When Stephen was about to be stoned, He looked up to God and received a vision of comfort. Acts 7:55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God. And he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 56 And he told them, “Look, …
Nothing is more dangerous in our lives than a hard heart toward the will of God. When we harden our hearts, we look down and away from what the Lord wants to do. But what causes a person’s heart to become hard? Our sin causes our hearts to grow hard, especially when we let unrepentant …
As Stephen stood before the high council to defend himself against false charges his face had the glow of the Holy Spirit. Acts 6: 15 At this point everyone in the high council stared at Stephen, because his face became as bright as an angel’s. [1] The council members knew Moses had a shining face when …
When the Jews in Jerusalem couldn’t refute Stephen’s truth, they turned to manipulation instead of repentance. Acts 6:9 But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia. 10 None of them could stand against …
True wisdom comes from God and is life-changing as we follow His guidance. We can find the wisdom that everyone needs in the pages of the Scriptures. This is free for all to read. Proverbs 2:6For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. [1] There have been times when I struggled …
Stephen’s debating doesn’t win souls; in fact, it got him into trouble. Acts 6:8 Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. 9 But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, …
Even when we ignore Him, God’s judgment comes. Belshazzar had mocked God and thought the city defenses would keep them safe. Their enemies diverted the Euphrates River and entered the city under the gates.[1] The enemy came into the banquet hall and killed the king. Daniel 5: 30 That very night Belshazzar, the Babylonian king, was …
The consequences of pride are seen through history and in our own lives. Sometimes, failure awakens us to our arrogant behavior. Pride is often easy for others to see, but we can be blind to it. It can be subtle, creep up on us, and run us over. One of the greatest dangers of pride …
Are you teachable? I think we all want to answer yes to this question. Unfortunately, Belshazzar didn’t seem to want to be teachable. He had called Daniel in an effort to find someone to interpret God’s writing on the wall. But before his interpretation, Daniel preached a sermon. He used the king’s ancestor, Nebuchadnezzar, as …
Godly wisdom is not for sale because the Lord gives it to us freely. Worldly people buy and sell things daily, but God is generous. James 1:5If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”[1] While an attorney will charge you for …