Acts 6: 1-4 Faithfulness in Prayer

Acts 6:1-2 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists,[a] because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. The Hebrews were natives of Israel and spoke Hebrew rather than Greek. The Hellenists were Jews who were natives of the Greco-Roman world and spoke Greek. The presence and power of the Spirit does not automatically guarantee that life's difficulties will go away. Often it is necessary to Christians to discuss their differences and ask God wise solutions.
Acts 6:3 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; Church growth demands organization and delegation. Leadership in the church must be full of both the Holy Spirit and wisdom. The Holy Spirit gives us God's perspective. Wisdom is the practical side of problems solving. Many interpreters regard the seven as the first deacons, although the term does not appear in this passage.
Acts 6:4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” Prayer and the ministry of the word must be the perpetual priority of the equipping leadership of the church (See EPH 4:11-16). This does not suggest that the ministry of benevolence is on a lower level. It is a matter of the roles that God assigns (See Romans 12:4-8).

6:1-4 Faithfulness in Prayer and Spiritual Warfare FAITH'S WARFARE. The early church learned quickly that their prayer had to be continuous because spiritual warfare is continuous. It became their first priority because Satan sought their defeat as his first priority. Thus, their earliest recorded administrative decision after Pentecost places the ministry of prayer (with the word) as highest in importance. As the church grew, circumstances required more of the apostle's time. But realizing they needed more prayer, rather than increased activity, the apostles chose seven men to serve as deacons to care for the church. This freed them to focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word. Of the two, prayer, rightfully, is listed first. Faithfulness to prayer recurs throughout Scripture. Paul would later tell the church at Rome to "be kindly affectionate to one another...continuing steadfastly in prayer" (Romans 12: 10, 12.

Repentance

2 Corinthians 7:9-10 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Repentance, Reconciliation.

Repentance is an essential turning point in reconciled relationships; it requires ownership of our responsibility for whatever part we may have played in erecting or reinforcing barriers. Repentance not only accepts responsibility for the part that we have played in the wall building, but also for the turning away from he behavior that built the walls in the first place. Often, we may not even perceive how we may have intentionally contributed to divisions between people individually or between ethnic groups in general, especailly through ethnic discrimination or religious sectarianism. Perhaps we have not done anything personally to hurt others, but still we may have sinned by our inaction (James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin). For the body of Christ to come to health and repentance--- regret, confession, and action --- is needed. As we do repent, the walls built through blindness and separation will be brought down and Christ will be honored through reconciled relationships.

Colossians 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

May God bless your day.

You Comforter - Your Helper

Unique to John is the designation of the Holy Spirit as "Comforter" or "Helper" (John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever), literally "one called alongside." He is "another Helper," namely, one of the same kind as Jesus, thereby extending the ministry of Jesus to the end of the age. It would be a grave error, however, to understand the Spirit's purpose merely in terms of one needed in predicaments. On the contrary, John demonstrates that the Spirit's role encompasses every facet of life. In regard to the world outside of Christ, He works as the agent who convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-11 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged). The experience of being "born of the Spirit" is descriptive of New Birth (John 3:6 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit). Because God in essence is Spirit, those who worship Him must do so spiritually, that is, as directed and motivated by the Holy Spirit (John 4:24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth”). Further, in anticipation of Pentecost, the Spirit becomes the divine enabler for authoritative ministry (John 20:21-23 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained").

The Holy Spirit also fulfills a definite function in relation to Christ. While the Father sent the Spirit in the name of Christ, the Spirit never draws attention to Himself, nor does He speak in His own authority. Instead, His mission is to glorify Jesus and to declare Christ's teaching to the disciples (John 16:14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you).

John reveals the function of the Holy Spirit in continuing the work of Jesus, leading believers into and understanding of meanings, implications, and imperatives of the gospel, and enabling them to do "greater works" than those done by Jesus (John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father). Present-day believers in Christ may thus view Him as their contemporary, not merely as a figure from the distant past.

I pray you let the Spirit be your guide in everything you do. Everything!

AMEN