“An Acts-ive Faith” (Part 7)

Acts 7: History Matters

Acts 7:51 You stiff-necked people with uncircumsised hearts and ears! You are resisting the Holy Spirit; as your ancestors did, so do you.

Stephen had just been dragged and placed in front of the council. The high priest had asked him to defend himself against the lies that were said against him. He didn’t bother defending himself. He spoke of the history of the Jewish people, a history that the high priest, council members and men who were accusing him were well aware of. He was not interested in defending himself — he was defending the Christ.

The council members were unwilling to deal with their history.

National History

History is real and the past has a part in shaping us. We live in an age of ‘cancel culture’ and the tearing down of statues of historical figures. This may not be helpful — although putting the people and activities in context and repenting of of sins of the past is necessary. May the Lord help us to repent of past evil and not ignore it as the council did!

Personal History

There is good and bad in each country’s history and there is good and bad in each person’s family history. I am blessed to have an aunt who worked on the family history on my father’s side and a cousin who worked on my family’s history on my mother’s side. These inform part of who I am. I have a physical heritage like eye color, but I also have a social and religious heritage passed down from my forefathers. My paternal great grandfather was a Methodist preacher in the 1930s, and my maternal grandfather was a Presbyterian Sunday School teacher. My parents took their family to church each Sunday, so I had early chances to hear about the Lord and to serve Him. (My mother was Sunday school superintendent, so in Grade 7 and 8, I and another girl taught the four and five year old children. I remember one coming home slightly down, because one of my students had asked me if God was real or not. My mother’s encouraged me with “while at least you got her to ask the question!” )

God is indeed very real, as real as he was when Stephen testified about him. He is real and working in the lives of the nations and the lives of individuals. May we submit to him and follow his lead.

CC: K Carswell 2022

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by Permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible, Holman CSB and HCSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

CC: K Carswell 2022

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by Permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible, Holman CSB and HCSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

CC: K Carswell 2022

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by Permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible, Holman CSB and HCSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by Permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible, Holman CSB and HCSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.