November 21, 2012
The group of followers had grown so large that it was becoming difficult to govern. It was decided to select a group of seven men to help with the logistics so the apostles could focus on the praying and teaching. One of the men chosen was named Stephen, "a man with great faith and full of the Holy Spirit." Stephen "was richly blessed by God who gave him the power to do great miracles and signs among people." (Acts 6:8) Stephen wasn't someone out to promote himself. His life was about "whose" he was not "who" he was. The words used to describe him all point to God. Great faith; filled with the Holy Spirit; richly blessed; power from God; the ability to perform great miracles and signs; the hands and feet of God.
"But some people were against him" and they came to argue with him. They were trying to stir up trouble. Acts 6:10 - "But the Spirit was helping him to speak with wisdom, and his words were so strong that they could not argue with him." When their first tactic didn't work, they resorted to a second—false accusations. Stephen was forcibly taken and brought before the leaders and teachers of the law. Those who were against him brought in people to lie about him. The people in the meeting were watching him. What they did not see was someone fighting back, full of anger, revengeful or frightened. What they saw was "that his face looked like the face of an angel." The battle was against God—not Stephen himself—and God was the one defending him.
When we face battles and false accusations it is God's battle, not ours. He is the One who "secures justice and defends the cause..." (From Psalm 140 - Her Name Was Jane) Praise the LORD!
Next Entry: Acts 7:1 – 8:1a
The group of followers had grown so large that it was becoming difficult to govern. It was decided to select a group of seven men to help with the logistics so the apostles could focus on the praying and teaching. One of the men chosen was named Stephen, "a man with great faith and full of the Holy Spirit." Stephen "was richly blessed by God who gave him the power to do great miracles and signs among people." (Acts 6:8) Stephen wasn't someone out to promote himself. His life was about "whose" he was not "who" he was. The words used to describe him all point to God. Great faith; filled with the Holy Spirit; richly blessed; power from God; the ability to perform great miracles and signs; the hands and feet of God.
"But some people were against him" and they came to argue with him. They were trying to stir up trouble. Acts 6:10 - "But the Spirit was helping him to speak with wisdom, and his words were so strong that they could not argue with him." When their first tactic didn't work, they resorted to a second—false accusations. Stephen was forcibly taken and brought before the leaders and teachers of the law. Those who were against him brought in people to lie about him. The people in the meeting were watching him. What they did not see was someone fighting back, full of anger, revengeful or frightened. What they saw was "that his face looked like the face of an angel." The battle was against God—not Stephen himself—and God was the one defending him.
When we face battles and false accusations it is God's battle, not ours. He is the One who "secures justice and defends the cause..." (From Psalm 140 - Her Name Was Jane) Praise the LORD!
Next Entry: Acts 7:1 – 8:1a
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