Warning: The Gospel may be fatal if swallowed.
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The problem with Christians in America is that no one is trying to kill them.
12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
That said, maybe I should do an alter call right now.
I would love to hear the prosperity gospel preacher’s take on this topic.
Do we treat this topic like the small print of the bible.
18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.
This morning we will look at the life and death of Stephen. He was one of the first Deacons and Christianity’s first martyr.
Stephen selected
Stephen selected
2 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.
Just a hint of a condescending tone.
The church agreed to find 7
5 The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.
Acts 6:
Acts 6:
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
9 But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen.
10 But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
They convinced people to lie about Stephen saying that he was speaking against Moses and against God.
Drug into the Council.
15 And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.
Acts
He was accused of Blaspheming the law that Moses brought down from the mountain.
29 It came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses’ hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him.
30 So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.
Stephens Defense
Stephens Defense
Abraham leaving the land of the Chaldeans.
Covenant with Abraham
Isaac father of Jacob
Jacob father of the 12 and the story of Joseph
Egypt and the family reunion
Affliction of the Hebrew people in Egypt
The story of Moses and his birth (privilege)
Killed an Egyptian because his people were being persecuted.
Exile and return to lead his people out of Egypt
The wilderness
39 “Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt,
Acts 7:
Made a calf
Our Father had the tabernacle.
David wanting to build a temple
Solomon built it.
48 “However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says:
Acts 7:48
Quotes Isaiah : Heaven is my throne.
51 “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.
52 “Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become;
53 you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.”
Acts 7:5
Their response:
54 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him.
Acts 7:54
The truth hurts.
55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;
56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Acts 7:
Some of these are the same people that heard Jesus’ testimony.
Jesus was asked by the high priest , “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62 And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
Why was Jesus standing in Stephen’s vision?
Some scholars believe that this is the fulfilment of Jesus saying that if you confess me before men, I will confess you before my Father.
57 But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse.
58 When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”
60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:57-
46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last.
46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day,
34 But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.
Luke 24:
34 saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.”
Luke
Luke 24:
Expect Persecution
Expect Persecution
12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
2 Timothy
Prepare for the worst and Hope for the best.
If you don’t feel any persecution...
23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
You don’t get to create your own persecution:
You can’t make bad decisions and then seek pity from everyone because you are being persecuted. There is a difference between persecution and consequences of bad choices.
Elena pulling out her pacifier, then crying.
Look for Jesus
Look for Jesus
Stephen saw Jesus:
17 “I love those who love me;
And those who diligently seek me will find me.
1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
If you are looking at the obstacle you are going to his the obstacle. If you look for the path of escape, that’s what you will ride.
Imitate Christ
Imitate Christ
Stephen: Lord Jesus receive my spirit
46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last.
Luke 23
Stephen : Lord do not hold this sin against them.
34 But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.
1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
You will never suffer in vein.
2 tim
12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.