TOZER DEVOTIONAL
Tue, April 25, 2017
Ministry Qualifications
Leadership requires vision, and whence will vision come except from hours spent in the presence of God in humble and fervent prayer? All things else being equal, a praying woman will know the will of God for the church far better than a prayerless man.
We do not here advocate the turning of the churches over to the women, but we do advocate a recognition of proper spiritual qualifications for leadership among the men if they are to continue to decide the direction the churches shall take. The accident of being a man is not enough. Spiritual manhood alone qualifies.
“Choose seven men from among you,” commanded the apostles, “who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them” (Acts 6:3). The men chosen as a consequence of this directive became the first deacons of the church. Thus the direction of certain church affairs was put into the hands of men spiritually qualified. Should we not maintain the same standards today?
Verse
Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and widom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.
Acts 6:3-4
Thought
Interesting, isn't it, and strikingly significant that both the ministry of the word and the ministry of table-waiting in the church required men full of the Spirit and wisdom. Stephen began as a table-server.
Prayer
Any service for You, Lord, requires the fullness of Your Spirit in the servers. May I remember that its value does not depend upon human recognition and status.
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