A Stick-Necked People (Acts 7:1-53)

Introduction:

Good morning, called-out ones of God. I pray that you all are doing well! It is such a blessing to gather in the house of the Lord on this day. This past week at the T4G conference in Kentucky was (Tommy, Luke, & Philip could attest) a much needed. To learn from pastors who have been pastoring for decades was extremely insightful and eye opening. If you want to hear more about talk to one of us after service.

Well, we have a lot of work to do this morning, so we’re going to dive right in!

Open with me to Acts 7:1-53. I know, that is a whole lot of verses so for the sake of time, I’m not going to read it all. But, I will attempt to guide us through it, emphasizing key verses, trying to comprehend why Stephen said that which he said.

Before we journey through the sermon of Stephen before the council. I find that it would be beneficial to recap who Stephen is and how Stephen was found to be before the council.

In Acts 6, we find that people were being “neglected in the daily distribution” because of the growing numbers of disciples. The Apostles summoned the full number of disciples to pick out and elect seven men of “good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom.” The first man that was chosen was Stephen, “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.”

Fast forward to verses 8-15, Stephen, “full of grace and power” was doing outstanding miracles, wonders, and signs among the people. Men arose to dispute with Stephen, but they could not “withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.” Lies began to be spewed, claiming that he was being blasphemous against Moses and God. These lying and instigating men then seized him and brought him before the council and continued bringing about false witness against him. So, here Stephen is, on trial for opposing Moses and his customs and God and His temple.

With all of the accusations, the high priest (most likely Caiaphas) gives Stephen a chance to explain himself.

With this opportunity, Stephen recounts for the council a brief & condensed story of the history of Israel. This is the longest speech is the book. He begins with the father of Israel (Abraham) in verses 1-8, then he focuses on Joseph and how the Israelites got to Egypt in verse 9-16, then dwells on Moses for a long time in verses 17-44 then he ends with a very short and brief reference to David, Solomon, and the temple in vv.45-50

His take away from his understanding of the Israelite history is found in verses 51-53:

Acts 7:51–53 (ESV)

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 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.”

The accusations against Stephen were that he was speaking against the prophet Moses and against the law of the Lord and also that he was preaching against the Lord and the temple.

As we go through his sermon/speech, we’ll see that it was the complete opposite. It wasn’t Stephen that was against God, it was actually the Israelites who turned their back on the Lord. His sermon/his response was not a defense of himself… but an actual turning of the tables against the Jews. To show that throughout Israel’s history they rejected God’s men. He wanted to turn the tables upon them.

F.F. Bruce said in his commentary on the Book of Acts, “Such a speech as this was by no means calculated to secure an acquittal before the Sanhedrin. It is rather a defense of pure Christianity as God’s appointed way of worship.”’

1.) God and Abraham (vv.2-8)

In verse 2, Stephen begins with a respectable greeting towards the Sanhedrin (“Brothers and Father’s), assuming that they share a faith that is similar and a spiritual heritage that is alike.

Acts 7:2–8 (ESV)

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, and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ 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. 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. 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. ‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’ 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.

The Israelites were charging Stephen with preaching against God and against the temple, the place where God’s glory and presence was linked.

Stephen uses the expression “God of Glory” which can be found in the Septuagint (Greek translation of OT) in Psalm 29:3

Psalm 29:3 (ESV)

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

the Lord, over many waters.

This description of God is magnificent and majestic… The God of Israel who deserves all praise and honor.

Stephen points them to the fact that the “God of Glory” revealed Himself to Abraham (their father) before he even came into the Promised Land.

Abraham was hundreds of miles away from where God would have him be… Abraham was in Mesopotamia, a pagan land, that served pagan gods. Joshua 24:2 says that both Abraham and his father worshiped idols.

It was in this pagan land that the Lord appeared before Abraham. God Himself appeared to Abraham in all of His glory.

In Genesis it says that “God spoke to Abraham...” Stephen clarifies and says… God didn’t just scream from a mountain in the Promised Lane, “Hey Abe, come over here buddy… I have something for you over here. Hurry up!”

Stephen says that God revealed Himself to Abraham right there in Mesopotamia.

This is so important… because God is not limited to a geographical location, in this case, Israel. He is God over the entire world.

God was not entrapped or confined to a plot of land or the temple then… and God is not restrained to the box that we try to place Him in today.

This fact shows us that what Paul says in Acts 17 is true!!!

Acts 17:24 (ESV)

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,

And even more what our Lord Jesus says to the woman at the well in John 4 about what mountain to worship the Father on...

John 4:23–24 (ESV)

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

He is not confined to a temple/church built by human hands or to any specific place… the temple that God resides is those who are born again...

1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV)

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

Stephen understood this… the ones to whom Stephen was speaking focused their attention merely upon the location of worship; not on the heart of worship.

Their bodily location was near to the temple of God, but their hearts were light years away from the person of God.

This first statement shows us that our Lord isn’t bound to a place…

Stott says, “The God of Israel is a pilgrim God, who is not restricted to any one place… If He has any home on earth, it is with His people that He lives.”

Acts 7:3–4 (ESV)

and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ 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.

The Lord commands Abraham to leave EVERYTHING… His family, his friends, possibly his job, etc.

Here’s the kicker, the Lord doesn’t even tell him what country He would have him go. It was to be shown to him.

Abraham acted in faith and obedience to the Lord’s command.

Hebrews 11:8 (ESV)

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Without getting too off topic, this illustration of Abraham reveals to us the Gospel call for us as believers.

The Lord required Abraham to commit everything to Him. To yield himself over to God… To understand the radical nature of following Him

Also, we will see in verse 4, that Abraham gets halfway to the land promised to him and he decides to lodge in Haran until his father passes away.

And God, in His mercy, turns from merely telling to actually moving Abraham.

Acts 7:4 (ESV)

God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living.

We see the kindness of our Lord here, brothers and sisters, out of all the people throughout the earth to come into His promised land, He chose Abraham;

And in that choosing, the Lord stood in front of him directing him and He was behind him giving Abraham a loving push to get him all the way to the land promised unto him.

Acts 7:5 (ESV)

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.

We see another important thing to point out in the calling of Abraham is that Abraham never had an inheritance of the promised land… not even a foot’s length.

Canaan was the land that the Lord promised him and his descendents, yet he never owned a piece of land. Abraham was just passing through.

Hebrews 11:10 (ESV)

For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

Like his pilgrim God, Abraham was a sojourner, owning nothing but the place that he and Sarah were buried. His faith was in the Lord, not the location not in the offspring.

With this, Stephen makes it know that a relationship with God is on the basis of faith and not outward evidences like a temple or religious customs.

To the council, this was a jab at their pride. They resided in the land that God had given them… however it seems that they loved the land more than the One who blessed them with it. They made idols out of the blessings of the temple and the land.

They were too comfortable with that land, they were too comfortable with being in the temple thinking it brought them closer with God… while Abraham’s eyes were fixed on an everlasting city… New Jerusalem… Being a son of Abraham is by faith not family lines!

Galatians 3:7 (ESV)

Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.

With Stephen’s overview of God and Abraham we see that our God is not bound by geographical locations… that the temple is not needed to be in the presence of the Lord. The Lord is the ULTIMATE PROMISE! What good is it to have land and a temple but not have God?

2.) God and Joseph (9-16)

Stephen then moves on to Joseph, one of Abraham’s great grandsons. In these verses, Stephen shows of the twelve sons of Jacob, a similar thing to that of Abraham, that God blessed them though Joseph in Egypt even though all they owned in the Holy Land was the family tomb.

He also shows that Joseph was treated horribly, that he was betrayed, and that he was rejected by his brothers.

Acts 7:9–10 (ESV)

“And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him 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.

Stephen sees Joseph as a type of Christ in that the sons of Israel rejected him yet later would be the only One who could save them.

Joseph’s brothers were envious and jealous of him because the Lord was using him as a mouthpiece to speak to them… even in one case saying that in the future they might honor him as their superior.

This jealousy drove them to sell him into slavery to Egypt. Yet, Stephen say that the Lord God was with Him… What blessing!?

The God that was with Abraham in Mesopotamia was with Joseph in Egypt. The Lord was present with Joseph in his affliction and suffering as a slave in Egypt.

God was with him and God delivered him from imprisonment and slavery. Not only that, but He granted Joseph “favor and wisdom” and He was behind the appointment as governor and over Pharaoh’s household …

Remember, that God’s blessing was revealed to Joseph OUTSIDE of the Promised Land.

A great famine then came and a great suffering occurred both in Egypt and Canaan. But, God was patient and merciful. Though they rejected His word’s from the dreams of Joseph, He used their sin to be the door by which they would be saved.

It was God’s sovereign providence that this occurred the exact way that it occurred. Nothing caught Him off guard. He was ready for it all!

3.) God and Moses (17-44)

The next illustration used by Stephen is Moses. Moses is the one whom God raised up for His oppressed people while there were in Egypt.

Acts 7:20 (ESV)

At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God’s sight.

Moses was well-pleasing to the Lord and “beautiful in God’s sight.” He like Abraham and Joseph were blessed and chosen of the Lord without the temple, the Promised Land, or the religious customs/traditions.

I believe that Stephen uses his overview of Abraham and Joseph to lead up to this point.

Why do I say this?

Well for two reasons....

1.) Moses seemed to be the one the council was most concerned about. Moses was the one that the Lord gave His law through. & the Jews built their entire lives around keeping it to obtain righteousness before God.

Moses was rejected by the Jewish people. This was one of the first things that Stephen says of Moses.

Most of us know the story… Moses was supposed to be of the children that were to be killed by Pharaoh’s order, but his mother sent him down the Nile, where he was found by Pharaoh’s daughter who raised him as her own. He was brought up and instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians.

At forty, it was laid upon his heart to visit his brothers, the enslaved children of Israel. He witnessed one of them being treated wrongly and killed an Egyptian, thinking that this might be the start of the revolt against the Egyptians.

He was smart, qualified to lead, and now he was standing against injustice. He thought it was his time to be their deliverer… but they did not follow him… in fact, they rejected him…

Acts 7:25–28 (ESV)

He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. 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?’ But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’

This caused Moses to flee and go to Midian where he spent the next forty years of his life.

It was here in Midian, where the Lord God appeared to Moses. God appeared to Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia—Gentile territory… and the same is true here for Moses in Midian.

It was in the Midian wilderness that God revealed Himself to Moses through the burning bush and listen to this brothers and sisters.

Acts 7:30–33 (ESV)

“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. When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord: ‘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. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.

This “holy ground” was not Jerusalem. It was in Gentile territory. Yet because God was there, the ground was holy. Emphasizing again that God is not bound to the temple and He is not bound to the Jerusalem.

Stephen was saying: Brothers, you think that you have some sort of hold on the Lord.. that He is only the God of the Jews and not of the Gentiles… this view that you have is sinful and it is very dangerous.

Our God is a God of all peoples, of all nations, and of all tribes. We are to be witnesses of these truths!

William Cowper writes in his hymn:

“Jesus, where’er thy people meet,

There they behold thy mercy seat;

Where’er they seek thee, thou are found,

And every place is hallowed ground”

He is a God that is everywhere and a God for everyone who seeks Him.

As we continue through Stephen’s story of Moses, he shows us that even after he led them out of Egypt, even after he delivered them from slavery, they they still rejected him.

He was on a mountain, receiving the law of God—the exact law that the council prided themselves in and accused Stephen of blaspheming—the Israelites were down In the valley breaking it.

Acts 7:39–41 (ESV)

Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, 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.’ And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands.

Yet in all this disobedience and impatience, the Lord remains faithful and steadfast with His people.

So the first reason Stephen dwells on Moses a good amount is that Moses is who the Council seemed most concerned about.

2.) Jesus is revealed throughout the NT, specifically Matthew, as the Second Moses. In Acts 7:37

Acts 7:37 (ESV)

This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’

This prophet that Moses spoke about was none other than the Lord Jesus. (DT 18:15)

Listen to some of these parallels between the Lord Jesus & Moses.

1.) During the time of Moses, Pharaoh ordered a mass killing of all the Hebrew babies under 2. During Jesus’ time, Herod ordered the same.

2.) Moses came up out of Egypt to redeem his people. Jesus, though born in Bethlehem, fled with His family to Egypt. And Jesus too, came up out of Egypt to redeem His people.

3.) Moses taught the law from Mount Sinai. Jesus taught His sermon from a mount.

4.) Moses was in the wilderness of for forty years, Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days.

4.) Moses brought the Israelites out of slavery from Egypt. Jesus brings His people out of Spiritual slavery to sin and death.

5.) Moses was rejected but brought salvation to people. Jesus was and is rejected yet He brings salvation to His people.

The list goes on and on. I would suggest reading the Gospel of Matthew and looking for these similarities.

I believe it’ll be refreshing to your soul!! To see that God is always working, that He is all-wise, and that He fulfills His promises. He said that a Prophet like Moses would come … & that Prophet came and His name is Christ Jesus.

Moses is viewed as one of the greatest prophets of the OT but Jesus is the GREATER PROPHET. Jesus is the GREATER ADAM, GREATER NOAH, GREATER ABRAHAM, ISSAC, JACOB, JOSEPH, JOSHUA, MOSES

HE IS GREATER THAN THEN ALL! ALL OF SCRIPTURE IS POINTING TO JESUS… JESUS IS THE SCARLET CORD THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF SCRIPTURE.

As just as we’ve seen through Stephen’s sermon… All of patriarchs that these men looked up (Abraham, Joseph, Moses) were all called and blessed before they were in the Promised Land and before there was a temple and two were rejected by Israel even though salvation came through them…

This all leads to verses 51-53… there was probably some uproar from the council causing Stephen to conclude with his ending statement.

Tabernacle (Acts 7:46-49)

Up until now Stephen has been talking about individuals, here he turns to talk about the tabernacle.

The tabernacle was the portable temple the Israelites carried with them in the wilderness. It came with them into the Promised Land and remained up until David’s day.

David asked to build the temple for the Lord, but God said that Solomon would build it.

The temple of Herod was the glory of Jerusalem in this time. It was covered with gold and caught everyone’s eyes.

Stephen compares the tabernacle that traveled and the great and magnificent temple of Herod.

God could be found in both… God is not confined to a specific place!

He quotes Isaiah 66

Isaiah 66:1–2 (ESV)

Thus says the Lord:

“Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

I believe Stephen was saying… brothers, the temple is good… but one day it’ll pass away. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Real Temple.

Jesus said:

John 2:19 (ESV)

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

Jesus is the temple.. because He is the Only Way to the Father. In Him, we have access to God the Father.

His purpose, i think, was to emphasize that God is not just God of the Jews only but of the gentiles too.

This speaks volumes to us as well… Friends, do not think that just because you’re here in a church building that you have God. You must have Christ!

Going to the temple then and coming to church now does not guarantee you a spot in heaven. You have to trust in Christ! You have to abide in Christ! He is the True Tabernacle and He is the True Temple.

Ending Statement

Acts 7:51–53 (ESV)

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 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.”

Throughout all of Israel’s history, RESISTANCE & REJECTION seemed to be the main theme. Joseph was sold into Egypt by his brothers (patriarchs) (v.9), Moses was shoved aside by the Israelites before the exodus and after (vv.27-28, 35, 39), and God was rejected by the Israelites who worshiped idols (vv.40-43).

Stephen now accuses the council of being the same way… “stiff-necked people and uncircumcised in heart and ears” … this is an echo of the Lord in the wilderness of the people of Israel…

Exodus 32:9-10 right after the Golden Calf

Exodus 32:9 (ESV)

And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people.

Exodus 33:3 (ESV)

Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”

Exodus 33:5 (ESV)

For the Lord had said to Moses, “Say to the people of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people; if for a single moment I should go up among you, I would consume you.

About 20 times in the OT the people of Israel are called stiff-necked… Stephen is pointing out to the religious leaders that not much has changed… they are still acting as their forefathers acted.

To be stiff-necked is to be obstinate and difficult to lead.

The term was originally used to describe an ox that refused to be directed by the farmer’s ox goad. When a farmer harnessed a team of oxen to a plow, he directed them by poking them lightly with a sharp spike on the heels or the neck to make them pick up speed or turn. An ox that refused to be directed in such a way by the farmer was referred to as “stiff-necked.” A stiff-necked animal (or person) refuses to turn the head in order to take a different path.

A stiff-neck is the exact same as a hard heart.

He went on and said they are “uncircumcised in heart and ear” as well…

This statement probably enraged the religious leaders… Circumcision was EVERYTHING to them.

Calvin states: “Therefore, when he calleth them uncircumcised in heart, he doth not only mean that they are rebellious against God and stubborn, but that they were found treacherous and covenant-breakers, even in that sign whereof they did so greatly boast; and so he turneth that back most fitly to their shame, whereof they made boast to their glory.”

“Members of the Sanhedrin, your circumcision is null and void before God… and in your heart, you are no more closer to Him than an uncircumcised pagan. By name you are a Jew and physically you are circumcised, but in your heart you are but a heathen… ”

Stephen’s making a humongous claim here by saying what he’s saying… the Greek could translate it as “still uncircumcised” which means that the covenant that God made with Abraham in Acts 7:8 has not actually done what it was meant to do.

What good is it to be circumcised physically if your heart is still wicked… and this uncircumcision of heart leads to and uncircumcision of ears… they don’t want to hear God’s word…

Jeremiah 6:10 (ESV)

To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold, the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it.

There were deaf to the voice of God, they didn’t want to listen, their ears we uncircumcised.

And they were resisting the Holy Spirit. This resisting of the Holy Spirit is something that is done continuously.

This resistance of the Spirit alludes to the Prophet Isaiah

Isaiah 63:10 (ESV)

But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them.

In the context of this passage (63:7-14), Isaiah recounts all the gracious works of the Lord, who became Israel’s Savior.

Isaiah 63:9 (ESV)

In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

However, again, they resisted just as their fathers did.

As humans, our natural inclination is to resist the Holy Spirit. There is something within us that wages war against the things of God.

As a bank robber runs and flees from the cops, we run and flee from the Lord.

The religious leaders resisted the Holy Spirit, resisted the God that they claimed to believe in.

This resistance then led to this:

Acts 7:52 (ESV)

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,”

“As your forefathers did killing the prophets prophesying of the Righteous One to come… so you have done. “

As the Lord came to Elijah in the cave:

1 Kings 19:10 (ESV)

He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”

Nehemiah 9:26 (ESV)

“Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies.

Jesus in Luke 11 says this

Luke 11:47–51 (ESV)

Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs. Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation.

And later in chapter 13

Luke 13:34 (ESV)

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

The Righteous One that Stephen is speaking about is Jesus. He states that Jesus was completely innocent and free of guilt…

Yet, the Jewish leaders have betrayed and murdered Him. They are betrayers of the Messiah. They conducted a false mockery of a trial, accusing Christ of things He was innocent of, and they demanded of Pilate His head. They are the “murderers” of Jesus.

Conclusion:

Now, you might be thinking to yourself, how in the world could these Jewish leaders blame and murder Jesus, the Righteous One? Why, after knowing all of this history, do they continuously harden their hearts and resist the Holy Spirit?

I would venture to say, the same reason you do. I plead with you right now as Stephen pled with them… Stop resisting the Holy Spirit. Please! Stop resisting Him. Stop grieving Him.

The Lord is a God that is “slow to anger & abounding in steadfast love, showing faithfulness to thousands and forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.”

If you’re still alive and you can still repent, He is still pursuing you.

Please don’t be like these religious leaders, who attempted to find their righteousness and fulfilment from what they could do, their achievements, their temple, or their land.

We are a church that believes, that loves, and that clings to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, sadly there are many that do not, & we will preach this message from the pulpit every Sunday… You must be born again! You must be born again! You must!

Your family line cannot save you. The school that you attend cannot save you. You sitting a church pew and singing on the choir for 50+ years cannot save you. YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN.

If the Lord is tugging on your heart this morning… I BEG you and PLEAD with you!!! Do not resist the Spirit!!! RUN TO JESUS! TRUST IN JESUS! PUT YOUR FAITH IN JESUS! He is the ONLY ONE WHO CAN SAVE YOU.

To the one that is born again in here, do not take your eyes off of Jesus. Do not allow Gospel to become ordinary to you! Seek the Lord daily and ask Him to produce in you holiness! Pursue righteousness because you are a child of the Righteous One. Do not settle! Rejoice in the “God of Glory” who is among us!

Let us pray with the hymn writer:

“Search me, o God, and know my heart today;

Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray.

See if there be some wicked way in me;

Cleanse me from ev’ry sin and set me free.

“I praise thee, Lord, for cleansing me from sin;

Fulfill thy Word, and make me pure within.

Fill me with fire where once I burned with shame;

Grant my desire to magnify thy name.

Lord, take my life and make it wholly thine;

Fill my poor heart with thy great love divine.

Take all my will, my passion, self, and pride;

I now surrender; Lord, in me abide.”

Romans 11:33–36 (ESV)

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.