Day 10: Acts 7:17-53

Most of today’s passage reads more like a history lesson taught by Stephen to a group of leaders who would be very familiar with the facts. The bulk of his talk centers around the life of Moses. Stephen begins with Moses’ birth and works his way chronologically through significant episodes in his life, before and after assuming the mantle of leadership. 

However, the purpose behind this rehashing of a familiar story is to point out that Moses was rejected by his own people (vs. 35 & 38). Stephen then goes on to say that this was a familiar pattern in the history of the Jewish nation. The most recent example, of course, was their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah. Listen to how he confronts them with this reality:

 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.” (vs 51-53).

Stephen lets them know that the consequence of their rejection went beyond simply rejecting the message and/or the messenger. They were actually resisting the Holy Spirit.

Would someone knowingly resist the Holy Spirit? Not likely, eh? But, Stephen says that in rejecting those whom God sent—be it Moses, a prophet or Jesus—they unwittingly resisted the Holy Spirit.

This is rather subtle, but it is something that should give us pause. Surely, none of us would resist the Holy Spirit, if we were aware that this is what we were doing. However, is it possible that in rejecting those through whom Holy Spirit works, we could be guilty of resisting Him unawares?

Perhaps the word they deliver hits us the wrong way.

Perhaps they interpret a passage of Scripture differently than we do.

Perhaps they do a prophetic act that shakes us up.

Perhaps it is signs and wonders which we have not seen before that startle us.

My friend Henry Nwaneri once made the statement: “It is easy for us to trust Holy Spirit by Himself, but not as easy to trust Holy Spirit in another person.” Isn’t this lack of trust one of the reasons why divisions come about in the Church? We expect Holy Spirit to show up in a particular way to which we are accustomed. When that does not happen, we suspect that it may not be really God or worse that it could be of the devil.

Yet, Jesus makes it very clear that Holy Spirit is like the wind which “blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.” (John 3:8). He can be unpredictable. He is certainly uncontrollable!

This is why in the passage we read two days ago, wise old Gamaliel issues this caution to the members of the Sanhedrin: “Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38-39)

He did not want them to be guilty of resisting Holy Spirit. Yet, sadly, history proves that this is exactly what they did. As Stephen pointed out, they had quite an unenviable track record of doing this down through the ages.

So, dear friend, as you complete the first quarter of the Fast today, would you ask Holy Spirit to show you if you have in any way ended up resisting Him when you chose to reject one of His anointed ones? Repent. Forgive yourself. Ask their forgiveness, if possible. Receive forgiveness. And keep on advancing into your destiny.