"Ready to Run"
Acts 8:26-40 (NLT) As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.”
Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.
The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”
The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.
As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. Meanwhile, Philip found himself farther north at the town of Azotus. He preached the Good News there and in every town along the way until he came to Caesarea.
Philip had an interesting and exciting ministry. I'm so glad that we got to have a glimpse of this man and what God did through him. As he was walking along the desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza, God presented another opportunity to experience His wonder. A carriage passed by. God spoke to Philip and told him to run up to the carriage. I'll bet he was hot and tired and now had to run, but Philip didn't make any excuse, he ran anyway.
Have you ever felt God was telling you to do something but you didn't respond to His call? What were your reasons for not responding? Did you do what God asked or did you make up excuses?
Because Philip obeyed the Lord and ran up to the carriage and probably had to continue to run alongside it, he was able to hear the man inside reading the Book of Isaiah aloud. Philip asked the man,“Do you understand what you are reading?” The man responded with, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” The man was an "eunuch" which means that he had been castrated. His manhood had been taken. I'm sure he felt unsure about himself and lonely. His body had been abused and broken and he was searching for something to fill up the emptiness he felt.
Because Philip was obedient to God he was able to assist someone in their search of God. He was sensitive to the call of God and acted on it. If Philip had not obeyed what would have happened to this eunuch from Ethiopia?
Little did Philip know how much this man was searching and in need. When the man asked Philip into his carriage and was able to explain a prophecy concerning the Messiah hope came to this scarred and broken man.
When we listen to the promptings of God's Holy Spirit He uses us to bring Jesus into others' lives. Hurting, abused, lonely, unloved and dying people need to hear about Jesus and the healing He brings.
Psalm 25:16-18 (NCV) Turn to me and have mercy on me, because I am lonely and hurting. My troubles have grown larger; free me from my problems. Look at my suffering and troubles, and take away all my sins.
I imagine the Eunuch had been reading the scriptures and was praying that he would find answers. (My imagination here!) Maybe he prayed a prayer much like David's in the Psalm, "Turn to me and have mercy on me..." I know I've felt like this Eunuch and prayed for answers. Have you? The Lord hears us and by reading this about the Eunuch and Philip we learn that God will and does act.
God not only hears and acts on our behalf, He often sends His children to act on His behalf. You see, we as believers, we are Christ's ambassadors to the world. It is our responsibility to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:19-20 (MSG) God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you.
Are you willing to be an ambassador for the living Christ? God wants to use us to be Christ to others. Philip is a good example of this. He ran when God said to run and spoke when God said to speak. The results of this obedience was a changed life bound for eternity. Though the man in the carriage was abused and disfigured, a slave to someone, he was now free and whole and knew he was loved by the Savior.
Oh to be used like Philip. I want my life to be like that. What about you? God is ready, willing and able to employ our gifts that He gave us for His glory and purpose. So when God says to run up to the "carriage" passing you ~RUN!! When God says to speak to the "Eunuch" ~ SPEAK!! And when God needs you to bring others to Jesus ~ BRING!! And when God wants to use you somewhere else ~ FLY!!
Be alert, listen and be ready to experience the miracles and wonders of God.
"Take the Weight Off"
Acts 8:9-25 (NLT) A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic.
But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed.
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.
When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. “Let me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!”
But Peter replied, “May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.”
“Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon exclaimed, “that these terrible things you’ve said won’t happen to me!”
After testifying and preaching the word of the Lord in Samaria, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem. And they stopped in many Samaritan villages along the way to preach the Good News.
As Philip continues to preach in Samaria many come to know Jesus and are baptized in the faith. Along with these people a popular sorcerer/wizard/magician listened to the words of Philip and saw the miracles. He too was baptized. For some reason the indwelling of the Holy Spirit didn't take place at the point of their accepting Jesus. The Apostles Peter and John came to Samaria to see for themselves that the Samaritans really came to faith in Jesus. They laid their hands on them and the Holy Spirit came into each believers' lives.
It is every believers gift to receive the Holy Spirit, so why didn't these Samaritans receive it at the point of their belief? Can you think of any reason?
This really confused me too so I did some research and read the IVP New Testament Commentary and found a very plausible explanation. The delay in the gift of the Holy Spirit was distinct in this situation only. Remember the animosity that dwelt between the Jews and the Samaritans? Well, God knew of this and He knew that by having the Apostles come and lay hands on the previously unclean meant that the barrier had been broken and reconciliation had occurred. God wanted the Gentile believers and the Jewish believers to accept one another as part of the Church of Christ.
So what's up with Simon the Sorcerer? Why did he follow Philip around like a puppy? What did he want from him and the Apostles?
Again the IVP New Testament Commentary helped me out. It explained that Simon was still so steeped in his old beliefs and ways of "magic" that he couldn't fully grasp the whole meaning of being a believer. He wanted to "buy" the gift of the Holy Spirit so he could use it to his benefit and popularity. In those days, it was not uncommon to pay for the right to be a "priest". Simon knew this and wanted the political renown of being a priest for this new religion. Of course Peter rebuked Simon. Whether out of fear or disbelief he wanted Peter to pray for him. We don't know whether he repented or not. All we know is that Simon is left with a decision to make ~ to follow Jesus fully or hang back in the middle somewhere between his old life and the one Jesus had called him.
We can learn a lot from this story of Simon the Sorcerer. He held onto his old ways of magic and paganism. He liked what he saw in Philip and Peter and wanted it but didn't want to let go of what he believed in his old life.
Ephesians 4:21-23 (NLT) Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.
It's so important that we "throw off our old sinful nature and our former ways of life" and grab hold of Jesus so completely that all we are hanging onto is Him. Sometimes we don't see that we are hanging onto things that keep us in bondage. For instance, we may not have forgiven someone. We may still be reading our horoscopes in the paper everyday. Or, we may have crystals and angels we keep for good luck. These things that seem harmless to us are really dangerous and keep us from knowing Jesus fully.
What things are you holding onto? Did you realize they were harmful? Take this time to ask the Lord what are the things in your life you need to let go of.
Hebrews 12:1 (NLT) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
What is weighing you down? What are you still clinging to that keeps you from running to Jesus? Let's strip this dead weight off and run in the true freedom found in Jesus.
"Scattered"
Acts 8:4-8 (NLT) But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.
In our last lesson we learned from the scripture that the persecution of church in Jerusalem was so great that many left and were scattered all over the place ~ All across Judea and Samaria. In this lesson, we learn that "the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went." They didn't leave their faith, they left Jerusalem. God used this persecution to further the cause of Christ. He wanted the Good News of Jesus to be spread. He still does today.
Do you remember what Jesus said before He ascended into heaven? If the believers stayed in Jerusalem would they be doing what Jesus had commanded them to do? Why or why not?
Mark 16:15 (NLT) And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone."
Jesus intended for the Good News to spread throughout the world. Since He has said that, the church has grown and grown and continues to grow. Each believer is told to tell others about Jesus.
The passage today talks about Philip. Who is Philip? And what was so special about him?
What did he do for the cause of Christ?
There were two different Philips. One was the Apostle and one was one of the seven deacons that were blessed by the apostles to care for the widows and the poor (also the poor in general) among the Greek Jews. (See Acts 6:5-6) This Philip is known as "Philip the Evangelist" and served alongside Stephen who had just been martyred.
According to the NIV Compact Dictionary, Philip the Evangelist was a Hellenist (Greek-speaking Jew). He was an evangelist and performed signs and wonders among the people. He preached in Samaria with great success.
What do you know about Samaria? Look at the following passages and find out:
Luke 10:30-37 (NLT) 30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
“By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
Luke 17:11-18 (NLT) As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
He looked at them and said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.
One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”
John 4:1-26 (NLT) Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.
The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”
Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
“But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”
Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
“Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”
“Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.
“I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied.
Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband—for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”
“Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?”
Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!”
Samaria was inhabited by people who were considered to be unclean by the Israelites because they were half Jewish and half Assyrian. There was great animosity between the two peoples. Samaritans worshiped God and when Jesus met the Samaritan woman many came to know Him as the Messiah. Now Philip the Evangelist went back there are preached more about the Good News of Christ and many miracles were performed.
What we get from this Biblical history lesson is to be able to put into context the correct view of our Bible. So often we don't know about the cultural aspects of the passage or its history. Philip was preaching the Good News to a people he had been taught were unapproachable. Since Jesus told them to preach to all nations, the door was now open for everyone to receive eternal life through Jesus.
Are there certain people or group of people in your life that you don't want to approach and tell the Good News to? Who are they? Why don't you want to approach them?
Sometimes we don't approach certain groups of people because we don't know much about them or we've heard things that make us uncomfortable. Jesus wants us to step across the boundaries we may have around our hearts against certain people and share what we know about Him. We are called to love others no matter who they are.
Philip stepped out in faith and went to the Samaritans and other Gentiles. God honored that. He enabled Philip to preach and heal. God is willing and able to do the same with us.
Step out with me and tell others, no matter who they are about Jesus. Love them as He loves them. Be Christ to the world and see what wonderful things can be done in the Name of Jesus.
"Determined"
Acts 8:1-3 (NLT) Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.
A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.
Watching the stoning of Stephen was a young man named Saul. He completely approved of the stoning and was so moved by Stephen's trial and execution that he began persecuting the believers with an umatched fervor. "He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison."
Have you ever believed in something so strongly that you would go to any length to see that it was successful? Have you ever believed in something you thought was right and later found it to be wrong?
Who was this Saul that is referred to in this passage? Look at the following Scripture and list the things you find there that can help us learn a little bit about him:
Acts 22:3 (NLT) Then Paul (formerly known as Saul) said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today.
Before he was a believer he was a strong advocate of the Pharisees and in the extinguishing of the believers of Jesus. Though he was devoted to God as an Israelite, he was a cruel man who calmly witnessed the murder of Stephen.
Do you remember the name Gamaliel? (See Acts 5:33-39) He was a Rabban, a Rabbi of the Rabbis. Saul was a student of his and wholeheartedly believed everything he had learned and was determined that the Christians would be stopped. It all started when he witnessed the death of Stephen. Saul, who we'll learn more about later, was convinced that Jesus and his followers were a danger to the Jewish way of life and to the control of the Temple. It appeared that nothing could change his mind. Nothing could, perhaps, but Someone would.
Do you know someone who you believe will never change? Maybe you have views that have been changed. What are some of these views or beliefs that you previously held? How did they get changed?
Sometimes I think that there is no way that certain people I know will have a change of heart toward Jesus. No matter what I say to convince them of Jesus and His love for them seems to make a dent. Is it my responsibility to change their minds? What does the Bible say?
1 Corinthians 1:6 (NLT) This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.
2 Corinthians 5:20a (NLT) We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.
The Good News of Jesus is what changes peoples minds. We are ambassadors of this Good News are only responsible for telling it and living our lives as an example. The Holy Spirit does the rest. We are merely the mouthpiece He uses to tell others about Jesus.
Romans 8:16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.
Inside each person there is a spirit which was placed there by God and longs to know God. That is why so many people seek "spiritual things" of this world. They are looking for a Savior. Think about all the "religions" in the world. Not one leads to God through a Savior that died and rose again. No one offers a personal relationship with the God of the universe. Only Jesus offers this.
John 14:6 (NLT) Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
The hearts of people change because the Holy Spirit touches their spirit and the person responds. Hearts and minds can be changed. We should never give up telling others about Jesus. We'll learn more about Saul later but for now let's remember to live our lives for Jesus and tell others about Him.
"Hardly Noticing"
Acts 7:54-60 (MSG) At that point they went wild, a rioting mob of catcalls and whistles and invective. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, hardly noticed—he only had eyes for God, whom he saw in all his glory with Jesus standing at his side. He said, "Oh! I see heaven wide open and the Son of Man standing at God's side!"
Yelling and hissing, the mob drowned him out. Now in full stampede, they dragged him out of town and pelted him with rocks. The ringleaders took off their coats and asked a young man named Saul to watch them.
As the rocks rained down, Stephen prayed, "Master Jesus, take my life." Then he knelt down, praying loud enough for everyone to hear, "Master, don't blame them for this sin"—his last words. Then he died.
After Stephen called the Council a "stiff-necked people" and accused them of Jesus' murder and the murder of the Prophets, all hell broke loose. After hearing these words from the man they couldn't take their eyes off of because "he had the face of an angel" (see Acts 6:15), they were now angry enough to kill him. The mood of the court changed directions in a split second and the death of this man of God was eminent. Stephen, it says in the Message version of the Bible, "hardly noticed—he only had eyes for God..."
I can't imagine hardly noticing a mob wanting to stone me. Stephen wasn't focused on the mob or the stones. He was focused on God. How can we be like this? What does it take to drown out the threats and hurts of our lives in this world and only see the face of Jesus? Why do we notice everything going on around us and ask, "where is Jesus in all of this?" What is the difference between Stephen's view of his situation and our view of ours?
Stephen looked up and saw only the glory of the Lord. There was nothing that could distract him from seeing Jesus and all His glory. The definition of "glory," according to the NIV Compact Dictionary of the Bible is "the glory of God is the worthiness of God ~ the presence of God in the fullness of His attributes in some place or everywhere." The Hebrew word for "glory" is "kabod" and means "the weight and therefore worth of something." For example, we use the phrase, "their word carries weight," and know we can trust what that person is saying. The glory of God is just that, His Word "carries weight" and we can trust what He says.
John 17:22-26 (NLT) “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!
“O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”
Jesus' prayer for His disciples and those who would follow after them (that's us) was that the glory He gave us would out-weigh the distractions and threats we experience in this world. Stephen did just that. His focus was on the "weight" of Jesus' Words and not the "weight" of what others were trying to do to him.
Where do you place "weight?" Is it on the problems you face? On the tasks you have each day? On your family issues? Work? Relationships? Our focus shouldn't be on those things but rather on the "weight" of what Jesus says about things. When we focus on Jesus and believe that what He says is true, then the issues we face aren't "weighty" anymore. It takes focus and faith to remain fixed on Jesus and not overtaken by the "stones" thrown at us.
Philippians 3:18-21 (NIV) For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Our citizenship is not here. It is in heaven. The things of this world are temporary while the things of heaven are eternal. Stephen believed this with his whole heart and when his earthly heart stopped beating, his eternal heart went on. We have this same promise. God says so through His Son.
Did you notice what it says Jesus did while Stephen was being stoned? Read the verses below. What is the difference between the two:
Mark 16:19 (NLT) When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
Acts 7:56 (NLT) And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”
The difference is that Jesus stood up! When someone stands up they are preparing to take action. Jesus saw what was happening to Stephen and He stood up at the Father's right hand. Jesus received Stephen's spirit in that moment. After Stephen prayed his last words on this earth, "Master, don't blame them for this sin" he fell asleep. His spirit passed from this world into the next.
Friend, this is what Jesus does when we call out to Him. He stands up and takes action. We may not see the results we would like to see, but we will see the perfect action taken by our perfect Savior. Keep your eyes focused on the One who loves you most, knows you best and sits in honor at the right hand of God. He's ready, willing and able to stand up on your behalf and take action. Let's trust Him like Stephen did even though it may mean the end of our lives on this earth.
"Set Apart"
Acts 7:44-53 (NLT) “Our ancestors carried the Tabernacle with them through the wilderness. It was constructed according to the plan God had shown to Moses. Years later, when Joshua led our ancestors in battle against the nations that God drove out of this land, the Tabernacle was taken with them into their new territory. And it stayed there until the time of King David.
“David found favor with God and asked for the privilege of building a permanent Temple for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who actually built it. However, the Most High doesn’t live in temples made by human hands. As the prophet says, ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that?’ asks the Lord. ‘Could you build me such a resting place? Didn’t my hands make both heaven and earth?’
“You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.”
What started out as a history lesson was heading toward severe accusation by Stephen. No longer were they the interrogators, Stephen was. Stephen brought the truth about the Council came out and boy did it ever come out. Stephen wasn't afraid of what these men would do to him or think about him. He just did it according to what God wanted him to say.
Stephen wasn't apologetic for what he said. He went straight from the history lesson and finally gave them an answer to their question. They had asked if the accusation by the Freedman Jews was correct. Instead he accused them of being just like their ancestors, who persecuted and murdered the Prophets who predicted the coming of the "Righteous One." He pointed the finger at them by saying they murdered the Messiah.
Stephen gave them a lesson about the Temple and that God didn't dwell there. He now dwells in the hearts of those who called Jesus their Lord. The Council couldn't understand what he was saying when he quoted the Torah (See Isaiah 66:1-2) This is what the Lord says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that? Could you build me such a resting place? My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the Lord, have spoken! I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word."
God cannot be contained in a box or a building. He doesn't fit because He's infinite. Instead He chooses to indwell in the hearts and minds of those who believe Jesus is God. When the Holy Spirit of God takes up residence in the heart of a believer He inhabits them with His whole being. We don't each get only a portion of Him. We get all of Him. Because He is infinite, He can infinitely dwell within all believers. He's not limited. He is always present fully wherever He chooses to live.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT) Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
What do think it means to be in dwelt by the Holy Spirit? If your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit then how should you treat it?
We are holy when we have the Holy Spirit living within us. The word "holy" in Greek is "hagios" and means, "separated from the ordinary; having a relationship with God; set-apart." As believers in Jesus, we are separated from the ordinary, have a relationship with God and we are set apart. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Do you catch the enormity of it all? Stephen did.
Romans 14:7-8 (NLT) For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
What does it mean to live a life that honors the Lord? What do you think it entails? Do you have to do this by ourselves? Does the Holy Spirit give us the strength to do it?
To live a life that honors the Lord is believe God and be obedient to Him. All it takes is the decision to follow Him. Every decision must be made with honoring Jesus in mind.
Stephen honored the Lord in his life especially when he was brought before his accusers. We will soon find out what happened to him. Without a doubt, Stephen is one of my favorite people in the Bible. I want to be like Jesus and do as Stephen did. I want to honor Jesus with my life. How about you?
God blesses those who have "humble and contrite hearts." What does that mean? Are we supposed to be milk-toast kind of people who let everything go by without a challenge?
My mom always told me to "choose your battles wisely." Living for Jesus is just that. The wise choice is to always stand behind the shield of Jesus. It takes courage and fortitude to be submissive (come under the protection) to Jesus. Its hard to not want to take over and fight our own battles. We all have to choose our response to situations and trust that no matter what Jesus has His best in mind for us.
Isaiah 57:15 (NLT) The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this:
“I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble.
I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts."
Take hold of the promise that Jesus' Holy Spirit dwells within you. You don't just have a portion of Him. You have all of Him. It's humbling to know that the Most High God chooses to set up His temple in you and me. I pray that we will remember this and live "set-apart" lives for Him.
"Captive Audience"
Acts 7:1-8 (NLT) Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these accusations true?”
This was Stephen’s reply: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me. Our glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham in Mesopotamia before he settled in Haran. God told him, ‘Leave your native land and your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.’ So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran until his father died. Then God brought him here to the land where you now live.
“But God gave him no inheritance here, not even one square foot of land. God did promise, however, that eventually the whole land would belong to Abraham and his descendants—even though he had no children yet. God also told him that his descendants would live in a foreign land, where they would be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. ‘But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,’ God said, ‘and in the end they will come out and worship me here in this place.’
“God also gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision at that time. So when Abraham became the father of Isaac, he circumcised him on the eighth day. And the practice was continued when Isaac became the father of Jacob, and when Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs of the Israelite nation.
When Stephen was brought before the Council he was asked if the charges brought against him were true. Stephen's response wasn't what they expected to hear. Stephen laid the groundwork of his defense by giving them a history lesson. The first person he spoke about was Abraham. Abraham is known as the Patriarch of the Jewish faith. Stephen was laying a foundation for his defense on the basis of faith.
Romans 4:1-3 (NLT) Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
What do we learn from this passage? Which is makes us acceptable to God ~ good deeds or faith?
Stephen wanted the Council to know that the basis for his defense was having faith in God. His faith in God enabled him to continue on with the history lesson before the teachers of the Law. What he said they couldn't refute. Stephen knew they would listen if he spoke about Abraham because he was the Patriarch of their faith.
Acts 7:9-19 (NLT) “These patriarchs were jealous of their brother Joseph, and they sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. And God gave him favor before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. God also gave Joseph unusual wisdom, so that Pharaoh appointed him governor over all of Egypt and put him in charge of the palace.
“But a famine came upon Egypt and Canaan. There was great misery, and our ancestors ran out of food. Jacob heard that there was still grain in Egypt, so he sent his sons—our ancestors—to buy some. The second time they went, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers,[a] and they were introduced to Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent for his father, Jacob, and all his relatives to come to Egypt, seventy-five persons in all. So Jacob went to Egypt. He died there, as did our ancestors. Their bodies were taken to Shechem and buried in the tomb Abraham had bought for a certain price from Hamor’s sons in Shechem.
“As the time drew near when God would fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt greatly increased. But then a new king came to the throne of Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph. This king exploited our people and oppressed them, forcing parents to abandon their newborn babies so they would die.
The next person Stephen presented was Joseph. He was known as another elder of the faith. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers because they were jealous of him. While he was enslaved in Egypt God raised him up to a position of power because Joseph had faith in God.
Hebrews 11:22-23 (NLT) It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.
It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.
When Joseph died he left this world praising God. Could it be that Stephen sensed his own death was coming and would continue to praise God as he died? He was telling these learned men about the history they knew but he was speaking of the faith of Joseph not his accomplishments. I wonder if they understood.
Acts 7:20-43 (NLT) “At that time Moses was born—a beautiful child in God’s eyes. His parents cared for him at home for three months. When they had to abandon him, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and raised him as her own son. Moses was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was powerful in both speech and action.
“One day when Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his relatives, the people of Israel. He saw an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite. So Moses came to the man’s defense and avenged him, killing the Egyptian. Moses assumed his fellow Israelites would realize that God had sent him to rescue them, but they didn’t.
“The next day he visited them again and saw two men of Israel fighting. He tried to be a peacemaker. ‘Men,’ he said, ‘you are brothers. Why are you fighting each other?’
“But the man in the wrong pushed Moses aside. ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us?’ he asked. ‘Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?’ When Moses heard that, he fled the country and lived as a foreigner in the land of Midian. There his two sons were born.
“Forty years later, in the desert near Mount Sinai, an angel appeared to Moses in the flame of a burning bush. When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight. As he went to take a closer look, the voice of the Lord called out to him, ‘I am the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses shook with terror and did not dare to look.
“Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groans and have come down to rescue them. Now go, for I am sending you back to Egypt.’
“So God sent back the same man his people had previously rejected when they demanded, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us?’ Through the angel who appeared to him in the burning bush, God sent Moses to be their ruler and savior. And by means of many wonders and miraculous signs, he led them out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and through the wilderness for forty years.
“Moses himself told the people of Israel, ‘God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people.’ Moses was with our ancestors, the assembly of God’s people in the wilderness, when the angel spoke to him at Mount Sinai. And there Moses received life-giving words to pass on to us.
“But our ancestors refused to listen to Moses. They rejected him and wanted to return to Egypt. They told Aaron, ‘Make us some gods who can lead us, for we don’t know what has become of this Moses, who brought us out of Egypt.’ So they made an idol shaped like a calf, and they sacrificed to it and celebrated over this thing they had made. Then God turned away from them and abandoned them to serve the stars of heaven as their gods! In the book of the prophets it is written, ‘Was it to me you were bringing sacrifices and offerings during those forty years in the wilderness, Israel? No, you carried your pagan gods—the shrine of Molech, the star of your god Rephan, and the images you made to worship them. So I will send you into exile as far away as Babylon.’
Stephen spoke about Moses after Joseph. He gave a synopsis of the life of Moses and his leadership of the Israelites. By faith Moses led them out of their slavery to the Egyptians. This wasn't an automatic thing. It took forty years in seclusion before God brought him back from the desert to be the leader the Israelites needed.
Hebrews 11:23-29 (NLT) It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.
It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.
It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.
Stephen showed them his knowledge of the Torah and the three of the elders of their faith. He gave them a lesson on faith as seen in these special men of God. Remember they were transfixed by the light coming from Stephen's face. They knew of one other person whose face glowed and that was Moses.
Exodus 34:29-30 (NLT) When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the Lord. So when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses’ face, they were afraid to come near him.
The Council may have been scared like Aaron and the people of Israel when Moses came down from the mountain. Stephen's face got their attention. He had a captive audience and by the power of the holy Spirit spoke of Jesus. The three patriarchs' lives pointed to the Messiah and Stephen was telling them who the Messiah was.
Have you ever been in a situation were you had the opportunity to speak about Jesus? What did you do? What was the result?
We will all find ourselves in the position to tell others about Jesus. Sometimes they will listen and accept what we are saying. Other times they will listen and not accept what we are saying. There may be times when they will cut us off and not want to hear at all. The point is that God gives us opportunities to speak for Him and He gives us the words to say by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is all by faith (believing God) that we can tell others about Him. We aren't alone and we don't have to win the argument because it is already won by Jesus Himself. There is no argument in our witness or there shouldn't be. All God asks us to do is tell others what He has done in our lives.
1 Timothy 4:9-10 (NLT) This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.
"For our hope is in the living God." This is the same hope that Stephen had. We can go to the bank on the Hope found in Jesus. May we be like Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Moses and Stephen and live by faith. May our faces glow with the Spirit of our God. No matter what the possible outcome, let us take up the shield of faith (See Ephesians 6:16) and trust our Lord.
"Reflections"
Acts 6:8-15 (NLT) Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia. None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.
So they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen, saying, “We heard him blaspheme Moses, and even God.” This roused the people, the elders, and the teachers of religious law. So they arrested Stephen and brought him before the high council.
The lying witnesses said, “This man is always speaking against the holy Temple and against the law of Moses. We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”
At this point everyone in the high council stared at Stephen, because his face became as bright as an angel’s.
Who is Stephen? Look at the following passage and you will find the answer. Describe the attributes of the men chosen and the actions of the Apostles after they presented them to the church. What was so special about Stephen?
Acts 6:3-6 (NLT) And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”
Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.
Apparently Stephen was a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. The Apostles laid their hands on them and prayed for them. God gave these seven the abilities to accomplish His will. We, who are believers in Jesus, all are filled with the same amount of the Holy Spirit as Stephen and the others. It's our choice to tap into this Holy Power like he did or go on our own power.
We have learned that we all have certain gifts given to us by God and made possible by the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. We can push our gifts aside to blend in with the world or we can fully rely on the Holy Spirit to enable us to use the gifts we are given to face this world and bring glory to Jesus. Stephen's gift was faith. He relied on the Holy Spirit to use this gift.
Romans 12:6-8 (NLT) In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
"God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well." When we use the gifts God has given us we accomplish His excellence. We don't do things half way when we do them under the power given to us by God. We do things according to God's perfect abilities.
Stephen was the kind of person who lived his gift. He lived it so much that others were disturbed by it. It seems like people either loved Stephen or hated him. In this case the freed slaves from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia (know as the Freedmen) were disturbed by Stephen's words. They were so unhinged by his teachings that they stirred some people and the teachers of the law up with false testimonies. Because they couldn't argue with him, they railroaded him.
Has there ever been a time in your life when you know that you are living according to what God has told you to do and have been lied about? How did it feel? Did you continue to stand up for what you believed and honored God or did you get down in the dirt with your accusers and fight?
"At this point everyone in the high council stared at Stephen, because his face became as bright as an angel’s." The Holy Spirit dwelling within Stephen was glowing and the council couldn't take their eyes off of him. What would it be like to be so dependent on the Holy Spirit that His presence made your face glow? It attracts others both positively and negatively. By this I mean that those who love Jesus or want to know more about Him are drawn to Him positively and want more. Those who oppose Jesus and want nothing to do with Him respond negatively and are repulsed.
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (NLT) But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?
When we are living according to the power of the Holy Spirit we give off an aroma and God's light. How we live reflects what we believe at that moment. The decisions we make and the actions we take reflect our faith and obedience to God. Stephen's faith in and his love of Jesus shone so much that the Council could not take their eyes off of him.
Do you want to reflect Jesus to others? Or would you rather blend in? It's a risky thing. Some may love you and others may hate you. Are you ready for the reactions you may get? Stephen, as we'll see, never wavered. I want to be more like Stephen (who was more like Jesus). How about you?
Proverbs 27:19 (NLT) As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.
Who do you reflect? What does your heart tell others? If you want what Stephen had pray with me: I want to reflect Jesus. Lord, please remove the fear and may I walk according to Your power. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
"Rumblings of Discontent"
Acts 6:1-7 (NLT) But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.
So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”
Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.
So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.
These seven verses are chock-full of information. Again, this portion of Scripture is one we so often read through quickly, if at all, to get to the next portion we are familiar with. So today let's really get to know what is in it and why we need to know it.
The first verse begins with a division in the infant church among the Greek and Hebrew Jews. The Greeks complained about their widows getting slighted in the distribution of food. Complaining and jealousy are as old as time, beginning with Cain and Able. (See Genesis 4) Overlooking and being insensitive is also as ancient as time. What does the Bible tell us about divisions, grumbling, jealousy and the like? Read the passages below and discover what it says:
1 Corinthians 1:10 (NLT) I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?
Galatians 5:19-21 (NLT) When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Jealously and quarreling are listed among the other desires of our sinful nature along with sexual immorality, impurity, sorcery, etc. We tend to overlook jealousy and quarreling because we believe we have a right to our feelings. Yet, these indicate an immaturity in us as believers. God wants us to stop and grow up and learn to work things out through obedience to Him and in prayer.
How do you view quarreling and jealousy? Do you think it should rank up there with lust, etc.? Why or why not?
The point is, God doesn't like it. I think that quarreling and jealousy are two of the biggest problems churches have. If we would just go to God with the things we don't agree on and love one another as He requires of us, then I believe our churches would quit splitting and folks would stop changing churches when they get their noses out of joint. (I include myself in this too!) God wants the church unified to prepare for His return and to bring others to know Him. Who wants to be a part of bitter quarreling and petty behavior? Would you?
In verses 2-4 we see a perfect example of working problems out. The leaders of the Church delegated the problem to seven men who would take care of the need among the widows of the church. Delegation is so very important. It requires prayer and special consideration of the spiritual gifts certain people have. So many leaders think they need to take care of it themselves or just ignore the problems. God has set up the church to function as an in-sync body of believers. Each with their own gifts to fill needs within the Body of Christ, the Church.
Romans 12:4-8 (MSG) In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.
If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.
I really like how the Message Bible words this passage of Scripture. "Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body." When we are functioning in our gifts, things really run smoothly. Not only that, but the church is blessed by God and people are attracted to it. Many came to know Jesus as a result of the cooperation of this early church. Even some priests came to faith.
If you don't know what your spiritual gifts are and would like to find out ~ go to churchgrowth.org/cgi-cg/gifts.cgi?intro=1 When you find what you are gifted at then you can work and give in the area of your giftedness. Its God's plan and it works.
When we quarrel and complain we sow seeds of discontent allowing Satan to get his foot in the door. The Church of Jesus should be a place of blessings. It should always put Jesus first bringing honor to Him and not to ourselves. Let's unite and give our best for the cause of Christ.
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Acts 8:26-40 (NLT) As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
