From BaptistNews@hotmail.com Tue Feb 29 18:25:15 2000
From: BaptistNews@hotmail.com

=====================
SERMON OF THE WEEK
=====================

DEACONS ^Ö SERVANTS OF THE CHURCH
By Pastor Jerry Cummings

[Jerry Cummings is Sr. Pastor of the Landmark Missionary 
Baptist Church in Hoopa, California.]


Deacon.  The word can strike terror into the hearts of 
many Pastors.  It can also be a source of great 
consolation, comfort, and even admiration.  One of the 
first Martyrs for Our Lord's testimony was one of the 
first to be called a deacon.  The Bible says that those 
faithful men who use the office well purchase to 
themselves a good degree.  This is not the kind of degree 
that is given by schools of higher learning.  No this is the 
kind given by God Himself.  A grade of dignity.  The 
office carries a certain humble dignity.  Much like a 
sergeant major in the army may be more highly thought of 
by the officers he serves and the men he serves with then 
many of his superiors.  There is a lot of disagreement 
over what the office should be.  And even those who 
hold it seem to be of many different minds on the subject. 
Much confusion surrounds the office of a deacon.  But 
perhaps that is simply because, like many other things in 
Christendom, the profound simplicity of the office has 
been lost or corrupted through the eons.
The word "deacon" occurs only four times in the entirety 
of the Bible. Once, in the letter to the Church at Philippi.  
Three times, in the letter to Pastor Timothy, Bishop of 
Ephesus. The only other mention of the office is at its 
invention in Jerusalem as recorded by Luke in Acts 
chapter six. There the word is not used because the men 
were appointed to do a job, not hold a title. Over the 
course of the centuries the role of a deacon has been 
changed into many things in many Churches.  But if the 
Bible is to be our rule of faith and practice then we must 
let it teach us the office and role of a deacon.  Any 
^Ódeacon's job^Ô that is not Biblical is not the ^Ódeacon's 
job^Ô in a Biblical Church.  In this lesson we will limit 
our discussion to the scriptures alone.  If anyone wishes 
to add any duty or function of a deacon that is not 
covered by the lesson, he may do so if he can produce 
the verse of scripture wherein he learned it.
Acts six describes the occasion for which deacons may 
be needed and the Philippian and Timothian letters tell 
us what a deacon is, is not, and who is able to serve in 
this capacity.  What these verses reveal is that a man 
who is to be called to Deaconry should already be a 
Deacon by nature.  That is to say he is the very man in 
the Church who has such a servant's heart that he is 
already about the business of a Deacon before being 
asked to do it.  As we go to the Word of God seeking a 
clear understanding of these things let us pray together 
that God would be the revealer of truth to our hearts.  Let 
us ask the Father to make those of us who are Pastors 
look with fondness and respect upon those of us who are 
deacons.  And we should pray that our deacon brethren 
would seek to learn from God Himself what is the 
function and station of their noble office and calling.  


I-The Office of a Deacon.

Philippians 1:1 "Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus 
Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, 
with the bishops and deacons:" 
Note the distinction between Bishops (overseers) and 
deacons (servants). This same distinction is more 
pronounced in First Timothy where the Apostle Paul, the 
Lord's Emissary, is instructing the Pastor of the Church 
in Ephesus on how to choose a deacon to serve the 
Church. The deacon is not an overseer, a Bishop who 
watches over the house of God. The deacon is not a 
Pastor, a shepherd who feeds the flock of God. The 
deacon is not an Elder, a leader chosen to guide the 
steps of God's people in the work of the Church. He is 
not ever to be lifted up arrogantly to make himself that 
which he is not. He is a servant whose sole job is to do 
whatever may need doing behind the scenes, as his 
pastor directs him, to see that the Church members are 
taken care of in their physical needs. A deacon without a 
Bishop is a truly hapless person who is as a sail without 
an helm to guide the ship. A deacon may not try to usurp 
his Pastor, or fill the vacancy when there is not a Pastor. 
In fact the deacon by his office is the last man in the 
Church to attempt to lead the Church at any time or for 
any reason. He shuns all accolade or applause and 
denies any authority over anyone. When asked for any 
input on affairs of the Church his answer is always the 
same, to defer to the Elders, himself not being one. 
Another word used to refer to Bishops in the New 
Testament is Minister.  A minister is a servant.  The 
word is used often of those who serve royalty in the 
court.  Joshua, the son of Nun, was called Moses' 
minister.  Jesus said, ^Ówhosoever will be great among 
you, let him be your minister; and 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.^Ô 
(Matthew 20:26-28)
In our verse in Philippians Paul and Timothy are both 
called the ^Óservants^Ô of Jesus Christ.  Paul is the 
Apostle, or emissary, of the King of Kings.  Timothy is 
the Bishop of Ephesus, or Pastor of the Ephesian Church.  
Both of these men are identified as the ^Óservants^Ô, 
literally the ^Óbond-slaves^Ô of Jesus.  But Jesus teaches 
us not just to become servants of God but also servants 
of each other.  Jesus did not come to be ministered unto 
but to minister to us the grace and glory of the Father.  
Even so the Bishop is an overseer but his oversight is a 
position of serving the Church of God as a minister.
The word deacon means ^Óservant^Ô.  The deacon should 
consider it an honor to serve the Princes and Princesses 
born to the King of Glory their Everlasting Father.  We 
are all together the servants of Jesus Christ our common 
Lord and Master.  And we are all together the common 
servants of the Church, His espoused Bride.  Let us not 
think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think.  
But let each of us esteem our position in Christ to be one 
of humble service to the Glory of His Majesty, our 
Royal Master.
In this Philippian epistle the Holy Spirit goes on to tell 
us a few short sentences later: ^ÓIf there be therefore any 
consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any 
fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 
fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same 
love, being of one accord, of one mind.  Let nothing be 
done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of 
mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  Look 
not every man on his own things, but every man also on 
the things of others.  Let this mind be in you, which was 
also in Christ Jesus:^Ô


II- The Qualities of a Deacon.
First Timothy 3:8-13 "Likewise must the deacons be 
grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not 
greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith 
in a pure conscience. And let these also first be 
proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being 
found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, 
not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the 
deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their 
children and their own houses well. For they that have 
used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves 
a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is 
in Christ Jesus." 
Herein the qualifications of a deacon are set forth in no 
uncertain terms. The deacon's character, doctrine, and 
faithfulness must be above reproach. The kind of person 
who is an example to all believers. Whom anyone feels 
they can call for help at any time. And the kind of person 
who can absolutely be counted on for faithfulness. His 
attendance to all Church services and functions must be 
exemplary so that the young convert may follow his 
example. His behavior and temperament must make him 
well suited to dealing with people with different 
personalities and from different walks of life. He must 
be serious minded about serious matters. He must be a 
straightforward and honest person who does not vainly 
profess the Lord on Sunday morning and deny him that 
very evening. Even his wife must be a faithful, 
trustworthy, and honest woman given to all holiness and 
charity.  Notice the phrase, ^Ólet these also first be 
proved^Ô.  It is important that Deacons are already 
meeting these requisites for a long enough time before 
their ordination that there can be no doubt about them.

1.-The Deacon must be grave.  Grave means to be 
serious minded.  Or serious about serious things.  The 
Deacon must be a cool level-headed individual who 
knows how to get things done.  A responsible man who 
is accustomed to being accountable to others.  I believe 
that many of us enjoy a brother who is none too serious.  
Who can be counted on to liven things up in a business 
meeting if things get too serious.  And this does not 
necessarily disqualify a man from serving as a Deacon.  
But we should be looking for people who know how to 
be serious.  This is one reason I personally would not 
recommend a younger man to be quickly chosen.  Though 
I am none too old myself and was all of twenty-one 
when the mantle of Pastoring God's Church was given to 
me, I believe that we should be careful of men such as 
myself.  Youth is not a travesty.  But it can carry a lesser 
degree of Gravity than is suitable for a Deacon.  Given a 
choice between a youthful energetic man and a stoop 
shouldered, gray-headed, grandfather who were both 
qualified, I say take the older fella.  This is not an 
absolute, of course.  But it is an indicator.  When seeking 
Deacon candidates we should be willing to look at their 
home-life and finances.  Not how wealthy or poor they 
are.  But how responsible they are.  

2-The Deacon must be not Double-tongued.  It is 
difficult to charge a man with any business if he cannot 
be trusted to be of one mind and honest.  A politician 
who tells one man this and another quite the opposite of 
the same is not reliable enough to give a faithful 
accounting of the Church's business.  Furthermore the 
Deacon is a man to call for help.  If the members of the 
Church do not trust his character they will not feel safe 
in sharing their needs with him.  The kind of person who 
tells it like it is in plain certain terms is what we are 
looking for.  Someone who can give an account of his 
doings looking another in the eye and not shifting or 
hemming and hawing.  Let us here also consider the 
Commandment of our Lord from Horeb in Exodus 
Twenty that tells us not to bear a false witness against a 
neighbor.  Our Deacon will not serve us well by causing 
schisms in the Body of Christ with allegations that are 
unproven or fabricated against a Brother.  Let a man 
learn to hold his peace unless he has the weight of fact 
and truth to anchor him.  And if he know of a brother's 
indiscretion let him first confront his fellow and seek to 
restore such an one without a public humiliation.  For so 
has the Lord decreed both in person and by His holy 
apostle.  (Matthew 18; Galatians 6)  

3-The Deacon must not be given to much wine.  God's 
word says that strong drink is a mocker.  A man in his 
cups is not to be relied on.  This then would immediately 
disqualify a man from using the office of a deacon.  Let 
him be in control of himself and not be a man of vices.  
The most dependable reliable man when sober may 
become the most derelict when he has been tarrying too 
long at the wine barrel.  The standard for a Bishop is 
that a Bishop must not be given to wine.  For a Deacon 
the admonition is ^Ómuch wine^Ô.  Much ado has been 
made over the centuries concerning what, if any, 
difference in standards exists between the Deacon and 
the Bishop in this regard.  There is a simple solution to 
the whole of the business.  For either or both positions 
call and ordain a man who doesn't drink.  The man who 
does not imbibe will have a difficulty in becoming a 
drunkard I'll be bound.  How shall the widow in her 
hour of greatest calamity be expected to drag our Deacon 
from the alehouse in order to have her needs met?  Or to 
be simpler and plainer about it; can a Church that 
preaches against the foul spirits that come in bottles be 
guilty of worse hypocrisy than to send out a 
representative on the business of charity who is notable 
for his ready flask and flammable breath?

4-The Deacon must not be greedy of filthy lucre.  
This does not mean that he may not be a man of means.  
Or that one to the manor born is not fit to serve.  It means 
quite literally only what it says.  No more and certainly, 
no less.  The Deacon may not be greedy for gain that is 
^Ófilthy^Ô or ill-gotten.  A gambler then is to be considered 
unfit.  A seller of illicit spirits or substances ought not to 
be considered.  One who thinks nothing of profiting by 
other's misery is unworthy.  A thief certainly may not 
aspire to the position of Deacon.  But a man who is 
content with the blessing of God upon his labors and his 
family's station and is happy to seek first the Kingdom of 
God trusting in the providence of the Almighty for his 
earthly needs is the man to whom the mantle of Deaconry 
may fall.  The Deacon should be a man of the most 
sincere faith in God for his provender.  He is going to be 
comforting the widow and the orphan in their affliction.  
This he must do by reinforcing their most holy faith in 
the Father above to fill the vacancy in their lives left by 
the absence of an earthly father.  How might he do this if 
his own personal faith is o'ershadowed by a slighted 
hand at the till of his employer?  Furthermore the greedy 
man is likely to be stingy and short to those in need of 
common necessaries and comforts.  This man is to 
become to the fatherless a substitute father.  But not if he 
is unmoved by human compassion because his own 
avarice robs his bitter heart of the love that would try to 
fill it.

5-The Deacon must hold the mystery of the faith in 
pure Conscience.  Not just a Fundamentalist.  Not just a 
Landmarker.  Not just a Missionary Baptist.  But a man 
of deeply rooted conviction in the Bible and in Jesus 
Christ.  One who knows right well what the scriptures 
teach and may be considered no hapless bumpkin in 
defending truth.  These convictions will manifest 
themselves in a love of studying God's word and a 
naturally holy disposition of life.  Do you recall the two 
most famous Deacons of all?  Stephen the Martyr and 
Phillip the Evangelist were not slouches when speaking 
to holy things.  The scripture says, ^Ó(James 1:27) Pure 
religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, 
To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and 
to keep himself unspotted from the world.^Ô  As this sums 
up the whole and sum of the Deacon's office it must 
indeed be that he should be a purely religious man in 
heart and deed, and let this be proved, before he might 
become one by office.  Let him show his Deacon's nature 
by a servant's heart going and caring for those who need 
him.  Or any who need anything.  The overlooked, the 
downtrodden, the abused, the helpless and hapless: these 
are his mission-field.  His vision narrows to their pain 
and his eyes fill with tears of compassion.  He is their 
Deacon, after all.  He will not leave them to suffer want 
or need of anything he may find a way to provide.  And 
indeed his industriousness at finding ways to meet those 
needs is often astonishing.  He never must stand before 
His Lord and benefactor and explain why he did not help 
the needy or preach Jesus to the lost man.  His faith sure.  
His conscience is pure.

6-The Deacon's wife must be grave, not slanderers, 
sober, faithful in all things.  A man who is given this 
kind of responsibility cannot be burdened with a 
negative, carnal, free-spirited woman who traffics in 
rumors and tells idle and silly tales, or who is always 
carefree of serious and sober responsibilities.  The 
Deacon needs a supportive, humble wife who is 
predisposed to hospitality, charity, and who is 
dependable and quick to a task.  There are some women 
who seem devoid of the greatest virtues of the fair sex.  
They do not wait with patient heart for a husband while 
he is out upon an errand of mercy.  But rather they are 
waiting in expectation of filling his ready appetite with a 
piece of their mind, what there is of it, upon his return to 
the domicile of their cohabitation.  Bless those women 
who may be counted on to support every good and noble 
deed and aspiration of the loving and gentle husband.  
Who when hearing that there husband goes out to visit 
the need of the family in want, she will bustle noisily 
and busily about her kitchen that he may not go out 
empty-handed of some warm and delicious offering for 
the souls he attends to.  Though, never let my pen be 
used as an excuse for any man, Deacon, Bishop, or 
carpenter's apprentice, to neglect so bonny a woman as 
this.  I daresay that a woman who expects no flowers, 
chocolate, or card of appreciation from a husband who 
is late returning from even the noblest journey is the 
woman most deserving of the very same.  And if some 
husband wishes to take me to task for my brashness on 
the subject reminding me that I might be so bold because 
of my bachelorhood, I would remind him that he may 
well be joining me in this happy estate if he does not 
improve his attitude. The Deacon and his wife should 
have a marriage that all may aspire to.  And they must 
have both the hearts of servants to refresh the saints and 
care for the needy.

7- Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, 
ruling their children and their own houses well.  Like 
the Bishop, or Pastor, the Deacon is in a position of 
responsibility.  Though he is not a leader of the Church, 
or overseer of the affairs of God, he is a man ordained in 
the service of the Church.  He will be very distracted, 
and thus unusable if his household affairs are not in 
order.  The husband of one wife, literally the Man of one 
woman, is a test of his moral character.  Is he a one 
woman man or a philanderer? It is not so much a 
question of previous marriages or conduct.  It is rather a 
question of his character as a man now.  Ruling well his 
children and his house indicates that he is an able and 
responsible man who can be depended on to keep affairs 
in order.     
Has it never occurred to many Bishops and Deacons as 
they seek to live up to these standards that there is an art 
to husbandry?  Husband is after all a verb in our most 
colorful language.  And my Bible tells me that a Bishop 
and Deacon must be the HUSBAND of a wife.  Not a 
lord or a Baron.  A husbandman tends the garden of her 
dreams causing her to blossom into the noble creature 
God intends her to be.  He gives her the nourishment her 
spirit and soul desire and prunes her of bad manners and 
habits in the gentlest way, as a gardener handles his most 
cherished of rose bushes.  And in the springtime of their 
life she will blossom and bud into the pride of his lands.  
And a man who knows not how to HUSBAND a wife, is 
too brutish by nature to care for the needs of the 
widowed, orphaned, sick, and afflicted masses.  There 
is a difference, gentlemen, between HAVING one wife 
and HUSBANDING one wife.  And the Deacon by 
nature right well knows that.  Why are so many of you 
brethren now becoming more than a little bit irritated by 
my tirade against negligent husbandry?  Why be angry 
with me over such a trifle unless your heart is filled with 
guilt?  If it is so obvious that I am preaching to you my 
dear sir, you should bend the knee to get right with God 
and while upon your knees, to beg forgiveness of the 
woman who has been so longsufferingly suffering for so 
long with you.  You should.

***Let these first be proved.  Until these seven 
qualities are revealed by the course of time in a man's 
character he is not yet proven to be worthy of the Mantle 
of Deaconry.  Remember Brethren, we seek for a man 
who is a Deacon by nature already, before we would 
make him a Deacon by ordination.


III: The Occasion or Need of a Deacon.
Acts 6:1-6 "And in those days, when the number of the 
disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of 
the Grecians 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, whom we 
may appoint over this business. But we will give 
ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of 
the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: 
and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the 
Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, 
and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of 
Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when 
they had prayed, they laid their hands on them."  
Deacons were first appointed for the purpose of meeting 
a need in the Church that was material in nature and for 
the good of the Church. It is not an honorary title given 
for recognition. It is a position of service to take care of 
material needs that arise in the membership. Note also 
that the deacons reported directly to the Elders (Pastors) 
of the Church. And received their assignment from them. 
Notice that Deacons were ordained by the laying on of 
the hands of the Presbytery (Greek for Elders) and not 
vice versa. Pastors were ordained in the same way. 
There is not a precedent in Scripture for a deacon to sit 
on a Presbytery with the Elders, ordaining anyone.  Not, 
even, new deacons.  In a Church of several thousand 
people seven men were appointed in response to the 
neglect of certain widows.  In a Church of less than two 
hundred the widows of a Church might well be cared for 
without the need to appoint even one deacon.
It seems now that rather than appointing and ordaining 
deacons when a need arises in our Churches that we 
appoint a Deacon when a man arises in our Churches.  In 
other words the office of a Deacon has become less a 
place of service and more a position of distinction.  This 
is not how it is supposed to be.  I pray that this is not 
how it shall ever be.  If God wanted us to have Glory 
titles to hand out to the Pastor's friends or the song 
leader's patron, then he would have given such titles to 
us in the Sacred Oracles.  But He didn't so intend and 
therefore He didn't so provision.  
Notice that the Deacons were brought to the Apostles, or 
Elders to be ordained and given their instructions on 
their service of Deaconry.  Such is the primitive church 
pattern in the early New Testament Churches.  Deacons 
are to be accountable to their own Pastors and Pastors to 
the congregation.  The Deacon is not an overseer's 
overseer to keep watch over the Pastor.  Nor is he a 
standing pulpit committee in case the Pastor ^Ómight need 
replacing.^Ô  In fact, he must be the last man to have such 
thoughts.  
Many have said that there is no reason to limit the role 
and function of a Deacon to the ministry of widows or 
even of benevolence.  And I would agree that other 
needs will arise in a Church with time that a Deacon 
might be put to.  But let us remember that the area of 
service that a Deacon is given is the area of materiality.  
If a Church needs another Pastor let them ordain the man 
to the Gospel Ministry and call him the Associate Pastor 
if that is what he is.  But do not distract the Deacon from 
his God given responsibilities by expecting him to do 
work that God does not intend for his estate.


IV: The Reward of a Deacon.
First Timothy 3:13 For they that have used the office 
of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good 
degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in 
Christ Jesus." 
Notice that the Deacons were chosen from among the 
congregation because they were men of ^Óhonest report, 
full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.^Ô  A specific number 
was chosen of men in accordance with the need.  They 
were not ordained simply because they were honest men, 
or of good report, or full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.  
They were ordained because the widows needed them.  
Too often we appoint deacons not to serve the Church in 
an hour of need but to ^Óreward^Ô a good Church member 
with a title.  The office of a Deacon is a growing 
experience that is rewarded by a son of God growing 
strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  A Deacon's 
position may well lead to other things.  Among the first 
Deacons Stephen became much bold in the faith which is 
in Christ Jesus and was found worthy of Martyrdom 
(Acts seven).  Philip became an Evangelist and by his 
ministry the first Ethiopian convert was made and 
Baptized (Acts eight).  The primitive Ethiopian Church 
has one of the longest running Church histories in the 
world.  The office of a Deacon is not then an honorary 
title bestowed upon a Brother for services rendered.  It 
is an opportunity of service to be rendered whereby a 
Brother may grow strong in his faith and be made bold.  
It is a growing experience.
Moreover Brother Deacon, remember this above all.  
There is only one reason that Stephen, Philip, and the 
others were called and pressed into service.  Because 
the widows needed them.  This is the very reason God 
has placed this mantle of Deaconry upon your shoulders.  
Somewhere in your Church and community there are 
people who are being overlooked.  They need 
something.  Be it food, clothing, shelter, or love, 
compassion, support, they need someone to care enough 
to look in on them.  They need you.  And they need you a 
whole lot more than your Pastor needs a keeper.  They 
need a Deacon.  And you are the one God gave them.