By Xanti Celaya

This past Wednesday’s video recording was centered on and titled after a powerful statement given by Stephen confronting a powerful group of Jewish religious Judges known as the Sanhedrin. The accusation he levels is that “You always resist the Holy Spirit!”

When Stephen goes before the Sanhedrin he provides a history of Israel describing their repeated disobedience. In particular, he highlights how Israel repeatedly rejected the commandments as delivered through his messengers. These powerful leaders are continuing in the habits of their ancestors and after rejecting Jesus Christ the Sanhedrin is about to reject God once again by killing Stephen after his bold statement. In light of this continuing rejection of God Stephen states:

You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! —Acts 7:51

Stephen is addressing how the Israelite people have and continue to refuse to listen and obey God. They are so set on rejecting God that they killed His Son and are now pursecuting His Church. This is truly a near-perfect example of what not to do.

Let’s not think we are above the same resistance towards the Spirit that the Israelites demonstrated. We are vulnerable to resisting the commandments and leadings of God. Whether we disobey scripture, (the word of God inspired by the Spirit) our conscience, (which is given by God), or the Holy Spirit we are led we share in this rebellion against God.

So as we seek to be obedient children to the Father and to steer clear from the rebel ways of Israel let us pray to be conformed to Christ’s way of obedience to the Father and reflect on how we can better submit to God in our lives.

Pray: “God give me ears to hear”

One of Stephens’s charges against the people was that they had “uncircumcised ears.” By this, he means that the people have ears that have not received spiritual transformation of their hearts so they may discern the will of God. With their uncircumcised ears, the Sanhedrin were not able to discern what was obvious, that Jesus was the Messiah. Let us pray that the Spirit would continue His work to make us people who hear and obey the will of God.

Pray: “Father where am I resisting your will?”

The Israelites never seemed to learn their lesson and disobeyed time and time again. Let us not be the same.

Reflect: Where am I disobeying the commands of God?

Reflect: How can I seek obedience where I have been disobedient?

As we seek to obey our loving Father let us not depend on our strength rather by prayer let us seek the intervention of the Spirit for strength and wisdom.