Acts 6

Read Acts 6:1-6

This is a familiar text or should be. We just went through this one a few months back when we ordained Chris Cannon to be a deacon.

but we are going to focus on the points of prayer tonight.

Look with me in verse 1 and following.

Walk through the text.

The need for those in leadership to pray.

This was one of the two things to which the apostles were devoted.

If everything else fails to be done. There are two things that must not be neglected.

Preaching and ministering the Word. Prayer.

Here is where we do see a danger though, because there is more accountability with the first than the second.

If I get up here and I’m not prepared to preach, everyone will notice. If I did that too many times, there would be a conversation happening.

There is accountability every Sunday morning and Wednesday Night. It's the moment of truth where every one sits down, opens their Bibles and look at me, like What are you going to say?

If I get up here and fire from the hip, everyone will know.

There’s accountability there.

That's A good thing although thats not the reason the pastor should study.

I say that to say this.

While everyone would notice if I didn’t devote time to studying the Word and preparing sermons, there is a danger when it comes to prayer because it is such a private discipline.

You may never know if I didn’t pray, though I’m sure it will become evident Eventually.

Prayer is something often put on a shelf for when we think we need it.

That can’t be for the genuine Christian. It certainly can’t be for the man who seeks to lead the church.

James 3:1 NASB95

Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.

I believe I will one day answer for the time in study or lack there of in my preparation of every sermon I preach.

I also believe I will one day answer for the time I spend praying or the lack thereof.

Part of my ministry as pastor is to devote my time not just to the ministry of the Word. But to prayer.

I believe the ministry of the Word goes hand in hand with the ministry of the Word.

I don’t believe I can effectively deliver the Word if I am not calling upon God for help.

“The commentators are good instructors, but the Author himself is far better, and prayer makes a direct appeal to him and enlists him in our cause.”

Charles Spurgeon

“The best and holiest men have ever made prayer the most important part of pulpit preparation.” Robert M’Cheyne

Prayer is necessary for me. Its necessary for you.

In Acts, they called a group of men to take care of needs within the church in order that so prayer would not be neglected among their leaders.

Would we even think to do this today? Or is prayer something we just think every one do “when they need it.” Would prayer be a priority?

Would we set men aside so that prayer would not be neglected?

Or would prayer be the thing we neglected to get everything else that “needed” to get done done?

I think the tendency is to have this attitude: We can pray later. Right now, we Actually have to get things done.

But that's not how things worked in the early church.

Before they did any thing, they prayed.

Prayer was the most significant and launching pad to the rest of everything the did.

The church. The Apostles prioritized prayer. WHy?

Where did they learn that?

We don’t have to look very far to find why they would have known to make prayer a priority.

The apostles had the perfect example of a praying leader.

Mark 1:35 NASB95

In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.

Jesus, the greatest leader who has ever lived, spent A LOT of time praying.

When the apostles begin their ministry, they do so focusing on prayer.

They knew better than to let any other thing come between them and spending time in prayer to God for the church.

My fear for me, other pastors, and people within the church as a whole Is that we no longer prioritize prayer.

In Acts 6 theIr leaders did.

Just being transparent, I struggle with this.

I need you to pray that I would be more committed to prayer.

pray that my heart and mind would follow the pattern of Acts 6:4

Acts 6:4 NASB95

“But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

But The passage goes on.

Acts 6:3–6 NASB95

“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 prioritized prayer and they chose the men who would serve them as deacons prayerfully.

They laid their hands on them setting them apart for ministry.

I hope you see so far how significant prayer was for the people in the early church.

My hope is that our church would follow their example. That we would be prayerful. That I would be prayerful.