Stephen is persecuted for his faith - and he GLOWS!! He seems to be saying "bring it on!"
Reading Stephen's story I felt deeply moved and saddened. It reminded me that, at the end of the day, if people do not want to believe .... they will not and nothing short of a 'miracle' (think Saul/Paul) will change that! "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! (7:51)
On a personal note, I was recently, 'devastated' when I received a letter, from the person I had considered my 'best' friend for over 8 years, telling me she no longer wanted to be my friend because the 'new' me, since finding GOD, was no longer 'working for her'!!!
Persecution ala Perth 2007? No stoning or crucifixions (thankfully!) but persecution for my faith nonetheless..
Since my baptism, my friend often remarked at the 'miraculous' change in me and that she was happy for me. I had shared honestly and openly with her every step of my growth as a Christian, prayed for her regularly (as did the Home Group from time to time) and at times she even asked me to pray for her. This dear friend continued to struggle with long-term depression and other issues and yet refused to 'give Jesus a go', instead actively seeking out alternative belief systems including being initiated into Taoism.
Comparatively speaking, this is of course, a 'mild' form of persecution but to me it is persecution nonetheless. I understand the dynamics and the psychology of what went on. I am sad about the loss - for both of us! .... and incase you are wondering, yes, I do still pray for her from time to time.
Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble. (proverbs 28:14)
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An eight week journey of seeking God as we read.think.pray.live our way through the gospel of John
An Invitation
Please join us during this lead up to Christmas 2009 by doing the four things listed below. Anyone can join at any time throughout this 8 week period although obviously it would be best if you can begin with us on the first of November 2009.
Requirements:
1. Commit to seeking God EVERY DAY in Nov & Dec '09 in a way that is more radical than anything you have ever done before.
2. Read.think.pray.live your way through the Gospel of John in seven weeks (3 chapters each week) and then 1 John, 2 John, 3 John in the final week.
3. Listen to the Holy Spirit and obey whatever he says to do!!
4. Contribute your insights and experiences to this blog.
May we all continue to seek the Kingdom of God before anything else!
Requirements:
1. Commit to seeking God EVERY DAY in Nov & Dec '09 in a way that is more radical than anything you have ever done before.
2. Read.think.pray.live your way through the Gospel of John in seven weeks (3 chapters each week) and then 1 John, 2 John, 3 John in the final week.
3. Listen to the Holy Spirit and obey whatever he says to do!!
4. Contribute your insights and experiences to this blog.
May we all continue to seek the Kingdom of God before anything else!
8 comments:
Gemma, it is a sad time when friends turn their back on you because of your faith. You grieve for the friendship lost and the rejection after perhaps years of sharing and good times. Unfortunately, your friend was probably happier when you confided in her and were 'as hopeless' as she is. Now you have your own confidante in Jesus and she can obviously see the changes in you and your new found hope. The ball is really in her court now, you can pray for her and by God's Grace she may come to know Him through her own seeking. I too have friends I have lost because of my faith and others who remain friends but do not know Jesus. For the second group of friends there is always that missing link and lack of depth of relationship when faith, goals, beliefs are not the same as yours. I often wonder how difficult it would be for a spouse who has an unbelieving partner?
Hi Gemma, it was me commenting - Sherrie :)
Thank you for encouraging words Sherrie :)
Yes, I have often pondered what it would be like to have an unbeleiving partner .... I take my hat off to those in that position who are still able to maintian and grow in their faith.
I don't beleive I could do it!
... well, I could if it was in GOD's will of course ;)
"7:25 He thought his own people would understand that God was delivering them through him, but they did not understand." This verse for me summarizes the whole chapter - throughout history God has been actively working for our salvation, and yet seems to be faced with stubborn people at every turn!
And the contrast between people keeping there eyes on the securities of this world (going back to Egypt, getting a Golden Calf to cuddle, etc) stands against those who listen and use the eyes of faith. 7:51 “You stubborn people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, like your ancestors did!" So while Stephan is having visions of Jesus (7:56) his hearers have only visions of their own temporal power - Lord open my eyes, clean out my ears!
The last thing that struck me was that God can appear anywhere (Iraq -7:2, Midian - 7:30) and it is his presence that makes a place holy, not the building as Stephan's accusers say (6:13). Praying for the Presence in our house, workplace, church, Bible study group.
I thought lots about the summary Stephen gave of the disbelief and denigration of Gods servants over the years.
I thought of the human 'frailty' of some of those wonderful servants. Flawed people. Never perfect this side of heaven and yet wonderfully used by God.
It just tallied with what I have been looking at recently... related in part to our study - meandering through internet sites. Seeing how various individuals (like Heidi Baker, Katherine Kuhlman, Billy Graham..) have had serious detractors within 'the church'. Some of the criticism has been aimed at past or present behaviour or character of the person, some question the source of the power they display.
2 things I thought about -
1) how we mistrust other followers of Jesus...
Luke 14 v 49 "Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn’t in our group."
2) How we expect people who have amazing giftings of the Holy Spirit to be more perfect than we expect ourselves to be...
Love really needs to be our watchword!
May we become more like Stephen and the other Apostles (and Heidi Baker) that our faith in Jesus is so dynamic and real that we would count it a joy to suffer, be persecuted and even die for him.
May we be aware of what it means to "resist the Holy Spirit" and then avoid doing this at all costs.
Your comment Gemma is very encouraging. It is so important to remember that when we are rejected for truth we are actually participating in the Fathers and Sons experience.
Israels constant rejection, despite the love of the Father, is a constant reminder that love in the end has to be for the others sake not my own. Self - serving/seeking/pleasing love is always the very opposite of what Father Himself displays.
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