Acts 7 - Speak Out

"You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are alway resisting the Holy Spirit; as your forefathers did so do you." Acts 7:51 (HCSB)

Those are some harsh words. Those are confrontational words. Or in the south "Them is figthin words!"

This where we find a man named Stephen. A man who was selected with six other men to serve the neglected widows. He had something to say. He had something that the people needed to hear. He wasn't afraid to speak out. We know nothing other than Stephen's characterisitics (Acts 6:3). He obviously knew his history, he knew what the prophets said, he knew his Old Testament. But the one thing I admire about him is that he was not ashamed to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ. He was not ashamed where they had fallen short. He was not ashamed to point out their history. He was not ashamed to stand and speak out his faith. Because he did, he was stoned to death.

In your faith, do you speak out? Do you speak out in your actions? Do you speak words of encouragement or love? Do you speak out when you worship God? Because Stephen spoke out, an important man was somehow impacted by this event. Will you be impacted by your faith? Will you be impacted by the faith of other Christ followers. Make a decision to not be ashamed.

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, and then for the Gentile."-Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Exercise

Today I got on the treadmill. It was my first step in exercising daily. My doctor has told me to exercise for at least 30 minutes. He told me I need to lose weight and that my sugar is too high. If I don't exercises my health will detoriate.

If I am to have a healthy spirtual life, I too must exercise my faith (Bible study, prayer, actions, attitudes). I need to build up my strength so I can last longer in my journey with Jesus.

A commentary on Hebrews 10:36 says, "Spiritual strength doesn"t come without exercise. There is a price to pay for having an intimate walk with God." I have to go now and begin my exercise with God.

"You need endurance, so that after you have done God's will, you may receive what was promised."~Hebrews 10:36

Excitement...

Yesterday, my wife was so excited. It was a Sunday, the first day in February and she was...well....crazy!!!!. Her emotions were up and down. She was yelling when she was mad and she was yelling when she was happy. Her emotions were more than our family could handle. In the end, she was excited because her team became the champions of Super Bowl 43.

But earlier that day at church, there was nothing to be excited about. Attendance was down, no visitors...but somehow it was great! Somehow, God worked in our church to bring people to Him. In the end (of the service), God's team has won. The remarkable thing is that God's team always wins no matter who the opponent is. We need to be excited, joyful, worshipful, and thankful that God's team is victorious. If you are on God's team, aren't you excited on Sundays? Aren't you excited, that it is by faith that you are saved? Aren't you excited that "God is great!"

Be excited today! Rejoice in the Lord! He will make you a champion of the faith...just like what he did for me!

If the Government of Condemnation was impressive, how about this Government
of Affirmation? Bright as that old government was, it would look downright dull
alongside this new one. If that makeshift arrangement impressed us, how much
more this brightly shining government installed for eternity?

With that kind of hope to excite us, nothing holds us back. 2
Corinthians 3:9-12 (NLT)