Profile: Stephen

Acts 6:8-15

Pros:
– Man of honest report (good reputation)
– Full of the Holy Ghost
– Full of wisdom
– Appointed as Deacon (to serve daily ministration)
– Full of faith
– Full of power
– Did great wonders and miracles among the people
– The glory of God shined even through his face

Cons:
– His godly favor stirred evil in the hearts of certain of the synagogue
– Men were paid to do underhand work against him
– Men set up false witnesses against him
– Men made false accusations against him

Just because a man or woman willingly chooses to submit themselves to the work of God’s kingdom, doesn’t guarantee they’ll be free from trouble. In fact, the closer a person gets to God, the harder the enemy will fight to pull them away from His hand. Oftentimes, those who will bring you the most trouble in the earth will come from the church. God’s way is right, and when men diligently seek His way, evil forces make it their business to hinder their progression. No matter how hard the devil tries to keep you from growing in God, stand firm in faith, knowing that through Christ, you can do all things, overcome all evil, and endure to a more perfect end.

“Fight the good fight, just because it’s right.” – Ell

Favor For The Dreamer

Genesis 37:29-36

One of the most challenging, yet rewarding jobs many people will experience in life is, parenting. While raising children (especially in this time) should be taken seriously, and with the proper precautions, one of the most unwise things to do is, show favor to one child, over all the others. Favoritism is good when it involves things like selecting foods you prefer, or the color you want to paint your house, but when dad and mom show more love for Cinnamon, while treating Nutmeg and Cashew like the neighbor’s kids, then those seeds will eventually come back to haunt them.

A great example of this can be found early in Scripture, in the lives of Jacob, and his sons. The average Bible reader should have already been exposed to this inspiring story, but if you haven’t, then you can read it in less than an hour (Genesis chapters 37-45). The text reveals, “Jacob (Israel) loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age” (vs. 3a). Some history records that Jacob was over 90 years old when Joseph was born, and after the death of Rachel, little Joseph became his father’s special helper in being the agent between him and his brothers.

Unfortunately, the other brothers strongly disliked the relationship between their father, and little Joseph. Usually, when a mob of angry people have ill feelings toward someone, they tend to devise a plan to destroy their credibility. This was precisely the case with Jacobs sons. When Jacob had sent Joseph to check on his brothers one day (who were supposed to be feeding the flock in Shechem, but took a stroll to Dothan), they saw him from afar, and instantly plotted to slay him. Aside from labeling him, the dreamer, the brothers decided they’d kill him, then throw him in a pit. If it had not been for Reuben, who convinced the others to spare Joseph’s life, and only throw him in a pit, the little dreamer would have left the earth without fulfilling his promised assignment.

It’s amazing how people can hate you for things you had nothing to do with. Some people were blessed with gifts, talents, and abilities, that others dream to have, but rather than appreciate their gifts, they plot to hinder them from exercising them. Never allow jealousy, hatred, envy, nor strife to invade your mind, simply because God shows someone favor. Whether it be a brother, sister, friend, or even someone you aren’t too fond of, value, appreciate, and respect those who God uses in great ways.

Jacob suffered heartache for years, thinking that his son had been killed, but in the end, the love he had for Joseph was restored. Parents, be careful how you treat your children, because one day they’ll grow up, and act upon all you said and done to, and for them. Also, be certain to raise all of them in the fear of God, and teach them the value of love and respect for others.

Why does the living man complain?

Ell

God Protects His Own

Esther 8:3-8, 16-17

Throughout history, all who made attempts to thwart the progress of God’s people, were eventually convinced to stand down, by way of force, or even death. When Pharoah refused to release the children of Israel from Egypt, he and his people suffered plagues, the likes of which caused many to lose faith in their false gods, and respect the power of the true, and living God. When the mighty Goliath breathed threatenings against God’s people, the Lord used young David, to prove to him, and the Philistines, where the source of true power came from. Time after time, God’s people were confronted by men, whose sole purpose was to stop the spread of His kingdom in the earth, but despite their unyielding efforts, God worked mightily through His people, to keep His plan in motion.

Our text this week, was centered on the story of Esther, and Mordecai, and How God protected, and provided for them, in the midst of an evil plot to destroy all the Jews within the king’s provinces. The same evil spirit that controlled the minds and thoughts of men like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, and Pol Pot, once ruled in the heart of Haman. Such a spirit promotes pride, arrogance, haughtiness, jealousy, strife, wrath, lack of reasoning, lack of understanding, and lack of love. Men who portray these attributes may cause certain levels of shame and destruction to the lives of innocents, but God will always have the last word in such cases.

Through prayer and fasting, God turned Haman’s plot against him. The same gallows he built to hang Mordecai, was ironically used to hang himself. In addition, the Jews were permitted to destroy all those who hated the them (including Haman’s ten sons), so that God’s people could be free from any more threats of destruction. Without hesitation, the king reversed Haman’s wicked decree, and allowed Mordecai to write whatever law he desired, that was in favor of his people. That’s amazing! This was equivalent to being granted a blank check from a billionair!

God has a way of doing things, and while we may not always understand His plans at first, it’s comforting to know, He will expose our enemies, provide protection through the process, and give us more blessings and resources than we had, in the end.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Don’t Tempt Me!

James 1:12-15

Of all the ingredients that go into satan’s recipes of sinful ploys, only two are required, that allow for temptation to be effective; enticement, and the lust of men. There’s not one thing the devil can do to tempt God’s children, except they first reveal their hidden desire for what he offers. God tests His people, to prove what’s in their hearts, and to help make them better for His purposes, but satan tempts Christians, in order to pull them away from their allegiance with the Father, and keep them bound in sin.

There are times when men assume that God is tempting them, but our Father would never do anything to cause intentional harm to those He loves. On the other hand, the enemy would do everything within his power, to see that the followers of Christ are all destroyed.

Temptation is very powerful, and can sever even the most solid godly relationships. Don’t believe me, just ask Adam and Eve how powerful temptation can be. The first humans placed in the earth, who inhabited God’s very presence, gave in to satan’s wicked scheme. After conversing with that unusual couple, call and chat with Lot’s wife, and ask, what was so valuable in Sodom, that caused her to look back, and lose her very life. The key to understanding temptation is, recognizing that satan knows what we desire, even those secret things, because oftentimes, we speak our thoughts into the atmosphere. So, when he tempts us, it’s usually with something we’ve always yearned for, but probably don’t need.

Anything that will lead you to sin, is not a blessing from God, but a trick of the enemy. I often wonder, how Judas was so close to Jesus, yet couldn’t overcome his lust for money. The hidden greed in his heart, was coupled with satan’s allurement, which led him to his eventual demise.

Be wise in these last and evil days, because our adversary, the devil, is trying harder than ever, to keep us out of God’s will. All who endure the temptations of the enemy, along with his wicked schemes, will one day receive the crown of life, God promised to those who love Him. Always remember, sin brings eternal death, but obedience brings eternal life.

Walk in love,

Ell

Living among wrongdoers

Psalm 57

Many teach that the proper response to negative treatment is retaliation. When being attacked, whether you’re a Christian or not, rendering a counter attack is the worst possible thing anyone could do. For one thing, prolonging a negative situation is never a healthy option, so stirring up such a fire could cause flames that could affect innocent bystanders as well. Violence never solves anything, it only creates opportunities for people to get hurt spiritually, physically and mentally.

When a person submits their life to God, they automatically become a target for satan to attack, so it’s common for men to harbor ill wills against them. There will even be times when others will have resentment towards a Christian, when they’ve done nothing to cause it. The world hated Jesus, so expect it to also hate the fact that we operate under God’s agenda, and not the devil’s. For the believer, king David left a perfect example of how to conduct oneself in the presence of those who intentionally seek to disrupt their spiritual and mental focus. God sees and knows all that we face in life, but it’s required that we acknowledge Him in all our ways, so David made it his business to approach God with his issue, as well as praise. God knows we need Him, but He also knows when we try to pimp Him. There were many times I prayed to God to get me out of jams, but only to go back into those same situations after He had delivered me. David knew in his heart that He needed God to stand with him against his enemies, so that he would be free to offer more worship, praise, and good deeds that would bring glory to His name. When you seek God’s help, always check your motives for doing so. David also made certain to promote God’s power in his prayer, more than the ploy of those against him. God doesn’t need to be convinced of His power, but we must first convince ourselves that He is able to do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20).

God stands at the ready to assist His people in all situations, but we must activate that power with our faith. You can sit in a car all day and pray that it starts, but until you turn the key, or push the start button, you’ll sit there until your buttcheeks get numb. In his prayer of distress, David’s faith was shown in his great admiration for God, and His everlasting mercy. When you pray, do you cry and moan about your issue the entire time, or do you reverence God, then get off your knees feeling motivated to knock the devil out like Rocky did against that tall Russian dude? Talking to God should always motivate us to stand strong against our adversary, because it’s in Him that we live, move, and have our being, so acknowledging our association with the greatest source of power known to all creation, gives us the hope we need that all will soon be well.

Never be afraid of what men try to do to you, because they can only go as far as God allows them to. God allows certain situations to occur in order to see what level our faith is, and whether we need to mature more, or use our faith to motivate someone else. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45a).

Walk in love,

Ell