Dealing With Problems

In Acts chapter 6 we see a problem arise in the middle of the great Pentecostal revival. Revival does not mean the absence of problems. As a matter of fact, when there is a living work of the Holy Spirit in a church or ministry, that work of revival itself will cause weaknesses and problems to surface. The key here is not to focus on the problem as if we are shocked by the presence of a problem. We must act swiftly and decisively to deal with the problem and get back to giving our energies to the vision.

Leaders who try to avoid a problem will only find that the problem will arise later much larger and with a much greater following than when it was first discovered. In Acts 6 the Apostles (church leadership) did several things that we need to observe:

1. They faced the problem. The didn't pretend it didn't exist.

2. They summoned the people together to address the problem.

Often leaders try to pretend a problem is not a problem. Often they try to hide the problem from the people when the people already know there is a problem and a lack of information leads them to become suspicious of leadership. It is better to just face it publicly. Obviously, this is on a need to know basis. This doesn't mean that leaders share things that are inappropriate. However, the primary problems needs to be acknowleged.

3. They didn't allow a problem to distract them from their primary vision and calling.

Just as in Nehemiah's day, they weren't coming down from the wall because the work they were doing was much too important. The stayed the course in ministry and allowed the people to be involved in the process of solving the problem. They gave the people instructions on what kind of servants should be involved in solving the problem, asked for names and then they set these deacons in to a place of solving the problem.

What was the result of facing the problem, involving the people and allowing the people to be a part in solving the problem? It "pleased the multitude"! What a miracle! The major result of dealing correctly with the problem was there was a great expansion of the Kingdom of God as "the number of disciples multiplied greatly".

Most leaders hate conflict and problems. They have a hard time dealing with confrontation. However, there is not a place in leadership apart from dealing with problems. So you don't like problems...deal with it!