Calvary Chapel Yelm



Acts Chapter 7LoveResolve yourselves to get the CDChapter 6Stephen Accused of Blasphemy by a band of Hypocrites: Acts 6:15 …all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.Stephen at Perfect peace 20 minutes before he diesI. Abraham 1 Then the high priest said, “Are these things so?” Game on: Open DoorAccusations true? False-witnesses. High Priest Caiaphas present as w/Jesus Speak against the TempleSpeak against MosesSpeak against the Law Keeps taking about JesusStephan:Not defending self but teaching in spite of consequences Filled with Spirit of God: Boldness Goal: Prick the conscience of listeners fearlesslyStephan’s 2 Major Points:God cannot be confined to a man-made dwellingJews have always rejected God’s Prophets2 And [Stephen] said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran Brethren and fathers: My Jewish brothers and fathersGod appeared to our father Abraham in Mesopotamia [Modern Iraq] before TempleGod Appeared to Abraham in a Pagan Country…God spoke to Abraham in a Pagan Country…Abraham was a Pagan; moon worshipper! 3 and [God] said to [Abraham], ‘Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.’God speaks to pagan Abraham:Leave your country and relatives; leave everything you know and hold dearAbraham took his father and nephew lotPartial obedience but not to bad for pagan 4 Then [Abraham] came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. Abraham’s father dies on the way to Promised LandAfter father dies he makes his way to Promised Land [Israel] 5 And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on...God gave him no inheritance: No land. No childrenOnly land Abraham will own is a grave5b …But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession and to his descendants after him. Abraham: Father of faithAbram: Exalted FatherAbraham: Father of multitudeI know you don’t see it Abraham. You don’t have children. You don’t have property.One day your descendants will own the land you are walking onGalatians 3:7 … they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.6 But God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years. 7 ‘And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.’ God prophesies to Abraham:I know your 75, but you and Sarah will have a sonYour descendants will end up in a foreign land [Egypt]Eventually they will multiply and be oppressed [Slaves]After 400 years they will…Be set freeServe Me here…where you are standing with no childrenAbraham [100] and Sarah [86] had the promise son Isaac: Laughter [Abraham laughed at the thought of how Go would pull this offAbraham had faith…lots [Saved by faith not law]8 Then [God] gave [Abraham] the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.Covenant [Cutting] of Circumcision: Set apart a people for GodPatriarchs:AbrahamIsaacJacob [Israel] Why is Abraham important: God spoke to him in a pagan landHe was saved when he trusted God’s promise of son [seed]Genesis 15:6 [Abraham] believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.He was saved before he was circumcised He was saved before there was a TempleII. Patriarchs9 “And the patriarchs, [sons of Jacob [Israel]] [became] envious [and] sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him 10 and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Jacob [Israel]: Abrahams grandson had 12 sons [12 Tribes of Israel] Joseph: God with him, spoke to him again when there was no templeDreams everyone would bow [he would be deliverer]Told dreams to brothers and the hated him [Daddy’s boy]Through into pitTold Jacob he was dead/showed bloody coat proof animals killed himInstead of killing sold to Ishmaelite’s and brought as slave to Egypt God’s blessed Joseph in EgyptFavor with PharaohWisdom seen by PharaohMade him King of the world [2nd to Pharaoh] 11 Now a famine and great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no sustenance. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. Worldwide famine: Joseph in Egypt Thought dead by Father and brothers in Promised LandJacob sends Josephs brothers [12 tribes] to Egypt Stephen calls Joseph’s brothers “our fathers”Drawing them in: Saul listening???First trip to Egypt sons of Jacob [Israel] didn’t recognize Joseph13 And the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to the Pharaoh. 14 Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him, seventy-five people. Series of events brother go back to Jacob who sends them back to Egypt 2nd timeJoseph makes himself known [2nd coming Jews will recognize Jesus]15 So Jacob went down to Egypt; and he died, he and our fathers. 16 And they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem.Jacob, Joseph die in Egypt and brought back to grave Abraham purchased in Promised LandWhy is Joseph important: Picture of Jesus who they are rejectingBrothers were jealous of himTreated him with contemptBrothers did not recognize him the first timeIII. Moses17 “But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt Time of Promise: v 6 400 years in EgyptSons of Jacob [Israel] Multiplied in Egypt18 till another king arose who did not know Joseph. 19 This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, making them expose their babies, so that they might not live. Joseph dead and forgotten/descendants of 12 Tribes are exploding in Egypt New king [Pharaoh] tries to prevent rebellionIsraelite babies murdered [worse than one baby policy] Moses preserved miraculously: As Jesus when Mary/Joseph told to go to Egypt20 At this time Moses was born, and was well pleasing to God; and he was brought up in his father’s house for three months. 21 But when he was set out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and brought him up as her own son. Set out on little boat in NileBrought up by Pharaohs daughter as her own son, an Egyptian 22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.Build pyramids?Mighty in words and deeds? [Complained to God he did not speak well?]23 “Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. 25 For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand. Moses came to Jews the first time defend/avenge his oppressed brothersMoses saw Egyptian beating an Israelite; killed Egyptian and buried in sandHe supposed Israelites would understand why he was thereJohn 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.Jews did not understand or believe that Moses was sent by God26 And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?’ 27 But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?’ Stephen: You say you honor Moses?“Your forefathers rejected Moses deliverance… the first time”Who made you ruler and judge?John 10:31 … the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?”33 The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”Stephen's message is plain: "You have rejected Jesus, who was like Moses yet greater than him, and you deny that Jesus has any right to be a ruler and a judge over you." [Guzic]29 Then, at this saying, Moses fled and became a dweller in the land of Midian, where he had two sons. 30 “And when forty years had passed, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai. 31 When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he drew near to observe, the voice of the Lord came to him, where you stand is holy ground. Moses left for 40 yearsAn Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses on Mt. Sinai in burning bushFrom bush [not temple] Moses heard voice of the Lord…32?saying,?‘I?am?the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’?And Moses trembled and dared not look.?33?‘Then the Lord?said to him, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.34 I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.”’ God sends Moses to do what was in his heart: Deliver his people. Stephen continues: 35 “This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush. The one your forefathers rejected was their deliverer:They were wrongThey did not believeThey rejected himParaphrase: Don’t make the same mistake! 36 [Moses] brought them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.God brought plagues to Egypt through Moses hands!Wonders/Signs proved, validated who he said he was!Do you remember someone recently who did signs? Said He was Son of God?Why is Moses important: Picture of Jesus whom they are rejecting:Moses was “well pleasing to God”Matthew 3:16 When [Jesus] had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” [Also at transfiguration] Moses came the first time to deal with suffering of brothersLuke 7:20 When the men had come to [Jesus], they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’” 21 And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.The Jews did not recognize Moses until he came to them a second time…Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. IV. The Prophet: Closer to HomeStephen continues with Moses who he is accused of blaspheming: 37 “This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.’ Deuteronomy 18:18 I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth Jesus38 “This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us, 39 whom our fathers would not obey, but rejected. Moses was in congregation with The Angel of the Lord [Same Joshua followed]Jesus spoke to Moses on Mt. Sinai…Jesus gave Moses the Law!39b And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods to go before us; as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 41 And they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Rejected Moses authority; i.e. authority given by God. In rejecting Moses, God’s man, they rejected GodHearts turned back to Egypt [World] Complained/Murmured Rejoiced in the work of their handsAs you now rejoice in the Temple Rejoicing in work of your hands…not GodHebrews 3:16 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 17 Now with whom was [God] angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?Stephen’s Point: Your love for the Temple has become idolatryLove for religion /religious activity nullifies your love for GodLove for pet doctrine, candle lighting, ceremonies is Idolotry!Think you are worshiping God but in reality worshipping an idol1 Corinthians 10:18 Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19 What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.Do we rejoice in religion or in Jesus?Delight in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart!42 Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets: ?‘?Did you offer Me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness,??O house of Israel?43 ??You also took up the tabernacle of Moloch,??And the star of your god Remphan, ??Images which you made to worship; ??And I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’“Gave them up” Romans 1. Judgment…God’s protecting, loving hand removedDid not offer sacrifice to meDid offer sacrifice to the temple of Moloch and Star of RemphamWorshiped a god of your own making…not MeJudgment: Amos 5: I will carry you away to where your started: Babylon/IraqWhat you believe about Jesus is the Litmus Test: OT and NT Same God: John 5:21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.What about OT? Abraham and Moses?John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.SUMMARY: The Prophet: Moses told you about Jesus but you did not listenV. Tabernacle: Moses-SolomonNow let’s talk Temple44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as [God] appointed, instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen, 45 which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the days of David, 46 who found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob. Our FathersCarried the Tabernacle [Mobile Tent of Meeting] on their journey to PL God gave instructions as to how to construct that meeting placeMoses passed torch to Joshua who continued to carry the TabernacleGod’s presence drove out the abominable Pagan nations until DavidDavid asked to build a permanent dwelling [Temple]David denied being a “man of blood”47 But Solomon built Him a house. 48 “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: 49 ?‘?Heaven is My throne,??And earth is My footstool.?? What house will you build for Me? says the LORD,??Or what is the place of My rest?50 ??Has My hand not made all these things?’Solomon did build God a Temple Stephan:Most High God does not dwell in templesHe rests in heaven and earth is His footstool Stephen looking around. God would say:….Has My hand not made all these things?’Your self-made god is too small and unable to saveSUMMARY: Tabernacle: God was worshiped by Abraham in another land, by Israel in wilderness, in Solomon’s Temple…but He does not dwell in buildings made with handsVI. Resistance 51 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. You are the same as those who:Did not recognize that Abraham was saved by faith…before the LawAbraham believed and it was credited to him as righteousness. [no temple, law, land]Did not recognize Joseph as picture of Jesus Broke the Law given to Moses by JesusFailed to recognize the Prophet Moses spoke about…JesusForgot God who gave victory before the temple was ever builtReason you continue to reject God’s messengers: Stiff Necked/ Uncircumcised Not only that but…52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 53 who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”Can you think of one of God’s prophets “your fathers” did not persecute?They foretold the coming of the Just One who betrayed/murdered Your forefathers sawed Isaiah in 2 after prophesying Jesus so clealyYou who received the law [do not murder/bear false witness] and have not kept it!SUMMARY: Resisting the Holy Spirit…again and againVII. Cut to the Heart 54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. Hebrews 4:12 …the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."He takes the sharp knife of the Word and rips up the sins of the people, laying open the inward parts of their hearts, and the secrets of their souls … He could not have delivered that searching address with greater fearlessness had he been assured that they would thank him for the [speech]; the fact that his death was certain had no other effect upon him than to make him yet more zealous." [Spurgeon]Three responses after God’s Word cut’s us to the heart:Ignore: Act like it never happenedRepent: Embrace the revelation you are wrong and turn to GodGnash teeth at God and His People They didn't start gnashing when Stephen finished his speech. "All they could do in their frenzy was to gnash with their teeth. It was not a sudden outburst but the tense rather shows that it was prolonged." [Gaebelein]55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Full of the Holy Spirit gazes through a Window to HeavenAfter sitting at the right hand of the Father now Jesus is standing! Attention given to sufferingStanding Ovation!"Stephen has been confessing Christ before men, and now he sees Christ confessing his servant before God." [Bruce]57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; Cried with a LOUD voicePut fingers in earsRan at him in mob John 16:2 Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.Dragged out of city. Began to stone him but were bound by clothesTook there clothes dropped clothes at the feet of a Pharisee named Saul59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.Stephen heard Jesus say this before Jesus was crucified [His-story]Saul the Pharisee heard Stephen say this as he consented to Stephens’s death!Speech is fuel for young Pharisee Paul to go on violent rampage against the church.But…He will remember Stephen’s last words forever:“Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” ................
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