In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right of us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. Acts 6:1-4
In Acts 6, the disciples were increasing, and, of course, conflict came. There was a problem with the distribution of food to the widows and some thought that there was too much given to the Jews verses the Greeks. It is exciting that people were elected to handle that, and so the Apostles made it very clear that they would five their attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word.
Notice, it is not the ministry of the Word and prayer, but prayer was first. Prayer is the priority here, and it’s the priority in every church—it’s the priority in our personal life, that we be men and women of prayer whom God ahs called to lead his church. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a nursery worker, a Sunday school teacher, a youth leader, an elder or a pastor. It is essential that if the church is to become what God desires it to be, its people must be people of prayer.
Pray for church leaders to make prayer and the ministry of
the Word their highest priority.