Serving with God's Strength

Morning Manna | Wednesday, November 4, 2026 Series: Gifted to Build | Day 6 of 12: Serving with God's Strength

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OPENING Good morning, Cornerstone family, and welcome to Morning Manna.

Yesterday we looked at the speaking gifts. We met Barnabas, the son of encouragement, and Apollos, the teacher who kept learning.

Today we turn to the other half of Peter's words. "If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides."

Open your Bible to Acts, chapter six. We'll read verses one through seven.

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SCRIPTURE READING Hear the Word of the Lord from Acts 6, verses 1 through 7.

"In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, 'It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.'

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith."

This is the Word of the Lord.

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TEACHING The early church had a growing problem. More people were coming to Christ. And some widows were going hungry.

Growth brought pressure. Pressure brought complaints. And the complaints threatened to divide the church along cultural lines.

The apostles could have tried to do it all. Preach in the morning. Hand out food in the afternoon. Settle complaints at night. Instead, they recognized something about the body. God had given other people gifts for this work.

Look at the job description in verse three. These men would wait on tables. They would make sure food reached the widows fairly. That's practical work. Logistics. Organization. Fairness.

And look at the qualifications. "Full of the Spirit and wisdom."

Hear that, church. You need the Holy Spirit to serve tables. Serving is spiritual work. The person who organizes the food pantry needs the Spirit as much as the person who preaches.

Romans twelve lists several serving gifts. Serving. Giving. Leading. Showing mercy. First Corinthians twelve adds helping and guidance. These gifts keep the church fed, organized, and cared for.

Now look at the result in verse seven. "So the word of God spread." When the servants served, the preachers could preach. When the tables were covered, the Word went out. The serving gifts didn't compete with the speaking gifts. They made room for them.

And watch what happened to two of these table-servers. Stephen went on to do great wonders and became the church's first martyr. Philip became an evangelist who carried the gospel to Samaria and to an Ethiopian official. Faithfulness at the table prepared them for what God had next.

Turn a few pages to Acts nine. A woman named Tabitha, also called Dorcas, lived in Joppa. The Bible says she was always doing good and helping the poor. When she died, the widows stood around Peter crying. They showed him the robes and other clothing Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

Her ministry was a needle and thread. And the whole town knew her love.

Then Peter knelt and prayed, and God raised Dorcas back to life. The Bible says the news became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. Think about that. A seamstress's faithful service became the backdrop for a town hearing about Jesus.

Your service may feel small. A casserole. A ride to the doctor. A folded bulletin. God has a long history of using small service to open big doors.

Jesus explained His own mission this way in Mark ten, verse forty-five. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Jesus set the example for all of us. In John thirteen, the Lord of glory knelt down with a towel and a basin and washed His disciples' feet. Then He said, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."

Peter tells us how to serve. "With the strength God provides." Some of you serve until you're worn out. You run on your own supply, and you end up tired and bitter. God never asked you to serve on empty. Ask Him for strength before you serve, and thank Him for it when you finish.

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TODAY'S STEP: Serve Without a Spotlight Here is your step for today.

Do one act of service today that no one will see or applaud. Wash a dish you didn't dirty. Drop off groceries for a widow. Pay for someone's lunch without telling anyone. Pick up trash in the church parking lot.

Before you start, pray one sentence. "Lord, give me Your strength for this."

Serve without a spotlight. Your Father sees what is done in secret.

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CLOSING PRAYER Father, thank You for the servants in Your church.

Thank You for the people who cook, clean, give, organize, drive, and care. Many of them never stand in front of a crowd, but You see every one of them.

Lord, fill our servants with Your Spirit and wisdom. Give them strength when they're tired. Guard their hearts from bitterness. Remind them their work matters to You.

Make us like Jesus, who took the towel and the basin. Make us like Dorcas, whose love showed up in her hands.

Use our service today to make room for Your Word to spread.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Have a blessed Wednesday, church. I'll talk with you tomorrow.

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