Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  2024  Day 40

February 9;         Acts 6:8;          95/260;         ‘These Signs Follow’

Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

The Church in Jerusalem was growing.  In any Church there are natural needs as well as spiritual needs.  Food was not being distributed to widows.  The apostles knew that the need had to be taken care of.  They also knew that they were not the ones to do it.  Verse 4 tells us that the apostles chose seven men to be waiters and distribute the food to those widows who needed it.  The apostles would continue to do what the Lord called them to do, pray and teach the Word.  The seven men who were chosen to be waiters, were to have a good reputation, be Spirit filled (speak in tongues) and be full of wisdom, which comes from being full of the Word.  Because the Church was diligent to take care of the natural need, verse 7 teaches that the Church grew.  The ministry of the seven men chosen was to wait on tables.  Why then was it necessary that these men be full of the Holy Spirit and full of the Word?  Stephen, one of the seven chosen was full of faith and power and miracles flowed through him.  Every believer should have a good reputation, be Spirit filled and know the Word.  Those widows who the waiters served food to had to have other needs in their lives.  If these waiters were strong spiritually, and they were, they would be able to minister to any need those widows had.  This is true today as well.  Every Christian should be Spirit filled and full of the wisdom of the Word, so that on the job, with their family or with their friends, they will be well able to minister to any need of others.  We are all His ministers.