Acts 6

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Acts 6:1:And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

Acts 6:2:Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

Acts 6:3:Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

Suddenly the Church is filled new Christians and it is no longer a Jewish only congregation. I have seen this happen, today, in a Church Family and it is not only sad, it is completely wrong! We had a Spanish Church Family to loose their lease and we negotiated a deal with them to use our church building where they held separate services. I was not part of the team to work this out and I am not willing to lay blame to any of the parties that filled the need to negotiate the terms.

The issue is, however, one of prejudice on both sides. It is human to be prejudiced but it is also not Christ like! In the text here we see the birth of the Deacons in the Christian Church and they were commissioned to serve all peoples in the Church Family, regardless of race! When the woman in Matt. 15:27 came to Jesus, He set the example for all of His followers to pay attention to! We must over come all our natural instincts to become like Him.

Acts 6:4:But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Acts 6:5:And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

Acts 6:6:Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

The Business of being a Deacon can be a disturbing thing today. I have seen a Church where two brothers were ordained, before my time there, and they assumed ownership of the grounds and congregation and they made the

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complete assembly to be their kingdom and ruled it as such. In another, one I was never in attendance at, I was offered ordination for becoming an active member there. That would have placed me in the position of having purchased the title of Deacon and that would have been completely contrary to scripture.

The deacons of any Church, belonging to Jesus, must be filled with the Holy Ghost and they are the servants to the complete membership as well as to the Pastoral Staff. They are to set the example for every attending member to follow and if they cannot over come their personal preferences, prejudices, they must not even be considered for service!

We need, often, to read this and other passages on the service of Deacons and to remember, never to violate them in our selection.

Acts 6:7: And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

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

Acts 6:9: Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

Acts 6:10: And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

Acts 6:11: Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

Acts 6:12: And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,

It is often told that if you will choose to follow Jesus, all of your troubles will be over but there is no larger lie to be tolod in this world, today. Stephen is a great example of the truth. He was a man filled with the Holy Spirit that5 taught Jesus and lived for Jesus and he was beset upon by evil men for no good reason whatsoever. Living for Jesus is not only impossible to do 2 without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, you will be set upon by religious men and women as well as all manor of Satan worshippers.

Acts 6:13: And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:

Acts 6:14: For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

Acts 6:15: And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Here we see that men are very much the same today as they were then, they will lie to anyone for any purpose and for a coin or two they will swear to it.

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