HEAR Journaling - Acts Chapter 7

Highlight - Acts 7 New Living Translation

Stephen Addresses the Council

7 Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these accusations true?”

2 This was Stephen’s reply: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me. Our glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham in Mesopotamia before he settled in Haran.

…

59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.

Explain – Stephen preached a mighty sermon as recorded in Acts 7.  He had been falsely accused after performing signs and wonders in Acts chapter 6…

8 Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. 9 But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia. 10 None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.

11 So they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen, saying, “We heard him blaspheme Moses, and even God.”12 This roused the people, the elders, and the teachers of religious law. So they arrested Stephen and brought him before the high council.[b]

This provided a platform for Stephen to preach to the Jewish leaders, an amazing sermon, that was rejected by the Jewish leaders, and they stoned Stephen to death.  Stephen’s amazing response is: “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!”

Apply – Stephen is an amazing example of the power of God, despite under personal attack he was focused on the wellbeing of his attackers!  We can face anything that life brings us as long as we abide in Him, faithfully and obediently following Him.  We can even face death with the peace that passes all earthly understanding.

Respond – Lord, thank You for Your provision of peace and power to overcome.  Lord, I seek to abide in You, faithfully and obediently follow You as You lead me through the plan for my life.  I eagerly await all You have planned for me.

REPLICATE Ministries, What is a HEAR  Journal?

https://replicate.org/what-is-a-hear-journal/

HEAR Journaling Method

https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.cloversites.com/e4/e465d33d-444a-46eb-9922-5cdcb0aaef4d/documents/H.E.A.R_journal_method.pdf

Watch and listen and see if this impacts you too.

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YouTube Music – Amazing Grace 2011 Classical Whimsical by Kevin MacLeod

As always we are focusing on sharing:

Pearls of Wisdom…

Nuggets of Knowledge…

Understanding the Difficult…

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HEAR Journaling -  Acts Chapter 6

Highlight Acts 6 New Living Translation

Seven Men Chosen to Serve

6 But as the believers[a] rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

2 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. 3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. 4 Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”

5 Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). 6 These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.

7 So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.

Explain – As often happens there were rumblings of discontent among the believers.  There is always a threat of rumblings and discontent in life.  The father of lies, confusion, and division is always ready to help us focus on rumblings and discontentment rather than the Holy Spirit.  In this case, the Twelve Apostles determined a plan to select seven respected men that were full of the Spirit to organize and lead the believers while the apostles focused on evangelism.  The plan was successful as there were more converts as well as less focus on discontent and rumblings under the leadership of the seven godly men, Stephen being one of them.

Apply – We need to me mindful of the fleshly temptations to be drawn away from what God would have us do.  The Word talks about the dangers of gossip which can lead to contention and division.  We must resist these spirits of offense and gossip that threaten our godly service to the Lord. 

Respond – Lord, thank You for godly people in our lives to lead us, and I pray not to succumb to temptation but to follow You every moment of every day consistently and effectively.

REPLICATE Ministries, What is a HEAR  Journal?

https://replicate.org/what-is-a-hear-journal/

HEAR Journaling Method

https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.cloversites.com/e4/e465d33d-444a-46eb-9922-5cdcb0aaef4d/documents/H.E.A.R_journal_method.pdf

Watch and listen and see if this impacts you too.

Images are public domain or as noted:

New Living Translation with audio, as captured on the You Version Bible App, Tyndale copyright: 

https://www.tyndale.com/permissions

YouTube Music – Amazing Grace 2011 Classical Whimsical by Kevin MacLeod

As always we are focusing on sharing:

Pearls of Wisdom…

Nuggets of Knowledge…

Understanding the Difficult…

Instructions for a better life!

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HEAR Journaling - Wednesday – Acts Chapter 5

Highlight - Acts 5 New Living Translation

12 The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them. 14 Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. 15 As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. 16 Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil[a] spirits, and they were all healed.

Explain – Acts chapter 5 chronicles the Apostles time in Jerusalem, preaching at the East Gate, which is the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, Solomon’s Colonnade which was a covered area of two rows of columns which made a covered area also known as Solomon’s Porch.  Believers were gathering regularly, but notice that people were being healed by Peter’s shadow casting over them (along with their own faith).  Verse 16 says that all were healed of sickness and evil spirits.  The power of the Holy Spirit applied to the Apostles with their faithful obedience yielded great results.

Apply – I often wonder why we do not see these signs and wonders today as there was in Acts Chapter 5.  God has His plans and His timing; we cannot know the ways of God.  I know that we must do our part, living faithfully and obediently and think, say, and do what the Holy Spirit directs.  He will lead us unto all truth.  The Apostles at this point, had lived and followed Jesus for three years faithfully and obediently and then were filled with the Holy Spirit and completely operated in His works as directed.  God has great plans for each of us, we must honor Him, faithfully and obediently follow Him for His great purpose with all the love, joy, and peace that we will experience through eternity.

Respond – Lord, I honor You and strive to follow You faithfully and obediently.  Please show me Lord the things that I can improve to be a better more effective servant for You.

REPLICATE Ministries, What is a HEAR  Journal?

https://replicate.org/what-is-a-hear-journal/

HEAR Journaling Method

https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.cloversites.com/e4/e465d33d-444a-46eb-9922-5cdcb0aaef4d/documents/H.E.A.R_journal_method.pdf

Watch and listen and see if this impacts you too.

Images are public domain or as noted:

New Living Translation with audio, as captured on the You Version Bible App, Tyndale copyright: 

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YouTube Music – Amazing Grace 2011 Classical Whimsical by Kevin MacLeod

As always we are focusing on sharing:

Pearls of Wisdom…

Nuggets of Knowledge…

Understanding the Difficult…

Instructions for a better life!

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Hear2See YouTube Channel presents:

HEAR Journaling  Acts Chapter 4

The Bible Book of the History of the Early Church

This video covers HEAR Journaling, what is it, how to do it, and encouragement to try it.

Highlight - Acts 4 New Living Translation

5 The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. 7 They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, 9 are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed?

…13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say. 15 So they ordered Peter and John out of the council chamber[c] and conferred among themselves. 16 “What should we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it. 17 But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.” 18 So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? 20 We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”

Explain – The council of rulers and elders in Jerusalem brought in Peter and John to question them about the healing of the lame beggar at the Beautiful Gate.  The recognized that they had been with Jesus but were otherwise ordinary men.  The Holy Spirit provided words for peter and John to speak and protection for them as they performed signs and wonders and preached the Gospel.  The clearly stated their intention to keep on doing God’s work no matter what the worldly leaders in Jerusalem said.

Apply – The Holy Spirit will lead us unto all Truth just as He did for Peter and John.  He will make our way clear, our path straight.  We need not fear, but walk in the fullness of faith in all we do.  Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

Romans 10:17-21 English Standard Version

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Respond – Lord I willfully and eagerly follow you.

REPLICATE Ministries, What is a HEAR  Journal?

https://replicate.org/what-is-a-hear-journal/

HEAR Journaling Method

https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.cloversites.com/e4/e465d33d-444a-46eb-9922-5cdcb0aaef4d/documents/H.E.A.R_journal_method.pdf

Watch and listen and see if this impacts you too.

Images are public domain or as noted:

New Living Translation with audio, as captured on the You Version Bible App, Tyndale copyright: 

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YouTube Music – Amazing Grace 2011 Classical Whimsical by Kevin MacLeod

As always we are focusing on sharing:

Pearls of Wisdom…

Nuggets of Knowledge…

Understanding the Difficult…

Instructions for a better life!

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Hear2See YouTube Channel presents:

Bible Book Overview – Acts of the Apostles

Chuck Swindoll, Acts

https://insight.org/resources/bible/the-history-of-the-early-church/acts

Watch and listen and see if this impacts you too.

Images are public domain or as noted:

New Living Translation with audio, as captured on the You Version Bible App, Tyndale copyright: 

https://www.tyndale.com/permissions

YouTube Music – YouTube Music – Amazing Grace 2011 - Classical Whimsical by Kevin MacLeod

As always we are focusing on sharing:

Pearls of Wisdom…

Nuggets of Knowledge…

Understanding the Difficult…

Instructions for a better life!                                             

2See Media LLC all rights reserved, 

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Hear2See YouTube Channel [email protected]

HEAR Journaling -  Mark Chapter 15

Highlight - Mark 15 New Living Translation

9 “Would you like me to release to you this ‘King of the Jews’?” Pilate asked. 10 (For he realized by now that the leading priests had arrested Jesus out of envy.) 11 But at this point the leading priests stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. 12 Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?” 13 They shouted back, “Crucify him!”

24 Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross. They divided his clothes and threw dice[c] to decide who would get each piece. 25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26 A sign announced the charge against him. It read, “The King of the Jews.” 

…33 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 34 Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”[f]

… 37 Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 When the Roman officer[g] who stood facing him[h] saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

Explain – The Mark account of the crucifixion of Jesus is contained in chapter 15.  You really need to read all four accounts, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to begin to see the full picture.   Here I highlight the contrast of Jews shouting to crucify Jesus with the Roman officer that recognized that this man was truly the Son of God.  The people that knew the scriptures would not accept Jesus as the messiah, but a Roman officer could recognize that He was indeed the Son of God.

Apply – People today also struggle and resist to accept Jesus as savior for their own reasons.  God has done everything He could do to make His Truth known and available for all people, everywhere, for all time.  

John 3:36 NLT 36 And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Respond – Lord, I thank You for my salvation, for the new life that You have given me.  I pray that those that have not accepted You will have their eyes and hearts open to receive You for their sake and for Your glory.

REPLICATE Ministries, What is a HEAR  Journal?

https://replicate.org/what-is-a-hear-journal/

HEAR Journaling Method

https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.cloversites.com/e4/e465d33d-444a-46eb-9922-5cdcb0aaef4d/documents/H.E.A.R_journal_method.pdf

Watch and listen and see if this impacts you too.

Images are public domain or as noted:

New Living Translation with audio, as captured on the You Version Bible App, Tyndale copyright: 

https://www.tyndale.com/permissions

YouTube Music – Amazing Grace 2011 Classical Whimsical by Kevin MacLeod

As always we are focusing on sharing:

Pearls of Wisdom…

Nuggets of Knowledge…

Understanding the Difficult…

Instructions for a better life!

2See Media LLC all rights reserved, 

Wwww.YouTube.com/@Hear2See

Hear2See YouTube Channel [email protected]

 Eternal life, life as a new creation, begins as soon as we accept the free gift of forgiveness, mercy, and grace.  Day to day life really means nothing apart from Him.  Seek Him today!