Full of grace and power, performing great wonders and signs among the people.

Acts 6 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. ² So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. ³ Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. ⁴ But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” ⁵ The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. ⁶ And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.

⁷ The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

⁸ And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. ¹¹ Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” ¹² And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council. ¹³ They put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; ¹⁴ for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.” ¹⁵ And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.

Today’s text should be an encouragement to all believers. It says:  Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.  But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.   Stephen was selected to serve. He was commissioned to wait on tables and provide food for widows. Yet the text says:  Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.    In Matthew 20:26 Jesus says:  “Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant.”  Stephen did not just serve though. He did not consider his position of service to be a menial task. Being one who served the people, he was somewhat of a first responder. He also saw and heard the other needs that people had. Stephen was described as full of faith and the Holy Spirit. When he saw or heard of the needs of people, the Holy Spirit in him rose up to meet those needs.

We, like Stephen are called to love and serve others. Regardless of our position in the church, we all have gifts of the Spirit, which enable us to meet the needs of others. In 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 it says:  There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.  Romans 12:4-8 says:  Just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. In Galatians 5:22-23 it says:  The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, self-control.  So, there are the various ministry gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 and the additional gifts in Romans 12, plus there are the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5. For the church to operate properly, every member needs to be walking in the Spirit and using their gifts. Like Stephen though, if we are serving, the Spirit is also able to distribute whatever gift is necessary for the need that is before us; one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.  If we encounter someone who is sick, the Holy Spirit in us can heal them. In John 14:12-14 Jesus says:  “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”  May it be said of each one of us, that like Stephen, we are:  full of grace and power, performing great wonders and signs among the people.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ; precious Holy Spirit; may I walk in the Spirit, utilizing my gifts both in the church and wherever I go. May I serve. May I give. May I teach. May I prophesy. May I heal and work miracles. May I walk in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. In the name of Jesus, may I do whatever is necessary for the time.  Amen.