March 5. Acts 6. Chance Bozeman
Not “This or That”, But “Yes and Yes”!
The early chapters of Acts contain the explosive advancement of the Church. It is in the first steps of God's new covenant community that we grasp the awe inspiring reach of the Holy Spirit. Chapter 6, uncovers a unique question that is perpetuated in Christian fellowships around the globe: "What activities should believers prioritize?". The question lands near to our hearts, as we strive to be unified as an assembly to accomplish God's will on earth. What is most important: meeting the needs of the congregation, spreading the gospel, serving the poor, personal purity, resolving division in the fellowship? Christian fellowships have fractured in not being about to come to a conclusion on the matter - this is what makes the directive of the apostles noteworthy. The apostles understood the Holy Spirit appointed them to preach the word. Yet aren't these the same men that served and fed the 5000, that served and fed the 4000? Surely Jesus would have wanted this need met? Understanding what the Lord called them to do allowed them to say "No" to fulfilling the need themselves. They understood their limitation and boldly pursued the life Jesus called them to as apostles.The apostles were resolved to have other spirit filled men fulfill this need. The work of the Holy Spirit ALSO included serving in capacities the apostles themselves were not called specifically to do.
We must beware of having spiritual tunnel vision, prioritizing one biblical command over another. While we also must acknowledge/leave room to allow the Holy Spirit to "pick up the slack". Jesus called us to disciple the nations (Matthew 28) yet he also had a public ministry marked by serving the marginalized and the downtrodden...going as far to declare that those that didn't meet the needs of the afflicted would not be worthy of him (Matthew 25). The Holy Spirit that empowered the apostles also empowered the seven deacons set aside to meet the needs of the church fellowship. The same Holy Spirit that desires to pull men and women into a relationship with him through the inspired of Christ, desires to amend cultural divisions and serve the poor..
Hampton Roads Church is passionate about spreading the gospel message about Christ and recently we have also taken bold steps to discuss racial inequality. As an assembly of believers we understand that the Holy Spirit works to build the church up to be complete and mature in love (Ephesian 4) and that the Holy Spirit distributes gifts in order to serve the common good (1 Corinthians 12.4-14). All of the work of the Holy Spirit aims to bring glory to God through the revelation of God in the multifunctional/ multifaceted members of the Church.
My prayer is for you to see the breadth of the Holy Spirit's work in your life. My prayer for you is to serve with power that the Spirit has given you to build up his Church in Love and bring glory to God to the ends of the earth! My prayer for you is to see that the matter of fulfilling the commandments of the Bible is not a matter of "This or That" but "Yes and Yes" in Christ Jesus.