Summary of Acts 6:1-15, with practical application
Stephen, a man with a good reputation, full of the Spirit
and of wisdom, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among
the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen
(libertines), and some others, rose up and disputed with Stephen.
So, who were these people? I Googled the definitions of both
“synagogue” and “libertine” and this is what was rendered (source Oxford
Languages):
“Synagogue - the building where a Jewish assembly or congregation meets for religious worship and instruction; a Jewish assembly or congregation.” “Libertine - a person, especially a man, who behaves without moral principles or a sense of responsibility, especially in sexual matters; a person who rejects accepted opinions in matters of religion; a freethinker.”
Now, what this sounds like is that these were not
traditional Jews, but they were an offshoot (a copy of the original but with
alterations) of the Jewish faith, and without all the restrictions of the
Jewish faith. So not an exact replica, but more like the servants of Satan who
masquerade themselves as servants of righteousness, or like the charlatans or
the wolves in sheep’s clothing, having an appearance of godliness but denying its
power. For it appears they were living immoral lifestyles. But opinions differ
on this.
But as I read this
passage of Scripture, and as I looked up these definitions, what this reminded
me of is the institutional market-driven and flesh-driven “churches” (like synagogues)
in America today which are really businesses of human origin, but they just
call themselves “churches.” So they are loosely based off the original church,
but they are altered and modified to fit with today’s culture and with what the
world is craving, and in order to be more “user friendly” and not judgmental,
so as not to offend the senses of the ungodly, which includes many who are
professing faith in Jesus Christ.
And the people who are
party to these alterations, and those who are following after these “libertines,”
are people who are also opposed to followers of Jesus Christ who are actually
following the teachings of Christ and the teachings of the New Testament
apostles. And some of them are disputing with some of us who are sharing the
truth of the gospel and who are exposing the lies of Satan. And if they cannot
trip us up with our words or get us to back down from our beliefs, then they
may try other initiatives.
Then they may make
up lies against us, like the libertines lied about Stephen and accused him of
things he did not do. And they may do this in secret where we can’t see what
they are doing or saying about us. And they may be successful in turning others
against us just based on their words alone. And they may be so convincing as to
convince even people in positions of leadership and authority in the Christian
community to shun us or to come strongly against us. And this is happening to
some Christians.
And when and if they
do, we are not to let this shake us, for the Scriptures tell us that this will
take place, and that we are not to worry ahead of time what we will say, for if
we are listening to the Lord, the Holy Spirit will give us the response we need
to have at that moment. And we are not to fear these types of things happening
to us, either, for God is in control. He is still completely sovereign over all
he created. So nothing can touch us unless God allows it and he allows it for a
purpose, and he will carry us through it.
“And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.” (verse 15 ESV)
Now may we all have
faces like that of an angel when we are being falsely accused of things we did
not do and/or say, and/or when our words are taken out of context and twisted
for the purpose to try to make us look bad.
[Matt 5:10-12; Matt
10:16-25; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 6:22-23; Lu 21:12-19; Jn 15:1-21; Jn 16:33; Jn 17:14;
Ac 14:22; Rom 5:3-5; Phil 3:7-11; 1 Pet 1:6-7; 1 Pet
4:12-17; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Thess 3:1-5; Jas 1:2-4; 2 Co 1:3-11; Heb 12:3-12; 1 Jn
3:13; Rev 6:9-11; Rev 7:9-17; Rev 11:1-3; Rev
12:17; Rev 13:1-18; Rev 14:1-13]
Have Thine Own Way, Lord
Words by Adelaide A. Pollard, 1907
Music by George C. Stebbins, 1907
Have
Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou
art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold
me and make me after Thy will,
While
I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have
Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search
me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter
than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As
in Thy presence humbly I bow.
Have
Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded
and weary, help me I pray!
Power,
all power, surely is Thine!
Touch
me and heal me, Savior divine!
Have
Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold
o'er my being absolute sway.
Fill
with Thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ
only, always, living in me!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z11avpKNLsA
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