Stephen, one of the new leaders appointed by the apostles, was full of faith and the Holy Spirit, so much so that those who disputed with him about the identity of Jesus Christ were so thoroughly defeated that they resorted to dishonesty and the courts in attempt to silence him. As he sat before them his face was angelic, that is, innocently aglow, having a clear understanding of God.
Christianity’s Close Call
Are Christians aware of how close Christianity came to devaluing God’s Word; Scripture; the Bible? In this section we see that in the presence of unfairness the apostles were called to resolve the problem, but the apostle were very careful to do so without surrendering their time in prayer and preparation in Scripture. The outcome was their appointment of seven outstanding men who served to needs of the flock without distracting the apostles from the word. Christianity had a close call with making the Bible inferior to other things.
Repentance vs. Retaliation
Once the apostles were rearrested for preaching and performing signs and wonders in Jerusalem. Peter had opportunity to speak and the Holy Spirit gave him all he needed to say to his persecutors, and it was true and blistering. So his persecutors, rather than repenting in the face of truth, retaliated in fury. But God found an attendee amongst the council wise enough and respected enough to successfully advise against murder.
Zeal vs. Zeal
In this life of spiritual resistance, spiritual war, it is beneficial to recognize that Satan energizes people in his causes against the Kingdom of Heaven. So Christians are not the only ones zealous to serve their King. On display here is the courageous zeal of the apostles verses the envious and unrighteous zeal of their persecutors. It is also pointed out by God that the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey Him.
Signs and Wonders
After the Holy Spirit’s stern execution of church discipline through Peter in the slaying of two Satanically influenced attendees comes a movement of the Holy Spirit’s healings. These were extraordinary signs and wonders. There is a pattern in Scripture of God doing the extraordinary at the beginning of great works: the days of Exodus, the giving of Moses’ law, the days of Elijah an Elisha, the Gospel and the beginning of the church. These astonishing signs and wonders were necessary in the beginnings of great works, not after.
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- …
- 103
- Next Page »