Acts 6:1-7
Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid hands on them. 7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Prayer and the Word of God are the basic elements of our spiritual life. Prayer makes us sensitive to hearing God better. It does not necessarily change God’s mind in our favor, but it positions us to be sensitive to the Spirit of God. It also changes situations by making tremendous power available. It also attracts the ministry of angels. There are so many cases in the Bible, where prayerful individuals had angelic visitations because oftheir consistent prayer.
A few examples include the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul the Apostle, Daniel, Peter, and Cornelius.
Prayer can shake the buildings or even move the mountains. There was a time in the Book of Acts when the building was shaken after prayer was offered by the disciples. This means that it can also break the many foundations that are not of God. It can eliminate some evil contaminations that are not of God.
Let us embrace the ministry of prayer.
I read an amazing story of a man of God called Smith Wigglesworth.
Some fellow believers asked Smith Wigglesworth, a great man of Faith in the first half of the 20th century, about prayer. They said, Smith Wigglesworth, youare a man of faith and miracles, you’ve raised people from the dead. You’ve cast out more demons than we’ve had hot dinners. Tell us, how long do you pray every day?
Well, he replied, I don’t ever pray any longer than twenty minutes.
What? his questioners exclaimed. After pausing for effect, Smith Wigglesworth continued, yes, but I never go twenty minutes without praying.
Your prayer life is not measured in minutes. Prayer is a lifestyle. Prayer is a constant two-way communication with God. Prayer is essential to living in freedom. This was his concluding remarks.
From the passage above, the Disciples were concerned that believers were losing focus, not because serving the people was a problem, but because some believers were side-tracked by the overwhelming needs of the people around them.
This can still happen to us today. Most of the time we are so much overwhelmed by our needs, and we forget about prayer and the ministry of the Word. Prayer is essential because it has a ministry to accomplish in our lives daily.
The Word is a spiritual Seed that keeps growing.
Matthews 13:31-32
31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.
From the Book of Genesis, it is recorded that the Word of God brought all that we see in the physical world. The book of Hebrews records that through faith the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made by the things which do appear.
The Word produces after its kind.
Today, God Has given us His Word as a seed of creation. With His word on our lips, we can create new things. For the kingdom of God to expand, the word needs to be declared to birth new things in the Spirit. Even for the birth of great people like Jesus Christ and John the Baptist, the Word was released into the earth to cause a change. A seed needs to be planted to get good results for the kingdom of God. The Bible speaks of a mustard seed. This is a perfect picture of how everything in the kingdom works. There should always be a seed that produces after its kind. The size of the seed does not matter. What matters is the right conditions necessary for the seed to develop into a new plant. The Lord Jesus Christ explained it very well when He spoke about the parable of the Sower. In this parable, He showed us how we should respond correctly to the Word of the Kingdom.
His Name is the Word of God
We should note that every seed produces after its kind, and so is the word of God as a seed. It produces what it says. If it talks about healing, it becomes a source of healing. If it talks about peace, it becomes a seed for your peace. If it talks about joy, it becomes a seed for your joy. This simply means that it has the life of the message that it carries. The Bible says that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
It says that in the Word was life, and this life was also the light of men. Thesame Word became flesh. The same Word became Jesus Christ our Savior. It is the same word that is sent to accomplish God’s purpose in the earth and does not come back void. It accomplishes that which it was sent to do.
The Bible says that His name is the word of God.
(Revelation 19:13)
13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God
In a nutshell, we can conclude that the Word of God is the ultimate foundation for our Christian faith, and without the Word of God, we can come into serious deception.
Dear Father, we thank you for your word that has come to our hearts today. I pray that we may receive it with meekness and faith. I pray that we may be persuaded by your word , and that we may continue to walk in the light of it. I pray that it may birth all that it talks about in our lives. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray.
Amen
Ricks, thanks for this reminder of the ministry of word and prayer. I often go times without the word until I’m reminded. It’s easy for me to pray because it is a conversation with God and I talk to him constantly but the word, the Bible, is something that I need to make a better habit out of. Great article.
Thanks my sister. Iam glad that this has help in your spiritual new.
Your feedback is always encouraging. I appreciate it so much. Every word you have written here is also a lesson to you.
Thanks my sister, Nakia . Iam glad that this has helped in your spiritual walk
Your feedback is always encouraging. I appreciate it so much. Every word you have written here is also a lesson to you.
These are some of the experiences that we all go through. And the Lord Has been faithful to take us through.
Iam blessed to hear your feedback.
Ricks,
This is solid spiritual food! Communion prayer with the Lord and speaking his seeds. This helped me to keep to the basics, to what is important.
Mark
Thanks Mark for your constructive comments. I really appreciate it. I agree with you you that His Word is spiritual food. I know that the Lord will use this article in the future, to minister to many people in His Kingdom, and many will be brought to His Kingdom. This is because the Word is a spiritual seeds that keeps on growing, without human effort.
Thanks Mark for your constructive comments. I really appreciate it. I agree with you that His Word is spiritual food. I know that the Lord will use this article in the future, to minister to many people in His Kingdom, and many will be brought to His Kingdom as a result of His Word. This is because the Word is a spiritual seed that keeps on growing, without human effort.
A power packed article outlining the elementary truths of becoming great in the kingdom of God. Word and prayer is a double barrel. Thanks Morake for outlining it so deeply and without compromise. I’m sure this article will minister to lots of people.