The Book of Acts ~ Study Twenty-Eight

"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.