DCLM HIGHER EVERYDAY 10 August 2022 — Spirit-filled Stephen
DCLM Higher Everyday 10 August 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Spirit-filled Stephen
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TOPIC: SPIRIT-FILLED STEPHEN
TEXT: ACTS 6:1-10
2Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
3Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
MEMORY VERSE: “And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch” (ACTS 6:5).
MESSAGE:
Richard Blanchard, who wrote the hymn, “Fill My Cup Lord”, suffered a severe lung problem, leading to Blanchard being left with one-third of his lung capacity. But a diminished physical wellbeing did not stop young Blanchard.
In 1953, he became the pastor of a church in Coral Gables, Florida, and one day, was asked by a young couple to perform their marriage ceremony. However, the couple was quite late for their counseling appointment; as he waited for the young couple, God gave him the inspiring song with the following chorus:
“Fill my cup, Lord, – I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more –
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!”
This song, and the experience of the inspired writer, summarize the significance of our Bible text. Stephen became the first Church martyr, but his preaching aided the growth of the early Church. Beloved, do you want to be used of God? Seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit, for then can you fully achieve your utmost for Christ.
QUOTE: Seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
CHALLENGE: You too can be Spirit filled.
PRAYER: Lord, fill me with Your Holy Spirit.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
