Title Expecting Stephen's Appearance (2)/Acts 6:1~7
Content - Expecting Stephen's appearance (2) - (Acts 6:1~7)
The term 'noblesse oblige' (a combination of the French 'Noblesse' and 'Obliger') was coined by the French statesman Gaston-Pierre Marc (1764-1830) to emphasize the social obligations that come with a noble status. It was first used in 1808.
Put simply, it is in line with our proverb, 'A yangban should behave like a yangban.
In 'Story of the Romans', which was a bestseller for a while, the author Nanami Shiono argues that the driving force behind the philosophy that ran through the thousand years of the Roman Empire was "the role of social leadership, that is, noblesse oblige."
In other words, when a war broke out, Roman aristocrats took the lead and fought at the forefront, and had a strong sense of social responsibility.
So, Roman citizenship was great, and when Paul said, 'I am a Roman citizen,' anyone trembled.
So, who is the best noblesse of this era? “He raises the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the dung heaps, and makes them sit with nobles, and sets them on thrones of glory” (1 Samuel 2:8). Because of sin, they were by nature children of wrath, slaves of the devil, who died without any more hope.'
It means that we have become the nobles of this age by making us children of God, the King of kings.
As spiritual nobles, we have corresponding actions, responsibilities, and duties.
However, despite this, the church today is facing a spiritual crisis and is being criticized by society because it has become noble, but there is no oblige.
As we examine the steps of Stephen, we can find a word like a jewel, which is 'he who hears praise'.
“Brothers, choose from among you seven men of praise, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and we will commit this work to them” (Acts 6:3). Stephen'.
The driving force that made him live like that was the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit's strong presence and dominion over his heart and mind, the act of praise naturally followed.
Ultimately, it's a matter of what dominates me.
A common phenomenon that occurs when the Holy Spirit fills your heart is that you become wise.
“The Spirit of the Lord, the God of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might” (Isaiah 11:2) “He who searches the hearts knows the thoughts of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:27) Here, 'the mind of the Holy Spirit' means that we have a mind and will that are in harmony with the Holy Spirit.
Then, what kind of blessings will come when we have the same will and thoughts with the Holy Spirit?
From the events of Genesis 24:12-20, we realize an important truth.
The result for Rebekah, who did her best in her seat by serving 'cold cold water' kindly to a humble servant and even to a camel who was a mere beast, was unimaginable.
Not only did he become Isaac's bride, but he himself and his brothers and parents also received the gift of precious treasures overflowing with wrath (Genesis 24:22, 53).
The spiritual lesson from this event is that when a person of the Holy Spirit has the thoughts of the Holy Spirit and does good deeds in accord with the thoughts of the Holy Spirit, amazing blessings will come.
Also in Genesis 18, Abraham was sitting under an oak and resting, and three strangers appeared.
Then he ran to meet them, and treated them with all the heart he could.
What do those who receive the bountiful hospitality bless as they go?
“And he said, ‘I will surely return to you at the appointed time, and Sarah your wife will have a son.’ Then Sarah heard it at the door of the tent” (Genesis 18:10).
According to this blessing, Sarah finally received her son as a gift!
Dear saints,
Today, high-ranking officials, wealthy people, and intellectuals are all around us.
However, because of those who turn away from 'Noblesse Oblige', that is, those who cry out for social justice with their mouths while trying to evade taxes, expediency, speculation, and undue inheritance, 'Noblesse Malade' ('Sick or Corrupt Nobility') Meaning)' is a sarcasm pouring out, and they are called pseudo-noblesses.
Today, we meet many people who are full of faith, full of grace, full of wisdom, full of power, and full of the Word.
However, it is difficult to find a 'praise listener'. We are eagerly anticipating the appearance of Stephen, a person who is truly praised in these times.
Like Stephen, 'a person who hears praise' cannot do it with my own strength and power, but only with the Holy Spirit.
When you become a person of the Holy Spirit, first make them a wise person, and when you become wise and your thoughts and thoughts of the Holy Spirit coincide, you become a person who walks after the Holy Spirit.
Eventually, such a person will be praiseworthy in the generations to come and will receive the blessings prepared for him.
'What was the greatest need of a dying person?' She said as she hugged the child with her chest pains tight.
'It is love. It makes me feel like I have someone to hug me, to be by my side, to hold my hand and to wipe my body.'
If you do good deeds to those whom God has placed near you, especially those who are weak, weak, and demeaning, God will reward you with riches.
I pray in the name of the Lord that we can all become wise people through the Holy Spirit and become praiseworthy people.