05/9/2020

Acts 6:1-15

POSITIVE RESPONSE IN CRISIS

Expansion comes with both negative and positive vibes. The apostles were faced with both internal and external crisis but the way both were handled was divine. Internal crisis arose because a certain group felt cheated in sharing of things (v.1). 

This occasionally arise among brethren but the way it's handled is what matters. Assuming the apostles didn't handle it well, that was enough to cause division in the church and everyone would've scattered but their positive response to the crisis cleared everything.

They decided to handle it with division of duties (v.2-4), that pleased them and crisis died down (v.5-6). Assuming the apostles were adamant to the complains being raised, acts of the apostles would've probably ended in this chapter because everything might end up with "to your tent oh Israel".

How do we handle such in our dispensation? Sadly, some churches had been marginalized into tribes. I invited some kids into SU children department, they attended few times and withdrew, trying to find out why, they said this is Igbo church. Oh! How on earth did we come to this level? This virtue must had been passed down to them. Did Christ die for any tribe? No, for the whole world He died, so why the division? An enemy would've entered but inability to tackle it like early apostles made it to escalate.

They didn't just choose any man to fill the gap but those that were filled with the Holy Spirit were selected and commissioned (v.3,6). This made the gospel to move on as they concentrated in preaching (v.7). Instead of one person being the president, treasurer, chorus leader, etc, it's necessary to share duties following criteria the early church used, then there will be sanity.

When Satan was defeated in that area, he brought external crisis (v.8-14). Satan doesn't rest, when he is defeated in one way, he seeks another. We are to be alert all the time. Stephen handled his external crisis by refusing to lose focus, he would've started fighting for his right but he didn't. It can be so painful when things you didn't do are being laid upon you, it takes God's Spirit to remain sane in that condition. Even as he was being lied against, his countenance was like that of an angel (v.15).

May we rely on Holy Spirit both in internal and external crisis so it won't rub into our faith. Crisis, if not positively handled can bring up anger, jealous, etc., but with Holy Spirit, we are sure to win.

The comforter is always by our side to help, don't handle it alone, hand over to Him and testimony will come out of that crisis. #Shalom.