Tag: full of the Holy Spirit
The Father prepared a ‘table’!
Scripture reading for February 1st: Acts 7, Psalm 23, Proverbs 23
Acts 7: 51-55 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, Whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him.”
Stephen was one of seven men chosen by the apostles to help serve widows in the early church. He was taken before the Sanhedrin and charged falsely of blasphemy. When asked to defend himself, Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, laid out the history of the Jews and their hard-heartedness towards the law of Moses, the prophets and Jesus Christ, God’s Son. He confronted those involved in the crucifixion of Jesus. God was offering them grace. This angered them and they ground their teeth! God opened heaven to show Stephen Jesus Christ standing at the Father’s right hand awaiting his home-going! It is almost as if the Father, in His great mercy, prepared the ‘table’ for Stephen’s martyrdom! The Father and Son were rejoicing in Stephen and his wisdom and courage in the face of enemies.
Psalm 23:5-6 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Prayer: Father God, You are the Good Shepherd that leads Your people in every situation of life. Belonging to You, we are given grace to endure even death. Thank You for preparing this ‘table’ of glory in Your presence that we look forward to. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I might boldly proclaim truth to those who mock and scoff. With Stephen I declare, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
Proverbs 23:24-25 “The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.”
Holy Spirit-filled servants!
Scripture reading for April 13th: Acts 6
Key Scriptures: Acts 6:1-7 “Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complain by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the Word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. And what they said pleased the whole gathering and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.”
As the church grew, the needs of widows and their care became a point of conflict. The apostles called together the group of disciples and discussed how to deal with the problem. They knew that their responsibility was to pray and preach the Word so they asked that seven men, full of the Spirit and wisdom be identified and their reputations checked out. They then laid hands on them and appointed them to helping with the food distributions to the widows. This was God’s plan and He used it to multiply ministry and ministers! When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you can do God’s work.
Acts 6:7 “And the Word of God continued to increase and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for clear direction in how to multiply workers and servers in Your church. Thank You for the Holy Spirit and the gifts He provides to multiply disciples and serving! Thank You for those who lead in prayer and ministry of the Word.
Exodus 18:21 “Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.”