Thank you for taking the time to listen to one of the recent sermons preached at Wilton Baptist Church. It is our desire as a church to strive together in building a faith, family, and future that honors and glorifies our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If we can be a help to you in any way, please visit our website at wiltonbaptistchurch.com. Thank you for that good song today. 1 Timothy chapter 3 and also Acts chapter 6 in your copy of scripture today. It's good to see everyone here this morning. and thank you for the good singing, good congregational singing, choir, that was terrific, good song just now. The youth group, the teenagers, they had a terrific event on Friday, and I encourage parents, get your teenagers in youth group. I think teenagers should be in there. They learn a lot of good things, and they took gifts and tried to encourage some veterans on Friday. They went to different people's houses and that's a great service activity and so that was a good youth event and so parents get them involved in stuff like that and help them know how to serve. and how to encourage others. And so we're thankful for the youth group and for the ministry of the vets and all those helping with Sunday school and the teen SWAT youth program. Those are good events. I know I learned a lot in those things when I was a young person as well. 1 Timothy 3 and also Acts 6. I got a few questions for you as we start. How many of you, you don't have to raise your hand for this, but how many of you are extremely, uber, successful in life. I mean, you have success just coursing through your body. Everything you touch turns to gold. How many of us from the worldly aspect or perspective would say, I am a standout person. I am ultra successful. Any 4.0s in high school? Don't raise your hand. I wasn't a 4.0. especially not in English. I do really bad with that. How about this? Anyone voted most likely to succeed in high school? You know, you got your mug shots, and it's in the yearbook. Most likely to succeed, and tie it all over. Anybody like that? You don't have to raise your hand if you did. How about Perfect health, no problems in life, everything has been a breeze from the time of my birth, no problems at all. I've just been so successful like that. Anyone here, an executive? With hundreds of people working for you, the world would say, wow, that's a successful person. Any five-star generals? Any five-star generals here today? How about this? Any sailors who became admirals? Anybody? Okay. How are you when it comes to success? Maybe you're here, no debt, and have millions of dollars in the bank. The world would say, what a success. How about beauty queens? I have two aunts who are beauty queens, and I have a cousin in high school. We went to school together. She was a beauty queen. The world would say, look at these people. What a success they are. Brother Bill and I were in Japan traveling. and we got on the airplane. We saw somebody checking in at the airport, and it was Miss Canada. Miss Canada. We talked to Miss Canada. We tried to talk to her about the gospel. It was hard to talk. She spoke mostly French. She was from a French-speaking part of Canada. Is anyone here a game show winner? Anyone like that? People say, wow, you're a success. I have good news for you. If you are any of those above or anything that the world says is successful, here's some good news. God can use you too. God's not looking for what the world says is overachievers or ultra successful in life. God is looking for willing and humble people. What if our church bulletin said this? It wouldn't say this, but what if there was an announcement in our church bulletin that said, it's come to the attention of church leaders that many of our members in our church feel that their needs are being neglected. In order to care for these members, the leadership has approved the position of deacon. The candidate must fill a position, and they must have this, a great personality, a college education, and a 15-passenger van. For more information about the requirements of this position, contact I Am Kidding. Yeah, I Am Kidding about that. The world says, what is success? That's what we need in positions perhaps of leadership, but Jesus says we need those who are serving. Of course, that announcement would not come in any church bulletin. Notice our passage here, 1 Timothy 3. And we'll look at verse 13. Right in the end of this description of the qualifications of a deacon, we have this verse. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchased to themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. Look at our text in Acts chapter six, verse three. Here's the model for the deacons and those who were serving. These are the first deacons. They were not formalized, but these people saw a need. Some people felt neglected, and these men stepped up to be servants and to serve tables In Acts 6, verse 3, wherefore brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. We're gonna look at this idea of a reputable man, a reputable man. Every Christian man should have a good reputation in their home, in their church and in their community. And here they were looking for men of honest report. They had a reputation. They were known like that. And then back in our text in 1 Timothy 3, we have this phrase in verse 13 that they're using the office of a deacon well purchased to themselves a good degree. For they that have used the office of a deacon well, the word deacon is the Greek word which means minister or minister and so it means deacon, ministering, serving in an office. It could be used this way. In this sentence here about the person who's serving in a well, he's using the position well, the office well, that he's deaconizing well. You could actually say that. He's deaconizing well. He is serving Well, notice how it says a good degree. Here the word is used for good degree. It's found nowhere else in the New Testament. It means a step, like as a stair. Here's a small staircase. Here's kind of going up a stair or climbing up a ladder. That's the idea with this. going up higher, taking an additional step of dignity or honor or standing. As far as this word is concerned, it may mean either an advance in office as in dignity or respectability or influence, but it doesn't It cannot certainly be inferred that the apostle referred to like a higher grade of office or something like that, but in the eyes of the people, a higher degree, a greater estimation is the idea with this, perhaps a greater influence or respectability even within the church. That's what this has to do with in this verse. Now, just make a note, there are no big men in church. There are no big men in church. The highest office is that of the pastor, but he's not a big man. Matthew 20 verses 27 and 28, Jesus said, whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant. Even as the son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many. Remember the word deacon, diakonos, it means a servant. The first deacons were appointed by the apostles in a church to be assistants to the apostles. In a church today, deacons relieve the pastor of the task so that they can concentrate, the pastors can concentrate on prayer and the ministry of the word of God. That's why all falls out in the next few verses there in Acts chapter six. Now, even though deacons are not given the position or authority of the elders, pastor, elders, those are terms that are in Bishop, those are terms that are used in the Bible describing a pastor, they certainly meet very similar qualifications, and there's qualifications for them as well, for the deacons just like the pastors. So we'll be looking at those qualifications throughout the rest of the message. Now, think about reputation for just a moment. Reputation. is what other people think about us. They knew these people because of their reputation. How the other people knew them, that's how they were able to put them into these offices as being deacons. Character is different than reputation. Character is who you really are. It could be described that character is who you are when no one else is looking. Reputation is what everyone else believes you to be because they're looking at your life. Character is what's on the inside, and that's what you really are. I think and I believe that our reputation really should match our character. Doesn't that make sense? Our character and our reputation should be closely aligned. Thomas Paine said during the American Revolutionary War about reputation, he said, reputation is what men and women think of us, character is what God and the angels know of us. There's an old Chinese proverb that goes like this, avoid suspicion. Here's how you avoid suspicion. When you're walking through your neighbor's melon patch, don't tie your shoe. I like that. Don't give a false impression there. Last day, Pascal said, do you wish people to think well of you? Don't speak well of yourself. And Benjamin Franklin said that glass, China, and reputation are easily cracked and never well-mended. good statement, a thoughtful statement for sure. So we're going to consider being a man for God, and whether God calls you to be a deacon or to be a pastor or to be a missionary, all of us as men, and ladies, you as Christian ladies, all of us should be advancing in Christ and advancing with and for The gospel. I encourage you today with this idea, a godly reputation may be promoted by God. Because that's the idea of this verse in 1 Timothy and also in Acts chapter 6. You can have a growing and a glowing reputation. It's possible. Whether God calls you to be a deacon, man, or not, or to be a pastor or not, all of us should have a growing and a glowing reputation, and again, it starts with the character, who you really are. Some people play games with this. We're not talking about that. You can have a genuine, growing walk with God that is reflected for everyone else to see. Henry Ford was very insightful when he said, you can't build a reputation on what you're going to do. Who are you and what are you doing today in advancing with the gospel and in advancing in your walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. So examine your character as we go through these verses today to ensure that the reputation that you have is real. So what does a Christian man look like? Part two, our message today, a reputable man. Notice number one, he is a proven man. a proven man. Now, a deacon or a Christian, we should have these qualities in our life, and especially those who are deacons, I think we could say this, a deacon should be a good Christian. A deacon who is filling his office should be a good Christian. Now, look at these verses, if you would, that describe the deacon, beginning in verse eight. Likewise, must the deacons be brave, not double-tongued, not giving too much wine, not greedy a filthy lucre, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience, let these also first be proved, to be proved." And so, a proven man. He's consistent in the basics. He's a good Christian. Now, as it keeps going here in verse 10, then, "...let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless." Aren't you glad the word blameless is not the same as the word sinless? We're all sinners, and even those Christians among us, we are all sinners, and Christians, you're just a saved sinner. But God says that even though you will still sin, you can confess that to God and have a right relationship, restored relationship with God, you could live a blameless life. Do be blameless. So let's consider consistent man, consistent in basics. Notice in chapter 1, Paul's writing to Timothy. Timothy's a young preacher, and he's giving him things that the church should know, that people should know whether they're deacons or not. These are some great overviews of the Christian man, and a Christian woman should have these characteristics as well. Notice in verse 15, to be humble. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation. that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." The apostle Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus. His life was changed, he got saved, he trusted the Lord. God changed his name from Saul to Paul, and he became a great preacher of the gospel. And he navigated throughout the world at the time, and was sharing the gospel, and planting churches, and writing letters, and those letters are the letters that we're reading right now. in the New Testament. And he was used of God in great ways to see whole continents shook with the gospel of Jesus Christ. And he said, I'm the chief of all sinners. What humility, what humility, I'm doing a service for God. Whatever we do, we must have humility in our lives. A basic in a Christian life is humility. We also should hold on to the faith. Verse 19, holding faith. and a good conscience, which some, having put away concerning faith, have made shipwreck." And then he cites a couple people who had some wrong doctrine and wrong ideas about church and about ministry and about the Bible in the next verse. We need to hold on to faith. Hold on to the faith and know what the Bible teaches and hold on to it. Don't let go. Just keep holding on. We need to be people of prayer, chapter two, verse eight. I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting. Now in some groups today, they'll emphasize holding up your hands, but the emphasis is holding up holy hands to the Lord. We need to examine our lives more than just waving a hand through the air. We need to have times where we're praying with, it's just me and God and Lord, I'm confessing my wrong and my guilt and I'm praying to you and I'm seeking you and I'm petitioning you for these requests that you have, that I can give to you that you would answer these prayers. Do you pray with fervency like that? How about to be an example, we'll skip chapter three, we'll come back to it in just a moment. Chapter four, verse 12. Here's another characteristic of a good Christian. He has to be an example. Let no man despise thy youth. Timothy was a young man. Timothy was a young preacher. And Paul said, don't let anyone despise your youth, but be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith. and in purity. And so by being a good example, let no man despise your youth, and that's good for all of us, that we would be a good example to those around us and those that would follow us. How about to have evident spiritual growth in our life? 4, verse 15, neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy with laying on the hands of the presbytery. Verse 15, meditate upon these things, give thyself wholly to them that thy profiting may appear to all. have evident spiritual growth. So when I read the Bible, when I serve the Lord, when I'm being faithful to be the Christian that God wants for me to be, it's evident to those around us. Kind of like the idea of being a good example. How about respecting leaders? Chapter five, verse one. Notice, rebuke not an elder. The elder, again, is an overseer, the pastor, and the bishop. Those are synonymous terms. In the Baptist church, we use the term pastor. We don't use the term elder. where bishops, some people use those terms, we use the word pastor, but here it's a Bible term. Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father and the younger men as brethren. I think it's a great statement that every man should have his own Paul, someone he's learning from, and every man should have his own Timothy, somebody that he's discipling in the faith and bringing along in the faith. I encourage you men and ladies, the next verse addresses you, the elder women as mothers, the younger as sisters with all purity, and it talks about teaching one another, and it talks about the ladies there as well. So all of us should have a Paul, someone we're looking to for our example, and then someone that we are discipling as well, like a young Timothy. Timothy. And when it comes to respecting leaders, lost people hate preachers. They don't care for Christians. A lot of times you'll see that sometimes in the media. Maybe you've experienced that in the workplace and people are unkind to you because you love the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, I've had and people close the door in my face or yell at me. Maybe you've had that as well. Sometimes people threaten you and things like that, especially if they know that you're a pastor. Now, sometimes it's an open door, but not always it is. Well, you can expect that from the world. Jesus said to expect that from the world. But in the church, there must be this type of respect that goes on that he's describing in these verses. Christians do not use shame or anger or manipulation, guilt trips on the leaders, respect the leaders. How about this? To provide for his family. This is a basic duty. Chapter 5, verse 8. If any man provide not for his own, any man, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." That's some really strong language that would describe a man who's not taking care of his family. Generally, when we think about this, we think about a man has a job, he has an income, he's providing food, shelter, clothing, he's giving what is needed to his family, and that's true. A man should work, he should provide, he should give what's needed to his family and make sure those things are there. Spiritually speaking, he should provide spiritual guidance and direction. Those things are part of the provision that a man can offer as well. And so he provides for his family a basic duty. How about then to be content? Chapter 6, verses 6 through 8, but godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, it is certain we can carry nothing out, and having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. To be content, this is a Christian quality, not just for a deacon, but for any man who loves Jesus, for any woman who loves Jesus, to be content. How about to follow what is right? Chapter six, verse 11. But thou, O man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness, fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called and has professed a good profession before many witnesses." It's believed that profession was when Timothy was baptized, and if you've been saved, you should follow the Lord and believe it was baptism. It's a great profession to all those who are witnesses that you've trusted in Christ. The water doesn't save you, the baptism doesn't save you, but it It demonstrates the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It lets others know about it. And so to follow that which is right. And then we could just say to do good. Chapter 6, verse 18, and he's speaking about those who have riches in this world and want to do right with the riches and the blessings God has given, that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate. A deacon in all Christian men should be good Christian men. These are just some basics that Paul tells Timothy in the middle of him teaching about how to serve the local church. And so a deacon should have these qualities as well. A Christian man should have these qualities as well. A deacon should have good practice. Now we'll go back to chapter 3. 1 Timothy 3, and we'll be looking at the verses that we read just moments ago, verses 8 through 13. Notice the word grave. This has to do with people interaction, the next couple ideas. Grave. A deacon should be worthy of respect. a man of Christian character worth imitating. A deacon's taking his responsibility serious. He doesn't just fill an office, he uses the office well. He's not double-tongued, the second part of verse 8. He does not tell tales from house to house. He does not gossip. He does not say one thing to one member and an entirely opposite thing to another member. You can depend on what he says. Have you ever had that happen to you? One person says one thing, another person the other? That drives me nuts when it happens. You can never find out what's the real story or what's really going on. And some people will do that. Not double tongue, that's what it's talking about. People interaction. How about personal discipline? The next phrase, not given too much wine, verse 8, the third part of that verse. How much is too much if I've never had any alcohol? Did you know, did you know, every addiction starts with at least the first time. You can't say otherwise. I mean, it starts somewhere. So, he's not given too much wine. How about this, not greedy a filthy lucre. the fourth part of verse 8, deacons handle offerings and distribute money to needy people in a church. It may be tempting to steal or use funds in selfish ways. Finance committees and churches must have a spiritual attitude toward money. And I'm blessed over the years as I've been a pastor here, over eight years now, I've been blessed to see our deacons handle money in very good ways and give and distribute and help other people in Great need, they're very generous and I'm thankful for that. It's a spiritual discipline. How about the practice, the practical doctrine? It must be practically or doctrinally sound. In verse 9, this phrase mystery, this word mystery means a truth once hidden, but now revealed by God. And this verse is speaking about the great doctrines of the faith. They're hidden to those outside of the faith. A person without Christ in them, they've not been saved. They read some Bible verses and it may not make much sense to them. But if you've been saved, God has enlightened your spirit and he can guide you unto the truth. He'll show you the truth. He'll help you understand the truth. And so, men must be doctrinally sound. Deacons must understand Christian doctrine and obey it with a good conscience. It's not enough to sit in meetings and decide how to, quote, run the church. They base their decisions on the Word of God. What an important truth this is. Also in verse 10, notice how they're proved. They're tested and proved. This implies that people are watching their lives. People are looking at their lives. They're seeing what they're doing, how they conduct themselves. And most churches, maybe a new member or a new Christian may begin serving God by going out on visitation or ushering. or assisting in Sunday school, maybe taking attendance in Sunday school. But a new Christian, we wouldn't say, become the teacher of the class. We wouldn't say, you're a brand new Christian, go do this Bible study over here and lead this group. Nor would we say to a brand new Christian or someone brand new to the church, we think you should be a deacon. We have to be very careful. There must be time tested and proved, like this passage says. Now, the Bible tells us about a principle in Matthew 25, 21, Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things. So, if you're newly saved or new to the church, find ways to serve, find ways to minister. Maybe you can grow into these positions. You could go up, if you would, in these opportunities. One person wrote about this, it always weakens the testimony of a church when a member who has not been proven is made an officer of the church. Maybe Jim will attend more church if we make him a deacon. It's a statement that shows ignorance both of Jim and of the Word of God. An untested Christian is an unprepared Christian. An untested Christian is an unprepared Christian. He will probably do more harm than good if you give him an office in the church. Next, verses 11 and 12, godly homes. The deacon's wife is mentioned, and is part of his ministry, because godliness begins at home. The deacons must not be men who have been divorced and remarried. That's part of this as well. Notice in this passage, even so must their wives be grave, not slanderous, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of, it's singular, one wife. Here's a passage for you, write it down. This isn't my idea, and I'm not saying it out of unkindness, just out of being, being biblically accurate, Luke 16, verse 18. Whosoever, this is what Jesus said, whosoever putteth away his wife and marrieth another, commiteth adultery. And whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband, commiteth adultery. The same would be true for the pastor as well as the deacon. The phrase means a one-woman man. We covered this last week in our message that, of course, the pastor and deacon, they are all masculine in the scripture. It should be a man. And so he's a one-woman man. What about his wife then? The deacon's wife must be a Christian. A Christian woman who is serious about the ministry, not given to slanderous talk. This phrase has to do with not devilish talking, slandering, false accusing, things such as this. That's what the term means. Must be faithful in all that she does. And this is important, the ministry starts at home. Whether you're a Christian man, a deacon, or a pastor, ministry begins in your home. No matter if you hold any office. within a church. And so what an important truth that is. And then finally, a willingness to work. Notice he is in verse 13, to use the office, not just to fill it. A deacon should have a good disposition. The right position is good, but it must be communicated with the right disposition. It's been said before, I've heard preachers say this in different meetings and places, that sometimes we'll have the right position. We'll be right, we'll know what the Bible says, but we'll be unkind about it or be mean about it. That's the wrong disposition to have. We should have the right position with the right disposition. If you've served in ministry, anyone who ever serves in ministry finds this out quickly, you've got to be nice to people. You gotta be nice to people. When you're serving people, you just gotta be nice. You gotta be kind one to another, just like the scripture tells us. If you're a teacher, a pastor, a deacon, an usher, a nursery person, a kid's life person, if you're going out visiting people, you gotta be nice, even if you're right. Sometimes it's not a matter about who's right or wrong. It's a matter of being kind one to another, in the spirit with which we do what God's called us to do. a good disposition. Here's the example, 1 Thessalonians 2, verse 7 and 8. We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children. So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you not the gospel of God only, but our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. Paul was saying, when I come to you and when I serve you, I think you noticed this, I care for you like a brand new mother, a nursing mother cherishing, caring for, very gentle with her little baby. Isn't that a beautiful picture when you see a mother with her baby? It's beautiful. They care, they nurture, and that's how we serve. That's how we serve. Now, there's always potential for misunderstandings. You can be the nicest person in the world, there'll still be misunderstandings. Well, why do you say that? Because James tells us that. In James 3, verse 2, There's gonna be times when we misunderstand one another, or when you and your relationships and interaction with one another will misunderstand, and that will happen. But it shouldn't be because, well, he was just unkind or arrogant or proud or something like that. I mean, just even in messages or in your interaction with one another, just talking, there's that potential because we're talking that something's going to be misunderstood or misconstrued. May God help us to have the right disposition with whatever we're doing. John Watson, that man, when he was a young boy, he loved to see the procession of deacons at the administration of the Lord's Supper. He watched the men come down, they distribute the elements, and he would just kind of watch with his eyes wide open, watching these men hand out the elements at the Lord's Supper. And one man with very white hair had a meek and reverent face, especially interested in him. And he would watch him each time during the Lord's Supper. And one day he was walking down the road and he passed a man breaking stones along the road. I don't know if the man was working on fences, you know, the old stone fences, I'm not sure, but he was breaking these stones along the road. And he kept looking at the man and he was surprised, he noticed that it was the deacon. It was the same deacon who had watched hand out the elements during the communion service at the church. full of curiosity and surprise, the boy went back to his father and he told him, I saw the deacon! And he told him what he was doing along the road, and his father explained to him the reason why the old man was held in such high esteem in the church. Even though he was one of the poorest men in town, he said he's one of the holiest. James, he said, he breaks stones for a living, but he knows more about God than any person I've ever met. What a good quality. What a good way to be known. What a reputation to hold. A proven man. How about a personal man? Caring in character. Verse 13. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchased to themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. The word degree, this Greek word translated degree means rank, like in an army or a base. It has to do with stepping up a rung on a ladder. And what an encouragement to a man who may be a deacon. God can promote him spiritually and give even more respect among the saints, which means greater opportunity for ministry. One person wrote, the faithful deacon has a good standing before God and men and can be used of God to build the church. He has a spiritual boldness that makes for effective ministry. Certainly a part of this blessing could be the possibility of a spiritual promotion. And it is true that sometimes deacons go on to become pastors and missionaries and preachers. When the model deacon's administration is assessed, his advancement is assured. One person stated, we see such an advancement in life of a man named Stephen. That's the man we looked at last time. And a man named Philip. Look back in Acts chapter six, if you would. Here's our first example, the model that we're looking at, chapter 6, verse 5. So the apostles, they were the church filling the pulpit, they were preaching at that first Jerusalem church. They had thousands of people. It was a church that had been going through growing pains. They had 3,000 people saved in one day and baptized. Could you imagine that baptism service? They had a lot of difficulty. And so, notice what happens there in verse 5. They said, we need some help, so they appointed some people to be deacons. The same pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost. The rest of chapter 6 and chapter 7 kind of zooms in on the life of Stephen. And then we have the list of the other deacons, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Icanor, and Timon and Parmenes and Nicholas, a proselyte of Antioch. Now, Stephen is one of those who became a deacon. He was a faithful Christian man. He became a deacon. and then he advanced and did other things. Stephen went on to become the first martyr. You might say, well, I don't know, I don't want to be the first martyr. He went on, his advancement was to deliver a gospel message that Paul, before he was Paul, Saul got to hear. And it was a life-changing thing. Stephen was the first martyr. He discharged the duties of waiting on tables, and then he advanced to go on to do other things. And he was mighty in his passage in word and Then we read, "...there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines and Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and of them of Sicilia and Asia, disputing with Stephen." It's interesting that Sicilia is mentioned here because Saul of Tarsus is one of those who perhaps was debating him because that was from the region that Saul was from. So Paul had first-hand knowledge of the Spirit of God working through a man of God, and that man's name was Stephen. The people there were unable to silence Stephen in debate. The enemies of the gospel decided they had to silence him, so they couldn't debate with him. So, really, in a confession of defeat, they said, we've got to kill him, we've got to get rid of him. And so they picked up stones, and they stoned Stephen to death. And one of those men holding the coats, perhaps one of those who started to instigate that, was Saul, who eventually became the Apostle Paul, who wrote who the deacons should be in 1 Timothy 3. So Stephen's our first example who advanced. And then the other deacon would be Philip. Philip has advanced as well. While Stephen was the first martyr, you may not know this, Philip was the first missionary. He was the first missionary. Now, the Great Commission had been given by the Lord Jesus Christ. He said in Acts 1.8, "...ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth." To this point in the history of the book of Acts, the gospel had only been going around regionally, in Jerusalem and in Galilee. But no one had yet taken the next step to Samaria, nor to the outermost parts of the earth. The first man who left Jerusalem as a missionary was that deacon, Philip, and he went to Samaria. And he preached the gospel there. And he told people about the Lord Jesus Christ there. Philip went down to Samaria in Acts chapter 8 and preached Christ unto them. He was the first one to take that call to Samaria, part of this missionary agenda, very seriously. And after Stephen's example, now after Philip's example, the gospel then explodes and goes all around. the world, because after these two deacons did what they did, and the gift of preaching and teaching that they had, their spiritual gift, then all of a sudden the apostles said, you know what, these guys are right, and they started to go around the world preaching Christ. Later on, you know, the Ethiopian eunuch, God uses Philip to lead him to Christ, and he becomes a well-known evangelist. Folks, not every man will become a deacon. Not every deacon will become a pastor. But there are some Christian men here today that God may be calling you to be not only a better Christian man, fulfilling some of those basics that we talked about, but God may call you to be a deacon. There are some others here today, even young men included. God may be calling you to be a missionary or to be a preacher or to be an assistant pastor somewhere. God could do that today. You see, every man, every man, every one of you today, if you're should be advancing in some way with Jesus Christ and with his gospel. All of us should be taking whatever that next step up is that God wants us to take. Every one of us. Ladies, you should be advancing the gospel as well. You should be growing in Christ just as much. Of course, the message is mostly directed to the men. A proven man consistent in basics, a personal man carrying the character. How about a patient man committed in challenges? Back in our passage again, 1 Timothy 3 verse 15. Paul was hoping to come and see Timothy in person. But he says, if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and the ground of the truth. A patient man is committed in challenges. He knows how to behave in the house of God. By the way, we're the temple of the living God. When it comes to personal behavior, your temple, that's where God is. When it comes to public behavior, in the church and with other people, We need to know how to behave in the house of the living God. He also knows how to believe, or knows what to believe, rather. And notice how the church is described as the pillar and the ground of the truth, structurally sound and foundationally solid. So, ladies and gentlemen today, consider this a reputable man. One final story. There's an old preacher who was met by one of his deacons whose face wore a very resolute expression. I came early to meet you, he said. I have something on my conscience to say to you. Pastor, there must be something radically wrong with your preaching and work. There's been only one person added to the church in a whole year, and he is only a boy. The old minister listened, his eyes moistened, his thin hand trembling. on a cane. I feel it all. He said, I feel it, but God knows I have tried to do my duty and I can trust him for the results. Yes, yes, said the deacon, but by their fruits ye shall know them. And one member, and he too only a boy, seems to me rather a slight evidence of true faith and zeal. I don't want to be hard, but I have this matter on my conscience and I have done my duty to speak plainly. Cruz said the old pastor, but charity suffers long in his kind, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things. Aye, there you have it, hopeth all things. I have hope, great hopes for that one boy named Robert. Some seed that we sow bears fruit late, but fruit that is generally the most precious of all is the fruit that's born late. The old minister went to the pope of that day with a grieved and heavy heart. He closed his discourse with a dim and tearful eye. He wished that his work was done forever, that he was at rest among the graves outside of the old churchyard. He lingered after the rest were gone. He wished to be alone. The place was inexpressibly dear to him. It had been his spiritual home from his youth. Before this altar, he had prayed over and over again. And in this moment, he was praying, but it seemed like his work was no longer blessed. But one boy remained. One stayed. His name was Robert. He was watching the trembling old preacher. His soul was filled with loving sympathy as he went up to the preacher and he waited for him to speak. Well, Robert said to the minister, do you think that if I were to work hard for an education, I could ever become a preacher? That's what Robert said. A preacher? Perhaps a missionary? There was a long pause. Tears fill the eyes of the old minister. At length he said, this heals the ache in my heart, Robert. I see God's divine hand now. May God bless you, my boy. Yes, I think you will become a preacher. Many years later, many years later, they returned to London from Africa, an aged missionary. His name was spoken with reverence. And when he went into an assembly, people would rise. When he spoke in public, there was a deep silence. Nobles invited him to their homes. He had brought under the gospel influence all these different African tribes and chiefs and had even translated the Bible into strange languages. His name was Robert Moffat. He touched a whole continent with the gospel. Who would God call from here? How can God use you to impact the next people that would be following us? God may call a man here who is qualified and proven biblically to use the office of a deacon. God may even call a deacon to become a preacher. Every man should be available to serve and even accept the next step up the ladder if God called him to take that next step, folks, all of us. should be advancing. Whether it's in a titled position or not, all of us should be advancing in our faith and ministry and service to the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's bow together in prayer. Thank you for your good participation in the service. Examine your character to ensure that the reputation is real. To be a reputable man, proven man, consistent in basics, a personal man, caring in character, and a patient man, committed in challenges." Maybe you say, Pastor Harness, I see the need for a growing and a glowing reputation that honors the Lord. I see the need for that. That's how they found these men, was by their reputation. God has challenged me that I would have a reputation that honors the Lord Jesus Christ, men or women alike. May God give me a reputation that honors my Savior. Anyone God's challenged you with that, just raise your hand. God bless you. Good. Several hands. Are there others? Good. Good. People look at you and you may be the only Jesus they ever see. How about this? Would you examine your character? Would your character, who you really are, match your current reputation? It should be better even than a reputation. Examine your character today. Take a moment with God and consider that. And then there's many friends here today, and you heard us speak about the gospel, the death, burial, and resurrection, and how a person becomes a Christian not by religious exercises or practices or baptisms or things such as that, but a person becomes a Christian by placing their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, by expressing to God belief in Jesus alone. and believe in His finished work on the cross. Maybe you say, Pastor Harness, God has challenged me about that. I don't know for sure that I'm saved. I do not know for sure that my sins are forgiven, but I would like to know more about salvation today. Is there anyone like that? No one's looking around, just a personal time. I would like to know more about salvation. Just raise your hand. I want to pray with you today. Anyone at all? All right, thank you. Is there anyone else? All right. However God's working in your life, we invite you to respond. Would you please stand right where you're at? The pianist is starting to play. We call this an invitation. We invite you to respond to whatever God is doing in your life. God does not look for ultra successful people as far as the world says is success. He looks for people that are willing, that are faithful, that are godly. Let's be the Christians God wants us to be. And may each of us purpose to take whatever that next step is in our walk with Christ that he wants us to take. Father, we thank you for the several verses and passages that we've looked at. We thank you for the example of Stephen and Philip, these faithful deacons who did such a great work in ministry that even advanced to be the first martyr and the first missionary. Lord, help each man here to take serious their walk with Christ, that their ministry would start at home, that they would begin to grow closer to you that their reputation would match, then also their character, that we would truly be who you want us to be. Lord, I pray you bless each lady as they also take these truths that we've looked at. And Lord, bless each home that's represented here today. Lord, we do pray for the Wilson Baptist Church and for the deacons and for their service. We thank you for them. We pray for those who are nominated for the next role and opportunity. We pray for your guidance and provision there. Lord, I ask that you bless each of these as we go from this place and bring us again to safely worship you. Thank you for meeting with us and teaching us your word today. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Thank you for being a part of our service today. Just a couple of announcements before we go. We do have one more Sunday to turn in the deacon nominations. There are some slips right out there on the table right beside the offering box. So if you would grab one of those. and just put your slip there if you have prayed about that and you have someone to nominate, put that right in the offering box and we'll make sure to get that to pastor today. We do have the budget committee tonight meeting at five o'clock. If there's a member that would like to meet with them, they'll be going over the last of the budget to make sure that everything's ready to be able to distribute next week. So if you'd like to meet with them at five o'clock, you can meet with them over here in the choir room. Right after the service, we do have the nursery workers meeting. If you're currently serving or you'd like to serve, please meet with Mrs. Harness. They're going to meet in the baby nursery, which is this far nursery back here down the hallway. So about five minutes afterwards, please gather in there. She has a few things to go over with you. Again, if you're interested in serving or you're serving currently. And then next Sunday morning, for those teenagers who help in a kid's life, please meet with Brother Jacquard over in the kid's life room next Sunday morning following the morning service That way he can go over some details with you as well. All right, I think that's it for announcements. Let's sing our closing song. What a day, glorious day that will be.