T h e    M i n i s t r i e s     o f
Staying with the Supplies
a n d
Daily Distribution of Food

 

1 Samuel 30:9, 21-25 – Staying with the Supplies

Imagine all the men wanted to go to battle and none stay and protect the city of Ziklag.  Result:  The plundering of the city by the enemy.

 

Every ministry of the church must be guarded and protected.

Every ministry is as important as the other ministries.

 

POINTS:

  1. Uncared for ministries will be plundered.
  2. Those who stay with the supplies empowered the those who went into battle by guarding their things, making their work load easier and allowing them to stay focused on the battle they were engaged in.
  3. Staying with the supplies requires discipline and commitment (spiritual maturity).  It is difficult not to lose focus and leave this type of ministry unattended and open to a surprise attack.
  4. Remember – The community wins not the individual
  5. Actually – The Lord wins the battle and shares his glory and his plunder.  That is why we can say everyone gets an equal share of the plunder because the battle was the Lord’s not the warriors’.
  6. Those who stayed with the supplies are recognized as equals.
  7. Respect and recognition will result in honorable and diligent performance in the future.

 

Acts 6:1-7 – Daily Distribution

Growth Brings Problems

Multiply results in more diversity which leads to more differences which requires us to stay focused on our responsibility to avoid distractions.

“Murmuring” was legitimate. 
The people where complaining about a real problem.
The problem was a failure of the apostles. 

The complaint was justified and aimed at the apostles.

When it was brought to their attention they made a plan to fix it.

“Distribution” is “diakonia” and is used in both 6:1 and 6:4.  One for the ministry of distribution of food and the other for the ministry of teaching the  word.

The apostles where equipped for their ministry but not for every ministry.

 

POINTS:

  1. The seven were not less spiritual.  In fact they were filled with wisdom and the spirit.  The people where not to chose anybody for this “simple” ministry.  But they were to be filled with the spirit and wisdom for every ministry.
  2. The tension was over a practical situation and not over theology or faith.
  3. Both needs (food and the word) where equally important.
  4. Imagine if the apostles had allowed their ministry to be distracted by serving food.  Or, imagine if the seven were distracted by trying to do the apostles ministry.  It was not right for either of them to be distracted by someone else’s ministry.
  5. Twelve had the idea on how to solve the problem and presented the solution.  But, the group chose the seven themselves.  The apostles did not do the choosing.  They had confidence in the people of the church.

 

The ministries we see developing in these verses are: teaching, missions, charitable relief and administration.

 

Waiting on tables is as legitimate as teaching the Word of God.

Administration in the church is as legitimate as missions.