Chosen and Called

 

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered at Pilgrim Reformed Church on Sunday morning, the 19th of January, 2025.  Today's service included observance of Holy Communion.  (Last week's service was canceled due to inclement weather.)  A recording of our service should be available on our YouTube streaming channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch1992/streams.]

Family, any time we start off on a new endeavor, something we’ve never done before, there’s a bit of a learning curve involved.  We can get some good tips on how to do things from friends or experts, and the internet is a great source of information, too, but there’s still much we have to figure out on our own.  A lot of trial and error is usually involved, sometimes more error than we’d prefer.  This holds true for individuals, for businesses, and for organizations.  It just takes a while to get our feet under ourselves when it’s all brand new.  And in this regard, the early church was certainly no exception.

While many of the disciples scattered after Jesus was crucified, the eleven original apostles stayed in Jerusalem, just as Jesus commanded them, where they chose Matthias to replace Judas.  They were there in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit came into the room and settled onto each one as if a tongue of flame touching them.  This event was witnessed by many in the city at that time, including visitors from other towns and villages.  Peter spoke to them all, in what we consider his first sermon, and the early church began, right there, with about 3,000 people being baptized and added to the rolls of disciples.

Now we know that the church didn’t have it very easy in its fledgling years.  Persecution from the Jews and Romans was intense.  The people were forced to meet in secret so as not to be arrested.  And quite frankly, all this church stuff was new to them.

These were mostly common people – fishermen, tradesmen, definitely not priests or synagogue leaders.  Using Jesus as their guide and example, they were pretty much making things up as they went along.  And the learning curve was steep, with trial and error.

But in those early stages, the leaders of this new faith made a decision and took a step that we still follow to this day.  Please listen and follow along to the Apostle Luke’s account of a very important policy instituted by the early church, as recorded in verses 1 through 8 of the 6th chapter of Luke’s Book of the Acts of the Apostles, and I’ll be reading from the Contemporary English Version of our Holy Bible this morning…

1 A lot of people were now becoming followers of the Lord. But some of the ones who spoke Greek started complaining about the ones who spoke Aramaic. They complained that the Greek-speaking widows were not given their share when the food supplies were handed out each day.

2 The twelve apostles called the whole group of followers together and said, “We should not give up preaching God's message in order to serve at tables. 3 My friends, choose seven men who are respected and wise and filled with God's Spirit. We will put them in charge of these things. 4 We can spend our time praying and serving God by preaching.”

5 This suggestion pleased everyone, and they began by choosing Stephen. He had great faith and was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and also Nicolaus, who worshiped with the Jewish people in Antioch. 6 These men were brought to the apostles. Then the apostles prayed and placed their hands on the men to show they had been chosen to do this work. 7 God's message spread, and many more people in Jerusalem became followers. Even a large number of priests put their faith in the Lord.

8 And God gave Stephen the power to work great miracles and wonders among the people.

--Acts 6:1-8 (CEV)

Let us pray…  Heavenly Father, You have chosen from among Your creation, certain men and women to believe in and follow Your Son Jesus as their Lord and Master.  And some of these You have called to a higher purpose and role within Your Son’s church.  Thank You, Father, for choosing us and adopting us as Your own children.  And thank You for calling those to lead our church.  But Father, we’re all human, with human frailties, and sometimes we just aren’t good leaders or followers.  Please forgive us these times, Father.  Help those of us who serve in roles of responsibility to do what is right in Your eyes, and help us all support each other in our faith and in our ministries.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit within us and better grasp the message You have for us this day.  Please keep us strong in our faith, of one mind and one purpose in our love, our worship, and our service.  And please keep us healthy and safe through these trying time.  This we pray in the precious name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.

A. T. Pierson, in his book The Truth, describes service as being  “Whatever is done for God..., and only that is service.  Service is ... doing the will of God.  He is the object.  All is for Him, for His sake, as unto the Lord, not as unto man. Even the humblest act of the humblest disciple acquires a certain divine quality by its being done with reference to Him.

The supreme test of service is this: ‘For whom am I doing this?’  Much that we call service to Christ is not such at all. ... If we are doing this for Christ, we shall not care for human reward or even recognition.  Our work must again be tested by three propositions: Is it work from God, as given us to do from Him?  Is it work for God, as finding in Him its secret of power?  And is it work with God, as only a part of His work in which we engage as co-workers with Him?”

Mr. Pierson points out what I have mentioned many times, that our good works must not be in hopes or expectation of any personal reward or recognition.  This is what Jesus meant when He said, “when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing”.  And He demonstrated this practice early in His ministry, when He would instruct people He healed not to tell anyone about it.

Our good deeds should be done for God and His glory, and not for us.  But you know, when we do good works, it really makes us feel good doesn’t it?  Some even say it does more good for the giver than the receiver.  Which fulfills the promise that it is more blessed to give than to receive.  So let’s be sure to follow Mr. Pierson’s guidelines when doing our charitable deeds.

In our scripture reading this morning, the twelve apostles decided to make a division of responsibilities within the early church.  Seven men were chosen from among the disciples and tasked with seeing to the physical needs of the church and the community, while the apostles kept their focus on praying and preaching.  This, in effect, is where our church roles of Elder and Deacon originated.  Elders are responsible for the spiritual needs of the church, and Deacons are charged with attending to its physical needs.

It’s important to note that these men were chosen by their peers to serve as the original Deacons, just as we choose from among ourselves those who will serve that role in our church.  But each of these people, Elders and Deacons and all the disciples, are called by God to their tasks, called to service by the Almighty Himself.  They were called before they were chosen.

And the thing is, we are all called to serve, not just those elected as officers of our church family.  The Apostle Peter tells us we are called as a holy priesthood.  Hear the words Peter wrote to the early church in the 2nd chapter of his 1st letter, from verses 4 and 5…

4 Come to Jesus Christ. He is the living stone people have rejected, but which God has chosen and highly honored. 5 And now you are living stones being used to build a spiritual house. You are also a group of holy priests, and with the help of Jesus Christ you will offer sacrifices that please God.

--1 Peter 2:4-5 (CEV)

We also are highly honored to be called and chosen to be living stones used to build the spiritual house that is the church, the body of Jesus Christ.  And with our Lord’s help, we will offer sacrifices in service to God that please Him.  We are God’s servants now, just as Jesus was.  Remember that at the Last Supper, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, showing Himself to be a servant of the One who sent Him.

Now those sacrifices won’t be of the Old Testament type – not sacrifices of grain or fruit or blood.  The Apostle Paul, in the 12th chapter of his letter to the Romans, verses 1 and 2, tells us what our sacrifice should be…

1 Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to Him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That's the most sensible way to serve God. 2 Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to Him.

--Romans 12:1-2 (CEV)

We are called to make of ourselves a living sacrifice in service to God.  And according to the author of the Letter to the Hebrews, in the 10th chapter verses 24 and 25 of his letter to the early church, we serve God by serving others…

24 We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things. 25 Some people have given up the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer.

--Hebrews 10:24-25 (CEV)

Jesus served His Father God by serving others, by giving of Himself for others, and by His sacrifice, He served all of mankind.  We’re not asked to die in our service, but to continue living as we sacrifice our time and resources and abilities in service to others, service that is pleasing and acceptable to God.

In just a few moments, we will be coming together at our Lord’s table to take of the elements of His body and blood.  The Apostle Paul cautions us not to come to this table until we are right with God.  So if any of us is harboring a personal sin that we know displeases our Father God, let us take the next few minutes to lay our sin at the feet of our Lord and seek forgiveness.  In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord, the Son of God, who gave His all for us.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Almighty God, thank You for choosing us to believe in Your Son Jesus, and thank You for calling us to serve Him as we walk through this life.  You gave us the faith to believe, and by our service to others we give our thanks for so great a gift.  Father, we admit that sometimes we hesitate to serve.  Sometimes we’re just too weary, too beaten down by the world, too afraid of where our service might require us to go.  Please forgive us those times, dear Father.  Please help us be more like Jesus.  Help us show Your love to others by giving of ourselves, giving of our love freely, unconditionally, sacrificially, just as Jesus gave of Himself for us.  And please help us share our Lord Jesus with others so that they too may be saved by Your mercy and His sacrifice.  

Father, please shield us from Satan as he attacks our faith, trying to make us his own.  Help us be better servants, glorifying You in all we do so that the world can see You in us, through our deeds, in how we live.  And help us remain strong, faithful, and true to You in all things, no matter what comes our way.

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You through Your Spirit within us, promising to be more obedient to Your commands, and seeking Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, You set the example for us to follow.  And by bearing Your name, we are in effect Your ambassadors, Your representatives in this age.  Please help us represent You well.  Thank You for showing us what true service to God looks like.   Please help us, dear Lord - help us be more like You.  Help us love all others, even those who hate us and wish us harm.  Help us reach out to the non-believing world, sharing the Gospel message, showing Your love through our love.  Give us the words to say, show us the deeds to do to lead the lost to You.

And Jesus, please shield our minds and our hearts from Satan’s lies and the world’s empty promises.  Guide us around all the devil’s traps and snares.  Help us see though his temptations.  Help us keep our focus on the things of heaven and the needs of others rather than on anything this world might offer.  This we pray in Your blessed name, Christ Jesus our Lord and our Savior.  Amen