"And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people." (Acts 6:8)
He was a "table-server." He was a "deacon." The men whom the Apostles called for were to be, "....full of the Spirit and wisdom...." It is what all who follow Jesus are called to be.
Most people think today that to have such a, "....wonders and signs..," "ministry" in the Church you have to be what Paul called, "super-apostles," or Oral Roberts, Kathryn Kuhlman, etc. Yet from what I observe of Stephen, he was a Follower of Jesus, just as you and me. His "calling" was to serve. The "rest" of what he went about is the result of a servant's heart.
Maybe there would be less striving in the Church if we would be, "....full of faith and the Holy Spirit...," and go about the life to which Jesus calls us. Not everyone in the Church does the things which Stephen did. Now some will say, "Well, that's only because most are not, "....full of faith and power,...and the Holy Spirit...." Okay, and there may have been a day when I would have thought that-------- but today I'm not so sure.
There is a a lot in Christendom which manifests nothing but a "religious spirit." I'm not attempting to excuse the lack of faith with which we all may struggle. But I see a lot of people who believe that if we are not living a life of what they think was the Apostle Paul's, viz., never sleeping, always preaching, casting out demons, traveling the Empire, no "down time," you just don't "have it."
The call of our Lord Jesus is always to obedience, to manifest love by serving (1 Corinthians 13). That is exactly what Stephen was doing---- serving. Maybe a good description of an "active Christian" should be: One who serves others in every command of Jesus. You don't take out a 5013c, or start a church; you go about life serving Jesus by serving the lost, the sick, the possessed, the Church, the Kingdom. O, and by the way, less anyone aspires to be like Stephen, it just could get you killed.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I repent of anything which is not obedience to You. Amen.
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Latest Development with Germans and Arab/Islamism in Berlin: jhs58.blogspot.com
He was a "table-server." He was a "deacon." The men whom the Apostles called for were to be, "....full of the Spirit and wisdom...." It is what all who follow Jesus are called to be.
Most people think today that to have such a, "....wonders and signs..," "ministry" in the Church you have to be what Paul called, "super-apostles," or Oral Roberts, Kathryn Kuhlman, etc. Yet from what I observe of Stephen, he was a Follower of Jesus, just as you and me. His "calling" was to serve. The "rest" of what he went about is the result of a servant's heart.
Maybe there would be less striving in the Church if we would be, "....full of faith and the Holy Spirit...," and go about the life to which Jesus calls us. Not everyone in the Church does the things which Stephen did. Now some will say, "Well, that's only because most are not, "....full of faith and power,...and the Holy Spirit...." Okay, and there may have been a day when I would have thought that-------- but today I'm not so sure.
There is a a lot in Christendom which manifests nothing but a "religious spirit." I'm not attempting to excuse the lack of faith with which we all may struggle. But I see a lot of people who believe that if we are not living a life of what they think was the Apostle Paul's, viz., never sleeping, always preaching, casting out demons, traveling the Empire, no "down time," you just don't "have it."
The call of our Lord Jesus is always to obedience, to manifest love by serving (1 Corinthians 13). That is exactly what Stephen was doing---- serving. Maybe a good description of an "active Christian" should be: One who serves others in every command of Jesus. You don't take out a 5013c, or start a church; you go about life serving Jesus by serving the lost, the sick, the possessed, the Church, the Kingdom. O, and by the way, less anyone aspires to be like Stephen, it just could get you killed.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I repent of anything which is not obedience to You. Amen.
*****************************
Latest Development with Germans and Arab/Islamism in Berlin: jhs58.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
