Where does the diaconal heart beat?

Where does the diaconal heart beat?

Read: 2 Kings 4: 1 - 7 Matthew 20: 20 - 28 Dear brothers and sisters, In my mind I see them standing in front of me: a needy widow, together with her two helpless children. In her hopeless situation she cried out to the prophet Elisha: 'Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves' (2 Kings 4: 1 NIV). Elisha turns out to be a helpful man of God. He replied to her, 'How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?' (2 Kings 4: 2) When we as Christians look at this history, three things stand out: 1. The attitude of Elisha is very similar to that of the Lord Jesus. He comes to us and says to us: What can I do for you?

2. The circumstances surrounding the widow and her two sons reflect the situation of the Church in the West: empty churches and empty houses, empty jars and empty hearts.

3. The solution of our problems comes from Above. The little oil jug in God's hand is more than enough to fill all the vessels. Oil is an image of the Holy Spirit. He fills the heart. He solves the problems in the Church.

Where does the diaconal heart beat?

In this lecture, I want to consider four answers to this question: 1. In the triune God 2. In the Lord Jesus 3. In the Christian congregation 4. In the life of a Christian 1. The diaconal heart of the triune God God the Father serves us through His election to salvation.

He serves us as our Creator and Sustainer.

He serves us as our Heavenly Father.

God the Son serves us through His reconciliation with God. He pays for our sin and He cleanses us from all iniquity.

He reconciles us with God and He gives us peace in our heart.

God the Holy Spirit serves us through His sanctification of our lives.

1

He comes to live and work in our hearts.

He gives us faith and lets us share in the benefits of Christ.

He prepares us for eternal life.

2. The diaconal heart of the Lord Jesus The Lord Jesus reveals the purpose of his coming on earth. He keeps repeating the reason for His coming: He says: 'For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost' (Luke 19: 10) And in Matthew 20: 28 He says: 'Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'

Jesus does not take, but He gives. He does not enrich Himself at the expense of others, but to sacrifice Himself for the benefit of others.

That's a miracle!

The Lord Jesus is the King of all kings, He is the Lord of all lords and He is the Creator of heaven and earth.

And this great God becomes man. He becomes a slave! He is willing to do the work of a servant, of a slave. He washes the feet of His disciples (John 13).

But the Lord Jesus humiliates himself even more deeply. Not only does he bend his knees, he also goes to the cross. He goes via Gethsemane on his way to the cross on Golgotha. He drinks the cup of suffering to the bottom. He sheds His blood and He gives His life.

When Paul thinks of that, the song of praise echoes in his heart; 'Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!' (Philippians 2: 6 - 8).

In the Bible different verbs are used for ministry.

I only mention four: a. Diakoneo: Diakoneo is a voluntary service, a loving service. b Douleuo: Douleuo is a forced service.

From this verb the noun slave, doulos, is derived. A slave does not do his work voluntarily. His master forces him to do his job. c. Leitourgeo: 2

Leitourgeo is a selfless service.

The priests and Levites serve in tabernacle and temple. They provide for the spiritual needs of the people. And they keep the worship, the liturgy, going. d. Therapeuo: Therapeuo is a careful serving.

Just like the groomsman lovingly takes care of the horses.

And just like the doctor gives his patients the best care available.

If we connect these four verbs together, we end up with the Lord Jesus: He is the Diakonos, the Doulos de Leiturgos, the Therapeutos.

He fully performs the ministry.

In Jesus Christ, the diaconal heart beats in optima forma.

We have seen so far that the diaconal heart beats in the triune God and in the Lord Jesus Christ. We call this the vertical line.

In addition to the vertical line, there is also a horizontal line. The diaconal heart is also beating in the Christian congregation and in the life of a Christian.

3. In the Christian congregation It is good to turn our attention to the first Christian congregation for a moment.

How does the congregation function in the New Testament?

Three things stand out: a. The diaconal heart of the congregation beats in the work of preaching.

In the book of Acts, preaching is called the ministry (the diakonia) of the Word (Acts 6: 4). The apostle Paul mentions his missionary work: the service of the Church to the world. He also speaks of his diakonia (2 Corinthians 3: 3; 5: 18).

That is an important point: The diaconal heart of the church beats in the preaching of the gospel. The best service of the church to the world is the proclamation of the Gospel. The spiritual aspect is of vital importance. b. The service of one congregation relates to the other congregations.

All congregations are part of the body of Christ. They are all united in Christ.

Therefore, no congregation can say that it has nothing to do with other congregations. Diaconal assistance between congregations is a biblical task.

The congregations in Western and Central Europe may ask each other the same question as Elisha asked that widow: 'What can we do for you? And what do you have at home?' c. In the diaconal work of a congregation, money plays a minor role. However, financial support is not insignificant. Paul urges the congregations of Rome and Corinth to help the poor mother congregation in Jerusalem. He wholeheartedly 3

recommends a diaconal collection. He calls this collection a diakonia (2 Corinthians 8:19, 20; Romans 15: 25).

4. In the life of a Christian.

There are in fact two "types" of church members A. Members of the Church holding a special office B. Church members, who hold the office of all believers.

Ad A: The office of deacon is not a job of honor or a position of power.

Paul sets clear conditions to the office of deacon. It requires commitment and dedication, self-denial and taking up one’s cross.

In Acts 6 we read about the institution of the office of deacon.

They serve at the tables They provide the daily bread and the spiritual food They look after the physical and spiritual needs of the poor (Luke 17: 8; John 12: 2; Luke 12: 37).

The Dutch formula says: 'It is the task of the deacon to help the poor with a compassionate and joyful heart; not only with material gifts, but also with comforting words from the Scriptures.'

I read somewhere: 'When the ministering character of the office disappears, there is disagreement in the church council, the congregation is not built and the believers no longer turn their attention to the Lord Jesus.'

Ad. B. The Office of All Believers All believers are called upon to serve one another. Paul says: 'Serve one another humbly in love.' (Galatians 5:13) In addition, the Holy Ghost gives special gifts to every member of the congregation (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter 4).

Every Christian is gifted. Each member of the congregation has at least 1 gift.

These spiritual gifts, charismata, are giving by the Holy Spirit in order to build up the church.

Summing up The question is: Where does the diaconal heart beat?

The answer is: 1. In the triune God 2. In the Lord Jesus 3. In the Christian congregation 4

4. In the serving congregation members We end with a quote from the Dutch formula for the confirmation of a deacon: 'Regarding the service of mercy, the Scriptures teach that it stems from the perfect love of Christ for the Church, which He purchased with His blood.

He came into the world to serve and took care of those in need. Christ is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world, He is the Servant of the Lord, who has taken upon us our diseases and bore our sorrows and He will not rest until the effects of sin come to an end at His return.'

And so He stands before us while asking: What can I do for you?

Tell me what you have at home?

Drs. H.J. van der Veen Sliedrecht, 25-04-2020 5

6