“Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint this responsibility to them and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” This proposal pleased the whole group. Acts 6:3-5
As we leave our study of Peter’s worst week there is one more lesson that we have touched on several times but it bears reminding ourselves of it. When we read the stories of the disciples we are impressed with their transformation into the spiritual giants they became. These men, chosen by the Lord, started out as fearful, prideful men but ended up as 12 people who turned the world upside down for the Lord. How did that happen? How could weaklings become so powerful?
Many will point to the fact that they actually saw the risen Lord. They point out that these men who walked with Jesus for three years and were still stunned at His greatness (stilling the waves). When He died they lost all hope – “we thought He was the Messiah”. After his death, they met the risen Lord face to face and that had an unbelievable effect on them. From that point on they were willing to give up everything, including their lives, to serve Him fully. There is no doubt that seeing the risen Lord had a motivating and focusing impact on these 12 men. Seeing the risen Lord with their physical eyes profoundly changed these men. It should change us too as we see the risen Lord by faith with our spiritual eyes.
We see one other thing the disciples did. Early in the book of Acts they make a decision. “We will appoint this responsibility to them and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the
word.” Following this declaration we read multiple times in Acts words like these, “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,” or “when they had fasted and prayed”. Doing God’s will became an urgent priority for these men who had seen Jesus.
What can we learn? Behind the disciples transformation into spiritual maturity lay several essential elements.
Devote ourselves to prayer What the disciples consistently neglected while the Lord was with them, prayer, they devoted themselves to after His resurrection. This shows us their great desire to follow His example and know and do His will. They understood that “without Him they could do nothing”. While they had acknowledged this lack of ability to pray while the Lord walked with them, they did not allow that lack to keep them from learning and practicing this essential element of abiding in Him.
They devoted themselves to the Word of God. Second they immersed themselves in the word of God. Perhaps they remembered how the Lord taught in the synagogues and quoted scripture to them. Perhaps they realized the command of God to hide His word in their hearts. What they had once depended on the Lord to tell them they now studied diligently.
They fasted When the Lord was present with them they did not fast. Now that He had ascended into heaven there was an urgency in their lives to experience His power. “Without Him they could do nothing”.
They obeyed The last thing we note is that after the Lord’s resurrection there was a renewed priority to obey what the Lord told them to do. There was no more debating as equals with the Lord. The disciples understood His authority and their responsibility to obey without questioning. This is how believers walking in the flesh are transformed into mighty Spirit-filled servants of God. Focus on Jesus, abide in the word, pray, fast and obey. How many of those are evident in your life?