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Daily eMail Devotional
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Acts 6:1-7 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. 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. 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. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 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: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 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.I have been youth pastor here at Ohana for a little over a year now, and in my one year of ministering, preaching, teaching, and counseling, I have learned that prayer and preparation really is the difference between being effective and being ineffective. I have to admit there have been times when I have felt “too busy” to pray for youth chapel on Wednesday nights or teen Sunday school on Sundays and have felt like the Holy Spirit was not anywhere near the building. I sometimes feel as if I am up there preaching and teaching in teen class, and rather than effectively communicating God’s Word, it feels as if I am just up there filling up time to keep the teens occupied. I credit this all to a lack of prayer and preparation on my part when this occurs.
Here, in our passage, we find a similar problem arise for the disciples. They are faced with the dilemma that takes them away from their main focus; the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. To solve the problem they tell the church people to look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. They ask other men in the church to take over this area, so that they could give themselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. This is what we need to do as a church family for our shepherd, Pastor Surface. Our pastor’s job is not necessarily to work on the building, follow up on all the visitors, make sure you are in your place on Sunday, to keep the ministry running smoothly, but his job is to, like the disciples, be given continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
The Word of God is the foundation of our church, and if our pastor is not able to make that his primary focus, than we as a church are not being what we need to be for Pastor. Look at verse 7 at what happened when the Disciples were able to give their attention to God’s Word, “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.” When Pastor Surface and his staff are able to focus on God’s Word and prayer, than we too will see an increase as we see in Jerusalem. What load can you take off of our Pastor? Our Pastor will see to it that what needs to get done at the church will get done, whether by himself or by the staff, but by doing so takes them away from their other duties. How can you help? Maybe you have been looking for a place to serve? Just come and ask and we will find a place for you.
Love you all,
Pastor Mike
Don't Forget -
