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Acts 6:8-7:1 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Please take your copy of God's Word and turn to the book of Acts chapter 6.
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Our text for this morning will be Acts chapter 6, verse 8 through Acts chapter 7, verse 1.
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And while you're getting there, let me just express to you that it's very good to be back with you this morning.
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The whole family took last week off just as we've struggled with our new little one.
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If you don't know my family, we have a brand new baby boy in addition to our other two.
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And Silas has been a bit more challenging than the others.
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We've had our what in the world do we do moments with him, but we're mostly filled with joy.
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Sam's here with him somewhere.
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I think she's already. Oh, she's here in the room.
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How about that for now? She's here in the room.
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That's the fussing you're hearing over there.
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It's also very good to be back preaching with you again as I'm coming off a preaching break.
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I just want to remind you guys why we're doing that, why I'm taking these times of stepping away,
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not from my job in total, but from preaching itself.
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And they're twofold.
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Number one, we want you to want to come and hear the Word of God preached.
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Simply that.
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The truth proclaimed.
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And not necessarily by a particular person.
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And I don't think that that happens here.
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It's not that I have some strange disillusionment that I'm being worshipped in any way whatsoever.
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But we want to get ahead of that kind of thing.
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We don't want you to show up and think,
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Ah, not Nathan.
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Please don't ever think that.
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Praise God for the Word of God preached.
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The truth is proclaimed here.
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And I praise God for the depth of talent we have in that regard.
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The second reason is simply that we need to let other people exercise gifting.
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I'm certainly glad to get up here week in and week out.
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It does grow tiring at times.
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But primarily, we need to let other men get into the process and work that gifting out
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and have the chance to share what God is working into them with you.
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And so, you're going to see breaks like that periodically across the rest of the year.
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But all that said, I'm glad to be back.
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I'm glad also to be back,
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to begin this period of time of study and preaching on your behalf
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with a very important transitionary character in the book of Acts.
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Come to the life and ministry of Stephen.
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Peter has been the primary character up to this point in Luke's narrative.
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Continuing forward, we will observe the ministry of Peter in chapters 10, 11, and 12.
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And then his presence at the Jerusalem Council in chapter 15.
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But the focus is beginning now to shift away from Peter as the primary narrative character to Paul.
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We meet him first as Saul at the very end of chapter 7 and on into chapter 8.
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And we see this shift through the end of the book then as Paul is the central figure in Luke's narrative.
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So, we have this record of Stephen's ministry and it's a short one.
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And rightly so, because his ministry is brief.
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He is selected to serve as a deacon in order to serve the tables of the Greek-speaking Jewish widows
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at the beginning of chapter 6.
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And his ministry ends at the end of chapter 7.
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He expands his ministry as a deacon to that of a preacher and an apologist.
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And the Lord sees fit to end Stephen's ministry by making him the first martyr of the Christian church.
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I appreciated this summary by Charles Spurgeon as I appreciate so much of his preaching and writing.
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And I put it on the front of the bulletin for you to follow along.
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He preached, Stephen the deacon became Stephen the preacher.
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This holy man not only used such gifts as he had in one department,
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but having abilities for a more spiritual form of service,
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he laid them at once upon the altar of Christ.
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Nor is this all.
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He had a higher promotion yet.
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When he had thus become Stephen the wise apologist and brave defender of the faith,
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he did not stop there, but he mounted to the highest rank of the Christian army.
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He gained the peerless dignity, the foremost nobility, the brightest glory.
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I mean the martyr's name and honor.
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Stephen the deacon is first Stephen the preacher.
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And afterwards, Stephen, God's faithful and true witness,
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laying down his life so that he may seal his testimony with his blood.
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So we have the opportunity to look at the life and ministry of Stephen, however brief.
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And we're going to do so across the next two weeks.
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Today, I'd like to look at his arrest and inquiry.
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And the next Lord's Day, we'll look at Stephen's response and his death.
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And over the next two weeks, I want us to keep in mind two general lessons,
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general and broad lessons that we can learn from Stephen's life and ministry.
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Number one, a life given in service to God is a life that is not wasted.
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As we come to the conclusion of Stephen's life next week,
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we'll see that God sovereignly uses Stephen's martyrdom for the explosive expansion of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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His death is the catalyst that sets off so much gospel reach and response.
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A life given in service to God is a life that is not wasted.
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And secondly, the significance of such a life given to God cannot be measured by its short-term gains,
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its breadth, or its length.
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The significance of a life given in service to God cannot be measured by its short-term gains,
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its breadth, or its length.
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So with those two things in mind, let's look at our text this morning.
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Acts chapter 6, beginning in verse 8 through chapter 7, verse 1.
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And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.
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Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the freedmen, as it was called,
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and of the Cyrenians and of the Alexandrians,
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and of those from Cilicia and Asia,
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rose up and disputed with Stephen.
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But they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking.
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Then they secretly instigated men who said,
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We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.
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And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes,
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and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council.
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And they set up false witnesses who said,
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This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law.
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For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place
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and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.
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And gazing at him,
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all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
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And the high priest said,
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Are these things so?
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Beloved,
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this is God's word to us.
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It was written for his glory and our good.
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And we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises
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and obey its commands.
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Now, our text this morning,
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I would like to look at in two ways.
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Number one,
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the details of Stephen's arrest.
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And number two,
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the Stephen who was arrested.
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The details of Stephen's arrest.
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And number two,
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the Stephen who was arrested.
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So number one,
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the details of Stephen's arrest.
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We begin out here,
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after him coming off,
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we get this explanation of him being called as a deacon,
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this early church that's meeting in Jerusalem
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for the sake of serving the tables of the widows,
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of the Hellenist Jews,
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that Stephen is not only serving tables.
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He is also preaching.
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We have a deacon here who preaches.
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And some have supposed
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that the calling of these men
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at the beginning of Acts chapter 6
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were not the calling of deacons,
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was not the institution of that office,
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but rather the institution of the office of elder.
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Because Stephen was preaching.
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Elders must be able to teach.
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That's a qualification that's given for an elder.
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But that does not mean
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that no one else can have that qualification.
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In fact,
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deacons and all believers,
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whether or not they hold an office in the church,
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whether or not they are especially gifted
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to teach in a setting like this,
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are to be
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preachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Don't miss that.
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And what a great encouragement that is to us
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that Stephen,
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chosen to be a deacon,
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I will argue,
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to serve the physical needs of the church,
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was also a preacher.
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Stephen, the deacon, preached.
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If you're looking at the text carefully,
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you might be saying,
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on what basis do I come to the conclusion
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that he's preaching?
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Because it doesn't actually say explicitly
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that he preached.
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But recall that we have noted
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in our study of Mark,
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if you've been with us for quite a while,
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seen the record of Jesus' ministry,
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and in our study of Acts so far,
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that signs and wonders
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were always intended to validate
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the message of the gospel.
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The preaching of the good news of Jesus Christ
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always accompanied signs and wonders
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being performed.
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Signs and wonders were meant
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to cause people to take notice
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of the preaching.
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God uses the preaching of the gospel
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to work the greatest of miracles.
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And beloved, we cannot miss this.
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God is still in the business
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of working miracles
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in that He changes hard hearts
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to ones that beat for Him.
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There is no greater miracle
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that has further reach
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than hearts changed
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toward God.
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So, the fact that Stephen
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is performing great wonders
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and signs
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necessitates that he was also
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preaching.
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So, first,
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I come to a conclusion from that.
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Second, I come to it
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because of the way
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in which he's opposed.
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Note the opposition
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that comes to him for this.
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He's not opposed
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because he's working miracles.
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Verse 9
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speaks of
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a select group of men
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from a variety
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of the Jerusalem
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synagogues.
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We see,
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then,
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some of those
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who belong to the synagogue.
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I take that to mean
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that those who
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were versed
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in debate,
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those who were of
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high training
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from each of these synagogues,
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the synagogues
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of the freedmen,
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we get this
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parenthetical by Luke
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as it was called,
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and of the Cyrenians
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and of the Alexandrians
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and of those from
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Cilicia and Asia
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rose up
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and disputed
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with Stephen.
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These are a select
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group of men
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from a variety
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of the Jerusalem
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synagogues.
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You could think of
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synagogues
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in this day
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while the primary
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worship of the day
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in Jerusalem
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happened at the temple,
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synagogues were
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much like seminaries,
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places of
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theological
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training.
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And there were
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no less than
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480 synagogues
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in Jerusalem
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in these days.
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And they had them
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of all kinds
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of variety.
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These five
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are all synagogues
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of Greek-speaking Jews.
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Now, if you missed
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last week,
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the Hellenists,
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the Greek-speaking Jews,
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were those
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who either
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were already living
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in Gentile lands
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from the dispersion,
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therefore they spoke
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Greek as a primary
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language,
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right?
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And they were being
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brought back in
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or they had started
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there and moved
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back in
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and there was
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kind of a bit
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of a class separation
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as a result
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of this.
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So,
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we find that
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Stephen's primary
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ministry is to
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the Greek-speaking
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Jewish widows
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and therefore
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he's being opposed
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by Greek-speaking
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Jews.
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The synagogue
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of the freedmen,
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the freedmen,
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were made up
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of descendants
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of Jewish slaves
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that were captured
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by Pompey
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in 63 B.C.
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and taken to Rome.
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They were later
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granted their freedom,
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therefore the name
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Freedmen,
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and they formed
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a Jewish community
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living there
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in Rome.
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But this is a synagogue
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located in Jerusalem
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of these people
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who would travel
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to Jerusalem
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in order to be
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educated in
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theology.
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The synagogues
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of the Cyrenians
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and the Alexandrians,
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both major cities
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of northern Africa
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which had large
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Jewish populations.
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Again,
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a synagogue
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in Jerusalem
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for these people.
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The synagogues
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of Cilicia
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and Asia
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in much the same way
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were Roman provinces
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in Asia Minor.
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Of interest
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at this point,
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the Apostle Paul
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was from Tarsus,
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which is a town
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in Cilicia.
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Recall
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that he was a student
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of Gamaliel,
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which we've seen
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previously in chapter 5.
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And he was likely
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part of the debate
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that's going on.
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He's likely one
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of the people
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standing here
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and opposing.
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He's likely one
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of the people
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that helps
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recruit liars
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to bring false charge
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against Stephen
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as we see him
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at the end
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of chapter 7
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standing,
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residing over
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Stephen's
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martyrdom.
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So there's
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this opposition
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and it's coming
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against teaching.
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Verse 10 says,
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but they could not
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withstand the wisdom
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and the spirit
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with which he was speaking.
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They were unable
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to handle him
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in a debate.
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They were unable
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to best the power
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of God
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at work
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within him.
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They were incapable
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without the illumination
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of the spirit of God
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to fully comprehend
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the scriptures.
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They've been trained
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in it.
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Masterfully trained.
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Stephen is likely
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a lay person
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but he has
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the spirit of God
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and the power of God
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at work within him
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to help him understand
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this book
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that had been taught
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to him
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from a child.
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And he lays it out
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for them
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and they're unable
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to debate with him
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and so what do they do?
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They turn
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to deception.
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They have no other
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way to stand up
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against him
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and so
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they turn
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to deception
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and they bring up
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these false charges
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in secret
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and hidden places.
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They instigate men.
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They recruit false witness
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against him
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and they make these charges
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against Stephen
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in three pairs.
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And we see them
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in verse 11
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and verse 13
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and verse 14.
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Verse 11
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blasphemous words
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against Moses
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and God.
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Stephen is speaking
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these blasphemous words
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against Moses
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and God.
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Verse 13
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He won't stop
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speaking words
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against this
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holy place
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and the law.
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And verse 14
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this
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Jesus of Nazareth
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will destroy
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this place
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and will change
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the customs
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that Moses
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delivered
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to us.
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And the way
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these accusations
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are brought
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the pairs
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expand
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on the original
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accusation
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that Stephen
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is against
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Moses
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and against
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God.
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That is
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they go on
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to make these
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accusations
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to say
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to speak
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blasphemous words
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against Moses
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is to speak
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against the law
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and the customs
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handed down
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by Moses.
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And to speak
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blasphemous words
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against God
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is to speak
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against
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the temple.
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Now
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these charges
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weren't
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altogether
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false.
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Stephen
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was certainly
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not being
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blasphemous
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but he was
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preaching
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the gospel.
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So he was
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teaching
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that righteousness
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could not
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be found
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in the law
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or in the
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traditions
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and that temple
17:47
worship
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would never
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atone
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for sin.
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He was teaching
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that these
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things
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were a shadow
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of the thing
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that has
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come
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in Christ.
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Stephen
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was preaching
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the gospel.
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He was
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speaking of
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the person
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and work
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of Jesus
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Christ.
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And that's
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why it's
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so offensive
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to them.
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We've said
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this in
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previous weeks
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that went
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against the
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world system
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which their
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religion was
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a part of.
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It flew
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in the face
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of it.
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And they
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could not
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have him
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tear down
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their
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religious
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worship.
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Stephen
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preached
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that people
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must believe
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in the
18:30
person
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and work
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of Jesus
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Christ.
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And I don't
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know if you've
18:35
been noticing
18:36
me across
18:37
the last
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month saying
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that often
18:38
that phrasing
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person and
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work
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of Jesus
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Christ
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because beloved
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it's not
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enough to
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believe in
18:45
one and
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not the
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other.
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We must
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believe that
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Jesus is
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who he said
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he is.
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That he is
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the son of
18:54
God.
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That he is
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the Messiah
18:55
the chosen
18:56
one of
18:57
God.
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The one
18:57
who was
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sent to
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take away
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the sins
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of the
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world.
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We also
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must believe
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in his
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work.
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We must
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understand that
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he lived a
19:08
perfect life.
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That he
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fulfilled the
19:10
law in
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himself.
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That he
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has
19:12
righteousness
19:13
that's
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granted to
19:14
us by
19:15
faith.
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We put
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on his
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righteousness
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and that
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his
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sacrificial
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death
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paid the
19:20
penalty for
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our sin.
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Both are
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important.
19:22
The person
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and the
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work.
19:24
We must
19:24
believe that
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Jesus is
19:25
the Christ
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and that
19:26
his active
19:27
and passive
19:28
obedience has
19:29
brought us
19:30
into right
19:30
relationship
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with God.
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And this
19:32
is the
19:32
gospel that
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Stephen is
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preaching.
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This is the
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offense to
19:38
the world
19:39
system in
19:40
which he
19:40
lived.
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Now, the
19:43
story of
19:44
Stephen is
19:45
used by
19:46
Luke.
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And I
19:46
don't mean
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that he
19:47
makes the
19:48
story up or
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that he
19:49
conveniently
19:49
puts the
19:50
story in
19:50
this place.
19:51
But under
19:52
inspiration,
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Luke writes
19:54
this account
19:55
and uses
19:55
the story
19:56
for a
19:57
very important
19:58
transition in
19:59
the book of
20:00
Acts.
20:00
I want to
20:01
show you
20:01
that.
20:02
At this
20:03
point in
20:04
the story,
20:05
God is
20:06
about to
20:06
turn loose
20:07
the church.
20:08
The beginning
20:09
of chapter
20:09
8,
20:10
persecution
20:11
ramps up
20:12
and the
20:13
church is
20:13
scattered.
20:14
God is
20:18
going to
20:19
take the
20:21
gospel of
20:24
Jesus Christ
20:24
in a
20:25
single
20:25
generation
20:26
across
20:26
three
20:27
continents.
20:28
The
20:28
gospel goes
20:29
forth in
20:30
a radical
20:31
way and
20:31
it's about
20:31
to happen
20:32
right here
20:32
on the
20:33
cusp of
20:33
that.
20:34
And here
20:34
the story
20:34
of Stephen
20:35
is this
20:36
transition
20:37
between the
20:38
two.
20:39
The
20:40
gospel is
20:40
going to
20:40
go from
20:41
Jerusalem
20:42
to the
20:43
world.
20:44
At the
20:44
beginning
20:44
of chapter
20:45
8.
20:47
In
20:47
Acts 3,
20:49
chapters 3
20:49
through 5,
20:51
we see the
20:52
effect of the
20:53
gospel as
20:53
it's spreading
20:54
throughout
20:54
Jerusalem.
20:55
Like the
20:55
teaching is
20:56
everywhere,
20:56
like many,
20:57
many thousands,
20:58
possibly tens
20:59
of thousands
21:00
have converted
21:00
to faith in
21:01
Jesus Christ.
21:02
It's spreading
21:03
even in the
21:04
face of
21:04
opposition,
21:05
even in the
21:05
face of
21:06
the arrest
21:06
and the
21:07
beating of
21:07
the apostles.
21:08
The gospel
21:09
is going
21:09
forth
21:10
throughout
21:10
Jerusalem.
21:12
The
21:12
primary
21:13
message
21:14
of their
21:14
preaching
21:15
is that
21:16
God's
21:16
blessing
21:16
is found
21:17
in
21:17
Jesus,
21:19
not in
21:20
temple
21:20
worship.
21:21
Beginning
21:22
after
21:22
temple
21:23
worship,
21:24
right?
21:24
As a
21:25
shadow
21:25
of a
21:25
former
21:26
thing.
21:27
God's
21:28
blessing
21:28
is
21:28
ultimately
21:28
found
21:29
in
21:29
Christ.
21:31
Now,
21:32
in Acts
21:32
6 and
21:33
7,
21:33
the life
21:34
and ministry
21:35
of Stephen,
21:36
the proclamation
21:37
of the
21:37
gospel leads
21:39
to Stephen's
21:40
trial and
21:41
his death.
21:42
The opposition
21:42
to the
21:43
gospel,
21:43
even as
21:43
it's
21:44
gone
21:44
forth
21:44
before
21:45
this
21:45
in
21:45
Jerusalem,
21:46
right?
21:46
In the
21:46
face of
21:47
opposition,
21:47
the opposition
21:48
cranks way
21:49
up.
21:49
We see
21:50
the first
21:50
martyrdom,
21:51
the first
21:51
death for
21:52
the cause
21:52
of Christ.
21:55
Leads to
21:55
his trial
21:56
and to
21:56
his death.
21:57
And the
21:57
primary
21:58
message of
21:58
Stephen's
21:59
preaching
21:59
is that
22:00
God has
22:01
never been
22:02
limited
22:02
by the
22:03
temple.
22:04
Always
22:04
try to
22:05
contain
22:05
him in
22:05
a house,
22:06
put him
22:06
in a
22:06
container,
22:07
but it's
22:07
never been
22:08
limited to
22:09
that.
22:09
His influence
22:10
has gone
22:11
forth far,
22:12
far,
22:12
far beyond.
22:14
So,
22:14
look to
22:15
Jesus for
22:16
God's
22:17
blessing.
22:20
And we're
22:20
going to
22:20
see,
22:21
beginning in
22:21
Acts chapter
22:22
8,
22:23
through the
22:23
end of the
22:23
book,
22:24
through chapter
22:24
28,
22:26
that the
22:26
effect of
22:27
the gospel
22:28
is that it
22:28
spreads
22:28
beyond
22:30
Jerusalem,
22:31
goes beyond
22:31
the Jewish
22:33
population,
22:34
that in
22:35
Abraham,
22:35
all the
22:36
peoples of
22:37
the earth
22:37
might be
22:39
blessed.
22:40
And the
22:40
primary
22:41
message of
22:41
the gospel,
22:42
God's
22:43
blessing is
22:43
for all
22:44
who will
22:45
believe in
22:46
Jesus Christ.
22:48
And so,
22:48
that's where
22:48
we stand
22:49
in this
22:49
gap.
22:50
And that's
22:50
why the
22:52
offense of
22:53
him speaking
22:54
against the
22:55
temple is
22:55
so massive
22:56
at this
22:56
point.
22:57
It's a
22:57
tipping point
22:58
for them.
22:58
We're not
22:59
going to see
22:59
a lot of
22:59
conversation
23:00
about the
23:00
temple
23:00
beyond this,
23:01
but that's
23:02
why it
23:02
brings this
23:03
whole event
23:03
and the
23:04
first martyrdom
23:04
to such a
23:05
head in
23:07
this.
23:09
And then
23:09
just note,
23:10
just as I'm
23:10
kind of
23:10
walking through
23:11
the passage,
23:11
verse 15
23:12
and 7-1,
23:14
and gazing
23:14
at him,
23:15
all who
23:15
sat in
23:16
the council
23:16
saw that
23:17
his face
23:18
was like
23:19
the face
23:19
of an
23:20
angel.
23:21
This
23:21
picture of
23:21
gazing,
23:22
some of
23:22
your
23:22
translations
23:23
might say
23:24
staring,
23:25
would be a
23:25
good word
23:26
for it.
23:26
It's not
23:26
a kind
23:27
gazing,
23:28
right?
23:28
They're
23:29
set him
23:29
in the
23:30
midst of
23:30
the council
23:30
and they're
23:31
staring him
23:31
down.
23:32
They see
23:32
that his
23:33
face was
23:33
like the
23:33
face of
23:34
an angel.
23:35
Take that
23:35
to mean
23:35
that his
23:36
face was
23:36
illuminated.
23:38
And the
23:38
high priest
23:39
said,
23:39
of these
23:39
accusations,
23:40
are these
23:41
things so?
23:44
And next
23:44
week we'll
23:44
see him
23:44
launch into
23:45
his,
23:47
it's not
23:47
much of a
23:48
defense.
23:49
He kind of
23:49
instigates
23:50
himself,
23:50
but his
23:51
speech following
23:52
that question,
23:53
are these
23:54
things so?
23:57
So those are
23:58
the events.
23:58
This is the
23:59
things that
24:01
happened in
24:01
his arrest.
24:02
Let's look at
24:02
secondly now,
24:03
the Stephen
24:04
who was
24:05
arrested.
24:06
What kind
24:06
of man
24:07
was Stephen?
24:09
What was
24:09
his quality?
24:12
He is
24:12
certainly a
24:13
saint that
24:15
we should
24:15
emulate.
24:16
We need to
24:17
observe this
24:17
brief little
24:18
record,
24:20
the life and
24:21
ministry of
24:21
Stephen.
24:22
We would
24:23
all do
24:23
well to
24:24
look like
24:25
Stephen.
24:28
And I think
24:28
even a better
24:29
question would
24:29
be how was
24:31
the gospel
24:31
of Jesus
24:32
Christ shaping
24:33
him.
24:35
Beloved,
24:35
if you are
24:36
in Christ,
24:38
if you are
24:39
indeed in
24:40
Christ,
24:41
you are
24:42
being changed
24:43
one degree
24:44
of glory
24:45
to another.
24:46
We're getting
24:47
a little
24:47
better.
24:48
There's
24:49
sanctification,
24:50
right?
24:50
It's what that
24:50
process is
24:51
called.
24:52
We're improving
24:52
bit by bit.
24:54
And it doesn't
24:55
always feel like
24:55
that in a day.
24:56
I know that,
24:57
and I'm there
24:57
with you in
24:58
that.
24:58
It doesn't
24:58
always feel
24:58
that way in
24:59
a week or
24:59
maybe even
25:00
in a month
25:01
or possibly
25:02
in a year.
25:03
But if we
25:03
zoom way
25:04
back,
25:05
we take
25:05
God's
25:06
perspective
25:06
on our
25:07
lives,
25:07
our trajectory
25:09
is toward
25:09
holiness.
25:10
It's away
25:10
from sinfulness
25:11
and it's
25:12
toward holiness.
25:13
This process
25:14
is called
25:15
sanctification.
25:17
The biblical
25:18
view of
25:19
sanctification,
25:20
and I
25:20
unapologetically
25:21
say that,
25:21
the biblical
25:23
view of
25:23
sanctification
25:24
is called
25:25
progressive
25:26
sanctification.
25:28
It means that
25:28
we continue
25:29
to plod
25:30
that course.
25:31
We continue
25:32
to move
25:32
in that
25:33
direction,
25:34
to look
25:34
more like
25:36
Christ.
25:37
And it is
25:38
taught in
25:39
the scriptures
25:39
as a
25:41
synergistic
25:42
process.
25:43
And by that
25:43
I mean
25:44
that both
25:45
God and
25:46
us are
25:47
involved in
25:48
this process.
25:49
We're both
25:50
involved.
25:50
That's what
25:50
the scripture
25:51
teaches.
25:53
At times,
25:54
it really
25:55
seems to be
25:56
an apparent
25:57
paradox.
25:58
You've heard
25:58
that phrase
25:58
before.
26:00
A paradox
26:00
is a
26:01
statement
26:01
that is,
26:02
at least
26:03
it seems
26:03
to be on
26:03
the surface,
26:04
self-contradictory.
26:06
The scripture
26:07
doesn't conflict
26:08
with itself,
26:09
so it's an
26:09
apparent paradox.
26:10
It's not,
26:11
but it seems
26:11
to be.
26:12
And many
26:13
people have
26:13
tried to
26:13
wrestle through
26:14
the logic
26:15
of these
26:16
things,
26:16
and many
26:17
heresies
26:18
have arisen
26:19
from it.
26:20
If not
26:21
heresies,
26:21
at very
26:22
least,
26:23
erroneous
26:23
teaching on
26:24
the matter.
26:26
There are
26:26
some things
26:27
that are
26:27
very difficult
26:28
for our
26:29
minds to
26:30
reconcile.
26:31
So we
26:31
step back
26:32
away from
26:33
the scripture,
26:33
and rather
26:34
than standing
26:34
over it
26:35
in judgment,
26:35
we stand
26:35
underneath it
26:36
and let it
26:36
speak to us.
26:37
Why has
26:38
God revealed
26:39
himself to
26:39
us?
26:40
Why has
26:40
he shown
26:41
us the
26:41
process of
26:41
sanctification
26:42
in this
26:43
way?
26:43
The way
26:43
that the
26:44
gospel works
26:45
in to
26:46
us holiness.
26:48
I can't give
26:49
you all the
26:49
answers to that.
26:50
I don't know
26:50
that I have
26:50
all the answers
26:51
or that I
26:51
have the
26:52
time this
26:53
morning,
26:53
but I
26:54
appreciate
26:54
that the
26:56
scripture
26:56
itself doesn't
26:57
always try to
26:57
wrestle it
26:58
out.
26:58
There's a
26:58
wonderful
26:58
example of
26:59
this if
26:59
you'd like
27:00
to see
27:00
it,
27:00
Philippians
27:01
chapter 2.
27:03
Paul states
27:04
the one and
27:05
the other
27:05
side by
27:06
side.
27:06
Now let me
27:07
just sum up,
27:07
if you're
27:07
turning there,
27:08
what I mean
27:09
by this.
27:10
We are being
27:10
perfected by
27:11
the power of
27:12
God and the
27:12
gospel of
27:13
Jesus Christ
27:13
through the
27:15
working of
27:16
the Spirit
27:16
in our
27:17
lives.
27:17
We would
27:18
of course
27:18
give all
27:19
glory and
27:19
honor to
27:20
Christ in
27:20
the process
27:21
of that.
27:22
We don't
27:22
take the
27:23
ownership
27:23
for that
27:24
kind of
27:24
thing,
27:24
but you
27:25
were not
27:25
made perfect
27:26
by sitting
27:27
around.
27:29
It doesn't
27:29
happen.
27:30
You don't
27:30
sit on your
27:30
hands and
27:31
go,
27:31
well,
27:32
God said
27:32
he's going
27:32
to do it.
27:34
Just waiting.
27:35
I promise
27:36
you that God
27:37
will never
27:37
animate you
27:38
in the morning
27:38
and cause
27:40
you to swing
27:40
your legs out
27:41
of bed and
27:42
cause you to
27:42
pick up the
27:43
scripture in a
27:44
way that you're
27:44
not part of
27:46
your faculty,
27:47
right?
27:47
That you go and
27:47
you open it and
27:48
you begin to read
27:48
it and you go,
27:49
what is happening
27:49
to me?
27:50
I don't even
27:50
know what's
27:50
going on right
27:51
now.
27:52
But I will
27:52
say when you
27:53
wake up in the
27:53
morning and you
27:54
swing your legs
27:54
out of bed and
27:54
you go and you
27:55
open the scripture
27:55
and you begin to
27:56
read it,
27:56
that God has
27:57
worked in you
27:58
for this very
27:58
thing to happen.
28:00
You get the
28:01
apparent paradox
28:02
in play.
28:03
So listen to what
28:04
Paul says,
28:04
Philippians chapter
28:05
verse 12,
28:07
man's responsibility,
28:09
verse 13,
28:09
God's empowering
28:11
work.
28:11
Therefore,
28:12
my beloved,
28:13
as you have
28:13
always obeyed,
28:14
so now,
28:15
not only as in
28:15
my presence,
28:16
but much more
28:17
in my absence,
28:18
work out your
28:20
own salvation
28:21
with fear and
28:22
trembling.
28:23
Why?
28:25
For it is God
28:26
who works in
28:27
you,
28:28
both to will
28:29
and to work
28:30
for his good
28:32
pleasure.
28:32
Verse 12,
28:33
you work,
28:35
verse 13,
28:36
God works.
28:38
So how is it
28:39
that he does
28:40
this?
28:41
And this takes
28:42
place in our
28:42
lives in four
28:43
broad areas,
28:44
and I promise
28:45
I'm coming back
28:45
to Stephen,
28:46
because it's
28:46
working in
28:46
Stephen's life,
28:47
in four broad
28:49
areas.
28:49
We could classify
28:50
these in many
28:51
different ways.
28:52
There's a lot of
28:53
wonderful books
28:53
on it that
28:54
classify what's
28:55
often called
28:56
the means of
28:58
grace.
28:59
I like to call
29:00
them habits
29:01
of grace,
29:02
because we play
29:04
apart in
29:05
these things.
29:06
So there's
29:06
other ways to
29:07
categorize this.
29:08
I'm going to
29:08
categorize it in
29:09
four broad areas,
29:10
and we're going
29:11
to talk about
29:11
this a lot
29:12
in the coming
29:13
year.
29:15
And those four
29:15
areas are
29:16
gospel conviction,
29:20
gospel character,
29:22
gospel community,
29:24
and gospel
29:25
commission.
29:26
You've already
29:27
got to memorize,
29:28
because they all
29:28
start with C.
29:30
Gospel conviction,
29:31
character,
29:32
community,
29:33
and mission.
29:35
These are means
29:36
of grace,
29:37
or habits of
29:38
grace, as I
29:39
prefer.
29:40
Things that we
29:40
are involved in,
29:42
and God uses
29:43
them to bring
29:44
about holiness
29:45
in us.
29:46
And so I want
29:47
to look at
29:47
Stephen and see
29:48
how the gospel
29:49
was at work
29:50
in these ways.
29:52
So number one,
29:55
gospel conviction.
29:56
Let's back up
29:56
in our text just
29:57
a little bit to
29:57
Acts 6, 5.
30:01
The disciples
30:01
are presented
30:02
with this solution
30:03
to the issue
30:04
of the tables
30:05
not being served,
30:06
and it pleases
30:07
them, and they
30:08
choose Stephen,
30:10
a man full of
30:12
faith,
30:13
and of the
30:13
Holy Spirit.
30:15
The response
30:16
that Stephen
30:18
gives to the
30:18
council in
30:19
chapter 7,
30:20
the full speech
30:21
that he gives
30:22
shows that
30:23
he had faith
30:25
that God
30:26
ruled history.
30:28
He believed
30:30
in God's
30:31
sovereign rule.
30:32
Now, I know
30:32
we haven't read
30:33
the text,
30:33
but we're going
30:34
to get there
30:34
next week.
30:35
I encourage
30:36
you to read
30:36
it this week
30:37
and see that
30:38
Stephen had
30:39
faith.
30:39
He believed
30:40
that God
30:40
ruled history.
30:41
He believed
30:42
in a sovereign
30:42
plan.
30:44
He could say
30:44
with Paul,
30:45
as Paul says
30:45
in Romans 14,
30:46
8,
30:47
for if we live,
30:48
we live to
30:48
the Lord,
30:49
and if we die,
30:50
we die to
30:51
the Lord.
30:51
So then,
30:52
whether we live
30:53
or whether we
30:54
die,
30:55
we are the
30:55
Lord.
30:56
And he had
30:56
this conviction
30:57
of that that
30:58
allowed him
30:58
to press into.
30:59
Remember,
31:00
he's going
31:00
around doing
31:01
signs and
31:01
wonders,
31:01
and he's
31:02
preaching the
31:02
gospel of
31:03
Jesus Christ
31:03
already in the
31:04
face of
31:05
opposition.
31:06
He already
31:06
knows that
31:07
it's happening.
31:08
We've already
31:08
had Peter
31:10
and John
31:11
arrested.
31:12
We've already
31:12
had the
31:13
apostles arrested
31:14
And flogged!
31:15
They're being
31:15
told,
31:16
do not speak
31:17
in the name
31:18
of Christ.
31:19
And this
31:19
man of
31:20
conviction,
31:20
trusting in
31:21
the Lord's
31:21
sovereign rule,
31:23
presses on
31:23
in to
31:25
these things.
31:27
Stephen had
31:27
faith that
31:29
Jesus was
31:30
the fulfillment
31:30
of messianic
31:32
prophecy.
31:33
He believed,
31:34
was convicted
31:35
that Jesus
31:36
was,
31:37
is,
31:38
the Christ.
31:40
Acts 7,
31:41
52,
31:42
the end of
31:43
his speech.
31:44
Which of
31:45
the prophets
31:46
did your
31:46
fathers not
31:47
persecute?
31:48
And they
31:49
killed those
31:50
who announced
31:50
beforehand the
31:51
coming of
31:52
the righteous
31:53
one,
31:53
whom you
31:54
have now
31:55
betrayed and
31:56
murdered.
31:58
He knew that
31:58
Jesus is
31:59
the Christ.
32:01
He was
32:01
convicted of
32:02
that.
32:03
Stephen believed
32:03
that Jesus
32:04
had risen and
32:06
was at the
32:06
right hand of
32:07
the Father,
32:08
and that he
32:09
would stand
32:09
and judge
32:10
the earth.
32:12
Again,
32:12
Acts 7,
32:13
verse 55 and
32:14
56,
32:16
full of the
32:16
Holy Spirit,
32:17
Stephen gazes
32:17
into heaven,
32:18
sees the
32:19
glory of God
32:20
and Jesus
32:20
standing at
32:21
the right hand
32:21
of God,
32:22
and he
32:22
says,
32:23
behold,
32:24
I see the
32:24
heavens opened
32:25
and the
32:25
Son of Man
32:26
standing at
32:27
the right
32:27
hand of
32:28
God.
32:30
He believed
32:31
in the
32:31
promises of
32:32
God found
32:33
in the
32:34
Scripture.
32:35
He was a
32:36
man of
32:36
conviction
32:37
because he
32:38
knew the
32:39
Scriptures
32:39
and he
32:41
believed them.
32:42
He knew
32:42
the Scriptures
32:43
and he
32:45
believed them.
32:47
Stephen was
32:47
also full
32:49
of the
32:49
Holy Spirit.
32:50
He was
32:51
filled up
32:52
with the
32:53
Holy Spirit.
32:55
And as we
32:55
have said
32:56
before,
32:56
the opportunity
32:57
for this
32:58
is not
32:59
unique
33:00
amongst
33:00
followers of
33:01
Christ.
33:02
We don't
33:02
have varying
33:03
classification
33:04
of Christian,
33:06
those who
33:06
are filled
33:07
and aren't
33:08
filled.
33:08
If you are
33:09
a believer
33:09
in Jesus
33:10
Christ,
33:10
you have
33:10
been baptized
33:11
in the
33:11
Spirit and
33:11
we all
33:12
have the
33:12
opportunity
33:13
to be
33:14
filled.
33:15
And it
33:15
should not
33:16
be a
33:16
rare
33:17
occurrence
33:18
or reserved
33:19
in any
33:20
way.
33:22
To be
33:23
filled
33:24
with the
33:25
Spirit is
33:26
to have
33:26
the Word
33:27
of Christ
33:27
dwell in
33:28
you richly
33:29
in a way
33:29
that brings
33:30
about
33:31
change.
33:32
Romans 8,
33:33
3 and 4.
33:35
For God
33:35
is done
33:35
with the
33:36
law,
33:37
weakened by
33:37
the flesh,
33:38
could not
33:38
do by
33:39
sending
33:39
His own
33:40
Son in
33:40
the likeness
33:41
of sinful
33:41
flesh,
33:41
and for
33:42
sin He
33:43
condemned
33:44
sin in
33:45
the flesh,
33:46
in order
33:47
that the
33:48
righteous
33:48
requirement of
33:49
the law
33:49
might be
33:50
fulfilled in
33:51
us who
33:52
walk not
33:53
according to
33:54
the flesh,
33:55
but according
33:56
to the
33:57
Spirit.
33:59
The great
33:59
evidence of
34:00
being filled
34:01
with the
34:02
Spirit is
34:04
obedience.
34:05
Being so
34:06
captivated with
34:07
Christ that
34:08
we are
34:08
obedient to
34:09
His call.
34:10
It's
34:10
following
34:11
our Lord.
34:13
I've read
34:14
this to you
34:14
before,
34:14
I just love
34:15
it too much
34:15
not to read
34:16
it again.
34:16
I think this
34:16
may be number
34:17
three in the
34:17
book of Acts.
34:18
Dan Phillips,
34:19
a contemporary
34:19
pastor,
34:20
said this,
34:20
Show me a
34:21
person obsessed
34:22
with the
34:22
Holy Spirit
34:22
and His
34:23
gifts,
34:23
real or
34:24
imagined,
34:24
and I
34:24
will show
34:25
you a
34:25
person not
34:25
filled with
34:26
the Holy
34:26
Spirit.
34:28
Show me a
34:28
person focused
34:29
on the
34:29
personal work
34:30
of Jesus
34:30
Christ,
34:31
never tiring
34:32
of learning
34:32
about Him,
34:33
thinking about
34:34
Him,
34:34
boasting of
34:35
Him,
34:35
speaking about
34:36
and for
34:38
thrilled and
34:39
entranced with
34:39
His perfections
34:40
and beauty,
34:41
finding ways
34:42
to serve and
34:42
exalt Him,
34:43
tirelessly
34:44
exploring ways
34:44
to spend and
34:45
be spent for
34:46
Him,
34:46
growing in
34:47
character to
34:47
be more and
34:48
more like
34:49
Him,
34:49
and I will
34:50
show you a
34:50
person who
34:51
is filled
34:51
with the
34:52
Holy Spirit.
34:54
Not to be
34:54
the normative
34:55
part of our
34:55
Christian living,
34:56
that we be
34:57
people of
34:57
faith who
34:58
are filled
34:59
with the
35:00
Spirit of
35:00
God,
35:00
and we see
35:01
the evidencing
35:01
of that in
35:02
obedience.
35:03
We hold
35:04
our lives up
35:04
to the
35:05
Scripture,
35:06
and we go,
35:06
yes,
35:07
I find
35:08
myself in
35:09
this,
35:10
failing at
35:10
times,
35:11
but moving
35:11
progressively away
35:12
from my sin
35:13
and toward
35:14
holiness.
35:17
So what part
35:17
do we play
35:18
in gospel
35:19
conviction?
35:20
What's our
35:21
part?
35:21
If it's
35:21
synergistic,
35:22
right,
35:22
being perfected
35:23
by the
35:23
gospel,
35:24
what part
35:24
do we play?
35:25
We read,
35:26
and we study,
35:28
and we meditate
35:29
on the Word
35:30
of God.
35:32
Beloved,
35:32
we're to be a
35:32
people of the
35:33
Word.
35:34
We're to be
35:34
saturated by
35:36
this book,
35:38
and it's
35:38
not nearly as
35:38
difficult as
35:39
we all make
35:40
it out to
35:41
be.
35:41
We make
35:42
far too
35:43
many excuses
35:44
for our
35:46
biblical
35:46
illiteracy.
35:48
The number
35:48
one I hear
35:49
is time
35:50
management.
35:52
I just
35:52
need you to
35:53
pray for
35:53
time management.
35:56
Not what
35:57
you need
35:57
prayer for.
35:58
You need
35:58
prayer for
35:59
the idolatry
35:59
of your
35:59
heart.
36:01
It's a
36:01
worship issue.
36:03
The fact that
36:03
we don't take
36:04
this thing up
36:04
and read,
36:04
and I'm in
36:04
the boat
36:05
with you
36:05
guys,
36:05
right?
36:06
It's an
36:07
issue of
36:07
worship.
36:07
It's an
36:08
issue of
36:08
priority.
36:11
My old
36:12
self is an
36:14
idol factory.
36:14
I picture it
36:15
that way in
36:15
my mind,
36:16
little
36:16
smokestacks,
36:17
chukka,
36:17
chukka,
36:18
chukka,
36:18
chukka,
36:18
turning out,
36:19
new things
36:20
for me to
36:20
worship.
36:21
It takes
36:21
all these
36:21
varying forms
36:22
all the
36:23
time.
36:24
God has
36:25
built a
36:25
new wing,
36:27
right?
36:27
And it
36:28
produces
36:28
righteousness.
36:29
And he
36:29
is working
36:30
at destroying
36:31
that part
36:31
of the
36:32
factory that
36:33
I seem so
36:33
bent on
36:34
keeping
36:34
running.
36:35
And you
36:36
know why
36:36
we don't
36:37
get in
36:37
here and
36:38
read this
36:38
more often?
36:38
Because this
36:39
screws up
36:40
the idol
36:40
factory,
36:41
right?
36:41
It throws
36:41
wrenches
36:42
into the
36:43
idol factory.
36:43
It puts
36:43
the brakes
36:44
on that
36:45
production,
36:45
and it
36:46
messes with
36:46
our worship
36:47
of ourselves.
36:48
that's why
36:50
you don't
36:50
pick up the
36:51
word of
36:51
God.
36:52
That's why
36:52
you don't
36:52
read it
36:53
more.
36:53
It's an
36:53
issue of
36:54
worship.
36:57
Beloved,
36:58
we need to
36:58
be in
36:58
this book.
36:59
And I
36:59
know it
36:59
can be
37:00
daunting.
37:00
It's so
37:00
big and
37:01
there's so
37:01
much to
37:01
learn and
37:01
understand.
37:02
Don't
37:03
worry about
37:03
it.
37:04
Pick it
37:04
up today
37:05
and tomorrow
37:06
and the
37:06
next day
37:07
and you
37:07
will be
37:07
enriched
37:08
by it.
37:08
I can
37:09
promise
37:09
you
37:09
that.
37:10
Study it.
37:11
Study it
37:12
often.
37:13
Study it
37:13
well.
37:14
Read it
37:15
and let it
37:15
read you
37:16
and you
37:17
will be
37:17
changed
37:17
by it.
37:20
Gospel
37:20
conviction
37:21
produces
37:23
gospel
37:24
character.
37:27
It
37:27
produces
37:27
gospel
37:28
character.
37:29
Verse 8,
37:30
Stephen's
37:31
full of
37:31
grace and
37:32
power.
37:33
He's doing
37:33
these wonderful
37:34
works.
37:34
Verse 10,
37:36
this opposition
37:37
to him
37:37
couldn't
37:37
withstand
37:37
the wisdom
37:38
and the
37:39
spirit
37:40
with which
37:41
he was
37:41
speaking.
37:42
He's
37:42
full.
37:44
He's
37:44
amply
37:45
supplied
37:45
with
37:45
grace.
37:46
He's
37:47
amply
37:48
supplied
37:48
with
37:49
power.
37:50
He's
37:50
amply
37:51
supplied
37:51
with
37:52
wisdom.
37:53
Not in
37:54
a vacuum
37:54
but because
37:55
of the
37:55
spirit of
37:56
God
37:56
using
37:56
the
37:57
word
37:57
of
37:57
God
37:58
to
37:58
work
37:58
in
37:59
and
38:00
through
38:00
his
38:01
life.
38:03
And
38:03
he is
38:04
courageous.
38:07
Gospel
38:07
character.
38:08
Thing we
38:09
can note
38:09
of Stephen.
38:10
He is
38:11
courageous.
38:12
First for
38:13
preaching the
38:13
gospel at
38:14
all in
38:14
this
38:14
environment.
38:16
Knowing
38:17
full well
38:18
that there
38:18
was an
38:18
opposition
38:19
against
38:19
them.
38:19
Beloved,
38:20
we are
38:20
in the
38:20
same
38:21
place.
38:21
You don't
38:22
experience
38:22
opposition to
38:23
the preaching
38:23
of the
38:23
gospel because
38:24
you're not
38:24
preaching
38:25
the gospel.
38:27
He sits
38:28
amongst this
38:28
council,
38:29
70 men,
38:30
the high
38:31
court of
38:32
the day,
38:32
plus the
38:33
high priest,
38:34
and they
38:34
sit in a
38:34
semicircle
38:35
around him
38:36
and he
38:36
stands in
38:37
the midst
38:37
of him
38:38
and they
38:38
stare him
38:39
down.
38:40
Verse 15,
38:41
they're gazing
38:41
at him,
38:42
they're
38:42
staring
38:43
down.
38:46
Have you
38:46
ever been
38:46
in your
38:47
life in
38:47
a situation
38:48
where you're
38:48
being stared
38:49
at?
38:50
A wonderful
38:50
little example
38:51
of poor
38:51
Graham falling
38:52
off the
38:52
stage this
38:53
morning and
38:53
so embarrassed
38:54
because everybody,
38:55
at least he
38:55
thought everybody,
38:56
was looking at
38:58
him.
38:58
At the dinner
38:59
table sometimes,
39:00
my four-year-old
39:01
Judah will go,
39:02
why is everybody
39:02
staring at me?
39:03
And we'll go,
39:04
because you're
39:04
talking,
39:05
what's wrong
39:05
with you?
39:05
But he
39:05
suddenly gets
39:06
super self-conscious
39:07
and really,
39:08
and it's difficult
39:11
to stand up in
39:12
that kind of
39:12
environment,
39:13
right?
39:13
Everybody's
39:14
staring at you
39:15
and this is
39:15
such a higher
39:16
degree of that,
39:18
right?
39:18
He's on trial,
39:20
right?
39:20
They have been
39:21
warned.
39:21
We have already
39:22
seen that they
39:22
wanted to kill
39:23
the apostles.
39:24
And here he is
39:25
and he stands
39:26
amongst them
39:27
and when they
39:28
see his face,
39:29
he's not hiding
39:30
his face,
39:31
he's looking back
39:32
and his face
39:33
is shining
39:34
like the face
39:35
of an angel.
39:37
What courage!
39:38
And we'll get
39:38
into next week
39:39
his speech
39:40
and man,
39:41
is it good.
39:42
Right?
39:42
He holds
39:43
no punches.
39:44
Right?
39:44
This Stephen,
39:45
the deacon
39:45
of the church
39:46
standing before
39:47
the high religious
39:48
rulers of that
39:49
day and boy
39:50
does he go
39:50
for the jugular.
39:52
His face
39:54
is glowing
39:55
in the midst
39:56
of their stares.
39:58
And there's only
39:59
one other person
40:00
in biblical history
40:02
that this happens
40:02
to and that's
40:03
Moses in Exodus
40:04
33.
40:05
Remember he asked
40:05
to see the glory
40:06
of God.
40:07
God says that
40:07
if you fully see
40:08
my glory,
40:09
you'll die.
40:10
So he lets him
40:10
see his back
40:11
and just that
40:12
causes his face
40:13
to shine for days.
40:15
The people of Israel
40:16
can't even look
40:16
at his face
40:17
it shines so bright
40:17
so he wears a veil
40:18
but slowly over time
40:20
that fades away.
40:22
I think the same thing
40:23
is happening here
40:24
with Stephen
40:24
and I'm reaching
40:26
a little bit
40:27
but I believe
40:27
that that's what's
40:28
going on
40:29
in this case
40:30
that he's shining
40:30
like one of God's
40:31
shining ones,
40:33
one of the angels.
40:35
in response
40:37
to this great
40:38
opposition
40:38
and this glaring
40:40
that they're doing
40:40
on his part
40:41
these men of darkness
40:43
they see a man
40:45
of light.
40:47
I think it helps us
40:49
get some idea
40:49
about this.
40:51
Paul writes
40:52
in 2 Corinthians
40:53
chapter 3
40:54
beginning of verse 7
40:55
now if the ministry
40:57
of death
40:58
carved in letters
41:00
on stones
41:01
we're talking about
41:01
the law
41:02
the law
41:03
brings death
41:04
convicts of sin
41:06
now if the ministry
41:08
of death
41:09
carved in letters
41:09
on stone
41:10
came with such glory
41:12
that the Israelites
41:13
could not gaze
41:14
at Moses' face
41:15
because of its glory
41:16
so the shining
41:17
the glory of God
41:18
shining out of his face
41:19
they couldn't gaze
41:20
at his face
41:20
which was being brought
41:23
to an end
41:23
verse 8
41:24
will not the ministry
41:25
of the spirit
41:26
have even more
41:28
glory?
41:30
For if there was glory
41:31
in the ministry
41:32
of condemnation
41:33
the ministry
41:35
of righteousness
41:35
must far
41:36
exceed it
41:37
in glory
41:38
indeed in this case
41:40
what once had glory
41:41
has come to have
41:42
no glory at all
41:43
because of the glory
41:44
that surpasses it
41:46
the gospel of Jesus Christ
41:47
verse 11
41:49
for if what was being
41:50
brought to an end
41:50
came with glory
41:52
much more
41:53
will what is
41:54
permanent
41:54
have glory
41:56
so Stephen
41:58
stands
41:59
as this man
41:59
of gospel
42:00
character
42:01
at the cusp
42:02
of the launching
42:03
out
42:03
of the gospel
42:04
of Jesus Christ
42:05
and I think
42:05
that's why
42:06
God
42:07
does the same
42:09
thing that he did
42:09
with Moses
42:10
in letting his
42:11
face shine
42:12
as well
42:13
in the same
42:15
way
42:16
so we see
42:17
gospel
42:17
conviction
42:18
and we see
42:19
gospel
42:19
character
42:21
in Stephen's
42:22
life
42:22
and for the
42:23
sake of time
42:23
we're going to
42:24
pick up the
42:24
last two
42:25
next week
42:26
but I'm going to
42:27
find a way
42:27
to do that
42:28
which would be
42:29
gospel community
42:29
and gospel
42:31
commission
42:32
beloved we need to
42:34
take careful note
42:35
of Stephen's
42:37
life
42:37
we need to ask
42:38
ourselves
42:39
what part
42:41
are we to play
42:42
in the
42:43
perfecting of our
42:44
lives lives
42:45
lived that are
42:46
not wasted
42:47
and are lived
42:48
for the kingdom
42:49
of God
42:49
for the glory
42:50
of God
42:50
the service
42:51
of the gospel
42:51
for the love
42:52
of others
42:52
around us
42:53
what do we need
42:54
to pick up
42:55
and do
42:55
what is our
42:56
part in
42:57
sanctification
42:58
that the gospel
42:59
might have
42:59
its effect
42:59
in us
43:00
and through
43:01
us
43:02
to those
43:02
around us
43:03
let's pray
43:03
together