The physician Luke wrote how, “Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people”, and after being interrogated by the people in the synagogue, “all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. Then said the high priest, Are these things so?”, and Stephen defended his faith by referring to, “Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph”. He spoke about “Moses” being raised in Egypt and defending his fellow countryman. After “Moses' act” of killing an Egyptian was known, “Then fled Moses at this saying” and after forty years, God revealed Himself to Moses in a burning bush. God sent Moses back to Egypt as a deliverer, and he “brought them out, after that he had showed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.” Moses lead the people of Israel, but while he was away to receive the “law” from God, his brother “Aaron” at the request of the people, “made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O you house of Israel, have you offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? Yes, you took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which you made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David. Who found favor before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the most High dwells not in temples made with hands; as says the prophet, ...”, and in chapter seven and verse forty-nine of the book of Acts Luke shared how Stephen said the prophet declared, “Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool” where we read:
Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will you build me? said the Lord:
or what is the place of my rest?
The verse begins, “Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will you build me? said the Lord:” Luke began with the words, “Heaven is my throne” which means “the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings exists as my, God's, chair of state having a footstool”, “and earth is my footstool” or “and the arable land, territory, region and country exists as my, God's, place where His foot is put or placed”? “said the Lord” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed He to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah”. (See 1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chronicles 6:18) Luke shared how “Stephen” referred to the prophesy concerning God questioning what “house” or “temple” would “Solomon” build that could contain Him because all of “Heaven” is a “royal seat” for God, and the “earth” serves as His “footstool”.
The verse goes on to say, “or what is the place of my rest?” Luke continued with the words, “or what is the place” which means “or in which portion or space exists the quarter, inhabited city, village, district or location” “of my rest” or “belonging to my, God's, resting place or calm”? Luke shared how “Stephen” referred to God asking where there is a “location” that becomes His “resting place”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Stephen” reminded the “Sanhedrin” about the omnipresence of God. “Heaven” cannot contain Him, and the “earth” serves only as a place to put His feet. God is everywhere at one time, and He desires to live and dwell within the hearts and lives of every person who yields their life to His Son Jesus. God sent Jesus to the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and because He dwells everywhere, He knows every sin within man that He desires to forgive. Anyone who begins to understand the “bigness” of God will surrender their lives to Jesus and receive the “omnipresence” of God within them for ages without end.
Next time Luke shares how Stephen declares how God asks, “has not my hand made all these things?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
No comments:
Post a Comment