Godly Selection & Assignment (7/4/23)
Acts 6
Freya
7/5/2023
Life Lesson(s)…
As Holy Spirit is welcomed into believers' lives and they come together in unity and community, mankind is reminded that it is not humanly possible to have only a few individuals handle everything for God. The 12 apostles recognized this truth as did Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, (Exodus 18:13-23) and Moses (Deuteronomy 1:9-18). As in the days of Moses, the apostles gathered their fellow disciples to find the right leaders to handle the administration of the widows' offering to Jew and Gentile alike. The qualifications were listed and the selection of the seven were made with Stephen leading the list.
Note these passages do not only reflect the limitation of man, but also the awareness that each individual has been selected by God for a particular assignment because of the particular gifts or offices placed upon them. The apostles knew their assignment was to preach the word of God, while the seven men appointed were assigned to handle administration. For they were all one body under Christ, but each with a different gifting and function (see 1 Corinthians 12:12-27).
From each person working in their God-selected assignments using their spiritual gifts, the community of believers and the body of Christ grew. No matter what the unbelievers said or did, the growing ecclesia could not be stopped. Through Stephen, a believer not in the office of apostle, the church witnessed another disciple moving "full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people."
Your Thoughts…
Considering Acts 6 and the application to your own life:
Do you believe that Acts 6 is still relevant today? Why or why not? If so, how?
What happened to the full grace and power that the apostles and disciples exhibited during the expansion of the Christ-followers? Why is it not often seen today?
How do you perceive God to be? Father? Christ? Holy Spirit? Do you think this perspective affects the grace and power you receive from God?
Pray for revelation and understanding from the Lord regarding how you should apply Acts 6 to your life.
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And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.
ACTS 6:2-3 (ESV)