Love God Greatly: EmpoweredSample

After Stephen was arrested, he was brought before the council in Jerusalem. Stephen articulated the gospel of Christ through the history of the nation of Israel. His testimony proclaimed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, the promised Messiah, the One who took away the sins of the world. ⁣

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At the end of his message, Stephen proclaimed that the Most High God could not live or be contained in a temple. The rituals and behaviors of the Jews during that time reflected the belief that God’s presence remained with them because they had the temple. Stephen quoted Isaiah 66, when God said He could not be contained in a human-made structure because He Himself had made all things.⁣

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Stephen’s testimony highlighted the deity of Christ. The incarnation of Christ (God becoming human) did away with the necessity of the temple. God’s presence no longer resided in the temple in Jerusalem, but was now, and still is, within the hearts of His people. When we place our faith in Christ the Holy Spirit indwells us, allowing us to have access to God’s presence at all times. ⁣

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Father God, I praise You for sending Your Holy Spirit to live in me. Your Spirit empowers me each day to follow Your commands, to love others, and to make Your name known. Help me to be attentive to the Spirit as I go about my day. Amen.