The Growth of the Church
The Church was born with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. And, from then on, the Lord was adding more and more disciples into the Church through the work of the Holy Spirit. Some of the new believers when they joined the Church, sold all their possessions, and laid it on the feet of the disciples, which were used to provide for those who were in need. Scripture tells us that there was none among the believers who lacked.
Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. – Acts 4:34-35
The Need for Leaders
By the time we go to Acts 6, the Church has grown exponentially, and the disciples are unable to handle all the administrative activities which needs to be done to ensure all the believers are taken care. This is when the disciples for the first time call out the need for appointed people whose responsibility will be to serve the fellowship of believers. These are people who were called to serve, or simply put, they are servant leaders. And, at this time, some key principles are put in place which define what a servant leader should be.
Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; – Acts 6:3
The qualities of a servant leader
Acts 6:3 calls out three criteria a person needs to have to be a servant leader. What are the things which the disciples called out?
- Good Reputation
- Full of the Holy Spirit
- Wisdom
Irrespective of where or what the calling is within the Kingdom of God, the people who serve, are called out to have these qualities.
The way up, is down
To begin with, let us understand the context of the service. The people called out in Acts 6 are chosen to serve others who are within the fellowship. Lord Jesus Christ talked about this specific role when the disciples vied for a place closer to the Lord. The Lord said that they need to become a servant of all, and the slave of all to grow higher up in the Kingdom of God. The way up in God’s kingdom is down, it may sound counterintuitive, but Scripture teaches us that when we humble ourselves, and serve others, the Lord lifts us up.
Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave. – Matthew 20:26-27
The Deacon – The Servant
The word servant used by the Lord in Matthew 20:26, is the word Deacon (Diakonos in Greek – Strong’s G1249). To understand the meaning of this word within the Scriptural context, we need to turn to the Old Testament. In the Old Testament (Septuagint – Greek translation of the Old Testament Scripture), this word comes four times in the book of Esther (Esther 1:10, Esther 2:2, Esther 6:3, Esther 6:5), and all four times it calls out the people who served the king and carried out his orders. I believe, that is exactly what this word means. Servants (or Deacons) are people who serve the King (Lord Jesus Christ) and carry out His orders. In the New Testament, this role of Deacon is given to those who serve other believers, and they do that by serving the King and doing His will.
What a Deacon should possess
With the understanding of what a Deacon is, let us go back to the three characteristic traits which the Disciples called out.
Good Reputation – the word “Good” in Acts 6:3 is in italics, which means, Scripture calls out that the person who is a deacon should be a person of reputation, the word “Good” was added by the translators to give additional clarity to the word reputation. What is the Scriptural understanding of this word “Reputation”? In John 5:31, the Lord uses the same word in the context of “witness”. This word is more frequently used as “witness” in the Scripture, what witnessing is the Scripture talking about? Scripture is referring to witnessing Lord Jesus Christ. So, the word reputation means – being a good witness of Christ in our life. This is not a onetime occurrence but rather, this is we living Christ like. The Deacon’s Character should be Christ like.
If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witness of Me is true. – John 5:31-32
Full of the Holy Spirit – Disciples call out that the person who is selected by the Church should be filled with the Holy Spirit. How do you know if a person is filled with the Holy Spirit? Without the infilling power of the Holy Spirit, it is impossible for anyone to live a Christ like life. There were three people who were called out as having the infilling power of the Holy Spirit in the Scripture.
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Luke 4:1. Scripture specifically calls this out when He was baptized, and before He was led into the wilderness by the devil.
Stephen in Acts 7:55 – Stephen is one of the deacons selected by the Church in Acts 6. He will also be the first New Testament Martyr giving his life testifying the Lord. When he is stoned to death, just before he gives up his life, Stephen filled with the Spirit looks up to heaven to see the Lord standing up to receive him.
Barnabas is also called as a person filled with the Spirit in Acts 11:24, a man of great integrity and Character.
For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. – Acts 11:24
Wisdom – this is the 3rd trait the disciples call out, this wisdom is not the wisdom as the world would consider as someone who is smart, experienced, etc. But rather, this is someone who knows the Word, who understands the Word, and who walks in the Word of God. This is Wisdom in the Scripture.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. – Colossians 3:16
What a Deacon should not possess
Scripture taught us in Acts 6, what a Deacon should possess, in 1 Timothy Scripture will teach us what a Deacon should not possess.
Apostle Paul writes a letter to the young leader Timothy who is leading a Church in Ephesus. He is urged to select leaders so that they can be overseers of the Church and serve the fellowship of believers in Ephesus.
And through the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul calls out one positive attribute a Deacon should possess and lists out few negative characters which he should not possess. Helping Timothy, and us, what to look for in a Deacon.
Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. – 1 Timothy 3:8-10
Double-tongued – A servant leader cannot be double-tongued. He cannot lie, he cannot speak evil of others, he cannot gossip, he needs to be a man of few words, and all his words need to carry the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, but the heart of the fool does not do so. – Proverbs 15:7
Not given to much wine – A servant leader cannot be a drunkard, he needs to carry himself well since he needs to shine the light of Christ in all that he does, and at all the time. Scripture tells us that it is easier to avoid than to be tempted, and end up falling into sin, and leading others astray.
Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper – Proverbs 23:31
Not greedy for money – A servant leader cannot be seeking after money. His time and effort, and his zeal in life is not to make money. He is Christ like, and the only zeal he has in his life is to know Christ. Where does his time and effort go? Yes, a Deacon needs to work for a living to provide to his family, but that need not be his life which consumes him. What consumes him at all times should be the zeal to know Christ.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. – Matthew 6:33
Holds the mystery of faith in pure conscience – what does this mean? Scripture teaches us that the servant leader is not peddling the word of God for his own gain. He is serving God, and His kingdom, and preaching His word for the Glory of Christ and not for his self-gratification.
Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: the former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; – Philippians 1:15-16.
What is the Character a Deacon should have?
In Acts 6, and again in 1 Timothy 3, Scripture talks about the Deacon as a person who should have Character, but the Scripture does not explain beyond this on what does a man of Character mean.
But the understanding is given in the Old Testament. Moses faces a similar situation just like the disciples did in Acts 6. Moses had led the people of Israel out of Egypt, and within a few months is burdened with the leadership of managing this huge fellowship.
Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, seeing this, provides a suggestion which Moses receives and implements. Jethro suggests that Moses should select leaders from the men who possess three specific traits, and I believe these three are the key points which form a character of a man. And will be the main character of a Deacon (servant leader).
“Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens – Exodus 18:21
These are the key traits which form the character of a believer (not just a servant leader).
Fear God – this is the most important necessity of a man of God, he should fear God. What is the fear of God? The easiest definition of the fear of God is to hate evil. The people of God do not mock at sin, do not embrace sin, do not walk in sin, but rather they hate sin. Nothing evil comes from their mouth, even when they are tested.
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate – Proverbs 8:13
Man of Truth – when we fear God, and shun evil, the way we chose to walk will be the narrow road. The only way a person can walk in this is when he is completely immersed in the word of God. This is the walk Psalm 1 calls out – a man who shuns all evil, all company of evil, and meditates in the word of God day and night. This is the man of Truth.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. – Psalm 1:1
Hates covetousness – covetousness is a desire to have what someone else possesses. This is not a righteous desire, but rather a desire of the flesh. This desire will not lead a man to the things of God, but rather to the things of the flesh. Scripture tells us that a man of God should not have this desire in his heart. If he does have an evil desire, either lust for money, wealth, power, position, it will eventually show itself bringing dishonor to the name of God. The Lord wants such a person not be chosen as a deacon, for he cannot bear the light of Christ.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s – Exodus 20:17
In Summary
To summarize – a deacon, a servant leader, or anyone who holds any leadership in a fellowship (whatever the size of the fellowship is), should possess these qualities
- Fear God
- Man of truth
- Hates covetousness
- Filled with the Spirit of God
- Meditates the Word of God
- Be Christ like
- Not given to wine
- Not double-tongued
- Serves God in pure conscience (and not for selfish gains).
And Scripture tells us that a person should already possess these qualities before he is given a position of leadership in the fellowship. And Scripture also wants us to test them in these things before they are given the leadership. Only someone who has already been walking in this way can be selected to hold office and serve God as a servant leader.
This is a high calling, unless a person is completely sold out to the Lord, unless a person is a disciple of the Lord, unless a person is led by the Spirit of God, he can never be the servant leader the Lord wants him to be.
Noel Kingsley
