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.
"murmuring"
[G1112]
=secret debate
=displeasure
=grudging
[G1111]
=grumbling
..in low tone
=complain
=express discontent
"widows"
[G5503]
=a woman
..without a husband
..whose husband died
=a city stripped
..of inhabitants
..of riches
[G5490]
=idea of
..vacancy
..being without
=deficiency..loss..lack
=without father
..or husband
=disadvantaged
=vulnerable
=alone
[H491]
(Gen.38:14)
[H488]
=forsaken as widow
[H481]
=as divorced woman
=bereavement
=discarded
..(i.e. departed from
unbeliever)
"neglected"
[G3865]
=examine
=compare with others
=overlooked
=ignored
=lacking
[G2334]
=noticed
=discerned
[G3708]
=to take heed
(Lexicon)
=unexpectedly noticed
=to care for
"ministration"
[G1248]
=administration
=those who minister
=office of
..apostles
..prophets
..evangelists
..elders..deacons
=delegated to
..provide affection
..meet physical needs
..collecting
..distributing
..charities
..prepare food
..anoint with oil
..pray for healing
[G1249]
=run errands
=(go where needed
..to represent
afflicted)
=servant of a king
=cares for poor
=raises funds to
..help disadvantaged
..waits on tables
..serves food
As the number of disciples was increasing ... the Grecians began to murmur against the Hebrews
...because their widows were being overlooked during the time delegated for daily ministry to them.
... In the early Church ... followers of Christ understood the importance of ministering to widows
... and the value of mirroring God's heart
... by being like God ... the One who is the Helper of those who "have no help." (Ps.72:12)
They understood the amazing benefits and blessings God was waiting to pour out upon those who
... followed His example and teaching
... regarding ministry to those in need
... especially within the body of believers.
The importance of this ministry
... was right up there next to preaching the Gospel
... because it was such a powerful picture of love
... unity in Christ
... and Jesus' message of salvation in action.
... Therefore, this unique expression of love had the power to reach many souls for Christ in a very short time.
Also it provided a means of exposing the wickedness of the religious hypocrites that preyed upon the widows ... fatherless ... and the vulnerable ... who were being rejected and oppressed by this sinful world.
Unfortunately today ... professing Christians have ... for the most part ... turned their responsibility over to the systems of this world ... and back into the clutches of pharisaical hypocrites
... hoping that their taxes to Ceasar will cover that which God had personally entrusted to them
... while worldly systems steal the glory from God and reap huge financial rewards for controlling the physical and spiritual lives of the elderly
... and while their children ... who are called by God to first minister to their parents ... as a means of developing spiritual maturity and providing a demonstration of the true definition of "love"
(Matt.15:3-9)
(Mark 7:6-13)
... and the "religious" ... (but biblically ignorant) folks
... indulge themselves in worldly pursuits.
*See post at this blog*
"Rapture..Do You Qualify?" (11/27/18)
The very fact that the disciples labored over the selection of those who would carry out this ministry ... reveals the importance it had in gaining God's blessing and furthering His message of salvation.
**Message #1**
Conflict often precedes realignment of priorities and re-positioning of the Holy Spirit-filled righteous servants of God.
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.
(not) "reason"
(not) "reason"
[G701]
=(not) pleasing
=(not) agreeable
[G141]
=(not) emotionally
..uplifting (to widows)
=(not) bearing
..(burdens)
=(not) appropriate
..(for the twelve
disciples who were
ministering the
Word of God)
All things were not being "done decently and in order."
Ministry to the widows ... the needy women within the fellowship of believers ... was a priority that could not be neglected
... however ... neither could the administration of the Word of God and prayer be neglected.
**Message #2**
Problems in ministry often cause change ... that ultimately results in salvation of many souls.
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.
"honest report"
[G3140]
=to be a qualified
..witness
=give testimony
=have a good report
[3144]
=witness
..legal sense
..ethical sense
=genuine Christian
"appoint"
[G2525]
=set..place..put
=in charge of
=to administrative
..office
=constitute..declare
=show to be..ordain
=render..make
=bring to certain place
=come forward
[G2596]
=daily as
[G2476]
=make to stand in
..presence of others
..before others
=establish
**Message #3**
God will always reveal the most spiritually qualified people for the job at hand.
4
But we will
give ourselves continually
to prayer,
and
to the ministry
of the word.
The original twelve disciples are inspired by God to provide a solution that will solve the problem of neglected widows
... while at the same time ... preserving the vital administration of the Word of God ... and ... valuable time required for prayer.
**Message #4**
God will ... through prayer and Spirit of the Word of God ... reveal to every believer ... the specific calling(s) within the fellowship of believers.
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:
All of the disciples were in favor of choosing seven genuine Christian men to minister to the widows
... men whose dedication to the cause of Christ was especially obvious.
Stephen was chosen first because of his significant faith and obvious indwelling of the Holy Spirit ... then six others were carefully chosen ... as well.
**Message #5**
When the Holy Spirit unifies members of the fellowship ... in the Truth of the Word of God ... all will be pleased with the right decision.
6
Whom they set
before the apostles:
and when
they
had prayed,
they
laid their hands
on them.
**Message #6**
After the seven were chosen ... the apostles prayed ... then laid their hands on them ... signifying their spiritual extension ... delegation ... and ... approval of the apostles
... making the ordination of their administrative
positions official.
Please note:
...The Holy Spirit was not imparted by men
... men did not cause the Holy Spirit to go forth from their hands ... into the men chosen
... men did not control the Holy Spirit.
In verse 5 ... we see that these seven men were already filled with the Holy Spirit.
This is the main reason they were chosen in the first place.
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.
Order was restored to the body of believers ... harmony produced an increase in the Word going forth ... resulting in many new disciples ... even many priests coming to faith in Christ.
Order was restored to the body of believers ... harmony produced an increase in the Word going forth ... resulting in many new disciples ... even many priests coming to faith in Christ.
**Message #7**
God sends out His Word:
...causing
...the Holy Spirit wind to blow
...causing
...the Waters of the Word to flow
(Ps. 147:18)
8
And Stephen,
full of
faith and power,
did
great wonders
and
miracles
among the people.
**Message #8**
It was
... faith...
in the
Word of God
and
...power...
of the
Spirit of God
...that produced great wonders and miracles
... which brought Stephen to the forefront
... making him a target of the enemies of Christ.
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.
**Message #9**
It's the hypocritical religious crowd ... that sees Stephen as a threat
... it's the religious hypocrites ... that create contention and rise up against this faithful ... Holy Spirit-filled servant of God.
10
10
And
they were not able
to resist
the wisdom
and
the spirit
by which
he spake.
**Message #10**
**Message #10**
Our Father provides
... Words of wisdom
... and ...
... power of the Holy Spirit
to penetrate the evil hearts of the wicked.
11
Then
they suborned men, which said,
We have heard
him speak
blasphemous words against Moses,
and
against God.
"suborned"
[G5260]
=instruct privately
=instigate .. bribe
=to give false testimony
=to lie
=to falsely accuse
[G906]
=to throw or let go
..not caring where
it falls
=cast forth .. insert
**Message #11**
The wicked carelessly attack the reputation of the righteous
... to set them up in various ways to cause confusion regarding their credibility
... secretly conspiring to lie and falsely accuse the righteous
... even willing to pay others to bring forth false testimonies and attacks.
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,
The attack against Stephen escalates from being a verbal attack
... to physically taking hold of him with their hands
... forcing him to go before the council.
**Message #12**
Escalation of attack...
1..
First caused by confusion ... stirring up people to create a scene ... making the innocent appear to be some type of ungodly criminal
2..
Hypocritical "religious" (prominent ... well established ..."good guys") take authority in the attack
3..
Accusers physically seize the victim and force him to be "judged"... as "guilty."
[Just like they did to Jesus]
13
And
set up
false witnesses,
which said,
This man
ceaseth not
to speak
blasphemous words against
this holy place,
and
the law:
**Message #13**
Remember ...
"stir up"..."set up"
14
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.
**Message #14**
Wicked accusers present their "case" based on:
1."hearsay"
2. fear
...of destruction
3. change
...in their lifestyle.
15
And all that sat
in the council,
looking stedfastly
on him,
saw his face
as it had been
the face of an angel.
**Message #15**
When God's people bring forth their testimony ... the Holy Spirit is obviously present ... for all to see.
Acts 7:1-50. . .
Stephen gives religious hypocrites a lesson in Old Testament history and prophecy ... regarding the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
... Then ...
Stephen says:
51
Ye stiffnecked
and
uncircumcised
in heart and ears,
ye do always
resist the Holy Ghost:
as your fathers did, so do ye.
Stephen's words sound pretty harsh to us today ... after being brain-washed for so many years ... making "politeness" supersede truth-filled warnings.
It is not hatred or anger that motivates Stephen to rebuke his attackers.
... God is giving him every Word to impart in an attempt to confront the rebellion hidden under their cloak of self-righteousness.
They need to know that they are standing on dangerous ground ... for their own sake ... that the action they are taking against Stephen is ... in reality ... a result of their resistance to the Holy Spirit of God.
**Message #16**
Attackers require serious Biblical warnings and spiritual rebukes.
... This is a clear picture of spiritual warfare for the sake of waking souls destined for hell
... and ... one very important soul is going to be strategically placed in the Kingdom of God
... as a result of the seeds planted through this persecution of Stephen
... as we shall see.
52
Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?
and
they have slain them which shewed before
of the coming
of the Just One;
[Lord Jesus Christ]
of whom ye
have been now
the betrayers
and
murderers:
Prophets are those who broadcast the Word of God ... to instruct ... and warn
... bringing His Word forth to alert people to their unacceptable spiritual condition.
**Message #17**
Religious hypocrites live on a very slippery slope
... which often takes them further into sin than they first intended to go.
... Hatred for Truth first leads them to persecute those who speak the truth
... however... that often causes them then
... to slide into satan's fellowship of liars
... setting up God's people to be deceived ... and betrayed
... and finally discovering that they have slipped right into a circle of slow-kill murders
... and finally ... becoming full-fledged ... heartless ... instantaneous assassins.
So one day ... they wake up in hell ... and ask, "How did I ever end up here?"
It was not their initial intention to become a murderer.
... but their hatred for Truth and the Lord Jesus Christ ... who is the Truth
... put them on the slippery slope to murder and hell.
53
Who have
received the law
by the disposition
of angels,
[Messengers of God]
and
have not kept it.
"Angel" is another Word for "messenger"
... so this verse is referring to the prophets... who are the "messengers" of God.
The prophets have brought forth God's message ... law ... Word of God.
... But ... while the hypocrites have received the message ... they have not kept it ... have not obeyed it.
**Message #18**
It is not enough to be exposed to the Word of God ... to agree with it ... and receive it.
So to avoid becoming a murderous hypocrite ... one must obey the Word of God.
(This is not about sinless perfection ... but about striving to follow Christ and His Word.)
A hypocrite does not have to literally kill a person ... to qualify as a murderer.
Jesus said that all one has to do to qualify as a murderer ... is to have hatred in their heart toward another person.
In this case ... hatred for Truth is the same as hatred of Jesus Christ ... because He is the "Truth."
54
When they heard
these things,
they were
cut to the heart,
and
they gnashed on him with their teeth.
The Truth made these religious hypocrites very angry.
To assure that they did not hear one more Word of Truth ... they launched a full-blown ... emotionally ... out of control ... physical attack against Stephen.
**Message #19**
When God's servants speak the Truth ... religious hypocrites will identify themselves by coming forward to launch an attack
... sometimes verbally ... but also ... as days become darker
... physical ... even murderous ... secret attacks will occur ... as they lie in wait ... as their father ... the devil
... to kill ... steal ... and destroy.
54
54
But he,
being full
of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven,
and
saw the glory of God,
and
Jesus standing
on the right hand
of God,
While the wicked are busy reserving their place in hell
... Stephen is already seeing the Lord Jesus Christ ... the face of God
... and getting an amazing view of heaven
... his destination.
**Message #20**
This account of Stephen's murder
... is not fiction.
It has been carefully preserved in historical documents ... as well as the inerrant Holy Bible.
Therefore . . .
... Jesus Christ is real.
... Heaven is real.
... and Hell ... is real.
56
And said,
Behold, I see
the heavens opened,
and
the Son of man
standing
on the right hand
of God.
Stephen describes exactly what he is seeing moments before his death.
**Message #21**
All genuine believers are compelled by the Holy Spirit
... to testify to all God is showing them and all He is doing in their life
... for the benefit ... and salvation of others.
57
Then they cried out
with a loud voice,
and
stopped their ears,
and
ran upon him
with one accord,
But ... the crowd that has gathered ... hates ... cannot tolerate
... the Words of Truth in Stephen's personal testimony to the reality of God ... Jesus Christ ...
Heaven
... and ... oh, yes ... therefore ... the reality of hell that awaits them.
... So the crowd becomes one united
... devil-inspired
... attacking ... murderous mob machine.
**Message #22**
Remember. . .
Jesus said that
... they hated Him first
... and if they hated Him they would also hate genuine believers
(Jn.7:7 ..&.. 15:18)
58
And cast him out
of the city,
and
stoned him:
and
the witnesses
laid down their clothes
at a young man's feet, whose name was
Saul.
The wicked were not satisfied to just cast Stephen out of the city
... no ... they had to utterly destroy him
... But ... the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet ... whose name was Saul
... the same "Saul" who could not resist the Holy Spirit after witnessing the death of Stephen
...the same "Saul" who encountered the Lord Jesus Christ
... questioning him about his murderous
... consenting ... persecuting heart
... as "Saul" traveled the road to Damascus.
... whose name became, "Paul" ... "thee" Apostle ... whose Holy Spirit-filled pen wrote many epistles which were vital to the survival of the Church of Jesus Christ.
**Message #23**
... BUT ...
God uses the spiritual seed of a pure-hearted martyr to bring
... the Apostle Paul
... and a countless harvest of souls into His Kingdom!
59
And
they stoned Stephen, calling upon God,
and
saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60
60
And he
kneeled down,
and
cried
with a loud voice,
Lord,
lay not this sin
to their charge.
And
when he had said this,
he fell asleep.
**Message #24**
Even while being murdered
... God's people
... pray for the salvation of their murderers.
*****
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*****
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