Category: Devotions

Acts 7:57

“At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,”

Some people don’t listen.
Some people are all noise.
Some people get violent.
They are usually the people who have lost the argument.

Look

Acts 7:56
“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Stephen invites them to look. To see what he is seeing. But they were not for looking into heaven. Though heaven was open and Jesus was standing in the throne room, only Stephen was seeing.
Those in a fury of rage will never see what Stephen sees.
They can occupy the hierarchy, they can have many people looking at them through glassy eyes of envy, but they may not have good eyesight. They may be professionals of their industry, strategic leaders bringing strategic insights, working the seminar circuits of life having seen the world more than any other, but they cannot see what Stephen saw.
Better a poor man who can see heaven open than a rich man whose worldview is the earth.
One of the reasons for blindness is rage. It blinds you to heaven for you are so focused on seeking justice for how you were wronged, what has been said about you. Your opinions weigh you down into the mud and you cannot see when your head is not lifted.
This Earth is not everything. It will pass away. Be careful with your anger, don’t let it consume you.
Take your eyes off what people have done and lift them up today. Heaven is open, Jesus is waiting. He is standing waiting for you.

What are you facing?

Acts 7:55
“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.”

When people are raging at you where do you look?
Like a stormy sea do you look at the waves?
Stephen didn’t look at the animal fury of the religious leaders.
He looked up to heaven.
At the hands of your persecutors will you be intimidated by their face as they shake their fists at you?
How do those who are imprisoned, mistreated, beaten and killed face their enemy? What does the suffering Church teach us?
I believe it is not to face your enemy but to look up.
Stephen looked up and saw. He didn’t see the anger of men but the glory of God and Jesus standing in the throne room.
What are you facing today?
Make sure it is heaven.

Animal fury
Acts 7: 54

When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.

They were not offended by what Stephen had said. That’s not what brought on their fury. It was the fact they knew he was right. They were cornered, trapped like a wild dog perhaps dangerously afraid but willing right now to bring an uncontrollable defence. Wiling to even eat him alive. They want rid of him. They are either harmed further by the truth or they harm.
Being a truth-sayer is dangerous. You can get yourself into hot water. Choosing not to be silent can cause very loud voices to come towards you. The truth will cost you.

‘The Church on The Ocean’ is a captivating story that builds a bridge between everyday life and mission. As we journey through the life of Surf Church in Hossegor, a realistic and God-empowered picture is painted of what it looks like to surrender each day to Him and build His kingdom, wherever we are placed. Rich, Regi and the family are close to our hearts here at Elim Missions, they are part of our Elim family, and it is such a joy that others can now share in their journey as they surrender everything for the God they serve and the people they love. Church planting is always a leap of faith but, as this film shows, its fruit is everlasting.
Watch this fantastic film by Sarah Cogdon now http://www.thechurchontheocean.com/watch #filmreview #surfchurch #thechurchontheocean http://ow.ly/i/j6I2a

#Prayerline It was a joy for Paul Hudson to speak at the induction service for our fantastic missionaries Martin and Rebeca Davison. Although we are sad to no longer have them on the Elim Missions team, we are overjoyed that they have been placed and that they feel called to carry on God’s work, here in the UK. We pray for them in this new season and we are excited to hear of what God is going to do through them in Yate. http://elim.im/prayerline http://ow.ly/i/j4evI

Lots and lots of angels

Acts 7:53
“you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it.”

When God came to Mt Sinai with the law He came with angels.
Stephen was challenging the religious leaders saying not only have they rejected the Righteous One but they have disobeyed the law of God that they are idolising in so many ways.

When God comes He can come in an unrecognisable way, vulnerable and in weakness. He came as a baby.
But when God comes He can also come with power and strength, loud and bright. Look at this verse showing how He came with the law in Mt Sinai:

The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary. Psalm 68:17

Tens of thousands and thousands of thousands! That’s a huge number! Look at these verses:-

Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones. Jude 1:14

A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were open. Daniel 7:10

God has much at His disposal. He has a vast army. He is strong, powerful, awesome God. We cannot see that number, it is infinite.
Let’s magnify our God today. We cannot make Him bigger but we can see Him bigger.

I’m hurt

Acts 7:52
“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-”

Throughout history those who speak for God and are sent from Him have been killed, they still are.
Throughout history those who believe in God have done the killing, they still do.
A lot is done in the name of God.
There’s a lot of hurt inflicted by people who believe they are right.
But the amazing thing is God works despite people and turning everything into good. The greatest hurt was not only to the forerunners of the Righteous One (Jesus) but the murdering of Him. But we know God was in control.
Has someone hurt you?
They did it throughout history. It’s okay. God is in control.

Stephens challenge

Acts 7:51
“You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!

Here comes the finale! Everyone has been building to this one moment, the conclusion, the result of all the background information that Stephen has been clearly laying down.
You are stiff-necked.
You have uncircumcised hearts and ears.
You always resist the Holy Spirit.

You are
You have
You do.

You are not flexible to see past and beyond your own opinion. You are locked in to one viewpoint and do not entertain the possibility that someone else not only has something valid to say but may actually be right.

You have hearts and ears that are not submitted, not in control.
There is no master over your inner being and over what you hear. You are your own master. There is no brokenness within you. You are too proud for such action.

You always resist. Not just a few times but continually resist the notion that God is a moving God, that He is like the wind that blows and no one knows where he comes from and where He is going. You fold your arms at every opportunity not wanting to have anything to do with what you cannot understand.

That’s what was said by Stephen to the religious leaders. He could have still been saying this in 2016 perhaps.

I was meant to be

Acts 7: 50
“Has not my hand made all these things?”

Yes it has. All things.
You designed it and set it all going.
The heavens and the earth are yours.
It all belongs to you.
And I’m in the middle of all that.
I’m not here by chance.
You designed me to live within me.
You have set me going.
May your hand always be with me.