Learning Our Limits – Part 3: Know Your Limits (continued…)
Those of us in ministry know how draining it is to give and give and never get to the end of the line of those wanting help. But Jesus wasn’t worn out at this time. What He said was (v. 38), “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”
Many of Christ’s followers today get caught up meeting needs that aren’t closely related to the primary job God has called them to do. I know people like that. Sometimes their hyperactive schedules keep them so on the run that they can’t take time to be alone with their Heavenly Father. They don’t get the chance to talk with Him, much less to hear Him whisper to their hearts. Maybe you’re that way.
In the early chapters of Acts, we read that the apostles faced this problem. But they had enough sense to correct it. Acts 6 tells about a situation where it seems there were more needs than the apostles had time to meet. The non-Hebrew widows complained that they were being overlooked in the daily food distribution. In effect what the Twelve said was, “Our priorities don’t allow us the time to look after this problem.” But let me cite their words right from Scripture, beginning with verse 2: “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the Word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention [take note] to prayer and the ministry of the Word.”
That’s exactly what the church did. Those chosen were presented to the apostles, “who prayed and laid their hands on them.” The result was that (v. 6) “the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly” (v. 7).
Do you see how the apostles knew their limits? There was a genuine need, it’s true, but the pressure of authentic needs didn’t mean the apostles personally had to meet them. That’s a lesson they had learned from their Lord. Pitiful people had come from everywhere to be healed by Jesus, but that didn’t mean He was obligated to do so. He could, yes, but to double check whether that’s what His Father wanted, He got up early in the morning to spend time with Him.
The disciples applied the same principle in this Acts 6 passage: “We’ll turn the food distribution over to seven other capable men so we can give our attention to talking with the Lord [prayer] and to the ministry of the Lord.”
——————————————–
Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?
Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?
David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.
We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.
For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.
You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.
