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Good Tuesday Morning May 7th, my dear friends;
It’s nice to be home… got home last night, but oh what a great weekend of ministry I had, thanks for praying for me.
Today we’re in Acts 6…another monumental event chapter in the life of the first Church.
Rapid growth… no, it was ‘explosive’ growth!
That was the experience of the Apostles and followers of Jesus in the weeks following Jesus’ ascension. Jerusalem was being turned upside down by the Holy Spirit of God!
In Acts 6 we find a major ‘management’ decision and organizational re-structure plan. 12 disciples/apostles were trying to do what Jesus told them…
‘be My witnesses in Jerusalem…” and that’s as far as they had gotten, but already it was over 5000 people… this was getting out of control!
Then as now in many parts of the world, widows were left to fend for themselves if they didn’t have sons to care for them. But this huge movement of people trying to figure out how to be practitioners of Jesus’ teachings felt moved by the Spirit to see the practical, daily needs of widows. So, a plan was developed… do you see the plan and the criteria?
“Choose seven men from among you, who are known to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.“ (Acts 6:3) Wow! What a high standard. How many men do you know who would fit that criteria? Do you see the rest of vs. 3&4?
The Apostles had learned from Jesus something vital to survival in following God and living an effective, God honoring Christian life: you’ve got to have TIME to LISTEN to God, REFLECT on what the Spirit of God is telling you, and keep growing in your relationship with Jesus and understanding of His Word!
Busyness will drain your spiritual life dry!
So the Apostles, trying to respond to the needs of 5000+ people, re-organized the movement! They would focus on the Spiritual leadership of the movement, assuring the people were being taught the things which they had heard Jesus teach (John 16:13-15; Matt. 28:19,20) (remember no Bibles)! And they would be very sure to NOT neglect daily time in prayer, listening to their heavenly Father like Jesus did (Mark 1:35).
Meanwhile they entrusted the practical care of the movement to 7 Godly men. . later known as Deacons! (Acts 6:5,6). Remember 1 Timothy 3:8-13 is Paul’s clear instructions about the qualifications of Deacons in the churches he was planting. This is where “elders” & “deacons” come from in our modern Christian church.
Please notice Acts 6:7. ..what do you see? Jewish ‘priests’ are also trusting Jesus to be their Savior and Lord?
Sadly, the opposition will never rest… Acts 6:8-15 !!
As you read these first chapters in Acts, do you wonder if it has ever happened again? YES my friends… it IS happening today in many parts of India, China, Nepal and other places in Asia. it’s happening in many places in South America and even in Africa! Why not Western Europe and North America??? I’ll let you ponder that. . . what is getting in the way of such a moving of the Spirit of God here? Why don’t you ask Jesus about that?
Remember it’s RAMADAN… are you praying for 1 million Muslims to be drawn to Jesus this month?
Have a great day friends…
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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