You see as a dad of 3 children, 2 of which are grown and have children of their own, I realize one thing , that I am so inadequate, on my own ,to be the dad I am supposed to be. My 2 sons, who are both 24 right now until July 14th when my oldest son, Johnathan turns 25, would probably not say this out loud or to anyone in my presence, but I failed them as a dad when they were growing up. I was a very young man when they were born and like a lot of young people out there today, I had no idea what it meant to be a dad. Oh don't get me wrong I love my sons and I never beat them or abused them in anyway, but my Idea of being a dad was doing what ever it took to make a living for them, which I was not always successful at, regardless of the hours and time it took me away from them. I also can honestly say I did not give them the attention that a dad should give a son. Oh we had times at the park, and I remember a Texas Rangers game or two , and I remember a few instances of playing in the yard , but where I failed them the most was I do not ever remember sitting them down and praying with them at night. I don't remember making bible study a priority with them, even after I got saved when they were just tiny boys around 4 and 5 yrs old. Then because of my own ignorance and not making prayer and bible study a priority, not living as Godly as I could,and because I ran from God's calling on my life allowing the enemy to get a foot hold in the family, I had to become a weekend warrior dad every other weekend and 2 weeks a year. This is where I really failed my two son's, Johnathan and Joshua, because instead of having a father figure to teach them about God's love and how to be a man after God's own heart, they had a dad who ran hard from God and was now a part time presence instead of a full time staple. Now I am proud of both my sons, regardless of situations and obstacles in their life, and if they have problems that could have been prevented with a Godly dad, well I will have to answer for that one day. I know I can never make up that time to my sons, but I can try to be the best dad I can be now for my Daughter,Becca, that the Lord blessed me with 10 yrs ago, and I can try to be the best father I can to Johnathan and Joshua and try to show them what a true father is now, so they can lead their kids and help their daughters, yes I have 3 grand daughters, be the best they can be.
This is where the example of Stephen comes in. You see Acts 6 and 7 tells the story of one of the very first deacons of the church, Stephen. Stephen was one of 7 men of "honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and full of Wisdom" (Acts 6:3)that was chosen to take care of the daily business of the church. These men were chosen so that they could tend to the widow's, and to the needs of the church, so that the disciples could focus on prayer and preaching the word of God, the spiritual needs of the people instead of trying to feed their spirits and their bellies. These men were chosen because they were thought of highly among the disciples but one, Stephen, is described as being (Acts 6:5;8) "a man full of Faith and of the Holy Ghost" and "Full of God's Grace and Power". Now if you were to be chosen today to serve in the church, would it be because you were available, you asked to or because you were "Full of Faith, God's Grace, Power and the holy Ghost"?
Stephen is approached by Hellenistic (Greek speaking) Jews.These were Jewish men who were not born into the Jewish faith and were from other regions of the earth, or descendants of the Jews who were enslaved at one time in other areas of the world. They had an ax to grind, but when they approached Stephen and tried to argue his views, they couldn't. You see , they could find nothing wrong with his wisdom , thanks to the Spirit of God dwelling in him. How would you like to be a man that when you speak to your children about the ways of the Lord, they can do nothing but listen and believe because of they know you speak with the power of the Holy Spirit. Imagine that, you telling a teenage child about God and they listen and learn and don't try to argue their side, because they realize your words are coming straight from the throne room of God via the Holy Spirit. But see Stephen was more than a man of Wisdom , he was a man of conviction and he was not going to be convinced otherwise and he was not ashamed of the Gospel , even when faced with certain death. You see these men ,who could find nothing wrong in his speaking, got jealous I believe. You see in Acts 6:11-15 they decided well if we can't get to you one way , we'll just stir up trouble by making things up and seeing how that goes. So the went out to the people of the area, the elders in the community and the scribes giving false witness about whatthey had heard.Then they captured him and took him before the "Courts" and said, hey this guy is spreading false doctrine and we want something done about it. So they asked Stephen what he had to say for himself and in Acts 7 , Stephen gives one of the greatest sermons of all times, concluding it with asking them " which one of the prophets have your forefathers not persecuted? You killed everyone one who came before Christ to tell you about him and then you murdered Jesus, the one who came to set you free. You know the law but you have not kept it at all (Acts 7:51-53). Then they grabbed Stephen and proceeded to stone him to death. But Stephen , "Being full of the Holy Ghost , looked up and saw the Glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God". WOW, can you imagine you know you are about to be stoned to death and because of your faith and willingness to let the Spirit of God lead you , YOU SEE THE GLORY OF GOD AND JESUS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER. There is a song out there that says I can only imagine what that day will be, and I can only imagine how Stephen felt, but it didn't just stop there, He goes on to tell these Religious Minded Jews, " hey guess what I see, I see Jesus and God the father" then as they stoned him HE PRAYED, and he didn't pray for deliverance. No, he prayed that the Lord would receive him into heaven and that he would not punish these men for what they were doing" Now that's the kind of Man I want to be for my kids.
I want to be a man that is beyond reproach, that when I speak to my children or my grand children, that they listen because they know that it is not me that is speaking to them teaching them, but it's the Holy Spirit working and speaking through me. I want to be a dad that when adversity comes at me, regardless if it's the unbeliever at the job site, or the grocery store, whether it's staring down the barrel of a gun at certain death or sitting in lions den in Africa, that I would be a man who would look to Heaven and that my children/grand children would see that through Faith and a true relationship with Christ, we must never be ashamed of the Gospel, no matter what the consequences. I want to be a man that when I have taken my last breathe and take that trip to glory to be with Jesus, my children can say , my dad was a man "Full of Faith and the Holy Ghost, full of God's Grace and Power, and I will see him on the other side."
My dear Brother's , this week as we approach Fathers day I challenge you to take a good look at your life and ask yourself, what example am I showing my Children/ Grand Children. Am I a man "Full of Faith and the Holy Ghost, full of God's Grace and Power" , or am I a man that has let everything else get in the way of my children? If your answer is you are a man who has let everything else get in the way of your children, then to you I say, it's not to late to become that man Full of Faith, Grace, Power and the Holy Ghost. It's not to let to become Stephen like, I mean after all what man in the bible is a better example of living a Christ like life, even unto death. Make this the day that you become "Stephen". I pray that all men out there will become Stephen in their own way.
God Bless and I will be praying for all of you who read this blog. I have also included a wonderful video clip of the Mwangaza Children's Choir at the bottom of this blog.
In Christ's Love,
Bro. Bill Roy
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