Praise & Pray

Acts 6:3 - And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility (NLT).

It can be easy to ignore, but these are some of the characteristics we must embody as Christians, as true disciples of Jesus Christ and His Father.

We must carry ourselves in a way that we are well respected. Respect doesn't come from how much money or influence we have but from how we behave. When we display godly character, people will respect us and be influenced to carry themselves similarly. This is not to say there won't be agitators, mockers, and scoffers. In fact, it is because you carry yourself as a true disciple that you will attract enemies. However, that is not a reason to compromise with God's instructions. Remember that Jesus put God's concerns first and was rewarded. We are to emulate Him and do the same.

If we fail to submit to the Lord's Holy Spirit, then it will be impossible to emulate the Savior. It also cannot happen without godly wisdom, which the Spirit of God provides. And it is the Holy Spirit who will teach us as we study the Bible and as we navigate our daily lives. He also helps us discern the spirits that inhabit attitudes, people, and things. The Holy Spirit reveals what is designed to steer us away from God. Otherwise, we would miss the significance of these things. He points us toward Christ at all times.

Jesus instructed His followers to wait to receive the Holy Spirit. He wouldn't have said this if doing so was bad. And only those who desired this gift obeyed His instruction to wait. Each of them received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Day (Acts 1). They were marked with speaking in other tongues, wisdom, and boldness in speech. Many of them also performed miraculous signs and wonders. All of which continue today in the lives of those who similarly carry a deposit of God's Spirit and submit to Him.

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Without the Holy Spirit, we would be limited to worldly wisdom. We would apply it, thinking it was good because we'd occasionally see 'positive' results. However, the absence of the Holy Spirit leads to spiritual blindness and blindspots that hide the true cost of choices a life without Him. And that cost impacts our earthly existence and our eternal soul because without the 'Helper' as Jesus called the Holy Spirit, we would quickly live in spiritual adultery, legalism, and idolatry.

This is why many church-going Christians are living 'good' but not godly lives. Their lives are no different from those of unbelievers because God's grace and word have not changed them. They are the ones spoken of in 2 Timothy 3:5 - They will appear to have a godly life, but they will not let its power change them. Stay away from such people (GWT). Believers cannot afford to be this way, because it eliminates our chances of getting to heaven. And heaven, brothers and sisters, is the goal.

It is when we carry ourselves as well-respected children of God, who are filled with the Holy Spirit and godly wisdom, that we will be given even more responsibility by our God. We will be deemed trustworthy and experience His more. Many of us are praying to be sent like Isaiah, Ananias, and other servants were, but God is working on us so we can be more in line with who He created us to be - threshing tools and fruitful vessels. We need to submit to His training to become more like the people in Acts 6:3.

Yes, the process won't be easy, but Jesus told us this already. He also said He would be with us till the very end, so we need not fear. All we have to do is remember that God does all things for our good, so we can walk head high, not bowed. That way, we will be surrounded by His blessings and goodness as we successfully navigate a world filled with troubles like those described in Acts 6:3.

As you await fellowship at Noon EST, consider reading the Altar Call below and the following previous P&P messages:

1. Grace Changes You

2. Holy Spirit is the Secret Sauce

3. Wear Your Kingdom Identity

4. By Their Actions They Deny Him

5. Have You Changed?

6. Complete Respect (1 Peter 2:18)

7. Praise God That You Bear His Name

8. Precursors to Jesus

9. Unserious Christians

10. Are You Trustworthy?

11. Be Someone People Will Support

12. Hold On To What You Have

13. The Lamp, The Light, And You

14. A Pathway To Answered Prayers

15. Remember (the good) Ananias

16. Topic: God's Children

17. Topic: Isaiah

18. Topic: Please the Lord