Heralds Digest

  “ Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith .” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭6:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ There is no doubt that the expression of disappointment and disaffection among members of the same family, same neighbourhood, same assembly at workplaces, same race in societies, or races in the same country often start with disagreement on the use of words. Words, cunningly expressed with wise human intelligence, have always constituted hate speech, racism, incitement, rebellion, backbiting, and character assassination. They promote the divide-and-rule strategy among members and congregation. Even in the early church, the limited wise words had characterized the growth of the church with murmuring, disaffection, and segregation of distribution on the basis of races and classes. Whereas, the solution to the problem was proffered by the Apostles, through the engagement of deacons who could leverage on g...

  “Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭6:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.6.7.nkjv Someone once said the devil can be anything but a fool. Against the widespread of the gospel message and the incredible growth in the early church quickly came a weighted accusation of discrimination. Likewise, there are always genuine concerns in every family, assembly and organization where human management is represented. Unknowingly to many often, these distractions are targeted at suspending devotion to the words of the Lord and the pursuit of godliness. While the famous approach to addressing confrontation, concerns or weighted words in believer’s life or affairs is the suspension of the wholesome words, the apostles chose the approach of delegation without losing focus. Prompt attention to words from people in our lives is good; but when this attention is aime...

“Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭6:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/act.6.3.nkjv Services are naturally the expected duties of every human being. Therefore, services at workplaces, homes, societies, and religious assemblies are easily tempted to depend only on the servants’ administrative skills and intelligence. But when the Apostles set out the need of the Holy Spirit as one of the requirements for serving of tables, good leaders are cautioned against the possibility of sentiments, selfishness, and superfluity in service calling. If the word of God, and not the ideas of men, must increase in the people’s life and ministry, there must be no little service without the need for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. No one can truly serve the people for God alone without totally enabling the service of people with God’s Spirit.

“Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business...Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭6:3, 7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/act.6.3,7.nkjv Distractions, like complaints, murmurings, etc, hinder the strength and effectiveness of God's Word in the heart. The negative impacts of an anticipated distraction to the influence of the Word of God was spotted by the Apostle, leading the appointment of deacons 'whom we may appoint over this business'. The business of distribution of necessities to meet the needs of people represents a significant oversight function of the body of believers. Negligence in this duty attracts unnecessary perforation of God's Word with worthless activities, in place of prayer that will connect earth's story with heaven...