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To avoid confusion, I will for the purpose of this work define pillars as helpers. House pillars are meant to ease or lighten the burden of the house. So anyone who can Identify his or her task as easing or lighten the of a pastor, ministry and church is a pillar
Every house standing is supported by pillars so is every church. If there were ever a time that pillars are needed in the church, I believe it is now. This book addresses the need for pillars in the church. There are different kinds of pillars in the church, however, for a pillar to meet divine standard, it must first be spiritual.
My view is that when the twelve refuse to be drafted into some welfare and social program they were establishing the fact that they were spiritual pillars of the new testament church;
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, it is not reason that we should leave the word of GOD, and serve tables. Wherefore brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the holy ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word (ACTS 6:2-4).
That these men were pillars in the early church was also mentioned by the apostle PAUL when he observes as follows:
AND WHEN JAMES, CEPHAS AND JOHN WHO SEEMED TO THE PILLARS, PERCEIVED THE GRACE THAT WAS GIVEN UNTO ME, THEY GAVE TO ME AND BARNABAS THE RIGHT HAND OF FELLOWSHIP: THAT WE SHOULD GO UNTO THE HEATHEN AND THEY UNTO THE CIRCUMCISION. (GALATIANS 2:9)
We also read of men, who were appointed to spearhead welfare program, they were first spiritual men. So therefore whether you want to be known as a financial, social or any kind of pillar in the church, you must first be spiritual.
WHEREFORE BRETHREN, LOOK YE OUT AMONG YOU SEVEN MEN OF HONEST REPORT, FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST AND WISDOM, WHOM WE MAY APPOINT OVER THIS BUSINESS. (ACTS 6:3).
AAND THE SAME PLEASED THE WHOLE MULITUDE; AND THEY CHOISE STEPHEN, A MAN FII OF FAITH AND OF THE HOILY GHOST, AND PHILIP, AND PROCHORUS, AND NICANOR AND TIMON, AND PARMENAS, AND NICOLAS A PROSELYTE OF ANTIOCH; AND WHEN THEY SET BEFORE THE APOSTLE; AND WHEN THEY HAD PRAYED, THEY LAID THEIR HANDS ON THEM. AND THE WORD OF GOD INCREASED AND THE NUMBER OF THE DISCIPLES MULTIPLIED IN JERUSASLEM GREATIY; AND A GREAT COMPANY OF THE PRIESTS WERE OBEDIENT TO THE FAITH. AND STEPHEN, FULL OF FAITH AND POWER, DID GREAT THERE AROSE CERTAIN OF THE SYNAGOGUE, WHICH IS CALLED THE SYNAGOGUE OF THE LIBERTINES, AMD CYRENIANS; AND ALEXANDRIANS, AND OF THEM OF CILICA AND OF ASIA, DISPUTING WITH STEPHEN. AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO RESIST THE WISDOM AND THE SPIRIT Y WHICH BY WHICH HE SPAKE. (Act6:5-10)
We have similar report concerning Philip
THEN PHILIP WENT DOWN TO THE CITY OF SAMARIA AND PREACHED CHRIST UNTO THEM. AND THE PEOPLE WITH ONE ACCORD GAVE HEED UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH PHILIP SPAKE, HEARING AND SEEING THE MIRACLES WHICH HE DID. FOR UNCLEAN SPIRIT, CRYING WITH LOUD VOICE, CAME OUT OF MANY THAT WERE POSSESSED WITH THEM:AND MANY TAKEN WITH PALSIES, AND THAT WERE LAME WERE HEALED. AND THERE WAS GREAT JOY IN THAT CITY. (ACT8:5-8)
My belief is that anyone intending to be a pillar in the church any age must first be spiritual certain men and women were also whose activities revealed were financial pillars at one time or the other and at different location. The woman of Shunem was an example of a financial pillar in the ministry of Elisha . The apostle paul also mentioned certain couple, families and individuals who help him much in his work
During the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ there were financial pillars and I believe the Bible mention this for our example. However, they were first spiritual
AND IT CAME TO PASS AFTERWARD, THAT HE WENT THROUGHOUT EVERY CITY AND VILLAGE PREACHING AND SHEW THE GLAD TIDINGS PF THE KINGDOM OF GOD:AND THE TWELVE WERE WITH HIM. AND CERTAIN WOMEN, WHICH HAD BEEN HEALED OF EVIL SPIRIT AND INFIRMITIES, MARY CALLED MAGDALENE, OUT OF WHOM WENT SEVEN DEVILS. AND JOANNA THE WIFE OF CHUZA HEROD`S STEWARD, AND SUSANNA, AND MANY OTHERS, WHICH MINISTERED UNTO HIM OF THEIR SUBSTANCE.(LUKE8:1-3)