Acts 6:8-7:60 The Lord Declares the Coming of Christ throughout all History.

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Good Morning .. Pause

I welcome you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Out Scripture meditation is from

Psalm 103:1 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!”

PRELUDE — Use these moments to prayerfully consider the Scripture meditation above, so you may properly give God the glory due to His name.

THE LORD CALLS US TO WORSHIP HIM

*God’s Word of Greeting

Call to Worship Psalm 103:2-5

English Standard Version Psalm 103

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits,

3  who forgives all your iniquity,

who heals all your diseases,

4  who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

5  who satisfies you with good

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Let us rise for the singing of Gods Word

Tuen in your In your Trinity Psalter Hymnal to Psalm 103A

*Psalm of Praise Psalm103A Bless the Lord, My Soul

INVOCATION:

Father we now call upon you to be with us and be in our presence.

And illuminate our minds by your Spirit and Word.

We thank you Father in all things in Christ name Amen.

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S CALL

Responsive Reading

Psalm 103

I will read the Odd verses and you will read the even verses.

English Standard Version Psalm 103

1  Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and all that is within me,

bless his holy name!

2  Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits,

3  who forgives all your iniquity,

who heals all your diseases,

4  who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

5  who satisfies you with good

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6  The Lord works righteousness

and justice for all who are oppressed.

7  He made known his ways to Moses,

his acts to the people of Israel.

8  The Lord is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

9  He will not always chide,

nor will he keep his anger forever.

10  He does not deal with us according to our sins,

nor repay us according to our iniquities.

11  For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

12  as far as the east is from the west,

so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

13  As a father shows compassion to his children,

so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

14  For he knows our frame;

he remembers that we are dust.

15  As for man, his days are like grass;

he flourishes like a flower of the field;

16  for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

and its place knows it no more.

17  But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,

and his righteousness to children’s children,

18  to those who keep his covenant

and remember to do his commandments.

19  The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,

and his kingdom rules over all.

20  Bless the Lord, O you his angels,

you mighty ones who do his word,

obeying the voice of his word!

21  Bless the Lord, all his hosts,

his ministers, who do his will!

22  Bless the Lord, all his works,

in all places of his dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

*LET US PRAY

Prayer of Confession and Repentance

O Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God,

the Fountain of life and of immortality,

the Author of all creation,

both visible and invisible,

the Son who is coeternal with the Father and equal with the Father Which has no beginning,

Who through your great goodness

has offered Yourself a sacrifice for us ungrateful and evil-natured men,

and you renewed us with your blood.

Our nature which has become corrupt through sin:

We ask of you to accept us O King Immortal,

Accept our repentance and our sinful self;

We pray that you would incline your ear unto us,

and give heed unto our words:

For we have sinned, O Lord,

We have sinned against heaven and before You,

and we are not worthy to look upon the greatness of your glory.

We have affronted your goodness, in that we have transgressed your commandments,

And we have not obeyed your commands.

But you, O Lord, You are not vengeful,

Rather you are long-suffering and of great mercy,

And you have not delivered us over to destruction for our transgressions.

You who love your elect before the foundation of the World

desire not the death of us sinners,

You don’t desire, to destroy the work of your hands

neither the destruction of the human race,

but that all men should call on you for salvation.

And that they should come to the knowledge of the truth.

Accept us, O Lord,

Who loves his people,

And desires those who society looks down upon.

You who did accept the sinning woman, the thief, the publican, the prodigal son;

take our heavy burden of sin,

You Christ Jesus Who has taken upon yourself the sins of the world,

Who heals human infirmities,

Who calls us to Worship the true and living God,

and gives rest unto those who labour and are heavy laden;

Who did come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.

Purify us from all uncleanness,

both bodily and spiritual,

and teach us to fulfill holiness in the fear and knowledge of you

That we might approach you with a pure conscience,

Through the Blood of your Son and our Savior alone.

In Christ name Amen

Assurance of Pardon Romans 8:31-39

English Standard Version (Chapter 8)

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not, also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 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. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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.

LET US RISE FOR THE SINGING OF GODS WORD

Hymn of Thanksgiving

TPH 105A O Thank the Lord, Declare His Name

to the tune Sagina

LET US PRAY

Congregational Prayer

Lord, teach us to be resigned to your will; teach us to delight in your law;

teach us to have no will but your will;

teach us to understand that everything you do is good and is the very best that can be done.

Help us to leave our concerns in your divine hands, being persuaded that you have sway even over evil; that out of it you bring good,

till your high purposes shall develop in your own perfect glory,

and in the perfect bliss of all those who put their trust in you.

Blanks - Pregnancy

Faulkners - continued success with the state and growth in Godliness individually and as parents.

Vicorys-transition out of the military and new business’s

David Williams -

Sandy F.

Clarissa F.

Pregnancies - that they will come to term and add to the congregation covenant children.

Austin OPC:s

South Austin, Providence (Pflugerville)

Father we Pray for _____________ and we ask for all these things in the powerful, glorious, majestic, and wonderful name of Jesus Christ Amen.

YOU MAY BE SEATED

THE LORD FEEDS US FROM HIS WORD

OLD Testament Reading

TURN IN YOUR COPY OF GODS WORD TO Exodus 3:1-22 3 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. 16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, 17 and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’ 18 And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. 21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, 22 but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”

May the Lord add his Blessing to this reading of His Word

TURN IN YOUR COPY OF GODS WORD TO Acts 6:8-7-60

Hear now the Very Word of God

English Standard Version Chapter 6

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 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. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 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, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 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.” 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Stephen’s Speech

7 And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” 2 And Stephen said:

“Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ 4 Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. 5 Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child. 6 And God spoke to this effect—that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years. 7 ‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’ 8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

9 “And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him 10 and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. 11 Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. 13 And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. 14 And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all. 15 And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers, 16 and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

17 “But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt 18 until there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph. 19 He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, so that they would not be kept alive. 20 At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God’s sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father’s house, 21 and when he was exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. 22 And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.

23 “When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. 25 He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. 26 And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?’ 27 But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 At this retort Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.

30 “Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord: 32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. 33 Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’

35 “This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. 37 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ 38 This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us. 39 Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42 But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:

“ ‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices,

during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?

43  You took up the tent of Moloch

and the star of your god Rephan,

the images that you made to worship;

and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’

44 “Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. 45 Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David, 46 who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47 But it was Solomon who built a house for him. 48 Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,

49  “ ‘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?

50  Did not my hand make all these things?’

51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 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, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

The Stoning of Stephen

54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 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. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 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. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 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.

The Grass withers the Flower Fades But the Word of Our God Will Stand Forever.

HP The Lord Declares the coming of Christ throughout all History.

Verses 6:8-15 God uses his Deacon Stephen to declare his truth.

God is using Stephen to declare his truth not long after he just elected him to the office of Deacon to help the windows that were beign neglected in the daily distribution.

Priests in Jerusalem are coming to faith.

but in Verses 8

Stephen is Full of Grace and power.

Stephen is proclaiming the grace of God.

which is the Gospel.

How God calls men everywhere to repent from their sins and turn to Christ Jesus.

The one who offers this Full Grace.

Becasue brothers and sisters the only Grace that is powerful is the Gospel.

That Christ saves sinners apart from any works that they do.

And Stephen understands this grace and is declairing this grace powerfully to those in Jerusalem around him.

and what are the wonders and signs.

priests are coming to Faith .

Widows are being taken care of.

And the truth that Christ has called these men to this work.

That the Jewish leadership has been negleting.

So verses 9 points out that their is a group that are in the synagogue called Freedmen and that they are from all over Cyrenians, Alexandrians, Cilicia and Asia.

And what is their agenda?

They want to argue or dispute with Stephen.

They want him to quit declaring the Grace of God through Jesus Christ.

They are still in darkness.

they are still enemies of God and they Don’t want to hear of the grace of God.

They want to think that their obedience to the law of God, and man made laws of the Sadducees and Pharisees are going to get them into heaven.

They are the people of God in their minds.

They are the Israel of Deuteronomy 6:4 ““Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”

But the Word of God the Grace of God Could not be withstood.

Verse 10 states these Freedmen couldn’t dispute the wisdom of God.

And the spirit of God that was blessing the Words of God that Stephen is speaking.

So they do what all cheats do when they can’t win the argument.

Well there is many things those who want to deceive others do.

Have you ever been debating with someone the faith?

If your talking to them about mowing the lawn or making dinner they will be reasonable in their logic and conversation with you.

But when you confront them with the truth of Scripture

And the application of the grace of God.

How do unbelievers act?

They act like these men debating with Stephen.

They bend the truth.

They ignore the truth.

They change the subject when their sin is confronted.

These Freedmen are no different.

and what do they do

These Freedman in

Verses 11-14 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 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, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 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.”

These freedman said if your not going to agree with us

we are going to start rumors about you

we are going to stir up trouble with the people.

We are going to plant some false witnesses.

They probably paid them some money to falsify their testimony.

Although the text doesn't say that

Usually sinful men who would lie publically will do and use what ever means they can to accomplish their wickness.

And what did they say about Stephen?

That He speaks against you the religious leaders here in Jerusalem,

That he speaks against the Holy places devoted to the Lord.

He speaks against the Law of God

The very law we are breaking in our communication to you

in lying and deceiving you.

And not only that

But this Stephen said Jesus of Nazareth is going to destroy this place and change the customs that Moses delivered to them.

And what is the counsils reaction to all these accusations against Stephen?

His face looks like the face of an Angel.

well did his face actually look like an Angel?

I don’t believe it actually literally looked like that of and angel.

Remember Men who have met angels in the past fall down before them some times.

and mistake angels for God in the Old testament and the New testament.

Rather I think that he looked as one that was not guilty.

Not someone who is looking away in shame when accused.

Or someone who stammers in their speech when caught in a lie.

Or someone who turns pale in shame or red if they are angry.

So I believe his countenance is one who new the truth and was not concerned with the lies of the Freedman who were sturing up these problems.

And how does Stephen answer the high priest regarding these lies.

Stephen answers these men by declaring the truth of the history of Gods people.

The good the Bad and the ugly.

He is not holding anything back.

And Stephen shows them that their is no hope without Jesus whom their history foretold of.

Lets look at chapter 7 now

Verses 1-53

Where

Verses 7:1-53 God uses Stephen to Declare the History of Gods People.

We see Stephen reference back to

Abraham and the promise of the covenant through Circumcsion

Abrahams decendants will be enslaved.

Abrahams who is the father of Issac and Jacob who is the father of the 12 Patriarchs.

The Patriarchs are jealous over Joseph who they sell as a slave.

But God is with Joseph and uses him to deliver the people of God and Egypt from the famine in the land by making him second in command of all Egypt.

Jospeh makes himself known to his brothers when they come down to Egypt after a little messing with them in his position as a ruler in Egypt. (Expound)

Joseph summons Jacob his father through his brothers and he goes to Egypt with 75 people.

Jacob later dies and is taken back to the tomb that Abraham had bought and is laid to rest.

The promise to Abraham that his descendent would increase is being fulfilled in Egypt. (Gods promises can be trusted and counted on)

Another King arises over Egypt and enslaves the people of God.

And that pharaoh wants to kill all the baby boys if you remember the story in Exodus 1:22

English Standard Version Chapter 1

“Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”

But Moses is saved by Pharaoh’s daughter who adopts him as her own.

Moses becomes a man who is well educated in the way of the Egyptians.

So much so he is not only able to speak well.

But he is a man of Action we see in verse 22

When Moses is 40 years Old he wants to visit the children of Israel whom he came from.

He kills a man defending one of his brothers, thinking he is just, in the taking of the Egyptians life and defending his brother.

And what happened it backfired on Moses and the children of Israel rejected him saying who made you a ruler or judge over us. And asks if he is going to murder him like the Egyptian.

And this 40 year old man goes into Exile ‘But God was gracious to him and he flees to Midian where he Marries and has two Sons.

Next he meets the Lord on Mount Sinai.

In a flame of fire that doesn’t consume a Bush.

Where God declares to Him that he is the God of his fathers.

That this is the great I AM speaking to Moses.

And Moses trembled before the presence of God in this Fiery bush speaking to him.

He takes off his sandels because its Holy ground because God is there.

And God is making himself known to Moses

And God sends him back to Egypt to be a ruler over the people who rejected him in Stephens retelling of these events in verse 34

And here is the Rub that Stephen is getting at

35. Stephen skipped over many things in their History,

But he makes it a point in his sumation of the people of Gods History

That the Jews may be able to trace their lineage to the Abraham.

But what they don’t understand is that the fathers were not delivered because they had deserved it with their godly character.

Jacob the deceiver. Abraham the polygamist. Moses the Murderer.

He telling the Saducces and the Pharisses you are sinners just like your Fathers were.

and it was by Gods grace that your fathers and you will be able to escape harm in this life.

and the Hell Fire that awaits those in the next life if they don’t know Jesus Christ.

And that its not by your belief that you actually keep the law of God.

Because your Father didn’t keep the law.

And you don’t keep the law.

Stephen continues to develop this in his response to these accusations against him.

Stephen says

In Verse 37

English Standard Version (Chapter 7)

37 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ 38 This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us.

Stephen is pointing out to them The one who was raised up was Jesus from among their brothers whom they have killed.

The Tension ought to be high.

And hearts ought to be convicted by this.

And the grace of God and the Law of God was given to your fathers and they thrust the commandments aside these living oracles.

As Stephen puts it in Verse 38.

And what did their Fathers do they had Aaron make them the Golden calf.

They offered sacrifices to this idol they made with their hands.

And God gave them over to this idolatrous worship.

Stephen then quotes Amos chapter 5 in Verses 42-43

English Standard Version Chapter 7

“ ‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices,

during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?

43  You took up the tent of Moloch

and the star of your god Rephan,

the images that you made to worship;

and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’

In verses 44-50 Stephen handles the accusations they made in verses 13-14

This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 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.”

Stephen shows them that God doesn’t dwell in their temple but rather in heaven.

He points out that God didn’t dwell in the tent in the wilderness that moved around.

And Know one built to God a permanent structure on earth until the time of Solomon.

And even then this is not where God rested?

Stephen Quotes Isaiah 66 in verses 49-50

English Standard Version Chapter 7

‘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?

50  Did not my hand make all these things?’

Stephen is saying that God doesn’t dwell in there Holy places and customs.

God is the God of all the universe.

The earth is but his footstool

And heaven is Gods throne.

And despite your attempts to contain God or claim God in your Holy places.

That you are getting upset about Jesus of Nazareth changing.

And the apostles changing.

Is not really a change at all.

God is Jesus the Son whom all the Scriptures pointed to.

Christ is the only mediator between God the Father and men.

It was Christ who condescended to earth and communicated with Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.

It was Christ who met with Moses on Mount Sinai.

It was Christ who you stiff necked people have always rejected because of your sinful nature. Verse 51

And it was Christ the Lord of Glory who you think is tearing things down.

And it is Christ who is rather offering you a glimpse at what his glory and grace really look like through these Words Stephen is communicating to them.

That the God of their Fathers has come in the Flesh and was killed for their sins.

And killed for the sins of all God’s Elect.

And Stephen says in Verse 51 they are stiffnecked and can’t hear the words he is speaking and the voice of the Holy Spirit Why?

Becasue they are uncircumcised in the heart.

They have not yet become the people of the God they are claiming to be.

They really can’t claim Abraham Issac and Jacob as their Fathers in the Faith.

Becasue they have no Faith yet.

And neither do you have Faith church.

If church is but a thing you do on Sunday and if you don’t really kiss the Son.

If you really haven’t been born again.

Stephens message is the message of the Gospel.

That God redeems sinners by his Son.

Not that you earn Gods favor through the things you do.

Those who think they are working their way to heaven by their actions are resisting the Holy Spirit as Stephen puts it.

Stephen puts the nail in their coffin these corpses who call themselves the people of God but deny the power of God in verses 52-53

English Standard Version Chapter 7

52 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, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

Stephen is saying you have never kept the law.

Never will keep the law.

And you cannot keep the law and merit Salvation

SO QUIT PRETENDING YOU DO

YOU CANT BE JUSTIFIED BY IT AND know one ever has been justified by it.

And how does this end for Stephen by proclaiming the truth of God.

The Gospel of God.

It ends like it ended for the Lord Jesus

and so many prophets that have come before Stephen

and after Stephen in his death.

Verses 54-60 God shows his Glory to Stephen at his Death.

English Standard Version Chapter 7

54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 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. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 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. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 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.

What a testimony the very thing that Stephen warned them of from their so callled claimed History about their Fathers is coming true again about them.

They are denying God’s prophet Stephen.

And as they are seizing Stephen to stone him to death.

The Word of God says he was full of the Holy Spirit and gazing into heaven.

He sees Christ standing at the right hand of God the Father.

Stephen beheld something that these men with scales over their eyes had no knowledge of.

no understanding of.

They thought their lineage and their blood line and works would get them into heaven as they murder God’s prophet.

Murder the messenger God sent to witness to them.

And Stephens murders lay their clothing at Saul’s feet the future Apostle Paul the next prophet that would declare the glory of God after his conversion.

And what is Stephens dying thoughts and words?

Stephen cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Stephen prayed for them and their Salvation even as he was laying their bludgeoned by rocks and dying.

Stephen truly was as verse 8 states “full of grace and power”

Full of the Grace of God.

Full of the power of God

Resting in the in the Grace and Power of Christ Jesus who called him in his earthly life.

and kept him

and brought him home to heaven.

Let us pray that this would be our pattern

That Jesus who called us will Keep us and take us home to be with him throughout all eternity.

Let us Pray!

CLOSING PRAYER

Father I pray that today your people have heard you speaking to them this morning.

Help us to apply this in our walk with you and with our brothers and Sisters in Christ And those around us who are unbelievers.

Help us to show the Love of Christ to others in sharing your Word and Gospel Call to Salvation with this lost and this dying world.

Help us to be generous with our abundance with those who are truly in need.

Help us to be witness for you Lord here in Wichita Falls and good disciples.

Help us to have comfort in the knowledge that we will live forever with you.

And help us to look forward to that day when you will say well done you good and faithful servant enter into the rest of your Lord.

And we pray in Jesus Christ name.

Amen

LET US RISE

*Psalm of Response

.TPH #369 Worship Christ the Risen King

WE ARE DISMISSED WITH GOD’S BLESSING

Let us Pray

Father in heaven be with and keep this your people throughout the week.

Father in heaven encourage these your people to discuss with their families the sermon and how they can apply this to the people who they run into through the week.

And father help them through your spirit to have a stronger walk with you and to make this word preached effectual in their lives.

In Christ name

Amen

Closing Hymn TPH 567 Doxology

Praise God from whom all Blessing Flow; praise him all creatures here below; Praise him above ye heavenly host praise Father Son ands Holy Ghost Amen.