Acts 6 - The Word of God & Prayer (notes)

Acts 6 - The Word of God & Prayer

What caused the early church to grow so rapidly?

There were two keys in chapter 6:

1. The Word of God.
2. Prayer.

Today We Will Look At

• The priorities of the early church. As the disciples were increasing they had a problem with a feeding program for widows. The 12 disciples said that neglecting the Word of God to wait on tables was not their priority. So they picked seven men full of the Spirit & wisdom and gave them the responsibility.
• Prayer & the Word were the priorities that they had.

The Meaning of "The Word of God" in V.4

"The Word of God": The New Century Version says teach the Word. The Message says Speaking the Word of God. The Common English Bible says… The service of proclaiming the Word. Many other translations say… Teaching the Word of God.

If There Is Something that the adversary wants to take away from the leadership of the church is the teaching ministry of the Word of God and prayer. The liar lies about these two powerful tools that cause multiplication of disciples.

Principles

1. The church grows through multiplication.
2. Multiplication happens when the leadership is free to teach the Word of God.
3. The Word is full of God’s life and power.
4. The Word keeps revival fires burning.
5. The church grows through prayer. When we pray hell trembles. Prayer is the key to maintaining a move of God.
6. Without prayer we become full of ourselves.
7. With prayer we get full of God.
8. The more I pray the easier it is to hear His Voice.
9. As a church we need to look at prayer as the life line of our fellowship.

Prayer

• Releases something in the spirit realm that nothing else can.
• Is our connection with the supernatural power of God.
• When we pray, Heaven invades earth.
• Is the most powerful weapon the church has to destroy the forces of evil.

The Lord Gives

• Some powerful keys to revival in the Book of Acts. The most powerful keys are the most simple ones. The most powerful keys are so simple that many times the church misses them. We look for deep revelations when what we are looking for are simple truths that are thousands of years old yet relevant for life today.
• God is all powerful and His truths don’t wear out or become outdated.
• The way we communicate might change but the truths of the Kingdom don’t change.

Throughout History man has tried to understand the great truths but they have been in the Word of God since they were written. The truths of the Kingdom are not just written to anyone but to those who hunger and thirst for it.

If I am hungry for truth I will be given revelation by the Holy Spirit. If I thirst for God as David did I will be given living water. Ps. 42:1-3

The Name

• The Key to the father sending the Holy Spirit is the name of Jesus.
• John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

The Seven

• Men that are chosen take over the job of feeding the needy and then God pours out His Spirit upon them.
• Stephen and Philip are two powerful men that God used in a mighty way.

Let’s concentrate

• On the priorities that God has and let’s watch what God will do in this place.
• We will see the glory of God.
• We will see God bring increase.