KEY SCRIPTURE: 1 Timothy 3:8 ” Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;”

We continue looking at other services in the house of God. We consider deacons in this study. A deacon is defined as one who executes the command of another. Another meaning for a deacon is a servant or an attendant. Please note that no role played by anyone makes one more important or superior to another. For the sake of effective functioning and order in the body of Christ, God has instituted levels of honour. Each person must serve God and the people of God in humility and fear for God and love for God’s children.

In the book of Acts of the Apostles, chapter 6, there arose some controversies among the brethren concerning the sharing of food. The apostles decided that they would maintain their role in ministering the word of God and prayer, while others were to be chosen who would man the affairs of the food. (Acts 6:1-10). These men were the first deacons of the church.

In 1st Timothy 3:8-12 apostle, Paul made a list of the qualifications of a deacon. They were not very different from that of the elder or pastor. These qualifications talked about the character of the individual. I do not see any of the supernatural gifts being said here. Many people are very fascinated by the gifts of the Holy Spirit without taking time to let the fruit of the Spirit bear in their lives. Please note this; in every kind of service in the house of God, the pure or real servants are those who manifest or bear the fruit of the Spirit. There are cases of those who live sinful lives, yet the gifts manifest in their lives. If you are such a one, do not take that as God’s approval for your wrong ways. God, out of love for his children would allow the gift to manifest so his children who may be praying for healing would be healed, and those who need direction may receive a word of wisdom and have that direction they need.

Remember the story of Moses in Numbers 20:8. The Lord God asked Moses to speak to the rock, to give out water so the Lord’s name would be sanctified. Moses out of anger hit the rock. He did the wrong thing, yet water came. The Lord said to Him in Numbers 12:12 that because he did not obey His instruction, he would not go to the Promised Land.

Good godly character is the only criterion to have an acceptable ministry or service before the Lord. May every servant in God’s house take heed to these things.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I pray for all servants in your house, especially the deacons. May they understand your ways and yield themselves to you to serve you uprightly with no selfish motives.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Galatians 5:22-23 ” But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law”.

1 Timothy 3:11 ” Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things”.