Devotional Thoughts from God's Word

Text: Acts 7:1-53
Theme: Stephen kept it real even under the gravest pressure.
Key verses: “High Priest: ‘What do you have to say for yourself? Are these acusations accurate?’ Stephen: ‘Brothers, fathers, please listen to me. Our glorious God revealed Himself…’” (v. 1-2). “You stubborn, stiff-necked people! Sure, you are physically Jews, but you are no different from outsiders in your hearts and ears! You are just like your ancestors, constantly fighting against the Holy Spirit. Didn’t your ancestors persecute the prophets? First, they killed those prophets who predicted the coming of the Just One, and now you have betrayed and murdered the Just One Himself!” (v. 51-52a)
What God said to me: Dwayne, on this last day of 2010, as you peer over into 2011, what should you strive to do and be? How about you work at being a bit more like my servant Stephen? As you’ve already seen, he was “continually overflowing” with me. Now notice how he responded to those fiscious and evil religious rulers. They gave him an escape route. They opened the door for him to talk himself out of certain death at their hands. Their question was “What do you have to say for yourself.” Yet, he never even mentioned himself in his entire monologue–not once! Stephen’s very first words to them began with an outflow of praise to me. He said, “Our glorious God.” Praise was in his heart, so praise is exactly–and all–that tumbled out of him. He went from talking about me and my work in the Old Testament and headed straight toward my Son. And he looked them square in the eyes and talked about them and their sin. But still not a word about himself, no attempt to justify and defend himself. Dwayne, can you imagine how many people had bad-mouthed those Jewish leaders and wished they could speak their mind with them? Yet, how many Christians would have folded–and still fold–in the presence of such evil and hatred and threat? Stephen was consistent. What he believed about me and about them was exactly what he expressed in his mini-dissertation to them. Once again, as he had done for so long, Stephen continued to overflow with the grace and power of my Spirit. Stephen was like Jesus…period. And in 2011, you must strive to live consistently, passionately and humbly before me too. You must be prepared to give an answer–the correct and bold answer–to anyone who asks you about the hope that’s in you and that you are known for.
What I said to God: Lord, wow, thank you for these powerful words today. Thank you for giving us a glimpse into the life of Stephen, “a man full of faith and power.” I don’t know if I’ll ever live up to his standard and his passion and faithfulness, but with your help and by your grace and power I know I can. May my family and me live wholly devoted to you in 2011–and beyond.

Text: Acts 6:8
Theme: Stephen continually overflowed with God’s grace and power.
Key verse: “Stephen continually overflowed with extraordinary grace and power, and he was able to perform a number of miraculous signs and wonders in public view” (v. 8).
What God said to me: Why Dwayne do you think Stephen stood out from everyone else? Why did I single him out to highlight in my scripture? It’s the classic question of which came first, the chicken or the egg? Did he stand out as my servant because I anointed him, or did I anoint him because he was my servant? Hmmm. Notice how that verse says Stephen “was able to” perform many signs and wonders. I enabled him to do them, for sure. But first, he had to place himself in a position to receive my anointing and empowering on his life. He had to want to be filled and used of me. Dwayne, my followers don’t just suddenly start doing amazing things through me out of the blue. First I must see their surrender to me and their commitment to do my will. Stephen loved me with his whole heart. That’s why I could fill him with my Spirit. In 2011, be sure you surrender your whole being to me–continually. Then watch as I use you to reach people and perform miracles you never thought possible. Watch me exalt you above the crowd and use and bless you–continually.
What I said to God: Father, thank you for loving me and for speaking to me today. Thank you for sending your son to die on the cross. Thank you for the baby, for your indescribable gift of love and sacrifice. Help me continually overflow with your grace and power in this new year. Open doors for my books and ministry that people will look upon and know only you could have done such a thing.

Text: Acts 6:7
Theme: Only God can cause even preachers and priests to obey the truth.
Key verse: “The message of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples continued to increase significantly there in Jerusalem. Even priests in large numbers became obedient to the faith” (v. 7).
What God said to me: Dwayne, those who study my Word and know my law are more apt to fall into traps of pride and overconfidence. Far too often my supposed leaders are so distracted by their own agendas and traditions that they fail to see the real message of faith and hope and love that’s pervasive throughout the Bible. They know a lot about me, but they don’t really know me at all. My Spirit was moving so strongly among those early saints in Jerusalem that even some of the Jewish priests were laying aside their traditions, prejudices and pride to follow my Son. They literally and finally became obedient to the faith. Up to that point they had a form of godliness but they denied its inherent power. Their understanding of me and my ways was a clouded one in their minds. But when they embraced the true Light of Christ, their hearts were ignited. Now that’s true awakening–an awakening that can spread like wildfire from the religious leaders to the general community.
What I said to God: Precious God, hallowed by your name. Thank you for meeting with me this morning. I confess that I’ve lost part of my passion and focus over the past few days. My love for you has waned. I want to know you in the fellowship of your suffering and the power of your resurrection. I don’t want dead religion. I desperately need the living Lord to ignite my spirit and set my ablaze to do your will. Lord, grant me more than lip service out of forced habit and obligation. May I fall so deeply in love with you that I meditate on you day and night and truly long to see you face to face. Please bless my family and protect them today.

Text: Acts 6:1-7
Theme: A needed element of growth in the church is careful navigation by the leaders.
Key verses: “Things were going so well, and the number of disciples was growing. But a problem arose. The Greek-speaking believers became frustrated with the Hebrew-speaking believers. The Greeks complained…” (v. 1) “The twelve convened the entire community of disciples. ‘We could solve this problem ourselves, but that wouldn’t be right. We need to focus on proclaiming God’s message, not on distributing food. So friends, find seven respected men from the community of faith’” (v. 2-3a). “The message of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples continued to increase significantly there in Jerusalem. Even priests in large numbers became obedient to the faith” (v. 7).
What God said to me: Dwayne, can you hear me? Really? I sincerely doubt you can hear me clearly this morning. Your ears are stopped up with selfishness and sin. Confess and forsake your evil thoughts and deeds, then come back and try listening again…Ok, here’s the scoop: I didn’t call you to oversee everything, to manage everything and to tend to every situation and need in my family. Your responsibility as an overseer is to guard the growth of my people and encourage the expansion of my Kingdom. You are to teach the Word, plant the seeds, and water the garden of understanding in your fellow Jesus-followers. You are to invest the majority of your time sharing my message with this lost world. That means you will need to let some things go–not by the wayside, mind you, because management issues and situations are important. Therefore you must enlist others–godly others–who have a like passion as you to see my Kingdom grow, but who have the time and opportunity to attend to these details and things. You focus on people and on ministering to them. You serve them every chance you get. You get your hands dirty any time it’s needed. But don’t allow yourself to get bogged down in petty problems that would distract you from your calling.
What I said to God: Father, I am humbled that you would count me worthy to be a teacher and leader of your people, to be a servant of the Most High. Help me feel the awesome weight of serving you and ministering to others. Thank you for the many wonderful servants you have sent us at our church and to Next Level Worship. You have blessed me with great friends and helpers to do the ministry you’ve called us to. Praise you for your faithfulness and power and love. And thank you for your Son you sent to save us.

Text: Acts 5:17-42
Theme: What God starts man cannot stop.
Key verses: “Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. ‘We gave you strick orders not to teach in this name.’ he said. ‘Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.’ Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than men!’” (v. 27-29) “‘We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him” (v. 32). “But a Pharisee named Gamaliel…addressed them: ‘Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men’” (v. 34-35). “‘Therefore, in this present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God” (v. 38-39). “The apostles left the Sanhedrin rejoicing…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 Christ” (v. 41-42).
What God said to me:Dwayne, I am huge. There is no one bigger than me. In fact, there’s no one who even begins to compare to me. That’s a fact you can embrace or try to ignore. But either way, it’s my way–there is no highway. I am sovereign God. Sure, people can choose to accept me or reject me. I gave them that choice. What good would it do to force people to obey me? I don’t need their obedience to help me accomplish my mission and plans. I want them to obey me because they love me. The Sanhedrin chose not to follow me. But they could not stop what I was doing in the very heart of their little kingdom’s rule. I was turning Jerusalem downside up through my apostles. Those men of mine knew better than to listen to some wimpy human would-be religious “leaders.” I was their leader. They only took orders from me. Nothing–not jailing, not flogging, not shaming or threatenings could keep my people from proclaiming my Son’s name to the world. And nothing’s changed in these 2000 years. I’m still on the throne, and my plan of redemption is still unstoppable.
What I said to God: El Elyon and Jehovah God, you are Adonai. You are the great I Am. You are the Holy One and the great and mighty Father and Redeemer. I praise you and thank you for being the true God and yet you took time to speak to me and meet one on one with me today. I cannot and would not want to stop your move on earth. But I know I have the choice to stop following your voice and your plan for me. Oh please, help me never stop obeying you, loving you and teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus, your Son, is indeed the Christ.