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THE KING’S BUSINESS
in those days they had not additions, but multiplications all the time, and big mul tiplications at that, they were “multiplied exceedingly" Right through the Acts we read this same history o f an ever growing and rapidly growing church, a church that went steadily forward from Jerusalem to Rome. Every chapter has its note o f vic tory. (See e. g., ch. 2:47; 4 :4 ; 5:14). The great secret o f this continuous and marvellous growth is found in the fourth verse, they continued Steadfastly in prayer (cf. ch. 2:42). A praying ministry.is always a victorious ministry, and a praying church is always a victorious church. The prayer with which these deacons were set apart was real prayer, a real crying to God that He might fit them for the work. The pur pose o f the laying on o f hands was that they might be definitely endued with the Holy Spirit (cf. ch. 8:15-17). How many of our deacons today really are Spirit- filled men? The fact that Stephen was “ full o f grace and power” led to a marvel lous ministry, he “ wrought great wonders and signs among the people” (v. 8). A man so filled always will work great won ders and signs. But it all got him into trouble (v. 9 FF ). A man who is “ full o f the Spirit and power” will always stir up opposition. It is to be noted that those who opposed Stephen were not only moral, but religious men, they belonged to a sym_ agogue. The bitterest opposition a Spirit- filled man encounters is rarely from the ungodly, or even from the irreligious, it is usually from those who have a form of religion but who do not know the power thereof. But though opposed, his oppo nents could not stand up against his reason ing (v. 10). So, as they could not answer him, they sought to kill him (v. 11 follow ing).
eating that they were Grecian Jews. The church at Jerusalem evidently displayed a generous spirit in the choice of deacons; the Grecian^ Jews had made a complaint that their widows were neglected in the daily ministrations (v. l),'a n d so in choos ing deacons to minister the funds o f the church they chose them from the very party that thought they were _not fairly treated. The two deacons first named, Stephen and Philip, soon developed into, preachers, and mighty preachers. As far as the record goes these two deacons out stripped most o f the Apostles in real achievement for God. But o f the two, Stephen stands out pre-eminent. He is one o f the most beautiful characters in the Bible. He was a very full man: (1) “ Full o f faith,” (2 ) “ Full o f the Holy Spirit.” (3) “ Full o f grace” (v. 8 , R. V .). (4) “ Full o f power” (v. 8). Each one o f these four forms o f fulness are worthy o f earnest study, not only o f study, but o f meditation. The deacons were set apart for the work by prayer and by the laying on o f hands. The laying on o f hands was symbolical o f fellowship and the imparting o f the Holy Spirit, and doubtless a real blessing came to the deacons as the hands o f the Apostles were laid upon them. v. 7. "And the Word o f God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great com pany of the priests were obedient to the faith.” As a result o f the spirit of fair ness and love and concession that the early church showed, and as a result o f the character o f the deacons chosen, the “Word o f God increased, and the number o f the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceed ingly.” How different from the history o f the church today! Today we are con tent with a few additions every year, but
LESSON OUTLINE.
Did Paul warn against murmuring? 1 Cor. 10:10. How should all things 'be 'done? Phil 2:14.
(1 ) Murmuring Over Ministries, v. 1. Against whom did Israel murmur? Ex. 16:2-7.
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