19. False Confidence - Stephen's Sermon

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Context

Accusations against Stephen - Acts 6:11, 13-14

Blasphemy Against Moses - 11

Acts 6:11 NKJV

11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”

Blasphemy Against the Temple - 13-14

The Jews accused Stephen of prophesying the temple’s future destruction. Stephen must’ve spoken of these words of Jesus,

John 2:19 NKJV

19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

Blasphemy Against the Law

Stephen was accused of undermining the Mosaic Law, saying that Christ came to change Moses’ customs. This was seen as a personnal attack on Moses, and consequently, on God.

Purpose

Rebuke

Rebuke the religious leaders for murdering Jesus and their misplaced condifence in their standing before God.

The religious leaders had three false foundations for their standing with God...

Temple with 3 foundations pptx

I. LAND

“I am worthy of God’s blessing because I live in the promised land.”

II. LAW

“I am righteous because I know and follow God’s Law.”

III. TEMPLE

“God is with us because we have the Temple.”

Go to church = brownie points with God? Special blessing for faithful attendance?

Urge

Urge the religious leaders to humbly set their hopes on Christ

I. Land - Acts 7:1-16

“I am worthy of God’s blessing because I live in the promised land.”

Abraham and the Land - vs. 2-8

Acts 7:2 NKJV

2 And he said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,

“The God of glory appeared to out father Abraham when he was,” where? (Mesopotamia)

Acts 7:4 NKJV

4 Then he 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.

God showed Himself to Abraham at first in Mesopotamia, led him all the way through this land, and THEN brought him into the promised land. Remembering their accusation against Stephen, what aregument is Stephen making here? (God is not confined to the land of Israel, He blessed and guided Abraham even in Pagan land)

To add onto that, look at the first part of vs. 5, does Abraham even own the land when he gets there? (No!, “And God gave him no inheritance it it”)

Israel will go into bondage (vs. 6-7)

God provides a seed for Abraham (vs. 8), promise despite being outside the land.

2. Joseph and Egypt - vs. 9-16

a. God Rescues Joseph in Egypt (9-10)

Acts 7:9 NKJV

9 “And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him

If Stephen’s goal was to rebuke the Pharisees and Saducees for killing Jesus, why might he bring up the story of Joseph? (Joseph’s brothers sell him into Egypt)

What do Joseph and Jesus have in common? (Rejected by their very own)

Can you spot some key words at the end of vs. 9? (But God was with Him)

With him where? (Egypt!)

Not in the land of Israel!

Acts 7:10 NKJV

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.

Most of the major events in Joseph’s life happened outside of the land of Israel, displaying the fact that God is not confined to a certain place or building.

Why would that truth be good for these Jews to understand? (They are zealous about the temple, to the point that they’d kill Stephen for it)

Just to remind us, here’s the danger of the land mindset, “I am worthy of God’s blessing because I live in the promised land.”

In what ways do you think we can have this same mindset in the land we live in?

Priviledged nation = more priviledges

Godly heritage = inherit blessing

II. Law - Acts 7:17-43

“I am righteous because I know and follow God’s Law.”

And remember, Stephen was accused of blaspheming Moses

Of all people, Abraham and Moses were the most revered people in Judaism. So, Stephen says, “You wanna talk about Moses, huh? Let’s take a look at Moses!”

Moses Delivers Israel - vs. 17-38

Moses in Pharaoh’s House (17-22)

Joseph dies and a new Pharaoh rules over Egypt

Israel is taken as slaves

Order to kill every newborn Hebrew boy

Acts 7:20–22 NKJV

20 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. 22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.

These verses ooze with God’s presence and blessing...

Moses in Midian (23-29)

Moses kills the Egyptian mistreating the Hebrew, and vs. 27, he breaks a fight between two Hebrews

Do they appreciate what Moses did here, “Ah thanks man! I was hoping you’d help us out!”

So, what do they do? (reject him)

Did not appreciate Moses stepping in..

Moses in Sinai (30-37)

Burning bush

Read vs. 33

Vs. 34, “I have 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,” and what?

I WILL SEND YOU TO EGYPT… God personally sends Moses to Egypt...

But what happens in the start of vs. 35? (They rejected him)

God’s own servant is sent to an enslaved people to redeem them from their bondage, but instead of being welcomed, He is rejected.

Does this sound familiar to you? (Christ!)

Stephen’s method of subtily poking the bear...

To make matters even better, look at what he says in vs. 37 (Read it)

Who do you think this is talking about? (Christ!)

Remember, Stephen was being accused of blaspheming against Moses.

Keeing that in mind, why would he show that even Moses prophesied about Jesus? (He understands Moses! The pharisees are blaspheming Moses)

If you really were to follow Moses, you’d believe that Jesus is the Messiah!

Moses talked face to face with God

Received the living Word of God

And performed all these miracles

And yet the Israelites still rejected him and served all these idols!!

“Hint, hint. And you are too!”

III. Temple - Acts 7:44-50

“God is with us because we have the Temple.”

Tabernacle in the Desert - vs. 44-47

Vs. 44, “Our fathers had the,” what? (tabernacle of witness)

Vs. 47, what do we find there? (House/temple in Jerusalem)

Important building differences

Was the tabernacle built to be stationary? (No)

It was designed to be torn down and built up again quickly

What was the intent in buillding it this way? (To move whenever God’s presence moved)

How about the temple, how was that built? (Fully stationary)

No amount of amish people could move this building

This gave people the idea that God dwelt there and stayed there. This is where God lives. But Stephen says, uh uh!

What’s his argument in vs. 49? (A temple cannot hold Him, His presence can be wherever He desires)

In your own words, how does Stephen argue against the thought, “God is with us because we have the Temple.”?

God’s presence is wherever He desires, God is not bound by a building. And actually, God came down in bodily presence in Christ...

Vs. 51-53

This is where it all comes together

Ever heard clips of pastors calling people out in the congregation, “Brother ____, I haven’t seen you in a while. Sister ____, when’s the last time you’ve paid tithes to the church?”

- Imagine if this ever happened to you, the pastor points you out in the whole congregation (Jaw dropped, ghasp)

He says, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears!” Huh?! What do you think that could ever mean?

Who were the only people that would get circumcised? (Jews)

Calling them pagans

You stubborn pagan!

Resisted the Holy Spirit just like their ancestors did before them

Acts 7:52 NKJV

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,

Just like the Old Testament people, you’ve rejected and murdered God’s Servant, you killed the Messiah!

You accuse me of blaspheming Moses, but you don’t even follow the One he prophesied about!

You accuse me of blaspheming the temple, but you killed Emmanuel, God with us!

Application

LAND

“I am worthy of God’s blessing because I live in the promised land.”

Adapted to our lives, “I am worthy of God’s blessing because I belong in Canada.”

Solution: God’s blessing is ourse because we are Christ’s

LAW

“I am righteous because I know and follow God’s Law.”

“I am righteous because I read the Bible everyday this year and I marked it up all the way through.”

Solution: My righteousness is found in Christ

TEMPLE

“God is with us because we have the Temple.”

“God is pleased with me and present with me because I go to church.”

Solution: My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit because Christ bought me, God is always with me.