This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Witness For Jesus", 10/28/2012

A WITNESS FOR JESUS

ACTS 8:26-39

 

DIVINE DIRECTIONS

V:26. "And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert."

 A. When we are done with one mission, God has another mission to keep us busy.

    1. Philip had completed his work in Samaria; preaching and making disciples.

    2. In obedience to the Lord, he followed the directions of an angel.

    3. There are times when the Lord will send us to a desert area.

    4. The desert may be a place without a church or the start of a new church without a

        teacher.

        a. Anyone without God as the center of their lives is in the desert.

        b. Anyone without Jesus as their personal Savior is in the desert.

    5. The Word, once preached moves out from it's origin.

 B. The Lord did not tell Philip what his mission was, only that he was needed in a

      different area.

    1. We should never get to comfortable in our position during God's work.

       a. God may move us to do another task at any time.

       b. He may move us out of the city into the desert to accomplish his mission.

    2. We should always be willing and available to the Lord to take on new

        responsibilities.

 

SERVANTS OBEDIENCE

V:27. "And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship."

 A. When we become obedient to the commands of God, He  will reveal His purpose

      to us.

     1. Those who work for the Lord can accomplish great things in the presence of

         great

         men and women.

     2. Philip was placed by God in the presence of the Chief Financial Officer of the

         Nation of Ethiopia.

     3. Philip, a Jew and deacon of the Church had teaching business with a highly placed

         African Official.

     4. This African Official worshipped the Lord long before many of the modern

         religions of the area developed.

 B. The young and the old, the small and the great need to be taught the Word of God.

      1. This African Official had power, authority and connections, but he saw a need to

          worship the Lord.

 

V:28. "Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet."

 A. This African Official was riding in a chauffer driven limousine, studying the Word

      of God.

    1. He was a smart man. He handled the finances of his country.

    2. He was a wise man. 

         a. He was returning from vacation where he worshipped the Lord.

         b. He used his free time studying the Word of God.

OJECTIVE OF THE MISSION

V:29. "Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot."

 A. Once we get started on a mission for the Lord, God reveals more of His plan to

      us.

    1. We should always be open to directions from the Lord.

    2. The spirit of believers receives inspiration from the Holy Spirit.

    3. To do God's work, we have to go where the work is.

    4. To help someone, you need to get close to them.

    5. To help someone, you have to join in with them to know their needs.

B. To be effective in the ministry, you have to be obedient to the Holy Spirit.

    1. You have to listen to the Lord.

    2. You have to be willing to work.

    3. You have to go when called.

 C. God can open doors that we don't know exist.

    1. God will place us in the mist of people who need a Word from Him.

    2. Our testimony and knowledge of Jesus are effective in the spread of the Gospel.

 

A WITNESS FOR JESUS

V:30. "And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?"

 A. Philip "ran".

     1. When God says go, you ought to run in obedience.

     2. The opportunity that is here today, may not exist tomorrow.

     3. The African Official was on the move.

         a. Philip had to catch him while he was in his sight.

 B. Notice what happen when Philip got close to the official.

    1. He observed. He heard the man reading the Bible

    2. He investigated. He asked the man if he understood what he was reading.

    3. He applied his knowledge.

    4. There are three basic steps in Bible Study.

       a. Observation:  Observe the text.

       b. Investigation: Interpret the text.

       c. Application:  Apply the text to your life.

 C.  Asking questions is the quickest way to engage a person in conversation.

     1. Asking questions about their interest is a sure way to determine their knowledge

         of the subject.

     2. If you allow the Holy Spirit to guide your conversation, you will ask the right

         questions that are particular to the needs of the listener.

 

V:31. "And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him."

 A. God placed Philip in the mist of a man reading the scripture to have Bible Study.

     1. God places His ministers in the right place at the right time to spread the         

         Gospel.

     2. God ensures that those He call, will get the understanding they need.

 B. Philip was asked to join the African Official in His chariot  for Bible Study.

    1. When we join with others in Bible Study our understanding is increased.

 C. This official had the right attitude for learning.

    1. He was humble. He knew what he did not know.

    2. He was willing to learn.

    3. He had a desire to understand the Word of God. 

    4. He took advantage of the teacher that God placed in front of Him.

 C.  A good student of God makes time for Bible Study.

    1. A good student makes a place for a teacher.

    2. A good student gets close to his teacher.

 

BIBLE STUDY IS BASED ON SCRIPTURE

V:32.-33 "The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth.

 

 V:33. "In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth."

 A. The African Official was reading in the book of Isaiah the prophecy of the coming

      of Jesus Christ, His rejection, His obedience to the Father in death and His

      resurrection.

 1. Even though the man was in the desert, he did not have a desert mentality.

     a. A desert mentality is devoid of the Word of God.

     b. A desert mentality is stuck on this world and the things in this world.

     c. A desert mentality is blind to the promises of God.

     d. A desert mentality has no concept of eternity.

 2. This man had a kingdom mentality.

    a. This man was on the move.

    b. He was just passing through. The desert was not his home.

    c. This man was seeking God through the study of His Word.

    d. You have to pass through the desert to reach the kingdom.

 B. God knows where you are.

    1. You can't get lost in the desert from God.

    2. God prepares us to accept the Gospel.

       a. He came to Jerusalem to worship the Lord, but he missed the Gospel

       b. He was studying the Word that proclaimed the coming of the Gospel.

    3. Once his heart was ripe for the Gospel, God sent Him a teacher.

      a. Once his heart was right, his mind was open to the Gospel

 C. God was quick to tell His nationality, his worldly position, his authority,

     but He did not tell us his name.

   1. This man represents us all.

   2. No matter how much or how little we got, if we don't have Jesus we don't

       have anything of lasting value.

 D. The Gospel moves in high places by ordinary people like us.

 

V:34. "And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?"

A. This man was wise.

    1. He studied the Word for himself.

    2. He asked questions to gain an understanding.

    3. He knew who to ask to get answers.

        a. He was reading aloud to his driver, but his driver didn't know.

        b. He asked a teacher who had an understanding.

 B. If you don't know, don't be afraid to ask questions to get answers.

 

PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS

V:35. "Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus."

 A. A good teacher listens to the questions of his students.

      1. In the questions are the students' interest and lack of knowledge.

 B. A good teacher uses the questions as a start to his teaching.

     1. No matter where you start in the Bible, you can teach Jesus Christ.

     2. Jesus is the author of the Word.

         a. Jesus is the Word.

         b. Jesus is the Word that became flesh.

    3. The Word is personal.

       a. The Word teaches the salvation of man through faith in Jesus.

 C. There is no way to preach the Word without preaching Jesus Christ.

     1. Our interest in the Word is God's directions to us out of the world.

 

CONFESSION OF FAITH

V:36. "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?"

 A. A good teacher teaches Jesus and redemption in the baptism of His blood.

     1. Water baptism is an outward sign of an inward change in the heart.

     2. The water baptism represents the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 B. The desire to be baptized represents the conviction in the heart to accept Jesus as

      savior.

    1. The African official had a personal desire to know the Word of God.

    2. His knowledge of the Word resulted in his desire to be baptized.

 C. This official concluded that time was not on his side.

     1. He took the opportunity to be baptized immediately.

     2. Time is not on our side.

 

V:37. "And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

 A. The first step in redemption is a confession of faith in Jesus Christ.

     1. Confession must be from the heart.

     2. Confession without belief in Jesus is worthless.

 B. There is no real baptism without faith in Jesus.

 C. We must believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

     1. We must believe that Jesus had a divine nature and a human nature.

     2. We must believe that Jesus came down from heaven and took on human flesh.

     3. We must believe that the blood that Jesus shed on the cross covers our sins.

V:38. "And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him."

 A. There is nothing more important than your spiritual baptism in Jesus Christ.

     1. Your work is not that important.

     2. Your time is not that important.

     3. Your position is not that important.

 B. You have a choice to accept or reject Jesus.

     1. The African Official chose Jesus.

     2. You have to stand still and accept Jesus where you are.

 C. Notice the correct water baptism commanded by Christ.

     1. Baptism is by emersion.

     2. They went down into the water.

     3. This water baptism represents our going down into the blood of Jesus.

     4. This baptism represents our covering in the blood of Jesus.

 

WORK COMPLETE; A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST

V:39. "And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing."

 A. Water baptism represents complete emersion by the Holy Spirit.

    1. This passage gives us the existence of the Holy Trinity.

        a. We have God the Father.

        b. We have God the Son.

        c. We have God the Holy Spirit.

 B. The power of the Holy Spirit is shown.

    1. The man was baptized by the Holy Spirit.

        a. Philip did the water baptism.

        b. The Holy Spirit did the spiritual baptism.

    2. Philip was carried away by the Spirit.

       a. The Man rode in a horse drawn chariot.

       b. Philip rode in the Spirit of God.

       c. The spirit carries us into an understanding of God's Word.

       d. The Spirit gives us guidance and directions.

       e. When the work was completed with the African official, the Spirit moved Philip

           to

           his next assignment.

     3. The work of the Lord is never complete.

        a. We must continue in our efforts to bring others to Christ.

        b. Jesus said, "The poor will always be with you."

 

A NEW WAY TO LIVE

C. The man went away rejoicing.

   1. Salvation is our reason for rejoicing.

   2. We rejoice because of the work of Jesus was completed on the cross for us.

   3. We rejoice because heaven is our hope.

   4. Like the African Official, this is not our home, we are just passing through.

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.