Spirited Away

Intro

Spirit comes upon the Equipped

Good morning Faith Family. We want to thank you for joining us this morning at Memorial Baptist Church and If you are tuning in online, we welcome you into our service. My name is Edgar Bozant and I am one of the pastor’s here at Memorial Baptist Church. Pastor Dan is out of town and asked me to fill in for him today. I am honored to be able to have the opportunity to bring you the message of God this morning. What a privilege to read from the book of life and the word through which the whole world has been spoken into existence. That gives our lives meaning, fulfilment, and ultimate purpose. When I was young and had a full head of hair, I remember my time in youth ministry as a student.

A few months ago in April I was called by my fiance at the time, now my wife. (Yes you may applaud) She asked me if I could make a short trip to Nashville to help her pack and get things ready for her to come down here to New Orleans. So I booked a flight that left on Sunday afternoon and returned Tuesday. I got through the first flight no problem and had a connecting flight in Missouri. I learned that while I was there, major weather was hitting the northeast and shut down a majoirty of the flights leaving the airport and so my flight was cancelled. Now ladies and gentlemen, I can tell you that the first thought go through my head was, “Why God? I dont want to be stranded. IN MISSOURI!” I didnt understand why this was happening because i had to be back at church the following day. I talked to United staff and asked them if they would help and they said there was not they could do. I was frustrated and a bit bummed out. However, something came over me and told me to go to the other counter a little bit further down the concourse. I told this lady my situation and she did some searchign and found me a flight that left in ten minutes connecting me to an airport in Washington D.C that would take me to New Orleans. It didnt take me long to decide so I hopped on this plane with the chane that hte connecting flight in D.C would be cancelled but i thought it would be better to be stranded in D.C. than missouri. boarded the plane and the only seat left was between two men. That is the seat no man ever wants. But before I knew it, God had made this alteration for a purpose and thus I was spirited away. The young man sitting next to me was a college student who was hungover from the night before. He saw me studying the greek new testament and asked me what I was reading. In that moment, everything became clear to me. In this moment, I realized that God sent me on mission and that he wanted me to talk to this young man about Christ. and so began our 1:30 minute conversation on the bible, the wonder of God, and the woners of the Cross. A gospel conversation fell into my lap and as a Christian it was, it is my duty to share it. After wards, we got to D.C. My connecting flight wasnt suppose to elave for 3 hours. I walked up to the counter and asked for my ticket to a connecting flight. They told me we have a flight leaving in 30 minutes if you want to take that. You see faith family. God provided. i just couldnt see that big picture before my journey began.

With that being said, I want us to discuss the idea of being Spirited away. So if you would, prepare your hearts for the reading of the word as we dive into

With that being said, I want us to discuss the idea of being Spirited away. So if you would, prepare your hearts for the reading of the word as we dive into .

Acts 6:1–15 ESV

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 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, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

is a result of . The boldness of the gospel being shared despite the adversity. Despite the threats. Despite the early martyrdom of Christendom. We see apostles and follwers of Christ boldly sharing.

Theologian Luke Timothy Johnson says, The key to Christianity's success lay not in its teaching but in its experience of power. What distinguishes guishes the movement is its claim to have actualized the "good news of God" to humans. What accounts for its spread is its ability to make the claim plausible, sible, persuasive, and even present, for others. The NT provides a window through which we can observe the movement in the period before it achieved political and cultural acceptance, yet at a time when it had already begun to shape its distinctive tive self-consciousness.

The result is what we see in in . The church was seeing what i like to call the Shark Tank effect.

Now if you have seen the show shark tank then you kind of know what i am talking about. If not Ill explain it to you.

Stephen was a man chosen amongst the seven diakonos which is where we get our present day terminology deacon and elder.

As we are going analyze the following text, I want you to write down or keep in mind point #1.

Spirited Away into Situations

Have your feet firmly planted in God

1. Have you your feet firmly planted in the Holy Spirit.

Acts 6:

Matthew 4:1–11 ESV

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

Sometimes we just dont know where GOd is going to call us. WE will not know where or why The holy spirit has sirted us away into siutations that were unexpected and into situations that some us would reflect on our life and say they were not good.

Matthew 4:1–11 ESV

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

Acts 6:8–15 ESV

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 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, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Matthew 4:1–11 ESV

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

I want to give us a bit of context before we really dive into this story. Because a text without context, is just a pretext for whatever you could want it to mean.

Matthew 4:1–11 ESV

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

Spirited Away into Situations

1. Have you your feet firmly planted in the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we just dont know where GOd is going to call us. WE will not know where or why The holy spirit has sirted us away into siutations that were unexpected and into situations that some us would reflect on our life and say they were not good.

imagine being so full of the Spirit that it shows upon your face. that your mere presence presents to them an atmospehere in which they are not used to. The trurth cannot be hidden rom

Acts 6:1–7 ESV

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Matthew 4:1–11 ESV

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

I want us to notice a few important key facts from this passage of scripture. The spirit led Christ into the wilderness

Matthew 4:1-11

The religous leaders at the time are calling him a liar spreading gossip and challenging the legitimacy of his word. The word. I believe

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

This brings us to our 2nd point.

Spirited Away into Temptations

Have your feet firmly planted in the Word.

Tony Dungee Illustration.

John 1:1 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Matthew 4:1–11 ESV

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

I want us to examine a few important key facts from this passage of scripture. The spirit led Christ into the wilderness.

Christ was tempted with desire

Chirst understands what you are goign through. He understands better than any of else what is like to be tempted. He was tempted by

First Desire and Primal instinct

(light chuckling) I had a student who when we went over this passage of scirpture submmited that , “ I grow weak just driving by Chipotle.”

Christ did not need fill his belly with food because he was already filled with something far more filling. The Spirit.

have you your feet firmly planted in the Holy Spirit

Second by his Own Status

We are often quick to try and prove ourselves before someone who starts to challenge our identity.

Spirited Away into Temptations

Christ did not need to because he knew his value in the arms of the only one who truly matters.

Have your feet firmly planted in the Word

John 1:1 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Third by Power and Pride

Satan offers the opportunity to correct the course of humanity by offering him dominion over all.

I would argue that Christ was not on God, but he was also more human than any of us.

Christ exemplifies what it means to have true humanity. THe morality of a perfect person that most of us in here strive to be.

b. Christ was tempted in every way imaginable, he stood on the abyss of temptation and did not move. He did not falter. His feet were firmly planted in the word. In the Old Testament Scriptures.

Spirited away into Callings

Spirited Away into your Calling

Have your feet firmly planted in God’s Calling.

Have your feet firmly planted in God

Notice how when we are firmly planting our feet in all three, we are firmly planting our feet in the entierty of the Triune God.

You see, God Calls us, The word(Christ) motivates us, and the Spirit directs us. BUt to what end? Christ tells us in .

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:16–20 ESV

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 2

We are coming to the end of Christ’s physicallly present minsitry before he ascends into Heaven seated the right hand of the Father. And typically, the most important and crucial aspect of speech, sermon, or pep talk comes at the end of the commencement in which the purpose of the entire message is summed up. So it id very important for us to heed these words as Christians.

NOw if you are like me, than you have probably heard throughout your time in church the importance of sharing the Gospel but rarely do I see a pastor stand behind a pulpit and tell us how to go about doing so. Especially, in this polarizing culture that we as Americans live in today.

I got on a plane in the month of June headed up to see my wife’s family.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Acts 6:1–11 ESV

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”

acts 6