Acts 8:30

So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" NKJV

Philip certainly knew how to be blunt (or the Spirit led him as such anyway). The Spirit guided him where to go and what to do, and from there he saw an opening to discuss the Christ and took it.

I want to be one for God who will use the opportunities He presents without hesitation or awkwardness or fear of giving offense.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultess
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.

Acts 8:29

Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot." NKJV

Did the Spirit speak with a literal voice, or did the Spirit 'speak' by placing the compulsion or thought "Go near and overtake this chariot" on his heart/mind?

Does it make a difference?

In the greater context that is a life in Christ?

All we would know is the specific manner by which the Holy Spirit worked in a specific instance.

What we do know is that Philip was open to the workings of the Holy Spirit; that he knew, however the command came to him, that it was from the Spirit; and from the following verses that he obeys.

I don't want to get caught up in trivialities. Curiosities, which while fine to have interest in, are by-and-large unimportant, not affecting my walk with God or obedience to Him.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.

Acts 7:57

Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; NKJV

Why do we let the things we 'know' blind us to the revelations of God and workings of His will?

It's not as if those men were simply driven by fury at Stephens's words; it was not insult or offense alone that was taken.

They didn't like what he said, and therefore didn't want to hear what he said.

They chose things of the earth, their empty wealth, little pride, foolish wisdom and the authority they held over men, rather than accept the grace of God and workings of His Spirit around them. They called themselves men of God, and likely even convinced themselves of it; but they were arrogant in their "Holy authority".

They pleasured in self delusion and were prideful of the obedience they showed 'to God', though it was not 'for God'.

I never want to become puffed up in works which are only done through me, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, or prideful of the talents, gifts or positions, things which are only earthly treasures, that God has or may bestow upon me, which He provides for the furtherance of His glory and not my own.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.

Acts 7:56

And said, "Look! I see the heavens
opened and the Son of Man standing at
the right hand of God!" NKJV

Stephen made an exclamation of wonder, and no doubt joy, as he stared up and saw the heavens opened.

How often am I staring 'down' instead of 'up'?

I want to look up to the heavens with eyes turned towards God's glory and his son in anticipation for what is coming and to be filled up by the Holy Spirit rather than to have my attentions ever focused on the little things of this life, appearances; minor distractions; the body; thoughts of the individual mind; and all pains, whether physical or mental.

Not on myself.

And not on others.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.

Acts 7:55

But he, being full of the Holy Spirit
gazed into heaven and saw the glory of
God, and Jesus standing at the right
hand of God, NKJV

How wonderous to be so full of the Holy Spirit and to have the heavens open to display the Glory of God and His son standing at His side.

I want to seek and glorify Him so that I may one day be wholly filled with the Holy Spirit and that the Lord might look on me and say, "I find favor with My child." and that when I die and go  to Heaven Jesus might smile on me and say, "Well done my good and faithful servant."

I want my life to be a glory to him who loves and who made me to be like Him.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen

Acts 7:54

When they heard these things they
were cut to the heart, and they gnashed
at him with their teeth. NKJV

They were rebuked and it was painful as if having been struck; but rather than acknowledging the truth of Stephen's words or keeping their patients, they rejected him and all he said.

They "gnashed at him with their teeth".
They 'listened', but only in silent rage.

How easy is it to fall into anger and ignore the council of others?
To pretend that those who bring criticisms against us are somehow in the wrong?
As if their words were mortal sins unworthy of God's grace we fight and battle and resist our brothers' and sisters' good council.

I want to maintain a steady heart in the Lord when others bring their problems with me to me, and to remember prayers for peace and revelation in the Lord when my faults, mistakes, insecurities, and failures are brought to light; for a loving heart and an open heart that is kept safe from the burning scars of a prideful rage.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.

Acts 2:46

So continuing daily with one accord
in the temple, and breaking bread from
house to house, they ate their food with
gladness and simplicity of heart, NKJV

A different translation of the Bible uses "Sincerity" in the place of "Simplicity", and another, "Generous".

"-with gladness and simplicity of heart," NKJV
"-with gladness and sincerity of heart," NASB
"-with glad and generous hearts," ESV

It's hard to do that in America. We begin our meal with grace and really mean it, but how often during the meal itself do we cease to have a 'simple gladness'?

As a culture we revel in food, and always have more than we need. We are never simply glad to have what we have. Our food must always be delicious and our cravings satisfied; even when in a situation where we must eat food we dislike, there may be some game of 'being satisfied with what we are given', but we are not really glad for it.

When we enjoy food we revel in it and desire more.
When we dislike food we mourn it and desire anything else.
When we are neutral to our food we desire what we prefer and crave.

I want to be content with what the Lord provides. To be glad for what I eat and not grumble, audibly or mentally, whatever it may be and no matter how much I may have.


Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence  of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.