PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Acts 6:8-15
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“They could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him.” (Acts 6:10)
Stephen and the other early disciples were not educated (Acts 4:13).
But some of them had been with Jesus, or had the Spirit of Jesus.
Stephen’s ability to speak well came from Jesus and the Spirit.
As Jesus followers, we are assured the Spirit will speak through us too.
“It will not be you speaking, but the Spirit speaking through you.” (Matthew 10:20)
Our whole life is a partnership with God and Jesus and the Spirit.
As we spend time with Jesus, we become like Jesus, so we can live for Jesus.
We are his body, his mouth and eyes and hands and feet.
Jesus works through us by his Spirit, and people see him in us (Acts 6:15).
In order to experience this, we need to step into situations for him to work.
When we humbly serve or speak to others for Jesus, the Spirit does his work.
He will use our weak words to convey God’s wisdom and power (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)
People may or may not be convicted or convinced, but the Spirit will still work.
Are you holding back, or are you stepping up in faith, so he can use you too!
PRAYER
Lord, when I feel the nudge to speak, I often hesitate because I do not know what to say, or how to say it. Help me to speak and trust that you will speak through my weakness.
“But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke… his face was like the face of an angel” ‘Lord, speak to me that I may speak; Use me Lord use even me’ It is by the HS that I may be able to accomplish anything for the kingdom. Stephen’s life bears witness to that. Yes to some I may have been like an angel – but I know it was God working through me. He gave me the words to say and led me to do the right thing – even as I was unsure. Lord, I pray that you will continue to use me- that I too can be like ‘an angel’ to someone.
He is able . . . to use me as His instrument to speak His word. The Spirit enables me to do so. I just need to trust and obey the Word He tells me to speak. All too often I rely upon my own power/gifts/fears rather than His. But I need to be that living letter, an epistle, read by all those around me so that they may see that I am His and He in mine.
Though the sea be smooth and bright
Sparkling with the stars of night
And my ship’s path be ablaze
With the light of halcyon days
Still I know my need of Thee;
Savior, pilot me