​God has methods for doing things the way He wants them done.  Throughout the Bible, some people chose to do things how they wanted to, and it cost them for their disobedience and rebellion.  There were two men, Nadab and Abihu, who brought strange fire to God’s altar, and God’s fire came down and devoured them to their death (Leviticus 10:1-2).  In the New Testament, some men crept in secretly among churches, saying God’s grace allows people to live immoral lives, describing the permission to bring strange flesh (Jude 3-7).  There is also a biblical warning not to be misled by strange doctrines (Hebrews 13:9).  In each scenario, strange things are trying to infiltrate the methods or manner of how God’s people worship or live for Him.  The word strange is defined as profane, wrong, unworthy, unsanctified, irreverent, or lacking proper respect or seriousness.  In today’s time, the same mindset or spirit of bringing strange things before God still exists.  People bring strange fire by bringing methods of worship to God’s house, the local church, that does not align with His holiness or how He desires services to be conducted.  This same strangeness can also be reflected in the lack of seriousness of how God is taken within His house.  Strange flesh is permitting sinful passions and affections to be incorporated within church services or activities that are a product of flesh and not God’s leading or instruction.  Strange doctrines are accepting beliefs that are contrary to the Word of God and how God establishes righteousness with Him.  When sin is allowed within the pastors and preachers, sinners find it easier to attend their churches due to the strange fire, strange flesh, and strange doctrines that are permitted within the congregation.  Even the unspoken sins will draw people to a social gathering because deep cries out to deep (Psalm 42:7).  Some may believe this only applies to God and a believer, but this applies to whatever the deep within someone is crying out to the deep in another.  Like spirits will draw close to like spirits.  This can be a good thing or a bad thing.  Although these strange things are permitted in some churches, some Christians allow these strange things in their lives.  This should not be how God’s people live.  God’s people are to be holy, clean, and living epistles before everyone inside the church and outside the church (2 Corinthians 7:1; Psalm 51:10; Isaiah 1:16; James 4:8; 1 Corinthians 3:16).  When people cannot tell the difference between the world’s methods and a church’s methods, strange things have been brought in, diluting the things of God.  God’s people are to be sanctified, which reflects a separation from the world and set apart for God’s own use (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 2 Timothy 2:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:3).  Christians must be Christ-like in honoring God, living clean, living holy, and being a living sacrifice unto God as the least they can do (Romans 12:1-2).  If Christians do not live righteously, what are they saved from?  If Christians do not live for God, who do they serve and live for?  God’s people are not to live for themselves but live in obedience to God.  Obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22; Proverbs 21:3; Romans 6:16; Jeremiah 7:21-23).  May Christians not allow strange fire, strange flesh, or strange doctrines to enter into their lives and do everything unto God as well as by His methods (Colossians 3:16-17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.  

​Dr. Lester Sumrall has been quoted as saying, “If you’re not winning souls or training saints, what you are doing is worthless.”  This is, of course, a reference to the Great Commission Jesus Christ gave His disciples.  Matthew 28:18-20 says, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.”  When churches or Christians begin to add various other activities to Christianity, those activities that do not win souls or train saints are worthless.  Christians are not called to entertain people, market the church, or make friends with the whole community.  Churches and Christians are called to get people born again who are not part of the body of Christ and make disciples by training how to live the Word of God.  Even in Acts 1:8, Jesus says, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”  When culture becomes more evident in churches than this commission given by the Son of God, the focus has changed from God-ordained to man-ordained motives.  Christians must refocus on what is truly important to God and the mission He has established for every church and every Christian to complete on the earth.  Entertainment, social justice, and other culturally relevant activities do not build the kingdom of God but distract from the purpose of the Great Commission.  The pastors and preachers who give in to this ideology become teachers itching the ears of the people rather than obeying God (2 Timothy 4:2-4; Jeremiah 5:30-31).  The people who grow accustomed to this type of entertainment Christianity, grow dull in heart, have ears that no longer hear, and have eyes that no longer see (Matthew 13:15; 2 Timothy 3:1-17; Zechariah 7:11; Isaiah 30:9-11).  Although this type of Christianity is easier, it is not the genuine Christianity God established through Jesus Christ.  One could say this easier Christianity is worthless because it does not fulfill the mandate of God (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16).  The current times reflect the last days within the Bible, and it is more vital now than ever to be ready for the return of Jesus Christ.  The entertainment culture of today’s time is designed by the spiritual enemies to not only distract the heart and mind in natural life but also to make its way into the churches to distract from being trained as true disciples of Jesus Christ, changing the world with the Gospel and holy lifestyles.  When Christianity becomes about individuals, the spiritual enemy wins.  This is the same situation Peter found himself in when walking on the water towards Jesus (Matthew 14:27-33).  When Christians began to recognize the storms meant to distract, the spiritual enemy had to have a new plan to hinder God’s people in their relationship with God.  The new plan came with diverting from winning souls and training saints.  Christians must get back to fulfilling the Great Commission and taking the saying of Dr. Lester Sumrall that if it does not win souls to Jesus Christ or train disciples, it is worthless and does not need to be conducted.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.  

​A little review from Part 1, for many Christians, finding a church is about the right youth program, the right social standing, the ability to attend without conviction from the pastor, the right number of young adults for a person to find a spouse, the right sermon series that is relevant to today’s culture, the best coffee and doughnuts, etc..  All of these reasons are of the flesh to gather in a building with people who believe God exists and attend the gathering for selfish reasons.  The power of a church is in finding where God has called each person to be rooted, planted, grounded into a congregation who are on assignment from God and under a pastor who has been raised up and sent out according to the book of Acts (Acts 13:2-3; Ephesians 4:11-12).  The power of a church is not in the ability to reflect selfish desires in one’s life, but in helping make each person at that church an equipped soldier in the army of God.  Each Christian is not called to be a spectator in the church but to put their hands to the ministry by using their grace gifts to help the body of Christ and having victory over the spiritual enemies in their region (Ephesians 4:12; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Acts 6:3).  When a church does not teach how to mature, fight spiritual warfare, or the foundational doctrines of Jesus Christ, that church is not fulfilling their God-given calling.  That church is doing the opposite of what God desires.  Pagan gatherings can make people feel like part of a group.  Satanists can help people find purpose.  God’s people should not look like the world but look like God’s kingdom (Matthew 12:24-29).  When Christians do not focus on their purpose of living for Jesus Christ, they must turn to gimmicks, shticks, or other forms of entertainment to keep people coming back like a TV show for ratings (2 Timothy 4:3-4; 1 John 4:1; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 Peter 2:1).  The power of a church is in its ability to allow God to move by His Holy Spirit convicting, rebuking, revealing, comforting, and fulfilling all the abilities of the Holy Spirit within the church services and within the lives of the people growing within that church.  Purple stage lights, dim lights over the people, and emotion-driven discussions are not church, but a deceiver’s tools to fool those who will easily believe church looks like this (1 Timothy 6:3-5; Jude 4; Romans 16:17-18).  The power of a church is in its ability to help people be part of God’s family by giving the Word of God for them to be born again and for the people to raise up the name of Jesus, honor God the Father, and be led by the Holy Spirit.  When salvation is left out, this reflects a lack of love for the people and where they will spend eternity (John 3:3; Romans 6:23).  When the Word of God is left out, this displays that culture is more important than what God has to say.  When challenging the people with how to live by the Word of God is left out, this exposes that the leaders do not want people to mature in a relationship with God, but rely on their ability to motivate the people to do good (2 Peter 3:18; Colossians 1:28).  May Christians realize the power of a church is helping them live for God by knowing God themselves and being the soldier God desires for them to be.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.  

​For many Christians, finding a church is about the right youth program, the right social standing, the right ability to attend without conviction from the people or pastor, the right number of young adults for a person to find a spouse, the right sermon series that is relevant to today’s culture, the best coffee and doughnuts, etc..  None of these things listed are the power of a church, but reasons of the flesh to gather in a building with people who believe God exists and attend the gathering for selfish reasons.  The power of a church is not in attending a gathering but finding where God has called each person to be rooted, planted, grounded into a congregation who are on assignment from God and under a pastor who has been raised up and sent out according to the book of Acts (Acts 13:2-3; Ephesians 4:11-12).  A church is biblically designed to educate people on the Word of God, sharpen one another with the Word of God, provoke one another to love and good works, be discipled by the pastor, serve in the tasks and missions God has for that region, and be a family of people serving together until Jesus’ return (2 Timothy 2:15; Colossians 3:16; Proverbs 27:17; Ecclesiastes 4:9-10; Hebrews 10:24-25; Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Acts 2:42; Galatians 6:10).  The power of a church is also not in the size of the congregation but in the authority God has to move by His Holy Spirit within the congregation gathering for service (Acts 2:1-43).  While a whole army that declared to serve God and the king He established was afraid of one man, a young lad by the name of David came in the power of the name of God to take down Goliath, building the courage back into the army that was once scared of making a move (1 Samuel 17).  The power of a church is in the obedience to the Word of God individually and collectively.  When individuals obey the Word of God within their lives personally, they are preparing themselves for greater moves of God when gathering as the Body of Christ collectively.  A biblical church challenges Christians to grow from faith to faith and glory to glory (Romans 1:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Colossians 1:10).  The deception of a gathering, even in the name of a church, is to make a person comfortable and not challenged to be a better Christian but to be told pleasant things to keep people coming back (1 Timothy 4:7; 2 Timothy 4:4; Titus 1:14; 2 Peter 1:16).  God has not called people to be comfortable but to victory through running their race, keeping the faith, overcoming spiritual enemies, and keeping their flesh in subjection (Hebrews 12:1; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 2 Timothy 4:7; Philippians 3:13-14; 2 Timothy 2:5; Acts 20:24; Hebrews 10:36).  In being led by the Spirit and having a relationship with God a person produces peace, joy, love, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).  The power of a church helps individuals cultivate these fruit of the Spirit by helping each person mature in the things of God.  May more Christians get away from the gathering of flesh, believing God exists but denying Him not living for Him, and understand the power of a biblical church to grow in a true relationship with God.   For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.  

​In a world full of fact-checking and people ready to point out any misspoken word, the deception and lies of the spiritual enemy are not as exposed as those of politicians or others.  The deceit and lies of a Christian’s spiritual enemy can have more impact if not fact-checked with the Word of God or treated as a vain imagination.  The devil and demons like to play mind games with God’s people.  “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:1-2 KJV).  These verses display the departure of the faith when some believers do not combat the deception and lies of their spiritual enemy.  There are seducing spirits who entice people by being an impostor, deceiver, or misleading.  This deception comes by arousing a strong attraction or interest in something that opposes the will and Word of God.  Although it may start small, when given the opportunity, it will grow into a consuming force if not confronted and combatted with God’s Word.  Deception and lies also come when Satan or his demons pass themselves off as angels of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).  God’s people must know the Word of God and not be deceived by these tricks of the spiritual enemy.  The lies of spiritual enemies attempt to contradict the Word of God.  Just like the serpent lied to the woman in the Garden of Eden about what God said, the lies to God’s people today desire the same effect of getting them to do the opposite of what God’s Word says (Genesis 3:1-5).  Allowing lies by directing attention contrary to the Word of God or allowing them to cause a depletion of one’s position in Christ is the goal of the spiritual enemy.  Christians are told not to believe every spirit but to test or try the spirits to see if they are from God (1 John 4:1).  This is a warning from God in His Word that there are lying spirits who seek to deceive God’s people but His Spirit also speaks to them so the determining factor is to judge what is said by the Word of God.  More Christians should use the Word of God to fact-check these thoughts, deceits, and lies of their spiritual enemy to stay in line with God.  God has given His people a special armor to combat these spiritual enemies to obtain victory (Ephesians 6:11-18).  Using the helmet of salvation allows Christians to think about their direct connection with God through Jesus Christ when they were forgiven of their sins and made a new creation in Christ (Ephesians 6:17; 1 John 1:9; 2 Corinthians 5:17).  One day, Satan and his demons will be cast into the lake of fire and will suffer torment forever for all eternity (Revelation 20:10).  Christians should not let this defrauder deceive them or lie to them to divert their path from walking with God.  Using the armor of God brings victory to those who choose to fight against these spiritual enemies.  May more Christians use God’s Word to realize their authority, position in Christ (Ephesians 1), and combat the deception and lies of their spiritual enemies with God’s Truth.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.  

​Since the Christian religion was established, many have talked about being a Christian rather than living out their faith as a living epistle.  There is a major difference between talking about being a Christian and actually living as a Christian.  James 2:17-18 says, “So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).  But someone will say [to you then], You [say you] have faith, and I have [good] works.  Now you show me your [alleged] faith apart from any [good] works [if you can], and I by [good] works [of obedience] will show you my faith.” (AMPC).  A talking Christian knows the keywords of the groups they fellowship with, while an actual Christian lives the Word of God in their actions and mouth.  A talking Christian believes God, Jesus, and certain aspects of God’s kingdom exist, while an actual Christian lives out their faith through action and word because of how real God is to them.  The talking Christian holds the same belief in God as children do about Santa Claus or the tooth fairy, while the faith of an actual Christian is willing to be martyred because they are convicted of the truth of God and their faith holds as fact their relationship with God.  Faith is defined as the conviction of the truth or a strongly convinced trust in God.  Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (KJV).  Applying the definition of faith to this verse, Christians cannot please God by merely believing He exists or by talking about their Christianity.  Christians must have the conviction of the truth of God and have a strongly convinced trust in Him by living what the Word of God says.  Without this type of faith, a person cannot please God, according to the Bible.  Some may say they have acted with their belief through social assistance of handing out clothes, food, or bottles of water.  This assistance is biblical and needed for many people.  As a biblical reminder, Stephen also helped those around him by feeding widows and helping people (Acts 6:1-7), but he was the first martyr recorded in the New Testament church for his faith and preaching of the Gospel (Acts 7:55-60).  Social acts may be a blessing, but sharing the Gospel with or without social acts is one of the best actions of faith one can commit.  Living by the Word of God should be understood by all Christians, but many people are taught that God exists to please them.  This is the opposite of biblical principles of people living for God.  Remember, Hebrews 11:6 says that Christians are to please God, not Him pleasing His people.   A person’s faith is in who or what they serve (Romans 6:16-18).  If a person serves their belief in God’s existence, they will live for God as someone prepares for Santa Claus decorating and setting out cookies but never expecting him to show up.  When a true Christian serves God through their faith, they prepare for the coming of Jesus by living holy, clean, and witnessing to those around them to allow them to escape Hell and make Heaven their home for eternity.  May every Christian examine themselves and see how their relationship with God measures to His standard.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.  

​Many Christians would agree that building the kingdom of God is an important part of Christianity.  Getting people who do not know God to be born again, getting more people to attend church, and helping people with their problems seem to be the main points of what many churches focus on.  Yet, in today’s time, many churches and Christians individually attempt to do these actions without declaring the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:1-9).  When this happens, faith is not being increased as it should, but religiosity is being produced.  Religiosity is when a person acts as an image of being right with God but does not allow God to have a relationship with them (2 Timothy 3:5).  This type of behavior produces those who stand before Jesus and are turned away because they did not have a relationship with Him (Matthew 7:21-23).  Having a true relationship with Jesus Christ is the key to building the kingdom of God because it involves obeying God’s Word (Matthew 7:24; James 1:22; Luke 11:28).  The kingdom of God is not built by the method that makes sense to man’s mind of marketing or gimmicks but is built by allowing the Word of God to be preached (Luke 17:20-21).  Christians must remember that Satan has many people in the world blinded to keep them from seeing the light of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4).  The only thing that can expose the lies and deception of the enemy is the truth of God, His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 2:13).  Churches and Christians alike should be speaking and preaching the Word of God everywhere they go.  At times, just speaking God’s Word without rebuke or harshness will expose the deception and lies with the truth of God, while others must be given the Word of God in warning and be saved by fear (Jude 22-23; 2 Timothy 4:1-2).  In both situations, the Word of God should not be withheld.  The Gospel is the source of building faith, a necessary element to please God (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6).  Building faith builds the kingdom of God.  When people are not given the Word of God, they are not given the proper seeds to produce substance for God (Mark 4:2-20).  Withholding the Gospel does not build the kingdom of God, but gathering people builds the kingdom of man.  Preaching the Word of God and lifting up Jesus Christ will draw men unto Him (John 12:32).  Not only did this take place at the cross, but to this day, people can be drawn unto Jesus when His people lift Him up and preach the Gospel.  When this takes place, others can hear the Word of God, understand the importance of salvation, and be made disciples of Christ.  The kingdom of God reproduces itself when the Gospel is the focus of a church and God’s people.  May God’s people not withhold the Gospel, but may they present it at all times, being led by the Spirit of God in how to minister on each occasion.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.  

​As time continues, culture has evolved into less of God’s standard of living and more of the desires of the flesh.  This same culture has found its way into the modern ideology of what a church should look like (James 4:4).  When the flesh is obeyed, it creates a lukewarm Christianity if allowed to remain.  Everyone contends with sin or their flesh, but when flesh wins a battle, repentance should quickly follow, bringing forgiveness and putting a person back into right standing with God.  To truly understand what lukewarm means, here is the definition.  Lukewarm is defined as tepid; lacking in passion, force, or zeal; and marked by an absence of enthusiasm or conviction.  Revelation 3:14 says, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (KJV).  Jesus Christ is speaking to those who declare they are Christians, but they have lost their passion and zeal for Him and their conviction of what is right according to God’s Word.  The word spue, now known as spew, is defined as to vomit; to eject violently; and to disgorge the stomach contents.  Those who have this type of Christianity make Jesus want to vomit them out of His body.  This implies He is rejecting them from being part of His body.  Jesus Christ and God the Father do not accept lukewarm believers.  If they refuse such behavior or level of Christianity, why do some people today think this is acceptable?  The answer is a compromised standard of Christianity.  Whether it starts with a pastor who has taught this standard to a congregation, parents teaching it to their kids, or just a person who is cooling off in their relationship with God, the compromise to please the flesh and not God has taken place.  Sadly, many will not know the damage of a lukewarm Christianity until they stand before Jesus Christ and He declares their departure from His presence for all eternity.  Not only does this create an eternal separation for eternity from God, but it also makes life presently harder due to not pleasing God.  Lukewarm is also displayed by the Apostle Paul as he warns Timothy of those who have a form of godliness but deny His power in their life (2 Timothy 3:5).  Having a form of godliness means having an appearance, outward semblance, formula, fashion, but not genuine.  Their attempts to look like a person of God are not genuine, so the motive is to gain others or be part of a group that is more religious than concerned about having a relationship with God (James 1:22).  Denying God’s power means they contradict, reject, refuse, forsake, and renounce God’s ability to act in their life.  When a Christian denies the God they declare they love and serve the ability to act in their life, they are not a true Christian (1 John 2:6).  To be Christian is to be Christ-like.  Jesus Christ only did what He saw His Father do (John 5:19; John 14:10).  Jesus only said what He heard His Father say (John 12:49).  The answer to being lukewarm is to examine oneself and see if they are really in the faith and aligning with the Word of God (2 Corinthians 13:5), to not love the world or the things of the world (1 John 2:15-16), and to be a living sacrifice unto God and be transformed by renewing one’s mind with the Word of God (Romans 12:1-2).  May fewer people be lukewarm and more be hot for God.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.  

​As the time nears Christmas this month, many have focused on Christmas rather than Jesus Christ.  The focus is on parties, presents, movies, music, food, traveling, and even doing good things for others, yet leaving Jesus Christ out of all of it.  People will help others in need to make themselves feel good for their lack of doing good things earlier in the year.  People focus on getting the right presents for family or friends they don’t even like, just to make sure they keep up appearances of a personal or financial situation.  Christians will watch more Christmas-related movies, many not even relating to the birth of Christ, rather than study the Bible to know Jesus Christ, the One Christmas is all about.  Some churches will focus on teaching from Christmas movies rather than Bible passages.  Churches all across the United States have fallen into this trap of deception regarding using popular movies or themes rather than allowing the Word of God to speak for itself.  When Die Hard, the Grinch, Scrooge, It’s a Wonderful Life, and other movies are the focus within a church setting, Christ has been removed from the focus, and Christmas is the center of attention.  When people, especially Christians, remove Christ from their focus, they have given to the anti-Christ spirit (1 John 2:22).  The Bible warns that such activity that removes the confession of Jesus Christ and His coming is deceiving (2 John 7).  These activities eventually lead to heresies in those people’s lives, either confessed in word or lived out (2 Peter 2:1).  Christians should not desert the grace of Jesus Christ by turning to another gospel (Galatians 1:6).  Some people distort the Gospel of Jesus Christ by adjusting it to culture or by perverting it with ideas that contradict the standard of God and His Word (Galatians 1:7).  The Bible declares that person is cursed until repentance (Galatians 1:8-9).  One could also say this is a form of Christ-denial, leading others to focus more on other things rather than Jesus Christ.  Whoever denies Jesus Christ before people will be denied before God the Father (Matthew 10:33).  The Bible also warns against those who depart from the faith by listening to deceiving spirits or the teachings of demons (1 Timothy 4:1).  Those who leave Jesus to teach culture have listened to this very demon of cultural relevance.  Jesus’ birth produced the only perfect person to walk the earth, Who obeyed God the Father in all He did (John 5:19; John 5:36; John 14:10), and Who fulfilled the plan of salvation (Romans 5:8; Acts 4:12) that all of mankind who are born again can now rejoice and be joint heirs with Him unto God (Romans 8:14-17).  Jesus is worthy to be the center of attention during the Christmas season and throughout the year.  Let’s not cheapen Christmas by focusing on culture or other things, but let’s allow Jesus to be the reason for the celebrations, church services, and other activities that take place around December 25th each year.  Jesus Christ obeyed the Father in giving His life so that whoever chooses to receive the gift of eternal life has the opportunity (John 3:16; Romans 6:23).  This Christmas and every Christmas from now on, let’s focus on Jesus Christ rather than Christmas and its activities that surround this wonderful holiday.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.  

​Many people start thinking of others and how to help them during this time of year.  Some people help others due to feeling convicted because of how blessed they are, some help because it makes for a good social media post, while others help because they truly have a heart for those less fortunate.  God’s people are commanded to help those who are in need by giving clothes, food, and other assistance, but Jesus did say there would always be the poor to help (Deuteronomy 15:11; Mark 14:7).  True Christians will have the heart to help those in need because of their love for God and obedience to His Word (1 John 3:16-18).  When people think of helping others during this season, they focus on giving a substance rather than a source of perpetual help.  The best way to help people during any season of the year is to give them the Gospel that calls people to repentance, builds faith, and teaches people to lean on God rather than substances themselves.  Not only is the Word of God the best way to help people, but those who help others should first be qualified according to the Bible (Acts 6:2-3).  When the widows were being neglected, the Apostles set up deacons to start a food program so the men of God could focus on preaching the Word (Acts 6:1-4).  The qualifications for those who helped the people in need had an honest report, being full of the Holy Ghost, being full of wisdom, and being people who could be trusted over the business of this ministry (Acts 6:3).  Seven people were ordained and appointed by leaders, not self-appointed (Acts 6:6).  Since the Apostles were able to focus on the Word of God, the Word grew and helped the people in need (Acts 6:7).  The most notable person of the seven ordained deacons was Stephen.  Even during his helping disperse food, Stephen preached the Word, and people wanted to dispute him (Acts 6:9).  As Stephen’s ministry of helping give people food continued, he gained the attention of the people of the region by his doctrine and not his supply of help.  More and more ministries find themselves helping people by giving things and less by giving the Word of God.  The early church knew the proper formula was giving substance but, more importantly, giving the Word of God to have a lasting impression.  This same formula is the proper way to help people today.  When the Word of God is not the focus, it reflects a purpose of only wanting a social media opportunity, helping others to feel less convicted, or not truly caring enough about others to help them for longer than the event hosted to hand them something.  Again, Christians are commanded to help, but the motive should be to give the Word and substance, not substance alone.  Stephen’s helping others while preaching created the desire in his opposition to the Gospel to make him the first martyr (Acts 7:54-60).  There is more to the Christian faith and work than helping others feel better.  It is about helping them have eternal life through Jesus Christ (Mark 16:15-16; 2 Timothy 4:2; Romans 10:1; Matthew 5:14-16).  The best way to help people is to give them the Word of God to benefit them in many areas and not by substance only.  May God’s people give more than substance this season, may they give substance and the Gospel that can benefit people in many ways, including now and for all eternity.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church visit agcsparta.org.