Disciples were Increasing

3/31/10 Acts 6

Disciples were Increasing

Acts 6:1 “Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number,”

Those are wonderful words that we read about the early church experiencing astounding success after Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came.  Even in the successful increase of disciples there were challenges that resulted and need to be handled as chapter 6 reports.  There are those people who always see the problems, but never see the blessings.  If there are no new converts and disciples then nearly everything in the church is open to blame, but they fail to see it as a time to draw near to Christ as seek Him and depend upon Him to fix and align His church to received more disciples.  Trusting that at the right time He will bring new members into the body.   When there are new converts and increases in attendance then the problem is all these new people are taking over our church and it is just not the same.  They fail to see that the Lord is doing something in these people’s hearts and they have an opportunity to participate with the Lord in serving them.

Even after the challenge has been addressed and solved verse 7 says “the number of the disciples continued to increase.”  What was the reason disciples were increasing in Jerusalem?  Remember Jerusalem was not too long ago hostile toward Jesus, His teaching and His disciples all fled.  What was happening?  I see three things here in chapter 6 that resulted in disciples increasing.

1. The Spirit had come.  This made all the difference in the world.  When the Spirit had come there was great courage and confidence to proclaim all that the apostles had heard and seen.  A key that we must understand is that it was not just the apostles that received the Spirit but all who obeyed God (Acts 5:32).  When a complaint arose among the disciples, the apostles instructed the congregation to seek out seven men full of the Spirit.  This is so important that each member is full of the Spirit even in what would be considered the most menial task.  These seven guys were simply to organize and administrate the daily serving of food, but what is one of the requirements, that they are full of the Spirit.  In what capacity are you ministering in the body and are you full of the Spirit?

2. Not to neglect the word of God.  The word of God was essential and still is to the direction of the church.  When a church neglects the word of God it then has departed from following what God has intended for that congregation to become and to do for His glory.  The leadership devoted themselves to the ministry of the word, because the word is necessary to renew our minds and works with the Spirit to lead and guide us into all truth.  As I read this it occurred to me that the apostle’s devotion to the word of God would not have included the New Testament because it was yet to be written.  They would have concentrated on the Old Testament and all of Jesus teachings.  For Matthew and John it may have meant compiling information which would become their gospel narratives.

3. Devoted to prayer.  Prayer is essential if there is going to be an increase in disciples.  Prayer is not needed if you are going to gather a crowd, but if you are to birth and grow disciples it is a must.  We must pray specifically for the increase of disciples.  You received not because you ask not or ask with wrong motives (James 4:2-3).  Prayer is the work of the church, not just the leadership.  Perhaps if our prayer meetings were full of disciples bowed down, then maybe our worship services would be so full that there would be standing room only because disciples would be increasing.  Our own effort and programs will not grow one disciple, but prayer in the Spirit matched with the word of God will result in disciples increasing.     

Notice how all three of these things are intertwined and needed if we are to see disciples increasing, even through challenges and adversities it can be said the “disciples continued to increase greatly.”