Spirit-led Testimony for a Nation (7/11/23)
Acts 7
Freya
7/12/2023
Life Lesson(s)…
Acts 7 is Stephen's passion-filled, Holy-Spirit-led testimony and history of Israel. Acts 7:51-53 is the Lord's pronouncement upon the religious leaders, Pharisees, Sadducees, and other rabbinical/temple workers. Stephen's testimony revealed that his contemporaries were no better than their ancestors in their refusal to see God's plans as revealed by Holy Spirit-led, prophetic believers. Instead, these Israeli leaders relied on their understanding and knowledge of Hebraic and Mosaic laws to rule their lives and the nation of Israel instead of dependency on God, His plans for them, and even the coming of Jesus Christ (a.k.a "the Righteous One"), whom they betrayed and murdered.
So, you're asking what is the life lesson? Take a look at your own life and the aggregate of others who believe such as you? Do you see unity among believers? Is it a unity of ideology, thealogy, feeling, what you can see? Or is it a unity of faith in a triune God? Do you see the Holy Spirit working in your life today?
According to Joshua 20:15, everyone must choose whom they will serve (self, other gods, or the Lord). This is a daily choice even for believers, but do believers have the follow-through and an ear to hear the Holy Spirit speaking?
Your Thoughts…
Look at the title of this post and the questions outlined above and journal on the following:
How does an aggregate belief system influence a nation?
Consider one idea that many people believe to be true.
Weigh the benefits of the idea and its influence on standards/laws.
Weigh the disadvantages of the idea and such influence on standards/laws.
Do the benefits outweigh the disadvantages for you? Someone less fortunate than you? Someone more fortunate that you?
Pick and ponder a law/rule that you live under.
Why was it written?
Under what circumstances is the law just? How about unjust?
Have you seen this law applied to someone? Was it just or not in application?
What is God's role in all of the above?
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“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.”
ACTS 7:51-53 (ESV)