Are you convinced?
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 4 viewsNotes
Transcript
Intro and Tension
Intro and Tension
Start world cup final - Chooses to bowl.
All of Australia, thought bad idea. then 9 hours later.
*video*
If honest | Sometimes our walk with Christ | Read promises | Not quite sure;
like this one;
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Really? rest?
Some of us could use some rest right now.
Question: Does the death of Jesus show you he is the way to life?
Title: How much is going to be enough?
My Hope: Today, we take the step toward deliverance | Maybe shuffled during series | Today - we choose devoted.
Kids | Money | Title | Ministry
**prayer**
Finishing series: Idols or Altars
Week 1 - Defined an idol;
Anything that becomes a priority above Christ or we trust for a blessing, help, or guidance in the place of a wholehearted reliance on the true and living God.
All series | Said born with longing | don’t stop longing - Direct where it is going;
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
His love, better than life - Really?
What if - Like Australia, when choose to bowl - Not quite sure?
Today - Look at Stephen - Who was sure - to point of Death - Learn what we can do - to start leaning on Jesus | today we claim victory over idol
Who is Stephen;
Jew turned Christian | Deacan early church | Not a disciple | Sold out to Jesus.
And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.
But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
Smart guy | Knew his history | Bold
Annoyed Scribes and Pharisees- Why? Up to this point = side religion they though they could stop | Peter arrested, told to keep quite
Then you got Stephen, smart, knowledgable, performing miracles - making noise.
Listen - If today is day you choose Jesus over idol - you’re going to attract attention.
Why? - Enemy doesn’t want you to be used by Jesus.
A devoted heart to Jesus is always going to complete the will of Jesus.
Stephen Siezed - Accused of Blasphemy against Church;
Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law,
Stephen was speaking against them putting their hope in 3 things;
The promise land
Their Temple
Their Law
Stephen preaches sermon | Moses, joseph, God’s redemptive plan,
and that God can’t be containted to these 3 things;
Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, “ ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?
Quotes Isaiah - You can’t contain God | Jesus has died | HS is for everyone.
Delivers final blow;
“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.
one of most insulting things Stephen could say | Moses called the isrealites - stiff-necked people -
What does it mean?
Can’t bow | Can’t Turn | Stuck in your ways
Stephen is saying no need to go up mountain anymore | or tent of meeting | Holy place | Presence of God is for everyone
Drop Pride | Bow
Then He says;
Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”
Received law by angels | Did not keep it | Did not represent fathers heart
What is Stephen saying | You had everything to tell you messiah coming | God’s plan for redemption | You missed it
What is my plea for us today | Don’t miss it.
Don’t miss the freedom that is offered on the table for you today
Read the word | but don’t miss it | Read word = goal of getting to know Jesus.
“Man if I just had an angel” - You have way more encouragemnet than angel…God’s living Word.
What was Stephen so sure of? His Status of Child of God I reckon;
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Stephen = Jew - Transformed - given new Spirit.
Not a spirit of Religion | unwanted | Rejected | Loser | NOt good enough | Forgotton
Spirit of Sonship! Where by our Spirit calls Yahweh…Father.
and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
We read down;
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
“Wish I had angel” - What would he say? Check out Romans 8…
What happened to Stephen;
Well - They heard this - converted - kidding - outraved
Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.
But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Standing | not sitting | Sitting means that Jesus’ work is complete > Standing, Jesus was still finishing His work - through Stephen.
Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Echoed words of Jesus on Cross | Receive spirit | don’t hold sin - Fell asleep;
Question: Are you sure, what Jesus did is enough?
Patty Cummins knew more than us - That’s why we should have trusted his decision.
Is Jesus who He says he is? Did He conquer the grave? Is he holding all things together? He knows your situation more than you do…so give it over
This is what Stephen saying: He didn’t just give pat on back | Death to Life | Made rightous | Made New...
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
You have LIFE | A New Name | Son, Daughter, Chosen, Previous | New Family | Seat at the table of almighty God | Audience with K o K
How much more do you need God to do? He has given us everything - If we choose Him.
Bring it home
Bring it home
So what do we do?
We go one more step;
Are you sure, what Jesus did is enough to live a devoted life?
It was for Stephen…
If yes- then Jesus. Is. First.
Mat - What about my idols though.
CONTRACT - I DIDN’T KNOW HOW IT WORKED! so I got Angry -
We don’t need to get Angry - We need to get under Authority
Interesting | This event, catalyst for gospel going into all the world | Saul - Persecuted Christians - Forced them to leave jeusulem - and Saul who approved Stephens stoning - had to go damascus - Persecute more.
On way | He Met someone | Jesus - Who blinded him for 3 days | Saul…became Paul…Paul ended up writing 1/3 of NT.
My prayer - You would Encounter Jesus today | Christian one day | Christian forever but today is the day | concious decision | not ot read your bible more | pray more (do those) but to crucify your flesh idol -
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If that’s your prayer - Stand up.
to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
*altar call* *Prayer*