LEADERSHIP IN ACTS CHAPTER 6

In chapter 6 the church finds itself in a problem. It is really a small problem, but be sure that if problems and irritations are not dealt with, it will escalate and eventually cause a rift and unnecessary bitterness. This is not what God wants.
The specific problem does not concern me that much, but I know that in every church and every move of God sooner or later problems arise. At first the leaders take it upon themselves to do the work - that is working the problem. Unfortunately leaders are busy people and it will happen that they can not attend to the problem at all times. Then the problem escalates….and obviously now there is opportunity for misunderstandings and so on because it might seem that not even the leaders care!
What is the responsibility of leadership?
Firstly get a good understanding of the problem. Do not be too quickly to find a solution by yourself. There is a community of believers now and you cannot afford to do it by yourself. But understand the problem fully before going on.
Secondly find the reason (if there is any) why it is your duty or not your duty to do that work (that is now the leader). To assign responsibility we have to start at the top. Is it your duty or not? In the case of the book of Acts chapter 6 the apostles reasoned that it is not their duty. Their duty at this time was the word of God (study), continual prayer and the ministry of the word (verse 2 and verse 4). Isn't it interesting that the apostles' main responsibility is spiritual? I love this! Don't think little of this for it is work and it will cost you your life!
The third thing is to get "buy in" from your church community. The apostles involved the church by saying that they must select the helpers or deacons to assist in the task of solving the problem. Too often the only decision maker in the church is the leader! This should not be like that!
The fourth thing is to give guidance to the process - the right quantity of people allocated to do this work is very important and is mentioned first. There is nothing so frustrating as to have too many or too few people to help in a specific task. The apostles also give guidance to ensure that the persons chosen must be the right people; they must be moral, spiritual and wise. I quote: - "honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom". These three qualities are cardinal - honest simply means I can trust the person (he will not steal for example); full of the Holy Ghost is exactly what it means - don't choose a carnal person! Lastly a wise person means to me somebody that is wise, yes, but also able because what can you do if somebody is not able to innovate and constantly worry you to make decisions and so on. I like to make a parallel to the work environment:- the reason for managers is exactly they must manage the work so that the leaders don't have to - they must make the decisions or innovate and they must solve the problem. This is where wisdom comes in! Wisdom is ability to do things wisely and with innovation. It is frustration to have somebody that can not do the task in a team and this person now must now be "carried" - this person is unable and not wise to the task. Meditate upon this.
The last thing that the apostles did was to give official sanctioning to the process. This is important because it informs the whole church as well as the apostles and there is also an impartation from the apostles - a spiritual act (seeking God's favor) which helps those who were chosen in the team. The Bible says that the apostles prayed and they laid their hands on them.
In my heart I believe that initially there might have been small problems in the organization of the work by these new chosen people, but they were able to sort it out. I believe they did and they also prospered at it for God blessed the church when they did this.
Spiritual leadership rightly applied cause church growth for in Acts 6:7 it says - "And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith."
Leadership in the early church was very effective and the right roles were allocated to the right people. Whenever there are irritations or problems in your personal life, family, work or church (the work of God), it calls for leadership. Wisdom is needed and it is good to desire to do the things that God has intended for us to do, and not to be tied down in things that we should not do.
Remember that everything stands or fails (falls) by leadership

CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE TOWARDS ISRAEL AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE

A Pro-Israel iniative
I am a Christian by rebirth because of my faith in Jesus Christ the Lord - the Son of God and His redemptive blood sacrifice and resurrection a complete atonement for our sin and regeneration. Right from the outset the Christian must lay semantics aside - with this I mean that for the Christian the words Christ is equal to Messiah and Jesus is equal to Jeshuah - semantics makes no difference - it is the very same person we are talking about. The same can be said for the other names of God but we can learn from our Jewish heritage what the different names of God means - in fact it is our duty. It is our duty to study the scriptures diligently for the following reasons:
-To see if these things are so - prophetic relevance
-Jewish perspective - historical, cultural and linguistic perspective
-To get revelation from the Spirit (Ruach) of God
-We should study the Bible from a Jewish perspective because Christianity in origin is Jewish!
Why should Christians have a pro-Israel/pro-Jewish attitude?
1. One of the reasons for respect towards Israel and the Jewish people is that the scriptures came from them.
2. Salvation is through/from them.
3. The church came through them.
4. Salvation of the Jewish people will be a greater blessing to gentile nations.
5. Christian people are grafted into the commonwealth of Israel.
6. Jesus and Paul sought and prayed for their salvation - we should pray and seek their salvation - testify to them.
7. Because Christians seek the blessings of Abraham.
8. Because we are shown in scripture to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
9. Jerusalem is the place of Jesus Christ's return and future reign.
10. Mighty end-time prophets will come from Israel.
11. Christians support Jewish possession of the land of Israel and Jerusalem as it was given to them by God (in Abraham).
12. Because of God's love for them - but we must know that God's love extends to all other people/nations as well.
13. There will be a remnant of Jewish people who will be saved - but also there are reference(s) that all Israel will be saved.
14. Because it is in God's agenda and somehow features central in God’s unfinished business with human beings and planet earth.

The only logical and spiritual conclusion is therefore that we should have a pro-Israel attitude, that we should pray for them as well as Jerusalem.

May God bless Israel, keep her, make His face shine upon her and give her peace(Shalom peace)!

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WESSEL VAN DER MERWE

POSSIBLE PROPHETIC CALENDAR FROM 2012 ONWARDS

No matter how one wants to look at the prophetic books of the Bible, it is clear that some of these events if not all must come to pass in the years to follow. Therefore the time to turn to God through Jesus Christ is now - the day of the Lord is coming! These events are:
1. United Muslim/Islamic Front/Block under one super leader who is at present striving for peace.
2. Re-emergence of the Catholic Faith as a dominant world religion under a new and younger pope.
3. Re-emergence of the new Europe economically and politically.
4. Demise of the USA.
5. Emergence and establishing of a world government - politically into greater regions - economically under one currency - end of money as we know it.
6. Startling event in Israel launches the rebuilding of the Temple
7. Wars and rumors of wars, climactic changes and signs in the heavens announces the end times - changes in the geography of the world….
8. The falling away of some from the true faith - yet miracles and salvation of others so that the House of God be filled.
9. A global thinking and a global consciousness are increasing.
10. Wars against Israel - world evangelism take on a new dimension.
11. Rebellion against all righteousness - the end of religion(s).
12. The triumph of Christ - His return and the establishing of His Kingdom the 1000 years commencing.
Christians should not fear! Fear God! Serve the Lord with gladness of heart - nothing can befall you for our God reigns on high and He is in control of all things! Christ will reign! Salvation is only found in Jesus Christ the Lord!