Acts 6:1-15 says, “1 Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. 2 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of Elohim in order to serve tables. 3 “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. 4 “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 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. 6 And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.  7 The word of Elohim kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

Sometimes there can be a mindset that the one serving spiritual food (teaching and preaching the Bible) is the only one that needs to have the Holy Spirit and faith. But just as we read in the above seven verses, even the one who is chosen and given the responsibility to serve natural food needs to:

1. Have a good reputation
2. Be Full of the Spirit
3. Be Full of Wisdom
4. Prayer over them
5. Hands laid on them and set apart for serving food

Everything we do in life and for the kingdom requires a mindset that we cannot do it without the Holy Spirit.  As we often say, and will continue to say, the Holy Spirit is the first thing we need and then wisdom, understanding, a good reputation, a cool spirit (not a spirit of anger), etc…will be had for the one filled with the Holy Spirit.

Let’s finish chapter six and see what a set apart, Spirit-filled, cafeteria worker was enabled to do among the people.

 8 And Stephen, full of grace [the enablement to do Yah’s will] and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly induced men to say [to lie against Stephen], “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against Elohim.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council. 13 They put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; 14 for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Yeshua, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.” 15 And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.

Stephen performed great signs and wonders because of the grace and power of the Holy Spirit he walked in.  Anger did arise and he was falsely accused just as Yeshua and others before him were.  Though Stephen was ultimately a martyr, he preached a MIGHTY message just before it.  His closing words in Acts 7 cut them to the quick and incited them.  We will close with them.

Acts 7:51-53;   “51 You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. 52 “Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; 53 you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.”

We would do well to recognize the ways one ends up as betrayers, murderers, disobedient to the commandments and persecuting those who are righteous. 

It’s because they are:

1. Stiff-necked
2. Uncircumcised in heart
3. Always resisting the Holy Spirit

This is the testimony written of Stephen in Acts 7:55-56; “55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he [Stephen] gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of Elohim, and Yeshua standing at the right hand of YHVH; 56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of Elohim.”

May we understand today that there is nothing too small that does not require us to be full of the Holy Spirit.  And may we not be guilty of overlooking this truth and each day ask the Father to fill us with His Holy Spirit.

Have a blessed and shalom filled day!!

Tammy McLendon

Courtesy of
River of Life Tabernacle
Tammy McLendon
Great peace have they who love Your law. Psalm 119:165a