567-Wisdom in Management#
(JP Text Group - shalom 整理)
Peace be with you, dear family. Today is Sunday, and let us look at God's word together.
The topic of sharing is: Wisdom in Management.
Acts 6:1-7:
1 In those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 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; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. 7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Let us first pray together.
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us this wonderful time to share your word together. During the process of receiving your word, may the Holy Spirit personally lead us to gain revelation and wisdom from your word. Let us use God's wisdom to solve the problems we encounter in life, to know you more and experience your great power. Thank you and praise you. In the name of the Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen.
After we believe in Jesus, is having faith enough in our lives? Some people say, “Having faith can achieve everything. As long as there is faith, all things are possible.” Is this statement true? Through this article, let us learn to rely on God to solve the problems we encounter in life. First, let’s take a look at what happened at that time.
Verse 1: In those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
Previously, I shared that after the establishment of the early church, many people sold their fields and possessions to live in community within the church, gathering daily to hear the word, share, and bear witness together. As the number of disciples increased, the number of people in the church grew, leading to management issues, and some people's needs were overlooked in the distribution of food.
The issue arose because the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews, as their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. This was not a dispute between Jews and Gentiles, as these people were all Jews; it clearly states that they were Hellenistic Jews. To understand the differences, we must return to the Old and New Testaments.
Some refer to this as the Maccabean period, noting the different sects within Judaism at that time. They later formed two distinct groups: one was the authentic Hebrews, mostly concentrated in Jerusalem, speaking Hebrew or Aramaic, adhering to all Hebrew customs and traditions.
The other group was the Hellenistic Jews, who, while worshiping Yahweh and following ancient rituals, primarily spoke Greek and were influenced by Greek culture, leading to ideological differences with contemporary Jews. Thus, there was a very clear divide between the Hebrews and the Hellenistic Jews.
Through the introduction in Acts, we can see that the early church was not without issues, and it reveals some common misconceptions that people have, thinking that the church was perfect when it was first established. This is not true. Some people want to return to the apostolic era to experience God's power. However, through Acts, we can see that even in the early church's process of expansion and growth, many problems and difficulties arose.
Although these Jews had been united with Christ through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and their lives had undergone miraculous changes after the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost, there were still material and social disparities within this spiritual fellowship. This indicates that the early church was not a perfect church. Every church has problems, and relying solely on faith to solve these problems is clearly insufficient; we also need wisdom from God.
Acts 5:12-14:
12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. 13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.
Through these verses, we see that God was indeed working through the apostles, performing many signs and wonders, which is a manifestation of faith. Moreover, these people were in one accord, indicating that there were no issues of discord in their faith.
Yet even with unity in faith, problems still arose in life. The fact that they were united shows that those managing the church at that time had no issues with faith, but that was still not enough. When encountering problems, one cannot simply say, “Let’s all pray together,” and then do nothing; such an approach will not resolve the issues.
For example, let me ask everyone a question: If everyone prays for global evangelization, will that happen? No. Because even if you pray continuously, things will not improve significantly unless someone goes out to preach the gospel. Relying solely on faith will not resolve the issues.
Although we are discussing the early church today, this actually pertains to collective issues that can extend to every family, company, fellowship, etc. In management, not only is faith necessary, but wisdom is also required. Therefore, if you want to build a team or start a company, you must be well-versed in the book of Acts, which contains rich wisdom for team management.
How does faith arise? Romans 10:17 says: So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
If a person wants to have faith, they must continually listen to the truth to generate faith. The more one meditates on the redemptive work that Christ accomplished on the cross, the more faith will arise. However, merely having faith does not guarantee that you can solve all the problems in life; what else is needed? Wisdom. And how does wisdom arise?
Proverbs 1:7 says: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
When a person fears God from their heart, they possess knowledge from God, which is the beginning of wisdom. Only when one recognizes their need for God's wisdom will they cherish it and seek God's truth, thus generating wisdom. If a person believes they can handle everything on their own and solve any problem, they will not take God's truth seriously. Fools lack this insight; they continually rely on themselves and will not turn to God even when they fail.
Therefore, as God's people, we need to rely on our God in everything. First, we must acknowledge our own shortcomings, lacking faith and wisdom. Jesus is full of wisdom and faith, so when He encounters problems, we can see that He responds to these challenges with great wisdom. What we need to learn is to first recognize our deficiencies in this area and then seek God.
So, dear family, when you encounter problems in life, do not be discouraged or complain. Instead, turn to God’s truth to find answers. If you develop the habit of reading the Bible, listening to sermons, and meditating daily, when problems arise, you will quickly know how to respond and how to use the truth to overcome them. This is where we need to equip ourselves. After the apostles encountered this problem, they surely prayed to God, and then they had a solution.
In today’s reading, verses 2-4:
2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 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; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Doesn’t this seem simple? When problems arose in the church, the apostles immediately provided a solution, and it seemed that the problem was resolved, and everyone thought this method was great. How did this come about? They learned this wisdom from Jesus, who taught them to pray first when encountering problems. This wisdom is something everyone must have. Many people try to solve problems themselves first, and when they cannot, they then pray to God, which is a roundabout way of doing things.
When encountering problems, pray first; this is God’s wisdom. Whether you face issues in your personal life or in managing a team, the wisdom we can learn is to first pray to God. Jesus set this example for us.
Let’s look at Luke 6:12-13:
12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles.
When Jesus began His ministry, He also needed a team. But how to choose these people? It must have seemed difficult at that time. Therefore, He first prayed to God. Before choosing His disciples, He prayed all night to the Father. What was He praying for? He prayed about who to choose as apostles. Thus, we see that Jesus easily identified these twelve individuals, as prayer paved the way. Without prayer, if He had randomly chosen twelve people, there would have been countless problems, and the ministry might not have proceeded smoothly. Amen.
Many people in business find partners in this way, randomly selecting a few individuals to start, and most end up not only failing in business but also losing friendships. So we must see this wisdom. After praying, Jesus called His disciples and then chose twelve from among them. The outcome seems easy, but there was a lot of preparation behind it.
Just like when you see me sharing the word, I actually need to be well-equipped beforehand. You cannot wait until you need it to prepare; that would be too late. Many people lose sleep over a sermon because they haven’t prepared in advance, so when the time comes, they are anxious. Therefore, if we truly have wisdom, we need to equip ourselves with these truths in our hearts so that when we truly need them, through prayer, God will tell us how to act. Amen.
Returning to this article, let’s see how the twelve apostles specifically resolved the management issues they faced. It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. The original meaning indicates that this is not our virtue.
The Lord called the twelve apostles to diligently work on His word, but now, to care for the needs of the believers, they were setting aside their original duties, which is not a sign of the apostles' love or capability; rather, it became their folly.
Note that this does not mean that managing food is of lesser importance than preaching; it means that if they set aside prayer and preaching to manage food, they would be going against the Lord's original intention in calling them. We must understand that God calls people for specific roles. Amen. For example, God called the twelve apostles to pray and preach, especially after Jesus returned; at this time, the twelve apostles should be preaching the gospel.
But if there are so many people in the church, and every time they are busy resolving issues related to food distribution and minor disputes, they have no time to pray or preach, isn’t that putting the cart before the horse? Therefore, there must be specific divisions of labor and cooperation within the church. Whatever position God has given us, we should fulfill that role; whatever gifts God has given us, we should serve according to those gifts and work together with others who have different gifts to serve the church.
For example, in a church, if God gives someone the role of preaching, they should preach, while another person may have the gift of administration, and yet another may have the gift of worship, etc. It is not about who is higher or lower, who is important or not; it is about the different roles received from God and the different tasks they perform, which need to be coordinated to fulfill the Great Commission. Amen.
If the worship leader refuses to lead worship and insists on preaching, and the preacher is busy managing church affairs every day, it will lead to chaos. Not only will they not perform well in their own roles, but they may also fail at what they envy in others. In other words, the apostles may be great preachers, but they may not be able to manage the church's food distribution effectively. This illustrates that everyone has different positions and should serve one another according to the gifts God has given us.
From this article, we see two types of ministries: the first is the ministry of God's word, whose main role is to convey the truth and help everyone know God more; the second is the ministry of management, which primarily deals with conflicts among brothers and sisters or corrects deficiencies within the church.
Thus, the first type pertains to spiritual supply, while the second type pertains to administrative handling. Believers need to serve according to the roles or gifts God has given them, and everyone must take action. In this situation, the church can only get better through mutual cooperation and service. Although we are discussing the church, this principle can also be applied to companies, families, or teams. Amen.
1 Peter 4:7-11:
7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen!
Peter makes it clearer in this passage: The end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. Before the Lord Jesus returns, the world will become increasingly chaotic, and many things will become unclear to us. Therefore, do not look at this world, where right and wrong seem indistinguishable; instead, return to the truth, be serious, and use these truths to examine yourself.
What else is there? Be watchful and pray. Above all, have fervent love for one another. In the last days, various rules may have been established, but love between people has diminished, and people have become increasingly indifferent to one another because they fail to genuinely love one another. The role of the church in the world is like a lighthouse in the darkness, providing direction and light to the world. How is this manifested? Brothers and sisters in the church must genuinely love one another.
Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. The church is not perfect because the people in the church come from the world, and we still carry this flesh, which will inevitably bring personal desires. When these desires enter the church, we will certainly see deficiencies, and problems and conflicts will arise. What should we do at this time? Use God's love to love one another and do not complain.
Verse 10 says: Each one should minister to one another according to the gift they have received.
We should serve God according to the gifts God has given us, not according to personal desires. If everyone in the church does whatever they want, the church will surely become chaotic. When we each serve according to the gifts God has given us, it will be different; everyone will know how to be hospitable and how to accept one another. Amen.
Take the apostles as an example; the mission God gave them was to preach God's word, pray for the church, and lead everyone to know Jesus Christ. So what should be done if there are issues with food distribution in the church? Other gifted individuals need to participate in the management of the church together. Amen, this is being a good steward of God's manifold grace.
There may be more than one good steward; we all serve in a church according to the gifts God has given us, utilizing our individual gifts to collectively obey the church's management, and the church will become better and better. Amen.
It is particularly mentioned that if anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If you are preaching, since God has given you this gift, do not speak nonsense or discuss worldly matters; instead, speak the truth according to God's word and share the truth with everyone, helping them understand the truth and know how to rely on God in their lives.
If anyone serves, let him do so with the ability which God supplies. If you are serving in the church, for example, if seven deacons are managing food distribution, how should you do it? Serve according to the ability God supplies.
Because many times we lack the strength to do these things, when we give and others do not understand, and they criticize us, many people become weak and fall. Therefore, it is mentioned that we should serve according to the ability God supplies; those serving must know that they are not serving according to their own will, but serving God. Everything done is not based on how people respond, but in service to God. This is the strength God provides.
What is the ultimate purpose? That God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. The purpose of serving is not to showcase ourselves, but to glorify Jesus Christ in all things. Amen.
Isn’t this also true in families? Families also need division of labor and cooperation; who is responsible for which part requires us to use the wisdom God gives us to do the division well, and then unite together to make the family better. If both people think differently, one pushes east while the other pushes west, the family will be filled with many problems.
The same is true in companies; if everyone is not united, with the boss thinking about how to grow the company while the employees think about how to bankrupt it, it will not work. Therefore, there is a characteristic here: individuals must do their own part well. Amen. Individuals should love and serve one another in the church according to the gifts God has given them, being good stewards of God. Whether in the church, company, or family, if this principle is applied, there will be no problems that cannot be solved. If there is no unity of heart, if hearts are not aligned, and individuals act according to their own ideas, even the smallest team will fall apart. Now, let’s look at the criteria for selecting people.
Verses 3-4:
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; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.
In selecting people, we need wisdom, whether in establishing a church, managing a church, or managing a team and family. We cannot just randomly find someone to partner with in business, nor can we randomly choose someone to marry and start a family. If there is no unity of heart, then the matter will not last long.
Let’s take the example of the early church to understand how to manage a team wisely. First, it mentions: seek out from among you seven men of good reputation. From among you, this is the first condition for serving; those who serve the church and the disciples must also be part of the disciples.
In serving the church, we cannot hire someone with corporate management experience from the world to manage the church; that does not work. You also cannot say that someone was very successful in the world, so you let them manage the church; that is also not acceptable. If they do not know God’s truth, they cannot be used. Amen.
A person can be very successful in this world, but that does not mean they can understand God’s truth in the church, because God’s truth is often inconsistent with many things in this world; it transcends worldly knowledge and theories. Amen. If someone wants to participate in serving the church, they must be a part of that church. If they are uncertain about whether they want to stay in that church, they should not be allowed to serve.
What we are talking about is long-term service; it does not mean we cannot connect with people from other churches or invite them to preach; that is not the point. For long-term service, they must be from the same church. Hallelujah. From among these people, find those who are willing to serve, those whom God has chosen, who are wise and full of faith. Amen.
What is next? Good reputation. Good reputation in the original text actually refers to testimony; it means that a person must have a good testimony, and this testimony must be recognized by others. Amen.
When we live on this earth, in any team or among people nearby, we usually know who has a good reputation. How does such a reputation come about? Generally, it is because this person is willing to help others, willing to assist everyone, and does not deceive others, thus establishing a good reputation. And such a good reputation is certainly not self-promoted; it is recognized by everyone.
Therefore, in a church, if someone wants to participate in serving, they must have a good reputation so that others will trust them. If a person is deceitful, untrustworthy, etc., once they participate in serving the church, others will stumble because they do not believe in them.
We can imagine how terrifying it would be if a dishonest person were chosen to stand on the pulpit or manage the church. Today, this person might say, “I’m not in the mood; I don’t want to go. You can find whoever you want.” How can the church continue like this? Or if they are supposed to preach tomorrow and say, “I’m not in the mood today, so I don’t want to preach; you can find someone else.” How can the church continue like this? This is because such a person is untrustworthy and lacks responsibility; they will not have a good reputation.
A person with a good reputation must have interacted with others multiple times, and everyone believes that this person is reliable and trustworthy. Many people in the church hope that some individuals will rise up, but they never investigate whether that person is suitable. Many people do not consider this aspect when establishing a team, thinking, “Since they are willing to serve, let them come.” This is not acceptable; it will lead to many problems later. Serving before God is not something just anyone can do. Amen.
What is next? Full of the Holy Spirit. What does it mean to be full of the Holy Spirit? Simply put, it means that this person can hear God's guidance and obey the leading of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, when prophets were used by God, the Holy Spirit often came upon them, and they began to work for the Lord.
How did the Holy Spirit come upon these people? These individuals honored God in their hearts and were willing to be sent and used by the Holy Spirit. We see that in the Old Testament, regardless of which prophet it was, whether Isaiah or Elijah, they all obeyed the leading of the Holy Spirit; they did what the Holy Spirit directed them to do, and not according to their own preferences.
Thus, the condition of being full of the Holy Spirit means serving not according to one’s own will; this is the correct use of faith. When a person is full of the Holy Spirit, their faith reaches its optimal state. Some may ask, “How can one be considered full of the Holy Spirit?” It is actually quite simple; if you pray in tongues, you will know that when you pray in tongues, it is a state where the Holy Spirit is quite active.
When a person continually uses the power of the Holy Spirit to do things, they can accomplish things that exceed their own thoughts. For example, forgiving those who cannot be forgiven, serving those they do not want to serve. These are not things that a person can accomplish through their own flesh; this is a state of being full of the Holy Spirit.
Additionally, some people, after being filled with the Holy Spirit, will spontaneously want to praise God and do good things for others, etc. If a preacher is full of the Holy Spirit, they may say things they never thought of, because they have obeyed the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and at that moment, their faith has reached its optimal state, allowing them to say things they cannot normally say and do things they cannot normally do, and these are things only God can accomplish.
For example, when Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, he was no longer afraid of the environment. After coming down from the upper room, he boldly preached to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ and proclaimed the power of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, leading three thousand people to repent. In this process, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, and thus the power of the Holy Spirit was manifested in him. When those people heard Peter preach, they heard it in their native language, which made them feel close and willing to accept it. This is being filled with the Holy Spirit.
When a person believes in Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwells in their heart. When they continually pursue God’s word, such as through prayer, they will be filled with the Holy Spirit and receive much revelation power. At this time, their service is very effective because they are completely obedient to God’s word and can accomplish things they cannot do on their own. Thank the Lord.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit is a goal for believers to pursue; it is something we need to continually seek. Today, if you are filled with the Holy Spirit for a while, but later you stop praying and are unwilling to pursue God’s word, it will diminish. After a while, when you are willing to seek God again, you will be filled with the Holy Spirit once more. Therefore, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is permanent, but being filled with the Holy Spirit requires our continual pursuit. Hallelujah.
In serving in the church, it is necessary for such qualified individuals to participate in service, meaning they are willing to be filled with the Holy Spirit. If they are not filled with the Holy Spirit, their service will be based on their own ideas, which will inevitably lead to various conflicts. There are no small matters in the church; everything is important. If everyone does things according to their own ideas, even if the church says to do it this way, they insist on doing it that way, problems will arise. However, if everyone is filled with the Holy Spirit, this issue will not exist because everyone will act according to the leading of the Holy Spirit, achieving unity. Amen.
Next is wisdom sufficient. The term wisdom refers to a moral quality, but the wisdom we are discussing today is not earthly wisdom; it has a deeper meaning, referring to a person using the best methods to achieve the best results. Those who serve in the church must have wisdom from God; otherwise, they may end up doing many things without achieving anything. This principle can also be applied to our family life and companies.
Using the wrong wisdom or relying on our own ideas can turn a simple matter into a mess because we do not know when problems will arise. The wisdom mentioned here is actually the correct application of God’s truth using the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. I will give you two examples so that you can better understand what wisdom sufficient means.
Matthew 10:23: When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
This is the wisdom Jesus tells His disciples to have when preaching the gospel. What is this wisdom? If you go to a city to preach the gospel and the people there do not accept it but instead persecute you, then you should flee to another city. Some people do not understand and say, “We are God’s people, representing the Son of God; why should we run away? I can command fire to come down from heaven and destroy this city!” This is a use of faith, but it is not correct because it lacks wisdom.
God’s purpose is not to destroy people but to save them. If at this moment they do not have a listening heart, you should not force them to listen; instead, pray for them. Amen. If they do not want to hear you, and they want you to leave, then just leave. Amen, you can go to another city and preach there just as well. Why must you linger in front of these people? Just leave! This is wisdom.
Some people say, “No, I want to use my faith; I want to change them.” In the end, both sides are hurt and become enemies; why go through that? This is a lack of wisdom. Amen. Therefore, we must not do things this way. In the church, family, and company, we need to serve with wisdom. Amen.
Let’s look at another passage, Luke 21:10-15:
10 Then He said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. 13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. 14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.”
This is also wisdom that Jesus gives us. He says that in the last days, nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences, among other signs. This is the state of the world before the Lord comes. However, before the Lord Jesus returns, there will also be persecution of believers. The world will lay hands on those who serve and persecute believers, delivering them to synagogues and imprisoning them.
As believers, how unjust it feels, and many may want to prove their innocence and argue that they are right. I believe many people hope to express this; they feel they have a reason: “I haven’t done anything wrong; why should I face this outcome? This is not right; I want to reason with them.”
But look at what Jesus says here: “Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer.” When you are brought before kings and rulers, do not say anything; the best way is to say nothing at all because the more you say, the more you give them ammunition against you. Do you really think they want to hear what you have to say? This is wisdom. Amen. Especially in the last days, we must have this wisdom; do not say everything; that is a problem.
When Jesus was taken away by the chief priests in the Garden of Gethsemane, when they wanted to judge Him and condemn Him, did Jesus say anything? He did not say a word because no matter how you respond, you are likely to fall into their trap. Those people would surely say to Jesus, “Just say something, and I will let you go.” If you say something, they will use those words to condemn you.
Therefore, it is particularly mentioned that God will give you a mouth and wisdom that all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. At that time, what we need to do is to pray to God in our hearts. Amen.
Why must you prove yourself right in front of those who do not believe you? They will not listen; they will only find faults in what you say and attack you again, condemning you. So we need wisdom in this regard. Hallelujah! Not only do we need wisdom when serving God, but we also need wisdom when encountering problems in our daily lives.
Today, we particularly emphasize that the first thing to do when encountering problems is to pray. Amen. Let’s see what God wants us to say. If we do not receive any words from God, then we should say nothing. Especially when facing those who persecute you or your enemies, what should you say? The more you say, the more they will hate you; this is wisdom. Thank the Lord. After the apostles adjusted the church's management approach, beautiful results emerged.
Verses 5-7 of this article:
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. 7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
When the wisdom that comes from God is manifested, it is certainly something that everyone is pleased with, so this is what we need to pursue. If we encounter problems in life and we pray to God, and He gives us a solution, it will certainly be something that everyone is very pleased with. The disciples chose seven deacons in this way, and these seven deacons were full of faith, filled with the Holy Spirit, and possessed the wisdom of God. Amen.
Even with such people, after they were chosen, they were set before the apostles, and the apostles prayed for them and laid hands on them. This again reflects the order within the church. Even if you have faith, are filled with the Holy Spirit, and possess wisdom, you cannot say, “Well, from now on, I will do whatever I want.” That is not acceptable; you must obey the leadership of the church. Order must not be disrupted. Although there are no distinctions of rank, there should be order.
For example, in the early church, who were the leaders? The twelve apostles. The deacons below them must listen to the apostles’ arrangements. You cannot disregard what the apostles have told you and insist on doing it your own way; otherwise, there will still be many problems in the church.
In terms of faith, everyone must be united; the same goes for wisdom. Once a method of handling is established in the church, everyone should follow that method moving forward. Amen. Therefore, these individuals first came before the apostles, who prayed for them, giving them the ability and faith to do the work.
Verse 7 shows the beautiful results that emerged: the word of God spread. Can you imagine? Initially, the apostles preached with great power, but when management issues arose in the church, after resolving those issues, the word of God flourished. This principle can also be applied to the companies, families, and teams we manage; as long as you possess faith and wisdom and use them correctly, your team will thrive. Hallelujah.
Take the early church as an example; at that time, the number of disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly, even to the point that many priests who served in the temple believed in this faith, indicating that the word of God is attractive and powerful. Amen. We can imagine that if the early church had been a chaotic group with many problems in preaching and management, these priests would not have followed them.
This brings us back to our spiritual lives. In fact, being under grace is better than being under the law; whether in management or testimony, it surpasses what is under the law. Under the New Covenant, believers are not a group of people who do whatever they want; rather, they are filled with faith and wisdom, living out the love and power of Christ, manifesting the glory of the Father. This is the wisdom of management that comes from God. May each of us possess such wisdom, continually seek such wisdom, and manage our families, companies, and serve the church. Thank the Lord, and may today’s sharing bring some help to everyone.
Let us pray together.
Heavenly Father, we thank and praise you. Thank you for giving us such words today. We know that we will encounter some problems in our lives, and you have placed faith and wisdom in the Bible; when we seek, you will grant it to us. Through today’s sharing of your word, let us know how to act in our daily lives, allowing us to know you more and experience you. We are willing to be your beautiful witnesses, ultimately giving glory to our Father in heaven. Thank you and praise you.
A new week has begun, and I believe in God’s power in my life. When I am willing to obey God’s word, there will surely be beautiful testimonies in my life. I look forward to wonderful things happening to me this week, and through me, I can glorify our Father in heaven. In the name of the Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen.