WHY I THINK ACTS REALLY MATTERS
In the assembly, it seems as if we had "the cart before the horse" in having doctrine, felowship, breaking bread, and prayer the Achor Group focus. Rather than being reasons for the success of the early church, these 4 areas were spontaneous responses from grateful hearts.
I challenge all reading this to read the sermons in Acts and see their focus. 2:14, 3:16, 4:8, 5:30, 6-7 (Stephen's trial and sermon), 8 (Phillip shows the Ethiopian eunuch Christ in Isaiah), 9 (Paul sees Christ on the road to Damascus), 10:34-44, 13:15-39, 16:31, 17:3 19:4, 22-26 (Paul preaches Christ).
Every time the men in Acts stood to preach THEY PREACHED THE GLORIES OF CHRIST. If any could glory in themselves and their peculiar way, it was them. But they didn't.
Has anyone ever noticed that Acts 2:42 (the Achor Group verse) can only be understood in terms of the verses that proceed it? From 2:14 to 2:40, Peter preaches a barn burner about Christ in Joel, Ezek, and the Psalms. Only then do the 3000 "continue steadfastly" in their new faith.
And have you noticed what the Bible says about "heavenly vision"? First, that phrase is found in Acts 26:19 and speaks specifically and only of Christ's glory and majesty. To co-opt it, twist it, and make it to mean something it doesn't is to commit a great sin. George did this and his leadership tried to keep his error afloat in the various assemblies.
The heavenly vision of the Bible is Christ...Not a secret-decoder-ring, I know-something-you-don't know, gnostic Christ, but the very same One that appears in all of the 66 books of the Bible. In the Book of Acts, no one wondered whether he understood the vision. Then there was no need to wonder what the vision was. It filled the sky "brighter than the noonday sun" and lives were changed. Sinners were made saints and saints were made pilgrims.
It's the same today. When we see Christ as the point of the Bible and our object of worship all smallness of life melts away "...and hearts are brave again and arms are strong."
I was wondering if anyone has noticed all of this.
And could we start a thread about all of the types and antetypes of Jesus? I think seeing Him is the answer that we all need.
Aaron Cantrell
JUNE 22: 11:32 PM:
Just found this post: What a great post and discussion after wards.
Stephen is one of my hero's of the book of Acts.
I agree with you. I think we forget who is suppose to be the center of everything we do.
Stephen was one of the deacon choosen to care for the certain groups of Jewish widows and the poor.
Stephen was also the first martyr.
Stephen response as they were executing him, was the same response that Jesus did, when he was being executed.
Acts 7: 60 (NKJV):
Then he knelt down adn cried out with a loud voice:
"Lord, do not charge them with this sin."
And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
It was also their we heard of "Saul" prior to being "Paul".
There are many lesson here with the story of Stephen.
Many lesson I probably would of failed over and over again. but Stephen focus is life upon Jesus, and nothing else matter. And Stephen gave his life up to the hands.
One verse I like:
Acts 7: 55-56: (NKJV)
But he "being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. and said "LOOK!, I see the heavens opened and the "Son of Man" standing at the right hand of God.
In most verses you read of Jesus sitting at the right hand of God.
Here you read JESUS WAS STANDING
This is a picture I take away from this chapter each time I read about Stephen.
Stephen gave his life for the standing up for the gospel of Jesus, Jesus was standing to receive Jesus.
Lenore
