don't the devil just leave us alone for a while? 394 00:20:43,789 --> 00:20:47,909 Well, that would be a bad sign if the devil said, I don't need to 395 00:20:47,909 --> 00:20:49,549 worry about messing with that church. 396 00:20:51,949 --> 00:20:55,029 I believe that since the first time I came here, man, the way the 397 00:20:55,029 --> 00:20:59,629 devil slammed into this church, he wanted and still wants 398 00:20:59,629 --> 00:21:01,269 to hurt it as much as he can. 399 00:21:02,629 --> 00:21:04,069 Because this church is different. 400 00:21:05,989 --> 00:21:08,149 They believe the word of God literally. 401 00:21:09,269 --> 00:21:13,829 We got more and more every day, even Baptists, quote, unquote. 402 00:21:13,829 --> 00:21:17,789 I don't think they're probably really Baptists, but they're changing 403 00:21:17,789 --> 00:21:20,949 their doctrines and changing this and changing that. 404 00:21:24,239 --> 00:21:28,359 And so the devil leaves them Alone most of the time you take a 405 00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:34,719 strong stand for God and right in truth and love. 406 00:21:36,959 --> 00:21:41,599 The devil's going to sit down beside you and he's going to try 407 00:21:41,759 --> 00:21:47,999 everything he can to distract, to disturb and to destroy. 408 00:21:49,799 --> 00:21:58,319 Well, that's what happened here, Stephen, a deacon doing the 409 00:21:58,319 --> 00:22:04,199 work of God and began to dispute. 410 00:22:05,399 --> 00:22:06,679 But look at verse 10. 411 00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:11,399 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit 412 00:22:11,399 --> 00:22:12,599 by which he spake. 413 00:22:13,559 --> 00:22:17,449 They were talking about, see, when they thought they was gonna, 414 00:22:17,449 --> 00:22:18,689 hey, what do you think you're doing? 415 00:22:18,689 --> 00:22:20,009 They started attacking him. 416 00:22:20,009 --> 00:22:22,289 And so he started talking back and they go, oh. 417 00:22:22,769 --> 00:22:23,969 They didn't know what to say. 418 00:22:26,849 --> 00:22:32,769 They couldn't dispute anymore because of the wisdom and the Spirit. 419 00:22:33,009 --> 00:22:38,689 By the way, that's a little S, not a big capital S. Their spirit, 420 00:22:38,689 --> 00:22:40,769 not just the Holy Spirit, but their spirit. 421 00:22:41,499 --> 00:22:45,579 Stephen was preaching the truth and doing the things of God, 422 00:22:46,379 --> 00:22:51,699 but he did it in a right spirit, a Christ like spirit, a humble 423 00:22:51,699 --> 00:22:56,539 spirit, a serving spirit, a sweet spirit. 424 00:22:58,139 --> 00:23:03,259 I mean, you've probably, some of you I'm sure have known this for 425 00:23:03,259 --> 00:23:03,579 years. 426 00:23:05,579 --> 00:23:08,789 You can take, take a stand and have a bad spirit about it. 427 00:23:11,429 --> 00:23:12,469 We need to take a stand. 428 00:23:12,469 --> 00:23:15,829 We need to speak for right, but we need to do it in the right 429 00:23:15,829 --> 00:23:16,389 spirit. 430 00:23:18,309 --> 00:23:18,949 Amen. 431 00:23:21,029 --> 00:23:22,588 So they didn't leave. 432 00:23:22,588 --> 00:23:28,149 It says then they sub born suborned men which said, we have 433 00:23:28,149 --> 00:23:32,469 heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God. 434 00:23:33,479 --> 00:23:36,799 Moses was their hero and they thought they were worshiping the 435 00:23:36,799 --> 00:23:37,479 right God. 436 00:23:39,399 --> 00:23:45,239 They were mixed up and it says they stirred up the people and the 437 00:23:45,239 --> 00:23:54,679 elders and the scribes and came upon him, Stephen the deacon 438 00:23:55,799 --> 00:23:59,249 and caught him and brought him to the council. 439 00:24:01,969 --> 00:24:06,769 And it says in verse 13 they set up false witnesses which said, 440 00:24:06,769 --> 00:24:11,929 this man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against the holy 441 00:24:11,929 --> 00:24:14,609 place and the law. 442 00:24:15,889 --> 00:24:19,889 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth. 443 00:24:20,049 --> 00:24:21,009 There's the problem. 444 00:24:23,089 --> 00:24:25,409 They didn't believe Jesus was the Messiah. 445 00:24:27,259 --> 00:24:30,499 They said, we've heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall 446 00:24:30,499 --> 00:24:35,459 destroy this place and shall change the customs which Moses delivered 447 00:24:35,459 --> 00:24:35,739 us. 448 00:24:37,179 --> 00:24:42,299 And all that sat in the council looking steadfastly on him. 449 00:24:43,579 --> 00:24:44,259 Watch this. 450 00:24:44,259 --> 00:24:49,579 They saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. 451 00:24:52,309 --> 00:24:53,469 What does an angel look like? 452 00:24:53,469 --> 00:24:54,869 Have you ever seen an angel? 453 00:24:57,509 --> 00:25:00,669 The Bible says sometimes we entertain angels and we don't know 454 00:25:00,669 --> 00:25:00,949 it. 455 00:25:02,309 --> 00:25:04,469 So they must not look like aliens. 456 00:25:05,109 --> 00:25:07,269 They must not look weird or whatever. 457 00:25:08,949 --> 00:25:13,429 Maybe some of you have met somebody and they disappeared. 458 00:25:13,429 --> 00:25:15,389 And how did they know that? 459 00:25:15,389 --> 00:25:17,109 And how did they know this and that and the other. 460 00:25:17,109 --> 00:25:18,909 And you never heard them or saw them again? 461 00:25:18,909 --> 00:25:19,709 You asked somebody? 462 00:25:19,709 --> 00:25:20,709 No, I didn't see anybody. 463 00:25:23,369 --> 00:25:24,889 I'm just telling you. 464 00:25:25,289 --> 00:25:29,609 The Bible says sometimes angels can be right around us. 465 00:25:29,929 --> 00:25:33,929 Maybe sitting in the chair beside us, maybe riding in the car. 466 00:25:35,449 --> 00:25:36,249 We don't know. 467 00:25:37,529 --> 00:25:40,569 But I would remind you too, that Satan has angels. 468 00:25:40,969 --> 00:25:42,169 He was an angel. 469 00:25:43,049 --> 00:25:46,729 And a third of the angels followed him and fell with him. 470 00:25:47,249 --> 00:25:50,129 And they too are unseen. 471 00:25:52,449 --> 00:25:54,449 We wrestle not against flesh and blood. 472 00:25:55,809 --> 00:25:59,049 It's very possible that we might even pass them in Walmart and 473 00:25:59,049 --> 00:25:59,889 not even know it. 474 00:26:00,289 --> 00:26:06,609 A demon or maybe an angel of God. 475 00:26:08,129 --> 00:26:09,969 Now, I don't think we ought to worship angels. 476 00:26:09,969 --> 00:26:11,649 I don't think we ought to pray to angels. 477 00:26:13,499 --> 00:26:15,019 That's another trick of the devil. 478 00:26:16,059 --> 00:26:19,179 Babies don't turn into angels when they get to heaven. 479 00:26:20,459 --> 00:26:23,819 A lot of people, several years ago, especially man, that was a big 480 00:26:23,819 --> 00:26:24,419 new fad. 481 00:26:24,419 --> 00:26:27,339 Now to buy angels and little things, angels and set them up on 482 00:26:27,339 --> 00:26:27,979 the mantle. 483 00:26:30,699 --> 00:26:33,659 No, but there are angels. 484 00:26:34,379 --> 00:26:35,499 And I don't know if they. 485 00:26:36,939 --> 00:26:37,699 What did they think? 486 00:26:37,699 --> 00:26:38,179 An angel. 487 00:26:38,179 --> 00:26:39,099 It said that they. 488 00:26:40,709 --> 00:26:43,109 They saw his face and it reminded them of an angel. 489 00:26:43,109 --> 00:26:48,229 I don't know where they got what an angel looks like from now, 490 00:26:48,229 --> 00:26:52,029 right here in chapter seven is when Stephen took off and won a great 491 00:26:52,029 --> 00:26:52,469 sermon. 492 00:26:52,469 --> 00:26:54,069 We're not going to read all that tonight. 493 00:26:54,869 --> 00:26:56,669 It's 53 verses long. 494 00:26:56,669 --> 00:26:57,989 But boy, he covered everything. 495 00:27:00,229 --> 00:27:03,509 Now look in chapter seven and look in verse 54. 496 00:27:06,239 --> 00:27:11,519 And when they had heard these things, this sermon preached by a 497 00:27:11,519 --> 00:27:17,759 deacon named Stephen, when they heard these things, they were 498 00:27:17,759 --> 00:27:23,679 cut to the heart and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 499 00:27:24,799 --> 00:27:26,879 You find that several times in scripture. 500 00:27:26,879 --> 00:27:32,479 It's not a pleasant thought that someone be so angry they gnash 501 00:27:32,479 --> 00:27:34,279 with their teeth like they're going to bite you. 502 00:27:37,319 --> 00:27:46,759 But he, verse 55, being what, full of the Holy Ghost, looked up 503 00:27:47,639 --> 00:27:54,039 steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God. 504 00:27:54,439 --> 00:27:55,559 And look at this. 505 00:27:56,359 --> 00:27:58,679 And Jesus standing on the right hand of God. 506 00:28:01,789 --> 00:28:02,109 Wow. 507 00:28:07,149 --> 00:28:07,669 He did. 508 00:28:07,669 --> 00:28:15,429 Nobody else saw it, but Stephen saw Jesus standing on the 509 00:28:15,429 --> 00:28:16,429 right hand of God. 510 00:28:20,109 --> 00:28:22,749 I've often wondered why the liberals are called the left wing 511 00:28:22,749 --> 00:28:24,589 and the conservatives are called the right wing. 512 00:28:25,589 --> 00:28:27,509 Jesus on the right side of the Father. 513 00:28:28,789 --> 00:28:30,229 That wasn't very funny, was it? 514 00:28:34,149 --> 00:28:36,829 And he said, behold, I see the heavens open. 515 00:28:36,829 --> 00:28:40,309 Now he's saying this in front of this great crowd of people. 516 00:28:41,349 --> 00:28:43,029 Behold, I see the heavens open. 517 00:28:43,029 --> 00:28:46,549 And the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God. 518 00:28:46,549 --> 00:28:51,599 So he said it twice and they said, amen. 519 00:28:51,839 --> 00:28:58,719 No, they did not they cried out with a loud voice and they stopped 520 00:28:58,719 --> 00:28:59,359 their ears. 521 00:28:59,359 --> 00:29:00,399 Can you picture that? 522 00:29:01,599 --> 00:29:04,799 And ran upon him with one accord. 523 00:29:05,599 --> 00:29:07,279 They attacked Stephen. 524 00:29:09,519 --> 00:29:15,159 And then the Bible says they cast him out of the city and stoned 525 00:29:15,159 --> 00:29:15,439 him. 526 00:29:18,009 --> 00:29:23,769 And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, 527 00:29:24,889 --> 00:29:28,729 whose name was Saul, who later became Paul. 528 00:29:29,609 --> 00:29:33,289 In fact, if you'll go two chapters ahead, in chapter nine, 529 00:29:35,049 --> 00:29:38,569 you'll see for the first time, Paul. 530 00:29:42,899 --> 00:29:47,059 So they stoned, and Saul was watching. 531 00:29:48,019 --> 00:29:52,099 There's places in Scripture where we get a strong indication 532 00:29:52,099 --> 00:29:53,859 that Paul never got over that. 533 00:29:53,939 --> 00:29:55,539 It had an impression on him. 534 00:29:55,699 --> 00:29:57,379 He brought it up several other times. 535 00:29:58,019 --> 00:30:02,739 In fact, he was ashamed that he actually held the coats of the 536 00:30:02,739 --> 00:30:08,639 men who killed Stephen, who was a great godly man. 537 00:30:11,439 --> 00:30:15,519 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God. 538 00:30:18,079 --> 00:30:22,999 In other words, they're saying as he was being stoned, Stephen was 539 00:30:22,999 --> 00:30:28,399 calling upon God and saying, lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 540 00:30:29,759 --> 00:30:37,919 And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, lord, lay not 541 00:30:37,919 --> 00:30:40,679 this sin to their charge. 542 00:30:40,679 --> 00:30:41,959 Does that sound familiar? 543 00:30:43,399 --> 00:30:45,159 Who else said something like that? 544 00:30:46,439 --> 00:30:48,999 Anybody remember Jesus? 545 00:30:49,879 --> 00:30:52,359 Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. 546 00:30:53,239 --> 00:30:56,919 Here Stephen is being stoned to death. 547 00:30:59,239 --> 00:31:00,399 So he kneels down. 548 00:31:00,399 --> 00:31:01,679 He doesn't fight back. 549 00:31:01,679 --> 00:31:02,759 He's not attacking. 550 00:31:04,059 --> 00:31:07,379 And cried, not with a little murmuring, soft, little voice, but 551 00:31:07,379 --> 00:31:08,539 with a loud voice. 552 00:31:09,259 --> 00:31:12,539 Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. 553 00:31:12,539 --> 00:31:16,779 And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 554 00:31:17,979 --> 00:31:19,899 Anybody here like to die like that? 555 00:31:19,979 --> 00:31:20,859 Fall asleep? 556 00:31:22,779 --> 00:31:25,539 I think probably most of us say, yeah, that would be pretty nice. 557 00:31:25,539 --> 00:31:31,429 The only thing better than that would be the rapture, that they 558 00:31:31,429 --> 00:31:38,629 just pray and enjoy God those last few seconds and fall off to 559 00:31:38,629 --> 00:31:40,069 sleep and wake up in heaven. 560 00:31:42,709 --> 00:31:43,589 How about that? 561 00:31:43,989 --> 00:31:45,629 That's quite a story, isn't it? 562 00:31:45,629 --> 00:31:52,469 But the point is, it was all centered on a deacon. 563 00:31:54,399 --> 00:31:57,599 And so when you get to the place that you're going to maybe 564 00:31:57,599 --> 00:32:01,759 make a recommendation of a deacon, somebody you think either 565 00:32:01,759 --> 00:32:05,359 has, or even if he never has, what might make a good deacon? 566 00:32:06,559 --> 00:32:11,759 If I were you, I would read this again and again. 567 00:32:12,479 --> 00:32:13,319 Everybody's different. 568 00:32:13,319 --> 00:32:15,959 I don't think he has to be a superman, a super deacon. 569 00:32:15,959 --> 00:32:19,039 I don't think he probably wouldn't have the stature maybe, 570 00:32:19,039 --> 00:32:19,999 that Stephen did. 571 00:32:20,159 --> 00:32:24,609 He was specially blessed to do miracles and all these kind of things. 572 00:32:26,289 --> 00:32:30,729 But you need to remember that the qualifications of a deacon are 573 00:32:30,729 --> 00:32:35,849 found here in Acts, chapter six, and then in quite detail in 574 00:32:35,849 --> 00:32:36,929 the book of Timothy. 575 00:32:41,729 --> 00:32:43,689 The scripture kind of speaks for itself. 576 00:32:43,689 --> 00:32:49,009 But there was a problem, and the deacons helped solve it. 577 00:32:49,439 --> 00:32:52,639 That's the way it's supposed to be Amen. 578 00:32:54,559 --> 00:32:58,039 But sometimes not just deacons, sometimes people, leaders, 579 00:32:58,039 --> 00:33:00,959 Sunday school teachers, preachers, preachers, wives, all 580 00:33:00,959 --> 00:33:02,239 kinds of situations. 581 00:33:04,399 --> 00:33:07,919 They make problems, they don't solve problems. 582 00:33:09,439 --> 00:33:11,599 You don't want to be a part of a problem, do you? 583 00:33:12,319 --> 00:33:17,289 I'm just asking, saying, well, no, I want to be part of the solution. 584 00:33:17,289 --> 00:33:18,169 Well, amen. 585 00:33:20,489 --> 00:33:24,329 Ask God to use you to be a problem solver, not a problem maker. 586 00:33:24,329 --> 00:33:26,169 You think he'd say, well, I'll get back with you? 587 00:33:26,889 --> 00:33:31,929 No, God will say, well, I'd like to answer that prayer for you. 588 00:33:39,609 --> 00:33:41,709 We're not going to get into it today, tonight. 589 00:33:41,709 --> 00:33:46,189 But there was also qualifications for a deacon's wife 590 00:33:47,709 --> 00:33:49,069 and a pastor's wife. 591 00:33:54,989 --> 00:33:57,629 First Timothy 3, 8, you need not turn there, but you ought to 592 00:33:57,629 --> 00:33:58,269 jot it down. 593 00:33:58,909 --> 00:34:02,309 And I put some handouts back there on that little carousel in 594 00:34:02,309 --> 00:34:02,829 the corner. 595 00:34:03,709 --> 00:34:06,709 And we're going to try to fill up the other one if we can in the 596 00:34:06,709 --> 00:34:07,389 next few days. 597 00:34:08,399 --> 00:34:10,759 Just some things that I thought you might enjoy having. 598 00:34:10,759 --> 00:34:13,119 You may not agree with everything on there, and I'm not 599 00:34:13,119 --> 00:34:16,439 saying you should, but it might give you some insight. 600 00:34:16,439 --> 00:34:18,399 A lot of topics and subjects and things. 601 00:34:18,399 --> 00:34:20,599 What does the Bible say about this and about this? 602 00:34:20,599 --> 00:34:21,239 They're back there. 603 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:22,159 They're no charge. 604 00:34:26,639 --> 00:34:29,679 But the point I want to make is the role of a deacon. 605 00:34:29,679 --> 00:34:35,489 If he's rightly, if he understands what it's all about and 606 00:34:35,489 --> 00:34:38,329 if he undertakes it, he doesn't just read it, but he says, 607 00:34:38,409 --> 00:34:40,889 that's what I'm gonna, with God's help, I'm gonna do. 608 00:34:42,009 --> 00:34:45,449 They can make a deacons, a group of men, godly men. 609 00:34:45,529 --> 00:34:48,569 Now I wanna stop right here and slam on the brakes. 610 00:34:49,529 --> 00:34:50,649 Are you listening? 611 00:34:52,169 --> 00:34:53,849 Very important what I'm about to say. 612 00:34:55,289 --> 00:34:58,829 There are men that say, well, I don't think I'm ready to be a deacon. 613 00:35:00,499 --> 00:35:04,659 That doesn't mean that the deacons are superior to those men. 614 00:35:06,339 --> 00:35:07,459 I'm going to say that again. 615 00:35:09,059 --> 00:35:10,539 A deacon is not way up here. 616 00:35:10,539 --> 00:35:12,739 And the rest of the men are a little bit under the deacons. 617 00:35:14,979 --> 00:35:18,939 I've known some men that didn't ever feel like they could 618 00:35:18,939 --> 00:35:21,539 measure up to be a good deacon, but they could have been 619 00:35:21,539 --> 00:35:22,739 if they wanted to. 620 00:35:24,909 --> 00:35:26,749 And they did everything a deacon would do. 621 00:35:27,549 --> 00:35:31,349 They would serve and check and pray and help and hold hands with 622 00:35:31,349 --> 00:35:33,149 people and pray with them and weep with them. 623 00:35:34,349 --> 00:35:38,589 I want you to understand that some of you men don't have peace 624 00:35:38,589 --> 00:35:42,349 about it doesn't mean you're a second class member at Heritage Baptist 625 00:35:42,349 --> 00:35:42,749 Church. 626 00:35:44,109 --> 00:35:49,389 You May be a first class member being a deacon, something 627 00:35:49,389 --> 00:35:53,839 that between you and God and you have to pray about it and you 628 00:35:53,839 --> 00:35:57,959 may say, well, I'm not ready, maybe next year or the next year. 629 00:35:59,879 --> 00:36:03,159 But I want you all to try not to forget that. 630 00:36:11,079 --> 00:36:12,679 Sometimes there's can be very. 631 00:36:12,919 --> 00:36:14,159 There can be dangers. 632 00:36:14,159 --> 00:36:15,079 Don't have to be. 633 00:36:16,269 --> 00:36:18,709 Some men deacons feel like they're controllers. 634 00:36:18,709 --> 00:36:22,989 They have a lot of pride, they think very highly of themselves. 635 00:36:26,509 --> 00:36:27,709 But I'm going to say it again. 636 00:36:28,829 --> 00:36:34,989 I think they should be among the pastor's best and closest friend. 637 00:36:36,029 --> 00:36:40,509 A deacon ought to be among the best and closest friends a pastor 638 00:36:40,509 --> 00:36:40,989 can have. 639 00:36:42,219 --> 00:36:49,499 If he's heartbroken and got problems, he can call on a deacon. 640 00:36:54,699 --> 00:36:55,979 That's the way it ought to be. 641 00:36:59,099 --> 00:37:00,539 That mean he has to agree with everything. 642 00:37:00,539 --> 00:37:01,699 You know it better than that. 643 00:37:01,699 --> 00:37:05,819 I don't have to tell you that I don't even agree with myself sometimes. 644 00:37:07,429 --> 00:37:11,829 No, a deacon doesn't be a yes man and agree with every single thing 645 00:37:11,829 --> 00:37:12,789 a pastor says. 646 00:37:12,789 --> 00:37:15,589 But there ought to be a bond and a love and a trust. 647 00:37:19,749 --> 00:37:21,549 That a pastor can lean on. 648 00:37:21,549 --> 00:37:25,669 I know we're supposed to lean on God and we do that. 649 00:37:27,029 --> 00:37:30,509 But if I was here and wasn't a pastor and I was praying about it, 650 00:37:30,509 --> 00:37:34,949 I'd say, lord, if you want to be a deacon, I want to be the best 651 00:37:35,269 --> 00:37:38,629 help I can to my pastor. 652 00:37:39,989 --> 00:37:41,749 I'm not telling you anything you don't know. 653 00:37:46,629 --> 00:37:51,109 Deacons are sounding boards for a pastor. 654 00:37:52,149 --> 00:37:58,549 A pastor values opinions and godly men that's on their knees and 655 00:37:58,549 --> 00:38:00,429 says, preacher, have you ever thought about this? 656 00:38:00,429 --> 00:38:03,229 And the preacher say, well, no, I haven't thought about that. 657 00:38:03,709 --> 00:38:04,829 That's a good idea. 658 00:38:07,549 --> 00:38:10,589 I think there's something wrong with a pastor who doesn't want 659 00:38:10,669 --> 00:38:11,629 some input. 660 00:38:13,069 --> 00:38:13,629 Amen. 661 00:38:19,229 --> 00:38:21,829 But they're not rulers, they're servants and they should 662 00:38:21,829 --> 00:38:22,869 be prayer warriors. 663 00:38:22,869 --> 00:38:24,589 I'm going to speed up here real quickly. 664 00:38:24,749 --> 00:38:25,589 We're almost done. 665 00:38:25,589 --> 00:38:28,679 But everybody here should be a prayer warrior. 666 00:38:28,679 --> 00:38:31,799 If somebody asks you what do you do in that church over there, 667 00:38:33,319 --> 00:38:35,719 you're not a Sunday school teacher, you're not a deacon, you're 668 00:38:35,719 --> 00:38:40,239 not in the choir, you're not a greeter, you're not an usher, what 669 00:38:40,239 --> 00:38:40,839 do you do? 670 00:38:41,479 --> 00:38:42,919 You ought to have a good answer. 671 00:38:43,959 --> 00:38:45,639 Ought to say, well, I'm a prayer warrior. 672 00:38:47,479 --> 00:38:48,679 I'm a prayer warrior. 673 00:38:48,679 --> 00:38:51,479 I don't tell everybody when I'm praying, but I pray a lot of 674 00:38:51,479 --> 00:38:53,479 times behind the scenes and in private. 675 00:38:55,829 --> 00:39:00,229 A prayer warrior already said a deacon ought to be a peacemaker 676 00:39:01,029 --> 00:39:07,109 ready to defend and if they can't, something's wrong. 677 00:39:08,069 --> 00:39:09,109 They should be examples. 678 00:39:09,109 --> 00:39:10,069 You agree with that? 679 00:39:11,589 --> 00:39:13,349 A deacon ought to be a good example. 680 00:39:14,069 --> 00:39:17,789 Other young men ought to look at, and not just young men, any other 681 00:39:17,789 --> 00:39:18,149 man. 682 00:39:18,229 --> 00:39:21,089 If he's never been a deacon, he goes, you know, brother, so and 683 00:39:21,089 --> 00:39:21,729 so's a deacon. 684 00:39:21,729 --> 00:39:25,369 And I hope one day I could be as good and godly a man as he is. 685 00:39:26,729 --> 00:39:27,969 I want to be like him. 686 00:39:27,969 --> 00:39:29,209 I want to follow him. 687 00:39:31,369 --> 00:39:32,169 He's different. 688 00:39:32,729 --> 00:39:34,169 I can tell he loves the Lord. 689 00:39:34,169 --> 00:39:37,609 He's got a peace and a sweetness and a kindness and a Christ 690 00:39:37,609 --> 00:39:39,049 likeness about him. 691 00:39:41,449 --> 00:39:42,409 An example. 692 00:39:46,979 --> 00:39:49,859 I have heard deacons say I'm a sheepdog. 693 00:39:52,339 --> 00:39:57,219 I'm not the pastor that's the under shepherd, but I'm a sheepdog. 694 00:39:58,979 --> 00:40:02,859 I go around and protect the flock from the wolves and help move 695 00:40:02,859 --> 00:40:05,139 them in a different direction, the people and the sheep. 696 00:40:05,459 --> 00:40:07,339 I think that's a pretty good idea. 697 00:40:07,339 --> 00:40:09,739 I don't know if you deacons ever thought about being a dog or 698 00:40:09,739 --> 00:40:10,019 not. 699 00:40:11,789 --> 00:40:12,989 That'd be a sheepdog. 700 00:40:14,509 --> 00:40:18,429 And a deacon's wife should be meek and of a quiet spirit. 701 00:40:18,429 --> 00:40:20,909 The Bible says that's of great price to the Lord. 702 00:40:21,149 --> 00:40:22,749 Did you know that's in the Bible too? 703 00:40:28,589 --> 00:40:31,149 All women really, not just a deacon's wife. 704 00:40:31,149 --> 00:40:38,189 But women are to have a meek and quiet spirit. 705 00:40:41,179 --> 00:40:43,819 They're not to rule in the church or rule over man. 706 00:40:43,819 --> 00:40:49,619 And they're definitely not called to preach according to the 707 00:40:49,619 --> 00:40:49,979 Bible. 708 00:40:49,979 --> 00:40:51,099 We believe the Bible. 709 00:40:55,259 --> 00:40:56,499 Deacons should be humble. 710 00:40:56,499 --> 00:40:59,339 They should be ready to help at the altar. 711 00:40:59,419 --> 00:41:03,779 You may have never been called on to do that, but you never know 712 00:41:03,779 --> 00:41:07,289 somebody dealing with several other people and there's nobody else 713 00:41:07,289 --> 00:41:07,449 left. 714 00:41:07,449 --> 00:41:09,809 And you're sitting over here and you're Deacon Joe. 715 00:41:09,809 --> 00:41:14,249 And Joe, come over here and show this man, this young man or 716 00:41:14,249 --> 00:41:15,889 woman, show him how to be saved. 717 00:41:15,889 --> 00:41:19,049 Your wife, your deacon's wife, come over here and pray with this 718 00:41:19,049 --> 00:41:19,569 lady. 719 00:41:20,209 --> 00:41:21,809 You say, well, I don't know how to do that. 720 00:41:21,809 --> 00:41:22,849 Well, you can learn. 721 00:41:24,529 --> 00:41:27,409 It may not be your personality, but if you're a deacon 722 00:41:27,409 --> 00:41:30,209 or deacon's wife, I don't think that necessarily means that 723 00:41:30,459 --> 00:41:32,859 that's not in the Bible as far as one of the qualifications. 724 00:41:32,939 --> 00:41:37,659 But I think every deacon, one of their goals is to know how to 725 00:41:37,659 --> 00:41:38,699 lead someone to Christ. 726 00:41:38,699 --> 00:41:42,979 You may not be as suave and smooth as some others that have done 727 00:41:42,979 --> 00:41:46,419 it a lot, but if you never have make it, put it on your prayer 728 00:41:46,419 --> 00:41:46,778 list. 729 00:41:48,219 --> 00:41:52,899 Lord, I want to be able to lead someone to Christ at the altar 730 00:41:52,899 --> 00:41:56,829 or outside in the parking lot or on the job or my neighbor over 731 00:41:56,829 --> 00:41:57,429 the fence. 732 00:41:58,309 --> 00:42:01,029 A deacon should be alert and know what's going on. 733 00:42:04,309 --> 00:42:08,869 Now, again, don't make this. 734 00:42:09,189 --> 00:42:11,269 Don't hear me say something I didn't say. 735 00:42:11,589 --> 00:42:14,549 But I think not just deacons, but I think all of us should. 736 00:42:14,549 --> 00:42:15,589 And you'll agree with that. 737 00:42:15,589 --> 00:42:16,709 And when I tell you what it is. 738 00:42:17,989 --> 00:42:20,869 But the Bible says we're to be students of the Bible. 739 00:42:20,869 --> 00:42:21,269 Study. 740 00:42:22,639 --> 00:42:22,879 Study. 741 00:42:24,799 --> 00:42:26,559 You say, well, I don't read too good. 742 00:42:27,679 --> 00:42:29,039 That's not to be ashamed of. 743 00:42:29,119 --> 00:42:31,199 A lot of times it's the way you were taught to read. 744 00:42:32,559 --> 00:42:41,119 Some were taught to read by memorizing, others by syllables, 745 00:42:41,119 --> 00:42:43,039 how to sound it out. 746 00:42:47,039 --> 00:42:48,559 But God can help you do that. 747 00:42:48,879 --> 00:42:49,359 That's. 748 00:42:49,559 --> 00:42:50,999 That's not a problem for God. 749 00:42:53,479 --> 00:42:54,959 But you ought to learn the Bible. 750 00:42:54,959 --> 00:42:57,799 No one ever graduates be a student of the Bible. 751 00:42:58,119 --> 00:43:01,319 A deacon ought to say, I'm learning more every year. 752 00:43:03,319 --> 00:43:07,639 You don't have to go to Bible college to study the Bible. 753 00:43:07,719 --> 00:43:09,159 I think a preacher ought to. 754 00:43:09,159 --> 00:43:11,799 But there's nothing wrong with. 755 00:43:12,199 --> 00:43:15,729 Anybody else in the church says, I want to learn more about 756 00:43:15,729 --> 00:43:16,369 the Bible. 757 00:43:17,569 --> 00:43:21,249 And a deacon should never be too good for menial tasks. 758 00:43:26,129 --> 00:43:27,689 That shouldn't have to be said. 759 00:43:27,689 --> 00:43:31,849 But sometimes you get this idea, well, we got people that do 760 00:43:31,849 --> 00:43:32,089 that. 761 00:43:32,089 --> 00:43:32,929 I don't do that. 762 00:43:32,929 --> 00:43:34,289 I am a deacon. 763 00:43:37,089 --> 00:43:38,849 I don't clean the commodities. 764 00:43:43,159 --> 00:43:45,919 I think a deacon ought to be the first one in line to do whatever 765 00:43:45,919 --> 00:43:46,679 is needed. 766 00:43:47,879 --> 00:43:50,679 Nothing that he wouldn't do. 767 00:43:52,679 --> 00:43:55,239 I think I'm gonna go ahead and just. 768 00:43:55,879 --> 00:43:56,918 This is for me. 769 00:43:57,159 --> 00:43:57,799 Okay? 770 00:43:57,799 --> 00:44:00,599 But you will agree deacons are to be examples. 771 00:44:03,639 --> 00:44:08,209 I probably shouldn't say this, and it goes for women, too, women 772 00:44:08,209 --> 00:44:08,609 deacons. 773 00:44:08,609 --> 00:44:09,889 But I think for everybody. 774 00:44:12,129 --> 00:44:14,609 I think how we dress says a lot about us. 775 00:44:14,929 --> 00:44:17,329 I don't think you have to wear a suit to be a deacon. 776 00:44:19,169 --> 00:44:19,809 Amen. 777 00:44:19,969 --> 00:44:22,609 That'd be kind of ridiculous, but I don't think. 778 00:44:22,609 --> 00:44:23,329 Nothing wrong with it. 779 00:44:23,329 --> 00:44:24,529 Nothing to be ashamed of. 780 00:44:25,169 --> 00:44:30,049 But when we take pride in how we dress and how we look, it means 781 00:44:30,049 --> 00:44:32,049 we take what we're doing seriously. 782 00:44:33,599 --> 00:44:34,719 We're not casual. 783 00:44:37,359 --> 00:44:43,039 We have a plague of casualness sweeping across the churches of today. 784 00:44:43,919 --> 00:44:46,399 They wear the same thing to church that they wear to the football 785 00:44:46,399 --> 00:44:46,679 game. 786 00:44:46,679 --> 00:44:47,759 And I don't think that's. 787 00:44:47,759 --> 00:44:51,239 Now, if that's all they have, praise God for it and let them wear 788 00:44:51,239 --> 00:44:53,039 what they got for the glory of God. 789 00:44:54,639 --> 00:44:57,959 So don't go out here and say something that I said, something 790 00:44:57,959 --> 00:44:58,719 I didn't say. 791 00:45:00,589 --> 00:45:00,989 Amen. 792 00:45:04,429 --> 00:45:06,349 But I think we ought to look our best for God. 793 00:45:06,349 --> 00:45:07,549 For the glory of God. 794 00:45:07,709 --> 00:45:09,229 But also people look at us. 795 00:45:09,229 --> 00:45:13,149 Visitors, new members, look at us again. 796 00:45:13,309 --> 00:45:15,829 I'm not saying you have to have one of these in the suit, but 797 00:45:15,829 --> 00:45:19,149 they say, boy, they care what they look like. 798 00:45:19,149 --> 00:45:21,789 Not to show off, not to put on a fashion show. 799 00:45:22,189 --> 00:45:24,029 But we're going to the house of God. 800 00:45:26,919 --> 00:45:29,959 You look in the Bible, get your information in the Bible. 801 00:45:30,119 --> 00:45:32,799 When God said, I'm going to meet with the people, it would take 802 00:45:32,799 --> 00:45:36,759 them sometimes two to three weeks to get ready to wash. 803 00:45:40,039 --> 00:45:42,759 Some of you looking a little bored, so I'll try to hurry. 804 00:45:45,319 --> 00:45:46,839 A deacon ought to be a tither. 805 00:45:47,799 --> 00:45:49,879 If he's not a tither and a giver. 806 00:45:50,589 --> 00:45:55,229 Give, not just tithe, not just moving the decimal point over. 807 00:45:56,349 --> 00:45:59,789 If he's not a tither and a giver, the Bible says he's a thief. 808 00:46:02,429 --> 00:46:04,909 And a thief has no business being a deacon. 809 00:46:06,429 --> 00:46:09,029 You don't have to give the same that everybody else gives. 810 00:46:09,029 --> 00:46:11,109 Nobody gives the same amount, probably. 811 00:46:11,109 --> 00:46:11,669 I don't know. 812 00:46:11,669 --> 00:46:15,829 I never looked at people's records when I was pastoring. 813 00:46:15,829 --> 00:46:16,669 I didn't want to know. 814 00:46:17,539 --> 00:46:18,739 That was between them and God. 815 00:46:19,939 --> 00:46:20,739 But I expected. 816 00:46:25,139 --> 00:46:28,099 I've had in my years of ministry. 817 00:46:28,819 --> 00:46:32,899 Not very long ago, I had staff members that didn't tithe. 818 00:46:33,939 --> 00:46:36,939 We were paying them a good salary and they were robbing God 819 00:46:36,939 --> 00:46:40,459 and didn't give tithing and give money to the back of the church. 820 00:46:40,459 --> 00:46:46,609 I didn't know about it until I found out from my secretary. 821 00:46:46,849 --> 00:46:49,169 And she wasn't being out of line. 822 00:46:49,169 --> 00:46:51,329 She just said, preacher is something you ought to know. 823 00:46:59,489 --> 00:47:05,009 A deacon should be part of the vision of the church. 824 00:47:05,009 --> 00:47:06,009 They ought to be positive. 825 00:47:06,009 --> 00:47:08,529 They ought to look out there and say, one day this is going to 826 00:47:08,529 --> 00:47:08,729 happen. 827 00:47:08,729 --> 00:47:10,624 By the help and grace of God, we're going to. 828 00:47:10,689 --> 00:47:11,609 We want to see this happen. 829 00:47:11,609 --> 00:47:13,489 They're looking ahead, they're not looking back. 830 00:47:15,409 --> 00:47:18,209 A deacon seeks to be filled with the Holy Spirit. 831 00:47:21,489 --> 00:47:22,449 He's faithful. 832 00:47:24,929 --> 00:47:28,689 And I think a deacon ought to treat his wife with respect and gentleness 833 00:47:28,689 --> 00:47:29,169 in public. 834 00:47:31,089 --> 00:47:34,329 And I think a deacon's wife ought to respect and honor her husband 835 00:47:34,329 --> 00:47:34,929 in public. 836 00:47:37,499 --> 00:47:38,139 You're welcome. 837 00:47:40,379 --> 00:47:42,379 You probably haven't heard some of these, have you? 838 00:47:43,419 --> 00:47:48,219 A deacon should not flirt with other women other than his wife. 839 00:47:48,939 --> 00:47:50,699 It's all right to flirt with your wife. 840 00:47:55,979 --> 00:47:58,379 And a deacon's wife shouldn't flirt with other men. 841 00:47:59,339 --> 00:48:00,699 Deacon ought to be a good father. 842 00:48:00,699 --> 00:48:02,219 There is no perfect fathers. 843 00:48:03,759 --> 00:48:06,159 But he's a good father and he's trying to be a better father. 844 00:48:09,839 --> 00:48:13,279 I guess I could have shortened this, said we need deacons just ought 845 00:48:13,279 --> 00:48:14,919 to be Christ, like that'd cover it. 846 00:48:14,919 --> 00:48:15,599 We can go home. 847 00:48:16,319 --> 00:48:17,239 That'd cover everything. 848 00:48:17,239 --> 00:48:17,839 Would it? 849 00:48:20,799 --> 00:48:24,319 The deacon should have a sense of humor, but not be a clown. 850 00:48:27,519 --> 00:48:29,199 He ought to have a good sense of humor. 851 00:48:29,459 --> 00:48:32,179 You ought to be able to laugh a little bit and not show people 852 00:48:32,339 --> 00:48:34,499 that Christians are misery miserable. 853 00:48:37,379 --> 00:48:39,859 A deacon ought to be approachable. 854 00:48:44,659 --> 00:48:48,179 People should not feel like they can't talk to the deacon. 855 00:48:49,299 --> 00:48:50,899 A deacon ought to be approachable. 856 00:48:52,659 --> 00:48:53,659 All right, I'll quit. 857 00:48:53,659 --> 00:48:56,019 Let's stand together, every head bowed, every eye closed. 858 00:48:59,089 --> 00:49:00,929 You say, well, I already knew all that anyway. 859 00:49:01,169 --> 00:49:04,609 Well, okay, good for you. 860 00:49:06,929 --> 00:49:09,369 But I wanted to be practical and I just want to give you some 861 00:49:09,369 --> 00:49:13,049 things to think about as you will be considering some of these 862 00:49:13,049 --> 00:49:13,249 things. 863 00:49:13,249 --> 00:49:16,609 And I didn't cover everything because of time. 864 00:49:16,609 --> 00:49:21,809 I skipped some things and just wanted to share as God led. 865 00:49:22,169 --> 00:49:24,729 So I'm going to pray if God's touched your heart about this or 866 00:49:24,729 --> 00:49:25,369 something else. 867 00:49:25,369 --> 00:49:26,889 Maybe nothing to do with deacons. 868 00:49:27,929 --> 00:49:29,969 Maybe you want to be a better student of the Bible. 869 00:49:29,969 --> 00:49:31,409 You want to be a better soul winner. 870 00:49:31,409 --> 00:49:34,329 You want to be a prayer warrior has nothing to do with being 871 00:49:34,329 --> 00:49:35,769 a deacon or a deacon's wife. 872 00:49:36,649 --> 00:49:38,089 You want to set the example. 873 00:49:39,129 --> 00:49:44,249 You want to see this church prosper, go forward victorious. 874 00:49:45,849 --> 00:49:47,049 You have a burden on your heart. 875 00:49:47,049 --> 00:49:49,209 Come and pray about it and go back to your seat when you're through. 876 00:49:50,519 --> 00:49:52,519 Heavenly Father, thank you for this time together. 877 00:49:53,159 --> 00:49:56,039 And Lord, I hope I didn't come across as a know it all. 878 00:49:58,359 --> 00:50:01,559 I had to learn a lot the hard way and I'm still learning things. 879 00:50:02,759 --> 00:50:07,239 But Lord, deacons can be such a blessing, such an encouragement. 880 00:50:07,959 --> 00:50:11,319 And thank God for men and women who may never fulfill the office, 881 00:50:11,319 --> 00:50:14,359 but they're doing the work of a deacon or a deacon's wife. 882 00:50:15,729 --> 00:50:17,009 They don't need the title. 883 00:50:18,929 --> 00:50:22,929 Lord, I pray that you would lead this church in these matters. 884 00:50:25,329 --> 00:50:27,409 And we pray it in Jesus name. 885 00:50:28,689 --> 00:50:31,009 Your heads are still bowed, eyes are still closed. 886 00:50:31,889 --> 00:50:34,829 I've wandered far away from God, but now I'm coming home.