How you doin? I had
mentioned in yesterday's email that the workers or disciple or servers
had plenty of ministry going on. That indeed was an understatement.
Stacey pointed out a part that I had left out in discussing about the
workers ministry. Acts 6:8, "Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people." Stephen who was one of the 7 chosen to help the apostles was "full
of faith and of the Holy Spirit". Of course the religious leaders
respond in their normal, led by the Devil way... they go after Stephen. 6:10 says, "But
they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he
spoke." Chapter 6 goes on to tell us that the religious leaders
"persuaded" some men to lie about Stephen and they bring him in. Acts 7
today.
Very
powerful Scripture this morning in just 6 verses. The first 53 verses
of Acts 7 is a fairly thorough history of man's sin and turning away
from God by Stephen to the religious leaders. He basically recaps what
the religious leaders do, and have been doing since their beginning.
Stephen gives a historical recap of the Devil led actions of their
forefathers. He ends his talk with “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was
there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed
those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have
betrayed and murdered him". (7:51-52) OUCH!!!!!!! This isn't going to go over well.
Verses 54-60 are titled "The Stoning of Stephen". Buckle up... this is powerful. Of course the religious leaders were bent out of shape as verse 54 explains. Verses 55-56 brings on the "Sonny"... "But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” AWESOME!!!!!!! COME ON!!!!!!! and SAY WORD!!!!!!! Here this worker is well aware of the Presence in him. "Full of the Holy Spirit". I want that so bad I can't stand it. I pray so much for that kind of awareness of the Spirit that dwells in me. COME ON!!!!!!! Stacey points out that when Jesus ascended into Heaven He sat at the right hand of God the Father. There are several Scripture that say this. Here Jesus was "standing at the right hand of God". Jesus was taking great interest in what was happening with Stephen. YES & AMEN!!!!!!! WOW!!!!!!! I am so interested in that kind of leading by the Holy Ghost. That kind of reckless commitment and connection to God brings out Holy jealousy in me. Stephen was a regular man. What made him exceptional was that he received what Jesus offers. COME ON!!!!!!! The religious leaders had an interesting reaction here, "At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him." (57-58) They cover their ears and yelled at the top of their voices. It sounds as if the Devils attached to them or leading them lost their composer. The best parts coming. "While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep." WOW!!!!!!! So I'm puddle. I can't get over this scene. Here it looks like Stephen is being violently stoned to death and he has his eyes on Jesus. COME ON!!!!!!! The enemy was destroying his body, but his soul and spirit was all Jesus'. SAY WORD!!!!!!! This is an incredible example of keeping your eyes on Jesus during attack. Spiritual warfare, unlike war in the nature, requires us to keep our eyes on our ally not our enemy. Verse 60 shows Stephen's great compassion and forgiveness. So much in 6 verses. I'm pretty much completely undone. PRAISE JESUS!!!!!!! I can't wait to get to the Hillsong Conference. I can't wait for the Welton's to get here. I can't wait to see what Jesus does. COME ON!!!!!!! Keep your eyes on Jesus today.
PS I can't get over how perfect God is. He has really been here for me this week and always.Verses 54-60 are titled "The Stoning of Stephen". Buckle up... this is powerful. Of course the religious leaders were bent out of shape as verse 54 explains. Verses 55-56 brings on the "Sonny"... "But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” AWESOME!!!!!!! COME ON!!!!!!! and SAY WORD!!!!!!! Here this worker is well aware of the Presence in him. "Full of the Holy Spirit". I want that so bad I can't stand it. I pray so much for that kind of awareness of the Spirit that dwells in me. COME ON!!!!!!! Stacey points out that when Jesus ascended into Heaven He sat at the right hand of God the Father. There are several Scripture that say this. Here Jesus was "standing at the right hand of God". Jesus was taking great interest in what was happening with Stephen. YES & AMEN!!!!!!! WOW!!!!!!! I am so interested in that kind of leading by the Holy Ghost. That kind of reckless commitment and connection to God brings out Holy jealousy in me. Stephen was a regular man. What made him exceptional was that he received what Jesus offers. COME ON!!!!!!! The religious leaders had an interesting reaction here, "At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him." (57-58) They cover their ears and yelled at the top of their voices. It sounds as if the Devils attached to them or leading them lost their composer. The best parts coming. "While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep." WOW!!!!!!! So I'm puddle. I can't get over this scene. Here it looks like Stephen is being violently stoned to death and he has his eyes on Jesus. COME ON!!!!!!! The enemy was destroying his body, but his soul and spirit was all Jesus'. SAY WORD!!!!!!! This is an incredible example of keeping your eyes on Jesus during attack. Spiritual warfare, unlike war in the nature, requires us to keep our eyes on our ally not our enemy. Verse 60 shows Stephen's great compassion and forgiveness. So much in 6 verses. I'm pretty much completely undone. PRAISE JESUS!!!!!!! I can't wait to get to the Hillsong Conference. I can't wait for the Welton's to get here. I can't wait to see what Jesus does. COME ON!!!!!!! Keep your eyes on Jesus today.
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