February 20th, Friday: Acts chap. 6&7

Acts 6

We'll learn that when we yield ourselves to do God's will, you never know what challenges you're going to face.

No ministry is unimportant for a Christ-like servant.

Jesus said in Luke 22:27, “I am among you as the one who serves.”

In serving tables, the men released the apostles for their ministry of prayer and the Word and the result was the increase in conversions.

People filled with the Spirit see no small jobs or big places, they see only their Master and the opportunity to glorify Him.

And we'll read about doing wonders.

From serving tables to doing miracles, Stephen reached out to the lost and sought to win them to Christ.

If you are faithful with a few things, the Lord may give you many things.

And we'll read about facing enemies.

The unbelievers treated Stephen the way the Sanhedrin treated Jesus.

They arrested him on trumped up charges and hired false witnesses to testify.

Stephen experienced the fellowship of His sufferings.

And so will you when your witness His home

They said Stephen was opposing Moses, but he had a shining face just like Moses.

It was DL Moody who said, “There are many of us who are willing to great things for the Lord. But few of us are willing to do the little things.”

Acts 7

The main thrust of Stephen's message is that Israel always resisted the truth and rejected the deliverers sent to them.

They opposed Moses and repeatedly wanted to return to Egypt.

They opposed Joseph and he later became their redeemer.

They rejected the many prophets God sent to warn them and call them back to His way.

Finally they rejected their own Messiah and crucified Him.

Israel's history reveals the patience of God and the hardness of man's heart.

But it also reveals a ray of hope.

Israel rejected their deliverers the first time, but accepted them the second time.

That was true of Moses and Joseph, and it will be true of Jesus also when He returns.

Stephen's death was the third murder in Israel's history and a turning point in God's dealings with the nation.

They have rejected the Father when they allowed John the Baptist to be slain.

They have rejected the Son when they asked for Him to be crucified.

And now they have rejected the Holy Spirit.

There could be no more forgiveness.

The line had been crossed.

And the Gospel moved out to Judea and Samaria.