A MAN OF FAITH

Acts 6:5

Morning Meditation 9/16/2012

"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:"

The words spoken of Stephen: "a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost" is a great compliment to him and his walk with the Lord. The fact that Stephen was full of faith was obvious to the church.

There is another place where this phrase is mention. It speaks of Barnabas in Acts 11:24, "For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord." When the church in Jerusalem wanted to send a man to check on the church at Antioch, he is described as a good man, "and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith." The first thing we will look at as we think of a man full of faith is,

HE IS A MAN WHO PRACTICES SEPARATION

This is illustrated in the life of Moses. Hebrews 11:24-27 says, "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible."

Moses was certainly taking a stand that could lead to his martyrdom. The Pharaoh was not one who had sympathy for the children of Israel." We are told in Exodus 1:8-12, "Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel."

The Bible clearly teaches that we as believers in Jesus Christ, the king over a heavenly kingdom" are to maintain a difference in our walk as we exercise our obedience to our heavenly king. The lost world knows nothing of this. So the scholars of this world look at us and mock us as they did our Lord.

Here is a New Testament rule given to the Church at Corinth and through Him to us. We must obey His commands as we submit to His Lordship to us through His Word. This is what is said to us: 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 says, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

One of the first things he says here is, do not fellowship with unbelievers. He speaks of an unequal yoke. This would include the business world, marriage, or anything else where cooperation with the Word of God is clear on the subject of separation. We are not to get involved with the unsaved world as we live the Christian life. We are to be where we can take off with Him as our Lord and Guide without a moments hesitation. This will help us to know what Paul and our Lord is speaking about when He speaks of separation. This is a definite way to help identify what is right and what is wrong for us. The words, "and I will be their God, and they shall be my people," are words that are not given to us to describe what has to be done for us to be saved. Paul is not stating the plan of salvation. They are words that have to do with fellowship. Paul is writing to the Church of Corinth which is made up of born again believers. Here is how he describes them in 2 Corinthians 1:1-2, "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."

Then in 2 Corinthians 1:4-8, Paul states his confidence in them that they are saved. "Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:"

We are the bride and Jesus is the groom. For us to be yoked to an unsaved person, it would be like one's wife running around on him. It is like being unfaithful to the marriage vows. This is something that the Lord will not tolerate. Let's be faithful to our heavenly relationship. If we are, the Father, will begin to treat us as sons and daughters. This is how the inspired record states fellowship with us. He also tells us how that fellowship can be broken. When we choose to yoke up with the world the yoke of fellowship with Him is broken. Again, for fear that someone might misunderstand, This is not a yoke of salvation but of fellowship.

To me one of the most heartless things that a man does against the wife of his youth is to break those vows by committing adultery against that marriage.

Paul said to the Church at Corinth again in 2 Corinthians 11:1-3, "Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."

One of the greatest goals that the Christian should have is being full of faith. Jesus said in Matthew 21:21-22, "Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

There is a definite possibility of Christians being deceived and led away from the simplicity that is in Christ. We join the world in celebrating Easter as a pagan holiday. May the Lord help us to realize that Easter is not Scripturally celebrated with a bunny and an egg. We do not celebrate Christ's resurrection by an Easter egg hunt.

Colossians 2:13-23, "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour (not to any honour to God, but just ) to the satisfying of the flesh." --Parenthesis mine to clarify the meaning).

A MAN OF FAITH IS A MAN WHO WALKS IN VICTORY

A man of faith is a man that overcomes the world. John said in 1 John 5:4, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."

It clearly takes the New Birth to overcome the world. We overcome the world because He overcame the world. John 16:33 says, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Jesus said, "I have" overcome the world. The words, "I have" translate, "nikao" and is a perfect tense, active voice, indicative mood. The perfect tense is completed action in the past, that completed action remains true forever. The active voice is where the subject (Jesus is the one that said this, so He is the subject), that acted. There need be no further action. The chorus of the song goes like this, "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain -- He washed it white as snow." I guess that is just about as white as you go!!! Thank you Jesus for the truth that you walked away with when you came through your clothes and stood having done exactly what you said you would. Thank you Lord that when you give salvation to a perfect stranger, you give him a perfect salvation. He is the light that shines in darkness and the darkness comprehends it not!!!

Revelation 17:14 says, "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful."

We need a faith that has confidence in Jesus. What do we believe He can do? What do we believe He will do? It is not enough to believe He can do, it is quite another to believe He will do. Jesus is the greatest man of faith that ever lived in this world. He did not only believe that His father could do, when it was needed He believed the Father would do. When Jesus stood by the grave of Lazarus, there were many who believed that God could do anything including raise Lazarus from the dead, but only Christ believed the Father would. Can you imagine what it would have done to Jesus if He shouted out "Lazarus come forth!!!" and Lazarus would NOT have come forth? To Jesus it was not possible that His Father would not answer Him. Paul said, "For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." The word ashamed here means embarrassed. When Jesus says He will do something He will do it. Therefore, if we believe He will, He will. Amen. Lord, increase our faith.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White