Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

August 13
Wednesday


LIFE-GIVING
RAIN

READ:
acts 6:1-10
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They were not able to
resist the wisdom and
the Spirit by which he
spoke. __Acts 6:10
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During the August heat of 1891, R. G. Dyrenforth arrived in Midland, Texas, determined to blast rain from the sky. Known
as a "concussionist," he and his team launched and detonated huge balloons filled with explosive gases, fired cannons, and exploded piles of dynamite on the ground__shaking both earth and sky. Some believed he made it rain a little, but most said all he caused was noise. The explosive power was impressive but ineffective.

When the early church needed overseers, they sought people with a different kind of power. They chose "seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom" (Acts 6:3) to manage the daily distribution of food. One of those was Stephen, a man "full of faith and power, [who] did great wonders and signs among the people" (v.8). When disputes arose, those who argued with Stephen "were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke" (v.10).

The Bible makes it clear that Stephen's spiritual effectiveness came from being filled with the Holy Spirit, who gave him the right balance of faith, wisdom, and power.

God's Spirit in our lives today replaces the loud noise of self-interest with His gentle, life-giving rain. __David McCasland

``````````````````Holy Spirit, I want my life to be marked by your power.````````````````````
`````````````````````````````May my words and actions give`````````````````````````````
```````````````````````````life-giving rain to encourage others```````````````````````````
```````````````````````````````to know you and trust You.``````````````````````````````
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In our life for Christ we accomplish nothing
without the power of the Spirit.

***********************************Today's Bible Reading __ acts 6:1-10*********************************
1 Now in those days, when
the number of the disciples
was multiplying, there arose
a complaint against the
Hebrews by the Hellenists,
because their widows were
neglected in the daily
distribution. 2 Then the
twelve summoned the
multitude of the disciples
and said, "It is not desirable
that we should leave the
word of God and serve
tables. 3 Therefore, brethren,
seek out from among you
seven men of good
reputation, full of the Holy
Spirit and wisdom, whom we
may appoint over this
business; 4 but we will give
ourselves continually to
prayer and to the ministry of
the word."

5 And the saying pleased
the whole multitude. And
they chose Stephen, a man
full of faith and the Holy
Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus,
Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas,
and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,
6 whom they set
before the apostles; and
when they had prayed, they
laid hands on them.

7 Then the word of God
spread, and the number of
the disciples multiplied
greatly in Jerusalem, and a
great many of the priests
were obedient to the faith.

8 And Stephen, full of faith
and power, did great wonders
and signs among the people.

9 Then there arose some from
what is called the Synagogue
of the freedmen (Cyrenians,
Alexandrians, and those from
Cilicia and Asia), disputing
with Stephen. 10 And they
were not able to resist the
wisdom and the Spirit by
which he spoke.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Today's text not only highlights the source of the power with
which the Christian works__the Holy Spirit (v.5)__but also our
responsibility in relation to that power__faith (vv.5,8). Stephen was
a man known to be full of both.