Apostles' Position

We concluded yesterday’s offering with some very powerful, nonetheless true words. I said that the Church still has the power to eradicate any such unwanted elements, which are not of her Leader. Our Lord has given power and authority to the Church. Jesus is still her Leader and Head.

When our Leader sets up something new and different in our midst, to facilitate the most effective working of His ministries, we should be, not just thankful, but we must rejoice in the faithfulness and trustworthiness of God.

The problem which had arisen because of the bountiful blessings of God, in His Church, where converts were coming without count, has now been adequately solved. However, we cannot move away and feel fully satisfied, without spending much quality time on some most ear-catching, heart-turning and mind-receiving words of Peter. It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Acts 6: 2b. Peter, representing the entire leadership of the Church Community, has brought many issues before us. When a thing is not desirable, it must not and will not be done.

The KJV says candidly, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

 The NIV simply says, It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God to wait on tables.

Just listen to the decisive words used by the translators. They are all different, in choice, but carry one stringent meaning and message.  Here’s a real issue for the growing Church. People need food to feed the soul and food to feed the body, and it is the Church’s responsibility to do both.

When Jesus told Peter to feed His Church, He named His own in these endearingly loving, gentle and tender words. He referred to them as His lambs and His sheep. Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these? John 21: 15b. Twice more, Jesus asked Peter again, if he loved Him. Peter responded, assuring his Master that he loved Him, and at each affirmative response, Jesus gave one of these commands to His servant. Feed My lambs. Tend My sheep. Feed My sheep.

It is imperative that we make strict note of when this all took place. It was after Jesus had prepared breakfast for Peter and all the other disciples, who were hungry. They had been out all night fishing and caught absolutely nothing, until Jesus took over and a miraculous catch was had. What is the point here?

It is that Peter and the other disciples know that their Master is careful about the physical feeding of His own. He did not let them remain hungry. It’s as simple as that. He prepared physical food for them to eat. Is He not speaking to Peter, in these words, feed and tend, about the physical feeding of His own? Jesus had just fed them, removing their hunger.

However, we know that Jesus has also mandated, as the law states, that we are not to live on physical food alone. Hear what is stated in Deuteronomy 8: 3. So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.

It is clear that Jesus has taught His servants well, in words and actions, concerning the physical and spiritual feeding of His flock.

Tomorrow, we look a bit deeper into the ministries itemized.