Would you turn with me please to the book of Acts, the Acts of the Apostles in chapter 6. We might read there at the beginning of the chapter, Acts chapter 6. And in those days when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration Then the Twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, that we may appoint over this business, that we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. As the Lord would enable us, we might consider especially verse three, 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." There is a tendency for us to have a low view of deacons and their work. When you think of the deacons, you think of people who, well, they'll stand in the door, they'll count the collection money, they'll see that funds are sent to appropriate bodies, they'll make sure that the payers are done to the church in the manse. That's what we tend to think when we think of the work of deacons. Because it seems something that anyone could do almost, It seems it's so easy for us to have a low view of their work, but we noticed last Sabbath that it's wrong for us to have a low view of the work of the diaconate, the work of deacons. We saw that this was a necessary work, something that must be done in the church As it is organized, and especially as the churches grew and prospered, it was necessary to have them. Quite simply for order, there had to be someone who helped look after various things. And in the passage here, you can see there was a dispute between the Greeks and the Hebrews because some widows were being neglected as money or food was being handed out. to those who were poor and unable to fend for themselves. And not only that, the apostles wanted time to give themselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. In other words, in any well-ordered congregation, there is a need for deacons to help in the work of the church. We noticed also that we should have a high view of deacons simply from the point of view that Christ is the one who appoints deacons. It's so easy for us to think, well, we're going to have an election of deacons, the people choose, and that's that. But that's not the case. We saw that Christ, the great King of the Church, organises every aspect of his kingdom, the government, The worship, the doctrine, the discipline of the church is under Christ our King. And Christ, the great King and head of the church, through the apostles, the twelve, who called a multitude, they said, we should have deacons. And they weren't just expressing their own mind. This was the will of Christ. Now, there are no longer apostles. We no longer have rules being given to the church in that sense, but this was how the Lord was working just at the beginning of the New Testament church. We saw also that Christ, the King of the church, is the one who actually calls men to this work through the vote of the people, because the people chose these seven men and the apostles ordained them and set them apart to this work by prayer. Well, does Christ, the great King of the Church, call men to this work? Unless they have a very good reason, they must not refuse the will of the King. And it means that you and I are to respect them, because their work is a Christ-appointed work. And they can't just say, I don't feel like doing it anymore. Because Christ, the King, has given them work to do. But of all, we notice that this work is a spiritual work. All we do is spiritual. It's all to be done to the glory of God. And not only that, we must remember the deacons represent Christ's ministry of mercy. Christ, the great merciful king of the church, showers his mercy and provides for his people through the work of the deacons. And that is an important work, a spiritual work, to display mercy, to help those who are in need. Perhaps I could say that counting the money and being on the door and fixing the buildings is only a very small part of the true work of deacons. Because they're especially to be involved in that work of ministering to others that these widows who were being neglected because there weren't the deacons to help minister to them. Well, they represent Christ, the great minister, who helps his people and he encourages all. He encourages all to be merciful. Because if others are caring for people, it encourages us to care as well. That leads us to a question. Who should be a deacon? Can anyone be a deacon? We're looking forward, God willing, to have an election of deacons in the next few weeks. Who should you be thinking of who may be suitable to be a deacon? Well, notice here, there are five qualifications given for us in this passage. In verse 3. I'd like us to look at them We refer also to the passage we read in 1 Timothy 3 and it shows the sort of people who are deacons. And we especially will notice that they should be men because that is something that is challenged today. But we notice five things about the deacons. First of all, we notice, deacons should be men. Notice what Paul said, what the apostles said. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report. They were men. And the word used in the original means males. Not the mankind which could mean male or female. It was males. Now, we stop and we notice Because that's something that's challenged today. You see, there are those who would turn around and say, wait a minute, we live in the 21st century. We live in a day and age where men and women do all sorts of jobs. You've got lady presidents. You've got women who are in every aspect of society and life. Why should the church be different? Surely the church is behind the times. If it doesn't utilise a wonderful army of women who support the church and help the church, doesn't it mean we're behind the times? Weren't the apostles just men of their age, influenced by the environment that they grew up in? Because these days were days when, well, I suppose women would have been kept in the background. Isn't that the case? If the Bible had been written today, surely the apostles would never have had the temerity to say, choose seven men. They would say seven people, not seven men. So they'll turn around and say, well, it's just a cultural thing. We don't have men. We only have men as leaders in the church. And then they'll turn around and see this as well. Think of Galatians 3, verse 28. There's neither Jew nor Greek, born nor free, male nor female, we're all one in Christ Jesus. In other words, all the distinctions in race, or in social standing, or in gender, whether you're male or female, a slave, a slave owner, a Greek, a Jew. It doesn't matter. We're all here today from different backgrounds. Some rich, perhaps some poor. And yet, are we not all one in Christ Jesus? Haven't all these distinctions gone? And so you find people saying, wait a minute, Surely women should be all admitted to office in the church. They can be elders, they can be preachers. And we'll get churches today that allow such things. Are we just behind the times? Others will say, there's even passages in Scripture which justify having women deacons. Phoebe, And Romans 16 was a servant of the church. Well, was she a servant of the church? The word in the original is the same as the word for deacon. A servant of the church which is at Cenchrea. Wasn't she a deacon? And then in 1 Timothy 3, doesn't it mention the deacons' wives? Well, perhaps that really should be the deaconesses. What do you and I to see? Are we wrong? Well, let's notice two things. First of all, whenever there is a dispute in understanding of Scripture, what must we do? We must go back to basic first principles. It's something difficult and hard to understand. You go back to the things which are easy to understand. You go back to basic principles and you work out from there and that will help you. What principle helps us here? Well, you look at Scripture. What do you find? You find that the Bible speak, there is a principle of male leadership and authority. Look at the Bible. And throughout the Bible you find it speaking of male leadership and authority. Don't you find that in the family? That's something people don't like today. They say that Well, the husband and wife, they are equal and we shouldn't have men dominating their wives. Well, of course, they shouldn't dominate them. But if you look at family life, you look at Scripture, what does it teach us? It teaches that the husband is to be the head of the family. It reminds us that the man is the head of the woman, even as Christ is the head of man. There's a certain order in society. And you have God, and then you can even think of Christ, not as he is God, but as he is the Savior, the Messiah. And then you can think of Christ, and then man, and then the woman. And you have this order in society. You read Ephesians 2. Husbands, love your wives. Wives, be submissive to your husbands. And what do you find? You find that it's based on the fact that Christ is the head of the church. And that just as this church is to submit to Christ as her head, you and I don't tell Christ, this is how to run the church, he tells us. And he guides us, and he leads us, and he cares for us. So, in the same way, as the church submits to Christ, wives are to submit to their husbands. But notice this. Christ is not a tyrant, is he? Isn't he a loving master? Would you want any different master? Is he not kind? Is he not loving? Is he not gracious? He's not a tyrant. He's a loving husband to his church who cares for our church's church and seeks her welfare. You husbands, our future husbands, you're not to be a tyrant. You're to be like Christ. You're to seek the welfare of your bride. You're to care. You are to be a loving leader, seeking the good of your wife, or of a future wife. And yes, you will consult with her, and you'll take her views on board. But you've got the responsibility for the decision, and God will call you to account for the various decisions you make in family life, because you are the head. But you're not a tyrant. Think of the head and the body. There are times when it's the body which sends signals to the head to warn of danger. You put your hand, part of your body, on a hot stove and burn yourself and your brain soon is told about it. And there's the wife you see, perhaps saying, are you sure that's wife? Are you sure that's the proper thing to do? Let's go back to Scripture. Let's think about things. There's communication both ways. But the man has to give the decision. And so you see, there's this God-given order. This God-given order, which in 1 Corinthians 11 is even seen today. When you come to church, you see a woman and your head is covered. And you're not doing it to make yourself look nice. It's not there to be an adornment. It is there as an expression of your humility before God, and your acknowledging of the order that God has set in society. Now friends, we need to stop and remember these things. Because we live in a day and age where feminism is rampant, and it has caused confusion among the sexes, and it is destroying families, destroying relationships. You see, what does the Bible teach? It teaches us that you women, you men, husband, wife are equal, but you're not identical. And we all know that's true. Because the men here don't want to be women, the women don't want to be men. They know they're different, but they know they're equal before God. They're not identical. Different roles. And how we should remember that And how, well, men who are weak have to be careful and remember their responsibility. And how those women who perhaps are stronger by nature, more forceful by nature, have to control themselves, that this order might be maintained. And you come to the church, and what do you find? You find there is a self-same order there. 1 Corinthians 14, 1 Timothy 2, what are we told? The women were to keep silent in the churches. That Paul would not suffer a woman to have authority in the church. What do you find? The apostles were men. The elders were men. What do you find? That in 1 Timothy 2, Paul says, he will have the males to pray. lifting up holy hands. In other words, in the public gatherings of God's people, the men were to lead in prayer. Because there was a certain authority and leadership role in leading people in prayer. And therefore the women were not to pray in public and mixed services. That's not to say they weren't to pray. Of course they were to pray. And if they're together, they're to pray. But that was the order that the apostles were setting forth. What then can we say? If you look at that principle of male leadership and authority which runs through Scripture through the whole of the New Testament, the Bible speaks of that male leadership. And therefore allowing women leaders within the church is to abandon the authority of Scripture. And those churches that allow women ministers and women leaders They have effectively, at this point, abandoned the authority of Scripture. Because how do we know how to run the church? It's not what you think. It's not what I think. It is what Christ our King has said. You see, once you begin explaining one thing as a cultural thing, everything becomes cultural. Was there really the need of sacrifice? Surely that's just cultural. And before you know it, the very wonderful gospel of salvation through the sacrifice of Christ, its abandon is a cultural thing that people don't like to hear. But friend, don't you know you're a sinner before a holy God? And don't you rejoice in the grace of God that God gave His Son? He offered Himself a sacrifice for sin. There is your hope. Why do you believe it? Because God has said it in His Word. Well, that's true for everything we do in the church. And the way you and I order our whole lives, we're never to ask the question, do I like this? Rather, it is, what sayeth the Scripture? Be guided by that, and that will keep you right. When you think of the fact that the apostles often challenged the culture of the day, how foolish it is to say this was just a cultural thing. So should deacons only be men? Well, there's a principle of male leadership and authority. The Bible speaks of male leadership. There's also this. The deaconate deacon's work involves leadership. And so it must be male. And so last week it's a spiritual work. It's not a case of counting some money, fixing some gutters in the church or putting some slates back in the roof. It is especially the work of ministering to the needs of the flock of God in their physical outward needs, showing mercy, showing help. And Christ, the great King and Head of the Church, showing His help and His love and His compassion and His mercy to His people through the church. It's a spiritual office to represent Christ, to be a public example and to be an encouragement to the people of God. You see, You're looking around and you're seeing the deacons. Perhaps they're giving something. They may be providing for, I'd say, a benevolent fund, as we would think of it today. Or you may see them going and helping someone just with some daily chores. What's that saying to you? It's saying, this is a sort of work that is appropriate for God's people as they help one another. And as they serve, as they show compassion, it's encouraging you to be compassionate also to others. That's spiritual work, to give leadership. It's interesting in verse 3, he says, the apostles say, look out men whom we may appoint over this business, over the matter. The picture isn't given of the deacons doing all the work. Rather, they were in charge of the work. They were the ones who were helping organize and superintend the work. Well, doesn't that involve authority? And therefore they were to be male. They are the principles then. What are we to make of the passages of scripture cited to suggest that women may be deacons? Well there are two passages, there's one in Romans 16 where Phoebe is described as the servant of the church at Cancria. And then we've got to remember that the word servant, which can be translated as deacon, doesn't always mean deacon and therefore it proves nothing. But there's a passage in 1 Timothy 3 where it says, we read it earlier, it says, Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderous, sober, faithful in all things. And people come around and say that should be translated as Deaconess. What do we say to that? Well, if you notice the structure of the passage, it begins by talking about the bishop, the elder. The words are interchangeable. The word bishop in the New Testament doesn't mean someone who is over other ministers in what you would have in the Episcopal or Roman system. Bishop and elder, the words are interchangeable. It's the same thing. An overseer of a congregation. And he then goes on and says, here's the qualifications for the elder, and then says, likewise must the deacons be grave. So, he's gone to talk with deacons. And then he says in verse 11, literally it is, likewise, women must be grave. So, whatever Paul is saying here in 1 Timothy, he is saying there are elders, there are deacons, and there are women. And wherever the women are, they aren't deacons because that's been dealt with already. What's he speaking of? Surely it's this. He's speaking of deacons, and he goes back to speak of deacons again. And he is conscious that there are many times when it might be inappropriate for a man to be involved in works of mercy towards, say, a lone woman. I think especially of the day and age that Paul was in. where there was very much a degree of the separation of the sexes. Well, to be discreet, what would be required would be perhaps Deacon's wives, or other godly women who would be brave, who would be sober, who would be tempted, who wouldn't be gossips, helping others. People who could quietly, discreetly help. And that seems to be what Paul is speaking of. That there were women, who may or may not have been the deacon's wives, who helped the deacons, though they did not actually have the office of deacon. And they cared for the women in their needs. Because there were these widows who had needs. What does that mean for you and I today? It means this. You and I should be a caring people. You and I have a great work to do and especially those who are discreet, godly women have a great work to do in the church. They may not have an office in the church, but they are to be loved for their godliness and to be encouraged to do what? To serve others. in a practical way, to visit others, to help with their physical needs, if they have physical needs. Maybe like doing the work of a home help, or getting some shopping, or just encouraging them. And alongside that practical support, you read the Bible to them, you pray with them. Isn't that a great work that we all can do? And especially for those who are discreet and godly, they can support the deacons in that work because they can't do all the work. And so what do you have? You have the whole church caring for one another, indeed caring for those who never go to church as well, who they know, seeking their help. Friends, It is not just for the men who are deacons to show the ministry of mercy. It is not just for the state to provide for the needs of others. We live in an age where people think the state should do this. It gives money for this. Friends, it is the church of God that should be providing for our own and showing a work of ministry to our own, caring and helping. You think of missionary situations? Don't we hear of Bible women? They've been these even in their own land. Working into houses, helping people, encouraging them with their physical needs. And yes, also praying with them. That's not just something for the mission field. That's not something for a hundred years ago. We've got housebound people. Friend, are you visiting them? isn't true religion, and undefiled before in God and the fatherless, to visit the widows and the fatherless in their afflictions, as well as keeping yourself unspotted from the world." What a great ministry of mercy we all have, and godly women have. They weren't deaconesses. We had people like Phoebe. We had people like Dorcas. Remember Dorcas? The children can read about it in Acts 10 when they go home if they haven't heard of it. But Dorcas, the one who made courts and other things, for those indeed, that's what you and I should be like. What a witness the church will be once you find that. Well, we noticed the deacons were to be male. We spent longer on that than might be thought needful, but it's because That is something that is being attacked more and more today, and you and I have to stand up against wrong views in the churches. We'll notice more briefly the four other qualifications. What are they? Secondly, deacons should be brethren. Verse 3, Wherefore brethren, look out from among you seven men. Brethren. Choose out from amongst the brethren seven men. Again, there's the point. The church is to care for our own. It wasn't the state that was to care. It was the church caring for our own, caring for those in need. What do you and I need if we're going to care for others? What do potential deacons need to be like if they're going to exercise a ministry of mercy where they need to have brotherly regard for others. They need to see themselves as brethren. And therefore love the brethren. Friends, you love the brethren. We all should. And the deacons, especially, should be people who love the brethren. You think nothing of going to help your tit and kin, do you? It might be an aged father or mother. It might be parents looking after their children. It might be a brother and sister who's in need, and you think nothing of it. Well, there are brothers that are flesh and blood. You go and you help them. It's a natural thing. It's the right thing to do. Brotherly love is appropriate. Look around you. Fellow believers, you have brethren in Christ. One in Christ. Brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Do you feel that brotherly love? Do you love the brethren because they are the loved of Christ, redeemed by Christ? You are in the same wavelength with them. You both love the Lord. You are seeking to serve the Lord. And you want to maintain that unity of the brotherhood of believers. Well, the deacons were to be brethren. Those who were literally brethren and who therefore loved the brethren. Because you see, we're more tender hearted and caring to our brethren. And surely if we're going to exercise a ministry of mercy, we need to be tender and caring and merciful. Deacons then should be known for their love of the brethren. So first of all they're male, then secondly they love the brethren. There's a third thing. Deacons should be reputable men. Men of honest report. Well think of them. Here were men who were to look after the more practical needs of the church. They would receive collections. They would distribute the money received. They were dealing with finances. They had to be trustworthy. Remember Judas? Judas who had the bag? He was the treasurer. What does the Bible tell us about Judas? Perhaps the children will remember. He was a thief. And he had the bag, as what scripture tells us. He was dipping his hand in and helping himself. Well, the deacons must not be like that. They are to be men of honest report. Trustworthy like the elders, and yet they were to be distinct from them. In 1 Timothy we read that they are to be grave. They were to be serious people. dignified people, not austere, not people you'd be frightened of, but they were to be those who were seriously minded and concerned for others. They were not to be double-tongued. You know, we meet many people who say one thing to you, and when their backs turn, they'll say the opposite. They're two-faced, they're double-tongued, they don't always say the same things. They're deceitful, they may be hypocrites. No, the deacon is to be known as someone who is straight, who is honest, who is sincere. You think, who would make a good deacon? Well, there's someone whose sincerity and honesty shines out. You can trust them, and you know they'll be discreet. They weren't to be drunkards, 1 Timothy 3. Often drunkenness and other moral problems would be associated together. Isn't it true that drink, when it's to excess, often leads to problems and sin? You go up to the hospital on a Friday night, most of the problems in A&E will be drink-related. How many problems in our society are like that? Well, deacons, they're kept from these moral problems. They're not drunkards. They're filled with the Spirit, not drunkards. And they weren't to be greedy or covetous. You see, there's this great danger of corruption. Rather, they were to be a people who were honest and who could even manage their own household well. Because how could someone manage the things of God if they couldn't even manage their own house well? What sort of person would make a good deacon then? Someone who is an honest report, someone who is a reputable person. And the fourth thing. They were to be men full of the Holy Ghost. Full of the Holy Ghost. What does that mean? Well, every believer has been filled with the Holy Ghost. Every believer has received the Spirit. But the Bible talks of God's people as receiving the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit and yet keeping on being filled. The idea is of the Holy Spirit continually working and continually bringing forth graces in the lives of God's people. You see, what is the work of the Holy Spirit? Is He not given to help those who have come to faith in Christ grow in grace and become spiritually mature? When someone's converted, they're starting out as a little child. Well, the children at the back there, they know they need to grow. They need to learn. They need to cultivate gifts. One day there are going to be adults doing things that they can't do now. There's a newborn Christian, as it were, where they need to grow in grace. They need to grow in knowledge. They need gifts to be cultivated. They need to grow in holiness. They need to become fruitful and godly. They need to have a genuine faith. The Holy Spirit's given to bring on these things. To give us life and vitality and enable us to grow. Don't we need him? And isn't it true that the deacons especially need grace to handle the outward things of the church? You see, there's a deacon. He's involved in ministering to others. He's involved in financial affairs and property affairs. It's easy just to treat it the way the world would treat it and not have a spiritual aspect to his thinking, but he must have this. It's too easy for him to get absorbed just by the outward, by the financial things that he is losing sight of Christ. No, he needs to be full of the Holy Ghost. He needs to remain faithful to Christ. He needs to be kept focused on Christ. He needs the Holy Ghost. In other words, you think, so and so make a good deacon. First question surely is this, is he a spiritually minded man? Because if he's not, whatever other gifts he may have, he is not really equipped to be a deacon. And for someone to do the work of the deacon and to remain faithful and cheerful, to remain sensitive to the needs of others, to remain discreet, to be always seeking the good of others. Well, he needs to be spiritually minded. He needs to be full of the Holy Ghost. Full of faith. Relying on the Lord. Relying on the Spirit. That's what the deacon needs. In fact, can't we say this? All of us need that, don't we? All of us need to know His influence. Friend, if you come to Christ, be not drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit. You're to do something. What are you to do? Rely on him. Rely on him and not offend him. Give him good lodging so that he will, as it were, stay. Or he will make himself known. Rely on him. Appreciate him. And be holy so you don't grieve him. That you might know more of his influence and power in your life. The deacons, they're to be men, they're to be brethren, they're to be reputable men, they're to be spiritual men. And finally notice this, they're to be wise men. Men full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom. Interesting that's put last. It's needed. But you see, so often we would think, wisdom. There's a good business mind. Make him a deacon. But the question is, is he brotherly? Is he reputable? Is he spirit-filled? And then, is he wise? Because there's the deacon. He doesn't need to be wise. But these other things are important. He needs wisdom. There he is. He's to judge a situation. Is there a situation of need there? Do these people need the help and the support of the church? Is the need genuine? They need to be wise. They're to be prudent. They're to be thoughtful. They're to be careful. They need to be able to handle people. It's easy to rub people up the wrong way, isn't it? that the deacon must be one who is wise, that his service might be useful, and that he might be part of that work which binds together God's people and keeps them united in the service of God, a loving family honouring their glorious head and king. Yes, we need men who are wise, just as we all need wisdom. But you notice wisdom wasn't the first thing, it's the last thing mentioned, because we're so prone to think of the other things and not wisdom. Oh, that God would give us and give all the churches men who are brethren, who are reputable, who are spiritual, who are wise. You see, deacons like that will be a blessing in a congregation. And these are the things you and I should seek to cultivate if we would follow them in their example. Being brotherly, being reputable, being spiritual, being wise. Let us pray then that God would guide us when we think of electing deacons. and that He would lead us to choose men from among us who are of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, who may be appointed over this business, and that we ourselves might be encouraged to serve one another following the example of the deacons. May God direct us And may He help us in coming days, let us pray.