Acts 6:8 – Acts 8:3 – He had the face of an angel

24 Dec

This part of Acts talks about a particular man named Stephan.  He was chosen as one of the 7 men to help with the distribution of the food … of the men that was full of the Spirit and of wisdom.

He did great wonders and miraculous signs and even though there was opposition against him, no one could stand up to his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he spoke.  The only way they could take him down was to pay people to lie be a false witness about Stephen blaspheming against Moses and against God.

My favorite part of this passage is verse 15

All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

I just find it really funny…

In chapter 7 Stephen basically gets to opportunity to speak and defend himself… he goes on to talking about historically significant people like Abraham, Joseph and Moses… in the end he calls them stiff-necked people and what happens next…

When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him… As they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him.

Can you imagine this scene?  It is like when you’re a teenager and your parents are telling you something that you don’t want to hear so you cover your hears run upstairs yelling LALALALALALALALALALALALA.   In the end poor Stephen is stoned and this is when Saul comes into the picture… In Acts 8:1-3 we begin to see the church persecuted by Saul and all the disciples scattered around the place…

When I read this I am challenged by Stephen’s life and how once again, no one could fault him because he was full of the Spirit and of wisdom.  Then after all of this you have one guy who took advantage of the situation and began persecuting the church… can you imagine the scene?  it says in Acts 8:3 that he went from house to house, dragging men and women and putting them into prison.  Pretty intense moment.

My prayer is that God continue to fill me with your Spirit and your wisdom.  Give me courage in times of persecution to speak Your truth and to not hide.  I pray that you will be evident in every part of my life.

Acts 6:1-7 – full of the Spirit and of wisdom

23 Dec

As the number of disciples grew the church started to experience logistical problems.  In Acts 6:1-7 I can see that the issue at this point in time has to do with the distribution of food.  Now I don’t know enough of the context to really understand what was going on but the 12 disciples decided that it wasn’t effective for them to start getting involved in the logistical nightmare of a growing church… instead they call for 7 people… and they weren’t just anybodies… but they needed to fit the criteria of being,

… full of the Spirit and of wisdom…

This verse speaks to me about servant leadership and how we cannot all expect to be the preachers or the teachers.  God has called each one of us for a specific purpose in His Kingdom.  No matter where you are placed this is what God requires… that you are FULL of the Spirit and of WISDOM!

I personally have served in a variety of ministries…

  • Reception/Ushering
  • Worship
  • Dance
  • Deco
  • Programs
  • PA
  • Hosting
  • Discussion
  • Camp Organiser
  • JG
  • ACDS
  • Visuals

Sometimes I wondered why I was placed in this ministry and then other times I absolutely loved it… but was I full of the Spirit and of wisdom in all those ministries all the time… definitely not.  I struggle with maintaining my Spiritual walk and I will usually end up doing it out of routine then I get kicked back in line and the cycle starts all over again.  This was a problem particularly in ministries that don’t seem as “important”.

In Acts 6 it is easy to conclude that the disciples were selfish… that they thought they were the only ones to teach the Word… but the reality is that was their place in the Kingdom and they probably did it the best!  The 7 men were chosen and prayed for… and here’s the kicker,

So the Word of God spread.  The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests become obedient to the faith.

It was probably tempting for these 7 men to feel insignificant or used by the disciples, but the truth is that they humbly served their leaders so that they could go and do what God has called them to do.  When we are full of the Spirit and of wisdom we are building the Kingdom of God together in our own way.  These 7 men may not have directly preached the Gospel but without them, the 12 disciples wouldn’t have been able to even preach the Word.  Be excellent in wherever you have been placed or have chosen to be placed and pray to be full of the Spirit and of wisdom in every aspect of your ministry.  Even if we could put on a world-class act on the biggest stage, televised by all the major media companies, if we don’t do it full of the Spirit and of wisdom then we are just entertainers to peoples emotions and feelings rather than being vessels and carriers of the truth.

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Acts 5 – I’m a coward

23 Dec

I don’t quite understand the significance or why Ananias and Sapphira died in Acts 5:1-10.  Have been trying to think it through and read up on it but… I guess it is something that only God knows why it happened.

Why not just convict their hearts and lead them to repentance for what they did?  hmmm… Yea I’d probably be struck with a fear so great I’d have poo’d my pants that day…

Verse 12-16 shows me that even in the early church when signs and wonders were happening left right and center, people still seemed to be afraid or unwilling to join the church while admiring what was happening.  I have always wondered what holds these kind of people back from embracing God in His fullness.  For example when someone says… “I respect what the church is doing and teaching but it’s just not my thing…”  or “I have no doubt that Christians are great people but…”  But I guess for these people there isn’t that need for God in their life.  Verse 15-16 shows that it was the sick and the tormented that had the desire to experience God the most.

How do we preach about a God who fulfills our lives when our lives are already seemingly fulfilled by the world?

Now all the apostles had another encounter with the high priests and important people at that time… they were thrown into jail but in the middle of the night were released by an angel of the Lord.  The angel didn’t set them free because they were devoted to God but for the sole purpose of instructing them to continue preaching the Gospel.  I am sure this testimony of being released from jail would only have strengthened their faith!

Can you imagine being the officers or the guards finding out that the 12 men you jailed just somehow up and walked out of your prison?  Try explaining that one to a bunch of over-religious wannabes… So someone dobs them in and the apostles are flogged and told to STAHP IT!

But here’s the kicker…

41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

Intense… rejoicing… after being flogged or beaten up!?  Come on… I get a nasty rejection while street evaxing and then I curl up in my little corner wondering if this is all worth it.  I’m such a coward compared to these fellas.  I wonder if the fact that they experienced this ordeal together helped to spur each other on… always great to have your mates with ya!

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Acts 3 – 4

21 Dec

After Jesus died and rose again, the fellowship of the believers (or the early church) was established.  In Acts 1:15 it tells us there were only about 120 believers and by the end of the Acts 4 the numbers rose to about 5000!

In the past year I’ve been challenged to read the Word in context.  I will often spend time reading the chapters before and after a particular passage to fully understand the people, environment, emotions and events before and consequences after to really get a better grasp of what is happening.

So far in Acts

  • Matthias has been chosen to replace Judas
  • The Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost
  • Peter and John are doing their thing to spread the Gospel

So Acts 3-4 is an account of one whole days events…

In Acts 3 a crippled man who is put at the temple gate called “beautiful” to beg gets the attention of Peter and John.  Peter says “Look at Us!” (intense!) and then goes on to tell the begger that “silver or gold I do not have but what I have I give to you in Jesus name…”  Peter picks up the crippled beggar and he can walk again!

He later then addresses the crowd and once again proclaims Christ…

In Acts 4 Peter and John seized by the priests, captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees and are taken to jail for the night.  The next day a whole bunch of important people question the events and in verse 8 Peter shares the gospel to this panel of important peeps… the important peeps are impressed by Peter and John’s courage and the fact that they are unschooled.

Now here is the awesome part!

In Acts 4:14-21 this panel of important people are in a huge amount of denial… they know that Peter and John performed a miracle but they want them to stop… Peter and John flat out say hell no, who is more important… a group of in denial important peeps or their almighty God?

And here’s the kicker!  in verse 21 it says:

After further threats they (the important peeps) let them go.  They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.  For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

Wow!!!!  Here’s the truth… God transforms us on the inside… yes that is right… but what happens on the inside must be reflected out the outside… why?  Because when there is evidence that God has changed our actions, no one can say anything against you.  As much as they wanted to shut Peter and John up or charge the with something… the evidence for God’s power was just too real to deny.

Now after this whole situation, Peter and John head back to their people and report on the days events… instead of partying it up and celebrating their release… guess what they did… they PRAYED for their enemies… not to smite them but that in this hard time for the “…Lord to consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.”

What a powerful prayer.  There are so many times where I’ve heard Jesus get payed out or the church laughed at or made fun of… but what do I do… sit back and hide… God make me bold when times seem to threaten my social status or reputation. 

Today’s application:

When you change on the inside, make sure it is reflected on the outside and pray for boldness to speak about God and to share the Gospel.

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Ps 119:9

12 Jul

There are a lot of negative emotions and feelings buzzing around my head the past few weeks after camp.  But amidst it all I still feel the Holy Spirit convicting and reminding me of the commitments I made to God… not that it makes resisting temptation any easier.

In a recent conversation with God He reminded me of a verse that Lisa shared with me during an impromptu prophetic session at ALC.

Ps 119:9

9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.

I struggle with God at times because I don’t always get that same feeling of instant satisfaction/gratification/pleasure/excitement/stimulation/relaxation, whatever you want to call it, that I can get from something like large amounts of junk food or watching TV for 4 hours or just lying in my bed day dreaming about procrastinating or do I dare say it… pornography.

I got thinking about how do I fill that bottomless pit that I have in my life?  Why do I fill an infinite void in my life with finite things?

Well to fill and infinite void you need to fill it with an infinite thing… and the only that that has and will be here for eternity is God Himself.

I have seen a major change in my life since camp.  I have made an effort to run to God first through prayer, reading the Bible, listening to praise or singing a Worship song.  Other practical things have been turning off the radio, walking away from the internet, watching a documentary instead of a movie or going for a walk.

Just as Ps 119:9 says…The Word of God has lots of tips for beating sin.  Gouging out your eye or cutting off your hand.  Fleeing rather than fighting temptation.  Renewing your mind… pray, pray, pray, pray and pray.  Having friends who you can share your sins with.  Having friends who will pray for you.

While I don’t always get instant release from how I’m feeling straight away…  I know that God is building a resilience in me… His thickening my skin and equipping me with stronger armour.  I always remember year 9 and 10 business where we learnt about delayed gratification.  The idea of Pay Now Play Later… I believe that is how God works.  His an oven not a microwave.

Blog Revival

26 Apr

I think this blog may need a revival… but I am in the process of thinking through the purpose of blogging.

I used to blog so I could get attention from others, then I would blog because I had and assignment due over the next couple of days and for some reason I am more aware on life…

on that note… I procrastinating right now so… new updates coming soon…

Since i legitmately have the time

6 Nov

I am going to blog!!

That’s right… i have neither an exam or assignment due tomorrow or on monday … why.. coz i decided to finally put up a point against procrasination

so right now the standings are!

1729182 to procrastination : 1 to justin doing his assignment before the night before 🙂

Quite a good feeling… actually more like GREAT feeling!

and with that i am one assignment away from completing ALL my assessment and then its time to put on a dress, a funny hat and GRADUATE!

But I really wanted to blog about my time reading through the book of Matthew.  As a life group we agreed to read one chapter of Matthew a day and then write a little note about that chapter.  It could of been a verse that stuck out, something we didn’t know but do now or even if we didn’t find the chapter very interesting… why…

I recently read through Matthew 25 which has:

  • The Parable of the 10 Virgins
  • The Parable of the Talents
  • The Sheep and the Goats

I definitely knew the first 2, and the 3rd parable has the famous “whatever you did for the least of these you did for me.”

At the core of these parables are the principles of being prepared and ready, using the things God has given us to get more and to serve others.  But what I never realised was the full context of these parables.  In Matthew 24 Jesus talks about the Day and the Hour Unknown and chapter 25 follows on directly from this chapter and all the parables actually refer to Jesus telling his disciples that no one, not even the himself know when He will return.

I started to think that these parables are guidelines for the kind of questions God will ask us when we meet him.  He will ask us how ready we were for him.  The recent death of surfing world champion Andy Irons reminded me that no one, not even the most elite sportsmen with celebrity status is in control of their life.  It’s not about knowing when you’ll die or when Jesus will come back and then running out and figuring out your salvation… its about being ready now!

He will come back expecting us to have done something with ourselves.  Isaiah says that God knitted us in the womb, that he formed us and Jeremiah tells us that God has a plan and purpose for our life!  God is the ultimate programmer, he knows exactly what we’re good at, what we’re not good at.  He chose the country, parents, socio-economic status, school, circle of friends, accidents, trips everything he did for a purpose!  This parable reminds me that God’s isn’t looking for a 100% return on his investment in us… he is looking for us to do something with our lives and bring a profit to our lives so that he can celebrate with us.

Lastly the sheep and the goats is all about people.  It’s about God’s heart for those in need and serving others.  I’m thinking… we feel good when we selflessly help others because Jesus can feel it and he probably shoots us some love our way… When we meet God his gonna ask us when we served others in need.

I think these three parables sum up the greatest commandments

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind and all your soul

Love your neighbour as yourself

The first parable is about our Spiritual lives, loving God always and anticipating his return

The second parable is about Stewardship and using what we have to bring a profit to God because we love him

The third parable is about our neighbours and serving them as much as we would serve ourselves.

The Bible is so practical at the end of the day Jesus wanted our lives to move on from the practices and live out the principles.

 

Glamourising the unglamourous

7 Oct

I have a problem with Ke$ha… ok not with her as a person so much… but her as an artist… her as someone who is promoting and encouraging a lifestyle through the influence of music.

While her beats are catchy and easy to dance to… her lyrics in her new song are

Got a water bottle full of whiskey
In my handbag.
Got my drunk text on
I’ll regret it in the mornin’
But tonight
I don’t give a
I don’t give a
I don’t give a

N-now we’re getting so smashed.
Knocking over trash cans.
Eurbody breakin’ bottles
It’s a filthy hot mess.
Gonna get faded
I’m not the designated
Driver so
I don’t give a
I don’t give a
I don’t give a

I find it interesting how drunkedness can go 2 ways… it is portrayed in the news as something harmful not just to yourself, but to others around you.  Laws are being introduced to close clubs and pubs down earlier and to increase the cost of alcohol…

then the other side is that drunkenness is glamourised in music… that it is something that is needed to have a good time out…

While I am not against alcohol, I live knowing that God instructs us to not be given into drunkenness (1 Tim 3:3), it makes us loose 100% control over our actions and words… which is exactly the same as “doing something you wouldn’t do sober”… obviously if you wouldn’t do it sober… something wrong has happened to our minds capacity to reason.

Anyway the point is that I am concerned that this generation is seeing glamourised versions of what used to be unglamourous.

Just doesn't appeal to me...

Vote and share this post!

6 Oct

Hey Everyone,

I am desperately wanting to win the Ted’s Camera photography competition with the first prize being 5k worth of camera stuff (i think) if not it is still a prize worthy enough of winning!

VOTING CLOSES 8th OCTOBER (this Friday!!!)

i have 3 entries linked below

http://www.photoartgallery.com/competitions/competitionholder/type/entries/compname/teds/sponsorname/teds/#28b66d1b-49c7-465d-85a0-eccf1dba884d

http://www.photoartgallery.com/competitions/competitionholder/type/entries/compname/teds/sponsorname/teds/#a3101a9c-a446-40c8-ac0d-db27a8707223

http://www.photoartgallery.com/competitions/competitionholder/type/entries/compname/teds/sponsorname/teds/#a50734c0-60b7-491f-b337-7f665330bebd

just click on a link and then rate my photo … preferably 5 stars 🙂 but u can choose the ratings you want to give…

If the links dont work then my photos are

Page 291 – Third Row, 2nd Last picture
*photo of Gold Coast City called Golden Highway

Page 289 – first row, last photo
* photo of shoes with a rainbow over them

page 289 – middle row, 2nd photo from the left
*Girl dancing in the street called my moment

Please feel free to leave comments as well!

Thanks to everyone who has voted so far!  Please share this blog post with all your friends and family all around the world and ask them to vote as well!

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Forgive me more.

28 Sep

Who am I to judge your reasons for leaving?

Who am I to label you a backslider?

Who am I to think that just because I don’t see you on a weekly basis anymore that your relationship with Christ is worse off than before?

Who am I to think I am better off than you because I’m still here week in, week out?

What kind of friend am I to pray for you more now that your gone?

God forgive me more.

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