“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the Prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become His betrayers and murders. You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it.” Acts 7:51-53

These men were physically circumcised but not circumcised in their hearts and ears. In other words, they would not listen to God nor to the Son of God. They missed much of what God gave them because of their stiff-necked self serving ways even though the Prophets had given them every opportunity to expect Jesus Messiah Savior. Empowered by the Spirit, Stephen speaks before this cold hearted council and they hear not by their own choices.

Choice can lead to you Jesus or lead away from Jesus. What choices are you making my friend? By that I mean is your heart stayed in the Holy Spirit and your ears filled with Jesus Christ’s words from Scriptures? Is prayer to Him your first thought when you listen to others tell you of their struggles. Prompted by the Spirit of Truth (John 14:15-17) do you take action to do what Spirit prompts you to do to help, to answer with support and encouragement, and to give of yourself to the lost, lonely, and the ‘least of these’ children?

To be circumcised in heart and ears is to experience New Birth in Christ (John 3:1-21) and become a Holy Spirit Baptized Christian. This is the glorious beginning for then the Spirit of Truth will guide you in all things as you yield yourself to Spirit. Filled with the Spirit, Jesus Christ has come to fulfill the law, show us God Almighty, and and give us Spirit. Filled with the Spirit, Jesus allowed evil to put Him to death and then burst evil’s grip of destruction on our hearts and ears by His Resurrection as the angels rejoiced. Spirit shows the one way to God through Jesus Christ is open and stays open.