Acts 6 - Discernment and watching out for false witnesses.....

One could almost apply this chapter to today's situations.

We have those who say they are apostles and prophets or submit that they are full of the Holy Ghost and do great wonders and miracles. And on the other hand there is good teaching about the cessation of such, at least in the norm of the church. A few years ago there was a good conference addressing this issue..

 

Link is here... http://www.gty.org/resources/sermon-series/325/strange-fire-conference

What I do observe is that in the Bible we have both many false teachers and many false witnesses.

I wish this was a simple clear cut issue, but it is not. Before we get to Stephens speech where he proclaims...the risen Lord Jesus.

Act 7:55  But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

Act 7:56  And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

Look at how the false witnesses were brought out to speak to his blasphemy.

Act 6:8  And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

Act 6:9  Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

Act 6:10  And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

Act 6:11  Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

Act 6:12  And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,

Act 6:13  And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:

Act 6:14  For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

Act 6:15  And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

As we struggle to discern we must always be aware of the risk of false teaching and witnessing.