Theological Commentary: Click Here
Discipleship Focus: Power
- Power: This is the natural outcome when we truly get our authority from the king. When our authority is from God, we are equipped with His power to accomplish His will. We act on His behalf in a world that He desperately loves.
As I started to type this post, the song “Burning in My Soul” by
Matt Maher came over my computer. I can’t
help but marvel at the timing. The first
words of this song are these: “There is power - power here in this hour, this
hour. We’re all together - together waiting
here as one.” I have no doubt that as
Matt Maher composed this song that he thought of these first few chapters of
Acts.
What do we see as Stephen comes on the scene? This man rises up out of nowhere and is filled
with power for teaching and preaching.
People who have been trained in Judaism cannot stand against his
wisdom. The Holy Spirit works through
him to empower his teaching. God gives
Stephen the words to say.
Let’s get something straight, though. So often we think of this story of Stephen as
a victory. We hear that the people could
not stand against his wisdom and think he won.
And from a spiritual perspective he absolutely did win. But as we’ll see in the next chapter he is
dragged before the Sanhedrin and killed.
We typically think of this story as a glorious story where Stephen got
the last word and got it with profound emphasis. But that’s just not true. Stephen spoke in truth and the Sanhedrin eventually
killed him.
When we talk about power, this is an important dynamic to
remember. Power does not always equate
to victory. Power does not always equate
to people having no rebuttal. Power does
not always equate to getting the last word.
Power equates to being able to speak truth in the midst of
persecution. Power means being able to
speak truth and sometimes die for it.
That’s the power that comes only from the King.
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