2010 - What Is Christianity?,  The Church

Acts 6

February 3, 2010

Bible Passage:  Acts 6

“And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.”
Acts 6:15

Stephen – the first martyr for Christ. He appeared in only a couple of chapter in Acts and yet, his legacy has a great impact that lasts even till today.

Originally chosen as one of the Seven to minister to the needs of the members, Luke used interesting descriptors for Stephen all involving fullness, completeness, a quality that is bursting at its seams..

full of “good reputation” (v. 3)

“full of Spirit and wisdom” (v.3)

“full of faith” (v. 5)

“full of the Holy Spirit (v. 5, 7:55)

“full of God’s grace and power” (v. 8)

full of “great wonders and miraculous signs among the people” (v. 8)

It is hard to believe that anyone could be as good as Stephen.  Surely God would use him greatly to do wonderful things.  The Church will be assured of an exemplary worker who will be gracious and care for others.  There will be harmony and peace in Church because here is someone who is so obviously suited for the work of a deacon.

And yet…. his service was just meant for a short period only.

Stephen was brought before the council and questioned.  Lies, false accusations and attacks flew at him.
Here he was, humbly serving others, spreading the saving Word of God, helping people – but instead of being praised and thanked – he was prosecuted – and in an effort to bring down the Gospel of Christ.
But as Acts 6:15 said…”And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel”.
When persecuted terribly and surrounded by his enemies, Stephen’s face was like an angel.
On Monday, aQuillofGod said that the only semblance of persecution she had ever faced was someone shouting at her from inside a house when she went door to door preaching.
Personally, even though I do knock at doors, I have never ever faced anything that can be considered remotely as persecution.
But the fact of the matter is this… if you are anything like me, our face will betray our unhappiness when we are wrongly accused.  Our mouth will twist into a scowl, our brows knitted up.  Maybe we will turn red – all ready to ‘fire’ back.  Or in our minds… we will be condemning our oppressors and wishing all the bad things that will happen on them…
This also happens when we are scolded for things that we are actually guilty of but things that we feel justified in doing because we have the perfect excuse for doing so.
Not exactly like an angel, isn’t it?
Stephen had a face of an angel.
People could see Christ in him.  And this made them even more angry as they opposed Christ.
Just imagine you hate and oppose everything that is Christ and those who follow Him.  But now, you have to look into the eyes of this servant of God who had the face of an angel.
I just pray that I can be a little more like Stephen.
When faced with hardships, stresses, or punishments – I want to have the serenity and joy of the Lord in me because of what Christ has done for me on the cross.
When I feel that I am suffering a great deal and I complain, murmur and doubt God – let me be reminded what Stephen went through and see how little is my pain and suffering compared to Stephen’s.
God brings joy and comfort – just as He did to Stephen.
But I must first learn to be more like Stephen – to be “full” – especially to grow with God’s grace and power now and not wait till the hard times come before we strive to grow.  I must not be distracted but focus my eyes on Jesus always…
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16
Thank you Jesus for dying for me.

One Comment

  • PS
    February 4, 2010 at 1:20 AM Reply

    What was Stephen appointed to do? Stephen was appointed to serve tables. Stephen did more!

    It was not recorded whether Stephen served tables well. Instead it was recorded that “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.” (Acts 6:8)

    These “great wonders and signs” were done along side of serving tables:
    “for I was hungry and you gave Me food;
    I was thirsty and you gave Me drink;
    I was a stranger and you took Me in;
    I was naked and you clothed Me;
    I was sick and you visited Me;
    I was in prison and you came to Me.”

    “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (Matthew 25:35-36,40)

    Stephen served the neglected widows and the least.

    “Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multipled greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7)

    give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word + “you did it to Me” + disciples multipled and were obedient to the faith = many members in the body of Christ.
    (“you did it to Me” from Lord Jesus!)

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