Acts 7-8

Today we see three examples of what Christ can do in our lives if we will let Him. He wants to use us in a tremendous way when we are open to His ways. Two of the people He used were the first deacons. In order to be used in this capacity their lives had to show a character that was full of power and wisdom. This is the direct sign of a work done in our lives by the Lord. One of the people we see today, Simon the Sorcerer, also a believer, tried to buy these qualities. He was astonished by the miracles Philip did and followed Him everywhere. When He saw the Samaritans receive power from the Lord at the laying on of hands, He tried to buy it. This was Peter's response:
8:20Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."(NIV) This was Simon's response: 24Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me."(NIV) Our response to the answer to our prayers are so important. We don't always ask with the right motives, or understand how to respond to the answer we get. Many of us at times are in danger of God's wrath because of the motives of our heart. The Sanhedrin's' response to Steven's message was to put Him to death. These men were both deacons and Peter was an apostle. All were messengers from the Lord. Many times we pray for a word from God and then don't approve of His method of delivery. He says we will be His messengers. God chooses the messengers and many times today we think we should be able to make the determination if it is from the Lord. The job of the Holy Spirit to make that determination as He did to Simon the Sorcerer. He will reveal that when we let Him. Does God have the authority to choose the messenger? Does He have the authority to choose the message? Does He have our permission to deliver it as He chooses? Does He have our permission to use the ministry that He chooses to involve us in? Our current situation may be radically affected by our response to what the Lord intends to accomplish in our lives. Try to pray, listen, and then look for next thing the Lord does. Many times we will pray and get up and proceed with our lives without either looking back, forward or look around us to see where and how He intends to answer. Many times we are guilty of asking and waiting for the answer we are looking for, and we reject the messenger or method God chooses to respond to us. We are huge saints as prayer warriors and in the practical ministry He desires to accomplish through our prayer life we respond as we are atheists. His word tells us He will always answer. That is one of His dimensions - He is faithful and will always be as faithful to answer our prayers as He did the early church. Let's enter our day expecting an answer and respond to that open to the idea that God is really in charge. One of the hardest things we may ever do is to get out of His way and let Him be God in all areas. His blessings, wisdom and power (His will for all of us) is waiting on the other side of our obedient response to Him.