This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Truth Is The Light", 10/21/2012

THE TRUTH IS THE LIGHT

Acts 8:9-24

 

STUDY THE WORD SO YOU WANT BE DECIEVED

V:9. "But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one."

 A. In this life, you will always find people who will use the Word of God for their

     personal gain.

    1. They have the ability to persuade others to believe in them and their objectives.

    2. They will deceive people by any means necessary to gain their favor.

    3. They do not speak the truth, but that which sounds like the truth.

 B. Simon was a man who held himself to be great.

   1. He loved the spot light.

   2. He used tricks and magic to convince people of his power.

C. He made a life for himself by deceiving others.

   1. The texts says "before time" he held the attention and the esteem of people with

        his tricks.

   2. Some Biblical Historians say he claimed to be God or come down from God.

D. Satan is the great deceiver and he works through men like Simon.

   1. He came to pervert the Gospel and to lead people away from God.

   2. Greed is a tool Satan uses to draw men into his work and deceive others.

   3. Greed is an attitude that lifts you up for a quick fall.

   4. Simon was a man driven by greed devoid of any truth.

 

V:10. "To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God."

 A. When people are hungry for the Word and don't know the Word, they can easily be

      mislead.

    1. The Samaritans were looking for a Word from God.

        a. They worshipped God in their way. John 4:5-39

    2. They were amazed by Simon's magical tricks that they thought showed the power

         of God.

    3. Satan disguises himself as an angel of light to gain and hold the attention of man.

    4. Absent of the Word, Satan can fool the most knowledgeable person.

 B. The Samaritans had some good qualities.

    1. They were ready to hear the Word from a good teacher.

    2. They were looking for some one to lead them to God.

    3. They attached themselves to the one who claimed to have the power of God.

    4. They were teachable.

    5. They could easily be led.

    6. Their hearts were ripe for the Light.

 

V:11. "And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries."

 A. People in the dark  about the true and living God will continue in the dark without

     a godly teacher.

    1. Some people don't know they are in the dark.

    2. Some folk will trust anyone who seems creditable.

 B. Without the Word, we will fall prey to every trick and deception of man.

    1. Without the Word, all we know is what we are taught by man.

    2. The Word of God is the TRUTH and those who teach must do it with love and

        unselfish motives.

 

GOD'S PEOPLE NEED A GOOD PREACHER

V:12. "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women."

 A. God will send a preacher when the people are ready to receive Him.

     1. God will not leave His people without a preacher.

     2. Philip came preaching the Kingdom of God.

     3. Philip came preaching the name of Jesus Christ.

 B. False teaching is easily exposed when the truth about Jesus Christ is preached.

    1. When they heard the "Word" they believed.

        a. When they heard the "Word" they abandon their false teacher.

    2. When they heard the "Word" they were baptized.

        a. Their baptism was an outward sign that they belong to Christ.  2 Cor 5:17

        b. Their baptism was an outward sign that they were new creations in Christ

            Jesus.

        c. Their baptism was an outward sign of their relationship with Jesus Christ.

 C. God is no respecter of gender.

     1. Men and women were baptized.

     2. We are all equal in the body of Christ.

     3. Every man or woman  in the body of Christ has position, responsibilities, duties

         and obligations.

     4. Every man and woman in the body of Christ is expected to be good stewards of

         the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  1 Th 2:4

 

THE DEVIL IS IN THE CHURCH

V:13. "Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done."

 A. Satan knows how to play religion.

     1. He knows Christ.

     2. He knows the Word, because he knows how to pervert the Word.

 B. He believed that Philip was teaching the Word of God.

     1. He believed that the miracles and sign were a display of the power of God.

 C. Simon the deceiver, allowed himself to baptized to gain access to God's people.

     1. Satan will never give up on you, he just changes his face to gain your confidence.

     2. Satan will join your Church to look for a way to mess you up in the Church.

     3. Satan can't stop you from going to Church, but he can sit next to you to prevent

         you from enjoying the Church.

 

V:14. "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John."

 A. Jerusalem was the center of the religious state of the Jews.

     1. The Church got it's start in Jerusalem.

     2. Prior to the death and resurrection of Jesus in Jerusalem, the Jews had no dealing

         with the Samaritans.

     3. It was necessary for God to send His apostles, the leaders of the Church in

         Jerusalem to confirm the new converts and to welcome them in the Church.

 B. Satan uses any controversy in the Church to cause divisions.

     1. Simon joined the church for the purpose of regaining his influence over the

         people he lost to the Church.

     2. God sent His apostles to unify the Church in Jerusalem with the Church in

         Samaria.

 C. When the apostles heard that Samaria believed in Christ, they came to stand with

      Philip and confirm his testimony about Jesus Christ.

     1. God knows what we need and when we need it.

     2. God always has His eye on His people.

     3. The devil had already placed himself in the Church that was growing under

         Philip.

        a. Without additional teaching from the Apostles, he could perhaps find a way

            to disrupt the Church.

        b. The study of God's Word is the only way to drive Satan away. James 4:7

 

THE HOLY GHOST EMPOWERS THE CHURCH

V:15. "Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost."

 A. We must remember that at this point in time the Church was in it's infant stage.

      1. The power and the working of the Holy Ghost were not fully known.

      2. We believe that we receive the Holy Ghost upon our confession of faith.

      3. In this case the Holy Ghost was not given to the new believers until the apostles

          came from Jerusalem.

      4. This may have been God's way of showing the power and authority given the

           apostles to make disciples. Matt 28:19

      5. Philip baptized in the name of Jesus.  Peter and John baptized in the name

          of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost.

 B. Prayer is an important part of the life of the believer.

     1. New life in Jesus begin in prayer.

     2. Confession of faith is the believers first prayer to Jesus.

     3. What we need from the Lord can be obtained by prayer in the name of Jesus.

 

V:16. "(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)"

 A. God delayed the giving of the Holy Ghost until the coming of the Apostles.

     1. Preaching powers were given to the Apostles.

     2. The authority to make disciples and baptism in the name of the Father, Son

          the Holy Ghost were given to  the Apostles.  Matt 28:19

        a. Jesus gave Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven.  Mat 16: 13-20

        b. Peter had the authority to accept others into the faith.

 B. The apostles brought unity between the Samaritans and the Jews to prevent

      the traditional hostility between the two from being stirred up in the Church.

 

V:17. "Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost."

 A. The laying on of hands represents the anointing of the Lord.

 B. Receiving the Holy Ghost is personal.

 C. Each believer receives a personal anointing from the Lord.

 E. It is the job of the Pastor to welcome and introduce new believers in the Church.

 

THE GIFT OF GOD CANNOT BE PURCHASED

V:18. "And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money."

 A. You can't buy salvation.

     1. You can't buy the Holy Ghost.

         a. The Holy Ghost is God.

         b. Each believer is baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire.  Mat. 3:11

 B. Simon, Satan's advocate thought he could buy the power of God.

    1. Simon had made his living deceiving people that he had God's power.

    2. Seeing that the Holy Ghost powered the Church, he thought he would buy

        some to add to his bag of tricks.

    3. Satan was up to his normal activities.

        a. Satan tried to buy Jesus at the start of His ministry.  Matt 4:4-9

 C. A man without Jesus, thinks power and prestige is the way to success. 

     1. A man without Jesus relies on his money, his strength, his education and

         his connections.

     2. A man without Jesus is blinded by what he has.

     3. A man without Jesus is doomed to the pit of hell.

 

IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU

V:19. "Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost."

 A. Church is not all about us, it is about God.

     1. Church is not about what I can do, but what God can do through me.

 B.  The Holy Ghost is not given so we get the glory, but that God gets the glory.

 C. Simon had it all wrong.

     1. The apostles didn't give power. Power came from God.

         a. God used the apostles as the ministers of His power.

         b. God empowers us with the Holy Ghost to serve Him.

         c. Every believer is a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

     2. Simon wanted to do false ministry by himself for himself.

         a. We can do nothing without God. John 5:30

     3. Simon was selfish. The Minister of God must be unselfish.

        a. Simon was puffed up. The Minister of God must be humble.

 

V:20. "But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money."

 A. Simon attached himself to Peter, because He thought Peter had the power.

      1. Sometimes folk will show up at you door to see what you are doing for the Lord.

      2. Sometimes folk want what you got with the Lord without serving the Lord.

      3. Not everybody that shows up is for God or for you.

 B. A minister of God must tell people the truth.

    1. The minister of God must tell people the consequences of their actions.

    2. Peter told Simon that because he relied on your money, he would perish with his

        money.

 C. The Holy Spirit is a gift from God. It cannot be purchased.

     1. Simon thought that he could buy the Holy Spirit for his personal use.

     2. The Holy Spirit is given to believers to serve God.

     3 . The Holy Spirit is not given to the world. John 14:17

 

WE MUST SEEK A CLEAN HEART

V:21. "Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God."

 A. Out of the heart flows the issues of life.

     1. Simon had a heart issue.

     2. Simon had a heart for the world. He did not have a heart for God.

 B. Simon could play no part in the salvation of God because he had a heart controlled

     by Satan.

 C. Jesus died to redeem man from his sins.

     1. Simon did not understand this fact.

     2. The Holy Ghost is the power of the Church to move the Gospel of Jesus Christ to

          the end of the earth so all mankind can have the opportunity to be

          redeemed.      1John 4:14

     3. Simon wanted to hinder the mission of God for his own self interest.

 D. Whatever we do, we must do for God in the name of Jesus Christ.

     1. As Jesus was not of this world, we must have a heart that is not of this world.

 

V:22. "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee."

 A. God give us a way out of our sins.

      1. The first thing we must recognize is that we are wicked.

      2. Second, we must Repent. Turn around and follow God.

      3. Third, we must pray. Ask God to forgive us for our sins.

      4. Forth, we must humble ourselves before the Lord, knowing that it is His

          grace that covers us.

 B. We need a clean heart to serve God.

     1. Only the blood of Jesus can cleanse us of all unrighteousness.

   

V:23. "For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity."

 A. Any person without Jesus as their savior is bound by Satan.

     1. Sin may seem like fun today, but it is a bitter pill on judgment day.

     2. Only Jesus can save us from the penalty of our sins.

 B. As a mother is concerned about the welfare of her children, a believer

      ought to be concerned about the salvation of unbelievers.

    1. We are God's ministers of reconciliation. 2 Cor 5:18.

    2. We are the light of the world. John 8:1

 

A DUTY TO PRAY

V:24. "Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me."

 A. Our constant focus should be our eternal life with the Father,

     1. Simon was not concerned about salvation. He was only concerned about the

         wrath of God.

     2. Simon was only concerned about living in this present age.

        a. He was not concerned about heaven.

        b. The believers hope is heaven. His focus should always be heavenly bound.

 B. We have to take responsibility for ourselves.

     1. Each of us must pray and ask God to forgive us of our sins.  1John 1:9

        a. Simon wanted someone else to do his praying.

        b. It's alright to ask others to pray for us.

        c. Communications with God in prayer is an individual responsibility.

Tell Them The Truth

TELL THEM THE TRUTH

 

Acts 7:51-8:1

 

V.7:51. "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye."

 Definitions

  1. Stiffnecked= skleerotacheelon=stubborn, headstrong, obstinate

  2. uncircumcised in heart and ears =aperitomeetoi tee kardia kai tois oosi=whose

      heart and ears are covered, whose soul and senses are closed to divine admonitions.

 A. Sometimes people need to the know the truth about their attitude.

    1. The truth sometimes has to be presented in harsh terms.

    2. Stephen gave his accusers, the unbelieving Church members a history of the

        Salvation that they rejected.

    3. Jesus came to save them from their sins, yet they rejected His words.

    4. They studied the Word, yet did not live by the Word.

    5. These men held tightly to their traditional teaching.

        a. Their traditional teaching pointed to Jesus Christ who they rejected.

        b. It was not Stephen they were persecuting, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

B. By studying the Word of God, they had a taste of the Holy Ghost.

    1. The Word was given by divine inspiration.

    2. These men were made stewards of God's Word.

    3. By rejecting the Word of God, they rejected the divine inspiration that was

        powered by the Holy Ghost.

C. "As your fathers did, so do you."

    1. Some behavior is learned.

    2. Some behavior and beliefs are passed on to our children.

    3. Good or bad, what we do and believe affects our children.

D. Jesus came to change our bad beliefs and behavior to the righteousness of God.

    1. Our light shines by the degree that we live according to God's commands.

 

V:52. "Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers."

A. In an effort to show our unfaithfulness, God has to remind us of our past behavior.

   1. If we grew up believing what we were taught, we are likely to treat others

       according to our teaching.

   2. If we were taught wrong, we will act wrong.

       a. Some don't know  what they believe is wrong, until the truth is presented to

           them.

       b. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

B. When we disobey God's commands, we sin against God.

   1. The Jews hated anyone who pointed out their unfaithfulness.

   2. You can't love God and hate His Son.

   3. You can't love the Son and hate His Word.

   4. Our disobedience shows our hatred for His Word.

   5. We slay the Spirit of God in our hearts with our disobedience to the Word.

C. Stephen spent his last hours teaching the Word of God.

    1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not always accepted when it is preached.

    2. Trouble sometimes follows the messengers of God.

 

V:53. "Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it." 

 A. Throughout Biblical history, God has used angels to present his Word to man.

     1. Angels were present during the giving of the Law to Moses. Due 33:3

     2. The Jews were not able to keep the Law, but hated the one who fulfilled all the

          requirements of the Law on their behalf.

     3. They believed in angels but would not believe in Jesus the creator of angels.

     4. They believed in the Law, but would not believe in Jesus the author of the Law.

 B. We believe what we want to believe.

     1. We can only believe in the Word by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

     2. If we reject the divine inspiration, you reject the divine God.

 

V:54. "When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth."

 A.  The Word of God is a two edged sword; it convicts and it inspires.

      1. It condemns those who reject it and inspires those who accept it.

      2. Its makes you angry if you reject it and it gives you joy when you accept it.

      3. It troubles you when you reject it and it gives you peace when you accept it.

 B. The heart is affected by the Word of God.

     1. The thoughts of man originate and are cultivated in the heart.

     2. The actions of man are the results of what is cultivated in the heart.

     3. Out of the heart flows the issues of life.

 C. If we don't get an understanding of the issues, we are likely to make wrong

      decisions.

     1. We need to understand what the most important issue of life is.

     2. The apostle Paul said, " I determine to know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him

         crucified."  1 Cor 2:2

  D. Stephen understood the main issue of life.

     1. Stephen preached Jesus Christ, the salvation of man.

     2. Those who opposed Stephen didn't understand the main issue.

     3. Those who reject Jesus don't see Him as the main issue of life.

     4. Those who reject Jesus see the world and all it's glories as their main issues.

  E. The unregenerate man does not want to see himself in the mirror as he really is.

      1. They gnashed their teeth when they heard the truth about themselves.

V:55. "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God."

A. The Holy Ghost is our power to stand on God's Word in the face of adversity.

    1. When your focus is on God, you see heaven rather than your circumstance.

    2. When you trust God, you don't worry about the outcome.

        a. Wheather you worry about the outcome or not, God is in control.

B. "Full" = pleres= covered over. complete

    1. "Looked up steadfastly"=atenizo= fasten eyes, set eyes

    2. When you are covered by the Holy Ghost, your mind is set on heaven.

    3. When your mind is fixed on heaven, you are not worried about the outcome

         of your circumstance, because  your goal is heaven.

    4. When you are covered by the Holy Ghost, heaven is assured.

C. When you are covered by the Holy Ghost, Jesus is standing ready to receive you.

    1. Your situation may look bad, but Jesus is your intercessor.

    2. Your situation may not turn out the way you want, but it will turn out the way

        Jesus planned it.

    3. When you are covered by the Holy Ghost, your situation will turn out for your

        good.

 

V:56. "And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."

 A. Death can come at any time.

     1. Longevity is not promised to us.

     2. What you want to keep in focus at all times is Heaven is open to you.

     3. Tomorrow is not promise, but you want to keep in focus Jesus standing at the

          right hand of God.

 B. You were born to die and you will die.

     1. Death is not the end because a glorious life begins in heaven with Christ.

     2. Stephen said, "I see."

         a. It doesn't make a difference what others see.

         b. You must see heaven as you golden opportunity.

         c. Only a person in Christ can see heaven open.

         d. Only a person in Christ can see Him standing at the right hand of the Father.

 C. The question is; can you see Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father?

 

V:57. "Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord."

 A. There is a situation that God want let you out of.

     1. You can't run from death.

     2. Life will eventually take it's toll on you.

 B. The world does not want to hear the Word of God.

     1. When you stand on God's Word, you run the risk of being run down by

          an angry mob.

     2. The world can't do any more than God allows.

 

V:58. "And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul."

 A. God allows bad things to happen to good people.

     1. God allows bad things to happen to His people.

 B. False witnesses will stand silent while injustice is being carried out.

     1. The world is full of unjust people who for their own profit will allow the

          innocent to suffer.

     2. We must always remember that God is in control of the Good and the bad.

     3. God never takes His eyes off of His people.

C. In the mist of injustice, there is somebody who will benefit from your testimony.

    1. Saul who later became the Apostle Paul was a perpetrator of the injustice.

    2. God will use your situation to give Himself the glory and push the Gospel to

        greater heights.

 

V:59. "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

 A.  On our dying bed, we got one prayer, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit".

     1. Stephen recognized that there are three parts to a man; a body, a soul and a spirit.

     2. Stephen recognized that you can kill the body, but you can't kill the spirit.

     3. Absent from the body, present with the Lord.

B. In all situations, we ought to call on God.

     1. With God no situation is hopeless.

     2. With God all situations works for the good of believers.

C. The greatest testimony we can have is our trust in the Lord.

     1. Our trust in Jesus has a powerful effect on those around us.

     2. You never know how your testimony will benefit others.

 

V:60. "And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep."

 A. A humble spirit is an important attitude of a believer.

      1. He kneeled downed before the Lord while injustice was done.

 B. Prayer is an important part of the life of a believer.

     1. Stephen continued his prayer in the mist of adversity.

 C. Forgiveness is an important attitude of a believer.

     1. We ought to be able to forgive the worst of the worst.

     2. Our prayers should not be selfish.

         a. Our prayers ought to consider the ignorance of others.

         b. We ought to be concerned about the salvation of the worst criminals.

 D. Notice, they did not kill Stephen, he fell a sleep.

    1. Only God can end a life on earth.

    2. Nobody can take your life. Only God can end life here and begin life new in

        Heaven.

 

V:8:1. "And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles."

A. The church of Jesus Christ began in persecution.

    1. The persecution of the Saints caused the spread of the Gospel outside of

        Jerusalem.

    2. Jesus had given the apostles the great commission to take the Gospel to the ends

        of the earth. Mark 13:9-10

B. Sometimes God has to allow us to face adversity to force us in the right direction.

    1. We have to be careful that we do get to comfortable in our progress in the Church.

    2. God does not want us to be at a standstill.

    3. All our life we ought to be growing in the Spirit.

    4. As long as we have breath, we should serve God in some capacity.

C. Sometimes God has to break up the cliques to get us moving in the right direction.

   1. Our testimony is needed every where we go.

   2. Somebody somewhere has not heard the Gospel.

   3. Everywhere we go is an opportunity to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Servanthood, Character, Commitment And Service", 10/7/2012

SERVANTHOOD:  CHARACTER, COMMIMENT AND SERVICE

 ACT 6:8-7:2

THE SELECTION OF A SERVANT

The early church chose it first deacons to serve the needs of the members. The qualifications are given in verses 6:3 and 6:5. Stephen was one of the men chosen.

From the life of Stephen, we can learn what it takes to be a servant of God.

V.6:3. "Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business."

  A. The men were chosen to serve tables, diakonein trapezais (verse 2). We get the

       word deacon.

      1. They were chosen to serve the needs of the poor, widows and orphans.

      2. All of God's elect are chosen to the office of serving others.

  B. Jesus was the chief Deacon of the Church. He said, "I did not come to be served

       but to serve; diakonethenai alla diakonesai."  Mat 20:28

      1. This position of serving others is an honor and a privilege from God.

      2. Jesus honored us with His service, therefore we ought to honor others

          with our service.    

V.6:5. "And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch."

  A. Faith is necessary for successful service.

  B. The Spirit empowers the service.

 

V.6:6. "Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them."

  A. The work of service should not begin without prayer and the anointing of God.

      1. God loves our prayers and answers them according to His Will.

      2. After the nomination, the Pastor has the responsibility of approving and

          ordaining deacons. V.3

 

THE CHARACTER OF A SERVANT

V.6:8. "And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people."

 A. Stephen was a deacon (recent appointment).  His job was to wait tables. He was a 

      distributor of the Church Charity.

     1. He took a low position and then magnified his service to glorify the Father.

     2. There is no greater position than to serve others.

 B. Verses 3,5, and 6 gives us the qualities of a good servant.

     1. He was available.

     2. He was willing.

     3. Throughout the community, he had a good reputation.

     4. He was full of wisdom.

     5. He was full of the Holy Ghost.

     6. He was full of faith (pistis= moral convictions, reliance on Christ). V.5

         a. His faith left no room for unbelief.

         b. His faith left room for Divine Grace.

 C. He was full of faith (charis = grace, divine influence upon the heart).

      1. He was full of divine power.

      2. It takes the grace of God to engage Divine Power.

 

THE COMMITMENT OF A SERVANT 

D. "He did great wonders and miracles among the people."

       1. He was chosen to serve bread to the poor widows.

       2. His compassion for those he served expanded his service to great wonders and

           miracles.

      a. He did more than what he was assigned to do.

      b. He allowed God to use his service for greater works.

      c. Those who serve faithfully will always find more work to be done.

      d. Those who serve must rely on God to empower their work.

      e. We can never know what effect we can have unless we get involved.

 

V:9. "Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen."

 A. Stephen expanded his position of Deacon into teaching the Word of God.

     1. When God calls us, He calls us to use all our gifts.

     2. The teaching of Stephen was effective because he aroused the attention of many

          men.

     3. Men from three different continents joined in the discussion with Stephen.

        a. The Libertine may have been from Rome. The Cyrenians and the Alexandrians

            were from North Africa. The Cilicians were from Asia.

        b. The preached Word reaches far and wide.

        c. Those religious folk who have no faith in Jesus will oppose the preaching of the

            Gospel.

        d. Sometimes it's our education that blocks the light of Jesus.

        e. We can be exposed to the same information and interpret it differently.

        f. Only the Holy Spirit can give you the correct interpretation of God's Word.

           John 14:26, John 16:13

        g. Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. Those who opposed the Word lacked the

            Spirit.  John 14:17

            i. Those who lack the Spirit will not understand the Word of God. 1 Cor 2:14

               

THE EFECT OF A SERVANT

V:10. "And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake."

  A. Stephen knew the Word.

     1. Stephen believed the Word.

     2. Stephen was not afraid to be opposed by His teaching.

     3. Stephen taught with the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

 B. Wisdom comes from the study of God's Word.  1 Cor 2:12

    1. Knowledge comes from the inspiration of the Word by the Holy Spirit.

    2. Conviction comes from faith in God's Word.

    3. Boldness comes from applying God's Word and leaving the outcome to God.

C. When teaching God's Word, you must stand on your beliefs regardless of the

      opposition.

    1. You must never compromise the Word to gain agreement.

    2. The Spirit of God will guide your teaching.

    3. The Spirit is more powerful than the greatest argument.

    4. The Spirit will guide your conversation so that it answers the needs of the

        audience.

        a. Even those who oppose you will benefit from the Word because they have to 

            defend their position.   

 

THE AFFICTIONS OF A SERVANT

V:11. "Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God."

 A. Suborned = hupoballo= to procure a person to make a false statement, to pay false

      witnesses.

    1. When men cannot convince you of their way of thinking, they can become

         violent.

       a. The ruling Jews paid men to make false statements against Jesus.

       b. The Church is propelled by the adversity of the world.

           i. Judas was paid to betray Jesus.

    2. God does not always save us from adversity, but He blesses us in adversity.

      a. God uses our faithfulness in adversity to bless others.

      b. Adversity is a test of our faith in God.

      c. Adversity is a test of our love for God.

 B. If you have to pay someone to support your position, then your position is suspect.

    1. If your position is based on the truth, it does not need outside help.

    2. Lies are the result of an impure heart.

 C. An eyewitness to the truth is better than hearsay.

     1. Accusations should be specific and not general.

     2. Those who accuse you from what they "heard", don't really know you.

     3. People are quick to believe something negative about someone without verifying

         it.

 V:12. "And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council."

 A. Misery loves company.

     1. If you can get others to believe what you believe, it confirms your position to

         you; right or wrong.

 B. These Jews used the Law of Righteousness to support their unrighteousness.

      1. A man could be put to death by two or three witnesses. Duet 17:6

      2. It is funny that we will use the Bible to support what we want, but we want use

          the

          Bible to convict us of our sins.

      3. They used the Word, applied wrongly, to accuse a man.

      4. They used the Word to support their lies, but couldn't remember "thou shall not

          lie".

 C. The mission of God draws adversity, but mission can't be stopped.

     1. There are always those who will oppose the man of God.

     2. They will stir up others to join in to their mission of destruction.

 D. God gives His men the courage to stand on His Word.

THE TESTIMONY OF A SERVANT

V:13. "And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law."

 A. It is easy to stir up folk when you talk against that which they hold dear to their hearts.

     1. Jesus did say, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days." John

         2:19

     2. Jesus did say, "I did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill the law." Mat 5:17

 B. Stephen probably repeated the Words of Jesus in the promotion of the Gospel truth.

    1. People read into what you say, what they want to believe.

    2. They hated Jesus, therefore any word about Jesus made them angry and caused

        them to have violent thoughts.

    3. They could not convince Stephen that he was wrong, so they decided to silence

         Him

         by accusing him of criminal behavior.

        a. When you are right, you are right, but it might not make any difference to those

            who hate you.

 C. You have to ask yourself, "why can't Church folk see that it is wrong to lie and bare

       false witness?"

      1. These Jews knew the law, because they used the law to make their accusations.

      2. God uses what we hate to show us the weakness in our faith.

 D. For the sake of being seen as right, some folk will resort to doing wrong.

     1. These Jews had to have the last word.

     2. They did what was necessary for them to be seen as right.

     3. If you have to pay someone to lie and see no wrong in it, there is something

         wrong

         with your religion.

     4. Even if I am wrong, your wrong to silence me want accomplish the righteousness

         of God.

 

V:14. "For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us."

 A. Any two people reading the Bible may come up with different interpretations.

    1. There is no reason to get angry because we can't agree with each other.

    2. The best we can do is to learn from each other how we arrived at our different

        interpretations.

   3. We might learn that the different interpretations give us a better understanding of

        the righteousness of God.

 B. The accusers heard right.

    1. Jesus came to destroy the focus of the worship.

    2. The focus of the worship is not the physical temple, but the heart.

        a. Out of the heart flows the issues of life.

 C. The accusers heard right.

    1. Jesus did come to change the customs delivered to Moses.

    2. Jesus did away with the temple sacrifices for the atonement of sins.

        a. Jesus death on the cross became the final sacrifice and the only sacrifice for the

            atonement of sin.

    3. Jesus did away with the Jewish high priest as the intercessor between man and

        God.

        a. Jesus is now the High Priest making intercessions for us.

        b. Jesus is the "CJIC"; The Chief Jew In Charge.

            i. You can quote Him. He said, "All power over heaven and earth has been

                given  to me."

   D. Our problem is that we can't stand for someone to claim to be right when we are

        convinced that we are right.

       1. We have to learn to live in harmony with our differences.

       2. It is our differences that causes us to see the truth of the Bible from different

           aspects.

           a. We can both be right. Others may have a different experience

               that will enlighten us.

 

THE SUCCESS OF A SERVANT

V:15. "And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel."

 A. When you stand on the truth, there is a certain look on your face that expresses

       your confidence.

    1. When you stand on the truth, there is a certain look on your face that expresses

        your trust in God.

    2. When you stand on the truth, there is a certain look on your face that expresses

         your boldness in the Lord.

    3. When you stand on the truth, there is a certain look on your face that expresses,

        "for Him I live and for Him I will die."

 B. When you stand on the truth, everyone that sees you know that you stand for Jesus.

     1. When you stand on the truth, everyone who sees you, know you are not going

          to compromise the Word of God.

     2. When you stand on the truth, everyone that sees you, know you are not going to

          back down.

 

Acts 7:1. "Then said the high priest, Are these things so?"

 A. When you stand for Jesus, expect to be questioned about what you believe.

     1. If you have been saved by the blood of Jesus, you got a   

          testimony.         1John 5:10-11

         

     2. If you have been saved by Jesus, you got a right to tell somebody about His    

         goodness. Rom 14:12

     3. If you been saved by Jesus, you have an obligation to testify about Him. Act

         10:42

 B. Children of the King have to say YES to the truth about Jesus.

 

V.7:2. "And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran."

 A. Some folk need a history lesson about Jesus.

     1. Some folk need to know that Jesus didn't just begin with His birth through Mary.

         a. They need to know that He always was and always will be.

         b. They need to know He is Alpha and Omega.  Rev. 22:13

         c. They need to know that He is the author of the Law and that He gave the Law

             to point to Himself. Heb 12:2, 1 John 5:7-8

 B. Some folk need to know that He is God all by Himself and He doesn't need their

      help to maintain His righteousness.

 C. Some folk need to know that He planned the Jewish nation to produce a woman

     called Mary, a suitable vessel for Him to be born in the flesh.

    1. Some folk need to know that without His death on the cross there would be no

        home in heaven.

 

When you are filled with the Spirit of God and have the intent on doing the will of God, your testimony will be effective, affective and convicting.

    1. The Word was effective.

        a. The Word of God cannot return void.  Isa 55:11

        b. Men of the synagogues from four different areas heard His testimony about

            Jesus Christ.

   2. The Word was affective.

        a. The Word affected the hearts and minds of those who heard it.

        b. They debated with Stephen to prove him wrong.

        c. When they could not prevail, they conspired to have him condemned.

   3. The Word was convicting.

     a. The chief council who tried the case against Stephen saw the Spirit within

         him because his face shown as that of an angel.

     b. They had to make a decision based on the false testimony they heard and the

         evidence before them.

 

When you make up your mind to serve God, He will equip you for success.