Next Steps 39 & 40

  As you hopefully noticed, last week’s “Next Step #39” never arrived, so this week you’re receiving a “double feature”—Next Steps #39 & #40.  Next Step #39 is titled “The Basic Job Qualification.”  In the early church, the number of believers “rapidly multiplied,” and the result was that some folks were upset. The problem was the church provided food for the widows, but some of the Greek-speaking widows seemed to be discriminated against in receiving their portion. Read what happened below:

¹But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

²So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. ³And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. ⁴Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.” ⁵Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of

Antioch

(an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). ⁶These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them. ⁷So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in

Jerusalem

, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.

Notice several key points:  1)  The problem was affirmed by the leadership; 2) The leadership of the church decided it would NOT be good for them to handle the situation, because it would distract them from teaching and prayer. and; 3) Those selected to take over the ministry of feeding the widows had one, basic job qualification:  They were “full of the Spirit.” Yes, they were respected and wise, but without being filled with the Holy Spirit they would not have been suited for the task. The same is true in our day.  The church needs many workers to carry out the ministry God has put before us, but unless a worker is “full of the Spirit” he or she is not qualified for the task, no matter how many other good qualities the worker possesses. As you go about your work in the name of Jesus, remember always to live in the power of the Holy Spirit, because only then will you be able to carry out the job faithfully and effectively.

Next Step #40

     Wow!  40 Next Steps! The number 40 is always significant in Scripture. For today, let’s revisit Jesus in the wilderness AFTER 40 days of fasting and prayer. It was the Holy Spirit who “drove” Jesus into the wilderness after His baptism for a time of temptation by Satan. As Jesus faced the temptation, the Spirit was with Him. How do we know?  Because each time the tempter offered Jesus the opportunity to turn from God’s ways and succumb to the “easy” way, Jesus responded with words of Scripture. The Holy Spirit does the same for us.  When we are tempted to take the “easy” way, to turn from God, to rely on ourselves, as we call on the Holy Spirit, He will bring to our remembrance God’s word that we, too, may overcome.   Jesus is the Son of God, so sometimes we find it easy to say, “Jesus succeeded because He’s GOD!” But remember Jesus was also FULLY HUMAN.  That means that He relied on the Holy Spirit just as we do to overcome temptation and sin. The next time the tempter offers you the easy way, quickly call on the Holy Spirit to bring God’s word to mind that you may overcome! God’s blessings as you live your life in the Spirit!