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2. Prayer Cover
Acts 5:42 – 6:8 42And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. 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. 2So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.

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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.” 5The 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. 6And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.

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7The word of God 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. 8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. Acts 5:42 – 6:8

5. Prayer Cover The 12 understood their responsibilities in prayer
They knew they could not neglect prayer and the Word
Because the apostles were obedient in what the Lord had dispatched them to do, many other leaders were being raised up
This was not a static situation – the Holy Spirit was leading them on the fly

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But why did the apostles pray when the seven were presented to them?
They wanted to hear God’s voice
They needed affirmation about the seven
They were responsible for this ministry of impartation
They wanted to see the power of the Holy Spirit continue to manifest
Stephen becomes a testimony of what they just did

7. Prayer Cover Some Questions:
What have you learned about prayer so far in Acts?
How important is the ministry of prayer to the Lord?
How do prayer and the Word fit together?
What does “cover” have to do with prayer? With teaching/preaching the Word?
What does prayer and laying on of hands mean to you?