1 00:00:00,300 --> 00:00:04,500 It's another wonderful day that the Lord has given us is allowed 2 00:00:04,500 --> 00:00:08,900 us that moment to rest in the night and rises morning to 3 00:00:09,500 --> 00:00:13,900 glorify him. And this morning, you're looking 4 00:00:13,900 --> 00:00:15,900 at me. And that's only because brother 5 00:00:15,900 --> 00:00:19,800 Terry Osborne called and asked me to fill in for him since he's 6 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:24,300 up in Oregon, tending to his mother and we pray that all was 7 00:00:24,300 --> 00:00:26,700 going well with Rosetta and family there. 8 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:30,800 And they will have safe Journeys back and he'll be back here 9 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:36,300 before surely next month. We pray, it's been a while 10 00:00:36,300 --> 00:00:40,000 probably since I've stood before you and had a reading. 11 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:44,700 But this morning I wanted to take a look specifically at 12 00:00:44,700 --> 00:00:50,600 someone that we many times, if we've read the book of Acts and 13 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:56,300 we think about what happened to him and then what events Then 14 00:00:56,300 --> 00:01:03,400 followed that would come to be known as Paul and what he would 15 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:06,800 become to be. I think there's so much to learn 16 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:13,700 from a man called Stephen and much more than it was Precious 17 00:01:13,700 --> 00:01:19,500 Precious his sacrifice that he essentially was giving in his 18 00:01:19,500 --> 00:01:23,500 life as he was stolen. But there's so much more to find 19 00:01:23,500 --> 00:01:28,900 about Steven even though in just those two chapters of Acts 6 and 20 00:01:28,900 --> 00:01:33,200 7. We know those of those things 21 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:36,400 are there to tell us a little more about it. 22 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:41,000 We don't know how old he was. We don't know more than what 23 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:46,100 those few verses tell us but they tell us I think a lot more 24 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:52,400 and in my mind personally I look and read this and in these 25 00:01:52,400 --> 00:02:01,300 verses as I read about Steven what I do is I find that he was 26 00:02:01,300 --> 00:02:09,500 the precursor or the cane before Saul who would become Paul Paul 27 00:02:09,500 --> 00:02:14,000 wasn't saw, wasn't a Christian. He was persecuting Christians, 28 00:02:14,900 --> 00:02:21,300 but he lived a life, that then, as we read more, if you were to 29 00:02:21,300 --> 00:02:27,600 take time to read about Paul and reflect back, how much Paul's 30 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:36,900 life really was full, because of what that man, Stephen was in so 31 00:02:36,900 --> 00:02:39,900 many ways. So this For the reading. 32 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:44,100 If you have your Bibles will look into Acts. 33 00:02:44,100 --> 00:02:50,400 Chapter 6 is 15 verses long. Verse 1. 34 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,600 Now in those days when the number of the disciples was 35 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:56,800 multiplying There, Rose, a complaint against the Jew 36 00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:00,600 Hebrews by the hellenists because their widows were 37 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:02,700 neglected in the daily distribution. 38 00:03:03,100 --> 00:03:06,400 Then the 12 summoned, the multitude of the disciples and 39 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:10,600 said it is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and 40 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:13,900 serve tables. Therefore Brethren seek out from 41 00:03:13,900 --> 00:03:18,400 among you seven. Men of good reputation full of 42 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:21,700 the Holy Spirit. It and wisdom whom we may 43 00:03:21,700 --> 00:03:26,500 appoint over this business but we will give ourselves 44 00:03:26,500 --> 00:03:31,600 continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word and the 45 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:35,000 saying please the whole multitude and they chose 46 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:38,500 Stephen. A Man full of faith and the Holy 47 00:03:38,500 --> 00:03:42,600 Spirit and Phillip per course nicanor. 48 00:03:43,500 --> 00:03:48,200 Timon parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte proselyte from 49 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:50,500 Antioch. Whom they set before the 50 00:03:50,500 --> 00:03:55,800 apostles, and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them, 51 00:03:56,500 --> 00:03:59,400 then the word of God spread and the number of the disciples 52 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:03,100 multiplied, greatly in Jerusalem and a great many of the priests 53 00:04:03,100 --> 00:04:08,200 were obedient to the faith. And Stephen Full of faith and 54 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:12,800 power did great wonders. And signs among the people, then 55 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:16,399 there arose some from what is called the synagogue of the 56 00:04:16,399 --> 00:04:20,600 freedmen sirenians alexandrians and those from Silesia and I 57 00:04:20,608 --> 00:04:25,900 know Asia disputing with Steven and they were not able to resist 58 00:04:26,300 --> 00:04:29,300 the work against his, it would be the wisdom and the Spirit by 59 00:04:29,300 --> 00:04:32,800 which he spoke. Then they secretly induce men to 60 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,200 say we have heard him speak blasphemous. 61 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:40,200 Most words against Moses and God and they stirred up to people, 62 00:04:40,500 --> 00:04:44,900 the elders and the scribes and they came upon Him seized him 63 00:04:45,100 --> 00:04:48,500 and brought him to the council. They also set up false 64 00:04:48,500 --> 00:04:51,600 Witnesses. Who said this man does not cease 65 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:55,800 to speak Blasphemous words against this holy place and the 66 00:04:55,800 --> 00:05:00,800 law for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will 67 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:05,100 destroy this place and change the Customs, which Moses 68 00:05:05,300 --> 00:05:10,400 Delivered to us and all sat in the council looked steadfastly 69 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:16,100 at him. Solve his face saw his face as 70 00:05:16,100 --> 00:05:21,900 the face of an Angel. Now with these verses and 71 00:05:21,900 --> 00:05:25,000 correctly, read on my part and barring any era that is the 72 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:30,200 scriptures that will study this morning and will follow on into 73 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:34,500 chapter 7. And then we will also take a 74 00:05:34,500 --> 00:05:39,900 look at a concept that we will read over and over here and 75 00:05:39,900 --> 00:05:44,000 these contacts. And that's full Just a simple 76 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:48,200 four letter word full and we'll follow that through the lesson. 77 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:53,400 So at this time we have the great moment opportunity and to 78 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:54,900 go to our Heavenly Father in prayer. 79 00:05:54,900 --> 00:05:57,200 So if we would humble ourselves and some manners, the one 80 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:03,500 selected began, it's wonderful to look around. 81 00:06:03,900 --> 00:06:06,800 Look into the faces of all that have come to the service this 82 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:11,300 morning. And as brother, Darren prayed 83 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:15,600 this morning. We're so very thankful that the 84 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:19,100 Lord is continuing to watch over each Soul here. 85 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:24,500 Especially as we think about brother, Frank and his healing 86 00:06:24,900 --> 00:06:27,300 and it was so course, so wonderful to be able to see 87 00:06:27,300 --> 00:06:31,300 Frank stand before us this morning and all for a prayer. 88 00:06:31,900 --> 00:06:36,000 And that's wonderful to be able to see that. 89 00:06:38,300 --> 00:06:45,400 It's some uplifting and it's encouraging to each person that 90 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:47,800 struggles from moment to moment and day-to-day. 91 00:06:49,700 --> 00:06:53,000 As we might. And as we do that, we know that 92 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:57,600 we can turn to God and his strength will get us through. 93 00:06:57,900 --> 00:07:03,100 And again, we continue to pray for all those that Darren 94 00:07:03,100 --> 00:07:06,600 mentioned in the prayer that they will build up in the Most, 95 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:09,900 Holy Faith, to be strengthened, and comforted, as their needs 96 00:07:09,900 --> 00:07:14,500 would be now as we look to the scriptures here and Acts chapter 97 00:07:14,500 --> 00:07:17,400 6. And we think about Steven and 98 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:21,000 we'll kind of work. Rule of the chapter but also I 99 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:23,900 want to expand on that. So we're not going to 100 00:07:23,907 --> 00:07:27,200 necessarily do an expository on every word that's here. 101 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:31,900 In, chapter 6, but parts of it. We will now thing that one thing 102 00:07:31,900 --> 00:07:35,500 you might want to remember here, the church has been established, 103 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:41,100 but it's growing, it's manifesting itself to the world. 104 00:07:41,100 --> 00:07:44,000 But at the same time, their issues and problems, we know 105 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:49,800 that people that were obeying the gospel and we Coming members 106 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:53,400 of the Lord's churches that were being added to the Lord's 107 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:58,900 church, that they were laying down their goods at the feet of 108 00:07:58,900 --> 00:08:02,500 the Apostles, and everybody was sharing, and everybody was 109 00:08:02,500 --> 00:08:06,000 caring and giving it was a special significant moment in 110 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:09,100 time. It was different and we know 111 00:08:09,100 --> 00:08:14,300 that it was a busy time. It's so, there was a moment in 112 00:08:14,300 --> 00:08:17,600 time when all of a sudden the apostles were just overwhelmed 113 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:21,300 almost. Them trying to preach the gospel 114 00:08:21,500 --> 00:08:24,500 and at the same time, they were ministering to the family of 115 00:08:24,500 --> 00:08:27,800 God, that was gathered together there in Jerusalem, and they 116 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:32,500 were having to take care of this ministration. 117 00:08:32,500 --> 00:08:37,100 That's a word that used in the King James version distribution 118 00:08:37,100 --> 00:08:40,900 and the new King James version, and it was helping them have 119 00:08:40,900 --> 00:08:44,000 food and the necessities of life. 120 00:08:44,700 --> 00:08:47,800 And because many of them have given up things, or they were 121 00:08:47,900 --> 00:08:52,000 poor and other ways. I'm sick in need now. 122 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:55,100 Surely, of course, the gospel was there. 123 00:08:55,500 --> 00:08:58,600 The powers of the Holy Spirit, there was healing of the bodies 124 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:00,900 to be healed and those ways, but you still have to have 125 00:09:00,900 --> 00:09:04,400 sustenance of food and the apostles were busy. 126 00:09:04,900 --> 00:09:10,700 And they hear, they say that. He summoned, they were very 127 00:09:10,700 --> 00:09:13,300 busy, it's in. There was a dispute actually 128 00:09:13,300 --> 00:09:15,100 between the Hebrews and ahead of us. 129 00:09:15,700 --> 00:09:20,100 Now again, the King James Bible refers to the Gentiles Greeks as 130 00:09:20,100 --> 00:09:22,400 it were the Greeks. The hellenists were the Greeks. 131 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:26,700 So you had two different populations of people and you 132 00:09:26,700 --> 00:09:29,200 pull them together against they had become Christians but you 133 00:09:29,208 --> 00:09:33,100 got to figure many of these people were of the Jewish faith, 134 00:09:33,100 --> 00:09:37,500 and you got these people that were non believing in the Jewish 135 00:09:37,500 --> 00:09:40,900 faith and God And also they come together, there's going to be a 136 00:09:40,900 --> 00:09:44,500 clash and so conflict. And as they did, they were 137 00:09:44,500 --> 00:09:47,700 thinking well, these people are getting better serve than we're 138 00:09:47,700 --> 00:09:49,400 getting served. And so there was this 139 00:09:49,900 --> 00:09:53,900 interpretation and so the apostles saw this and they you 140 00:09:53,900 --> 00:09:57,200 know, came together with them and said, it's not desirable 141 00:09:57,200 --> 00:09:59,900 that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 142 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:03,600 Therefore Brethren seek out from among you seven. 143 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:08,700 Men of good reputation full of the holy spirit and wisdom now. 144 00:10:08,900 --> 00:10:13,200 I'm going to choose seven men and it gave the stipulation of 145 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:16,400 what they would be, they would be of good reputation. 146 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:22,100 And in the process of this there, looked around and saw 147 00:10:22,100 --> 00:10:25,200 these men. And of course, all these people 148 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:29,300 to one degree, or the other are relatively new to the Christian 149 00:10:29,300 --> 00:10:32,300 faith. But there were those, of course, 150 00:10:32,300 --> 00:10:37,700 who grasped it and took it and just were able. 151 00:10:37,700 --> 00:10:42,700 Then, to be able All to use what they were hearing and understand 152 00:10:42,700 --> 00:10:46,200 it and be able to help others. Well, these people had good 153 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:48,500 reputation, they were honest, they were sincere. 154 00:10:48,700 --> 00:10:51,400 They were loving, they were carrying all the things, you 155 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:54,700 might think in a good reputation and then it says they were full 156 00:10:54,700 --> 00:10:59,100 of the holy spirit and wisdom. Now, in this case, your we're 157 00:10:59,100 --> 00:11:02,800 talking about that they had already had the Holy Spirit 158 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:07,800 taken in as it were in this first century Church some more 159 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:11,000 than others, we know. That, you know, you could look 160 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:14,800 at examples where maybe there were people that would fall away 161 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:18,400 from the faith. But these people had taken in 162 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:21,600 the work and they had been blessed. 163 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:27,000 And we know then that they had been blessed with that fullness 164 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:31,300 of the wisdom of the word and we read, of course, further that 165 00:11:31,300 --> 00:11:33,500 after these seven men are appointed that, you're going to 166 00:11:33,500 --> 00:11:36,600 have the hands laid on them, that they would have this 167 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,200 blessing. And again, those Gifts that were 168 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:44,200 read about and First Corinthians where it talks about the gifts 169 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:48,800 that, then they would be able to do things have the power for my 170 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:54,900 miraculous healings or being able to teach the word with 171 00:11:54,900 --> 00:11:59,500 wisdom, that's given through them through that, Holy Spirit, 172 00:11:59,500 --> 00:12:04,100 being able to speak in tongues, those kinds of things. 173 00:12:04,100 --> 00:12:08,700 So these men, these seven men were such that they were going 174 00:12:08,700 --> 00:12:13,000 to Be able to be filled as it was with a certain fullness. 175 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:17,400 Now, it's interesting that they specifically mentioned here when 176 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:21,700 it says that and they verse 5 and then the saying please the 177 00:12:21,700 --> 00:12:25,500 whole multitude and they chose Stephen, A Man full of faith and 178 00:12:25,500 --> 00:12:29,200 of the Holy Ghost and then it mentions Phillip a Carson 179 00:12:29,300 --> 00:12:31,700 nicanor, Timon parmenas, and Nicolas. 180 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:37,000 Those also, I don't think that necessarily means my mind that 181 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:41,200 the others didn't already have Have the qualities, but 182 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:47,400 specifically, Stephen is being called out as that person who 183 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:53,100 really has identified himself and given himself, fully and 184 00:12:53,100 --> 00:12:57,600 wholly, and completely to the gospel and the cause of Christ. 185 00:12:58,100 --> 00:12:59,900 These others were there doing that, too. 186 00:12:59,900 --> 00:13:04,100 But also, I think it tells us that Stephen, if you were just 187 00:13:04,100 --> 00:13:08,700 to take this verse, something special about this man, is there 188 00:13:08,900 --> 00:13:11,300 And it's special that's going to happen. 189 00:13:11,700 --> 00:13:15,200 We don't know what that is, of course, unless you read on, but 190 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:19,900 it's special for Steven here to be able to be not identified as 191 00:13:19,900 --> 00:13:22,500 a man full of faith and the Holy Ghost. 192 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:26,400 Now, one thing just to talk about that four-letter word, 193 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:34,000 full in Vines dictionary. It's the sense of being filled. 194 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:40,200 The sense of being filled Strong's goes on and says, it's 195 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:46,300 by analogy complete. So this is something that we 196 00:13:46,300 --> 00:13:49,600 would later. Think about the Apostle Paul, he 197 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:53,400 was definitely had that sense of being filled and analogy being 198 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:56,900 complete but hey, Paul's not Paul at this time. 199 00:13:57,200 --> 00:14:01,900 Paul is Saul, he is a Pharisee of Pharisees. 200 00:14:02,300 --> 00:14:07,800 He is someone that's going to be Persecuting the Christians and 201 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,800 he's going to come into play here shortly and chapter 7. 202 00:14:11,300 --> 00:14:16,300 And so we're going to know these things about Steven and I just 203 00:14:16,300 --> 00:14:20,000 kind of want you to keep out there in your mind, the 204 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:23,100 thoughts, or the back of your minds of apostle Paul. 205 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:26,900 And what he's going to be doing to the Christian specifically 206 00:14:27,300 --> 00:14:31,700 and the stoning process of having Stephen stoned and at 207 00:14:31,700 --> 00:14:37,200 this man would become Paul. The Vessel chosen by God, to be 208 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:42,300 able to take the gospel to the Gentiles and in some ways to me. 209 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:50,900 Steven is a conduit. That works. 210 00:14:52,300 --> 00:15:00,000 To have Saul and his heart prick to the point that he's going to 211 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:07,200 Forever. Carry the death of Stephen 212 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:15,900 before him. so, as we read on there, And we talked about this, 213 00:15:16,300 --> 00:15:19,100 it also mentions the course, the word full of power. 214 00:15:19,100 --> 00:15:22,800 And I think full of here, says, full of faith and verse 8, full 215 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:26,100 of faith and full of power, and great wonders. 216 00:15:26,100 --> 00:15:28,900 And miracles, among the people, well, here, we see the Holy 217 00:15:28,900 --> 00:15:32,300 Ghost. Holy Spirit working in Stephen. 218 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:36,100 He's been given this power and we're going to see this also. 219 00:15:36,100 --> 00:15:39,600 And the other Apostles other people that are have the hands 220 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:43,100 laid out upon them, and they're doing miraculous things, and 221 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:47,900 Bringing people to the church. Again, the the concept of the 222 00:15:47,900 --> 00:15:51,300 power of Miracles that was just to be able to perform as it 223 00:15:51,300 --> 00:15:58,100 were, that the gospel is there. And it is able to be seen. 224 00:15:58,300 --> 00:16:01,700 These people had not seen or heard of Jesus Christ. 225 00:16:01,700 --> 00:16:04,900 He died on the cross, some of the people in the Church. 226 00:16:04,900 --> 00:16:08,300 Of course, maybe had been there and witnessed the actual blood 227 00:16:08,300 --> 00:16:12,200 flowing from Christ down that cross and his death. 228 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:17,000 I've often wondered that many times how many of those people 229 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:22,100 that maybe had actually visually seen the crucifixion of Christ 230 00:16:22,300 --> 00:16:26,900 actually, then were able to to come to Christ on that day of 231 00:16:26,900 --> 00:16:31,500 Pentecost when Peter preached that First Gospel sermon, I've 232 00:16:31,500 --> 00:16:34,800 just wondered who was there and who was there and saw it and 233 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:36,500 turned away and didn't accept it. 234 00:16:37,700 --> 00:16:40,200 And it's just something that today, I think about those 235 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:44,700 people that hear the gospel. But then they turn away from it. 236 00:16:45,700 --> 00:16:48,300 It's it's something that comes to me. 237 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:54,900 Now, power in this specific verse here, Strong's comments 238 00:16:54,900 --> 00:17:00,200 that the it is the ability as given by the holy spirit. 239 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:06,300 So it's not a power that that Steven had in of himself, thus 240 00:17:06,599 --> 00:17:11,000 the power came through the Holy Spirit. 241 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:17,099 It was bestowed upon him as Were I find another annotation here 242 00:17:17,099 --> 00:17:20,200 in verse 6? 1500 6:15. 243 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:25,500 Where it's at the end. And one thing he's doing here 244 00:17:25,900 --> 00:17:32,300 and the latter part of chapter 6, Steven is is someone that is, 245 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:38,800 is out there preaching to those Jews in the synagogue and as he 246 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:44,500 preaches then of course, these people are pushing back against 247 00:17:44,500 --> 00:17:48,800 what he's saying. And as they push back there, 248 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:54,400 kind of resisting is the It's used in the new King James 249 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:58,500 version so they're pushing back their resisting and they push 250 00:17:58,500 --> 00:18:03,000 back so much and maybe this is one of the Early times when you 251 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:08,000 look at the scriptures here. When all of a sudden here's a 252 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:12,300 man that's not one of the Apostles and he's out there 253 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:15,700 teaching the gospel, he's teaching, Jesus Christ, 254 00:18:15,700 --> 00:18:20,500 crucified, and these Jews aren't going to accept it. 255 00:18:20,700 --> 00:18:24,600 They're pushing Back and they're pushing to the point, they're 256 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:26,800 going to do the same thing they did with Christ. 257 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:29,400 In a sense they went out and support. 258 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:33,100 Suborned is the word in the King James version, they went out and 259 00:18:33,100 --> 00:18:35,500 grabbed some men. Basically said, okay, come over 260 00:18:35,500 --> 00:18:39,400 here and we want you to go tell some lies about this math. 261 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:45,200 Tell them that he's corrupting the religion, that we know he 262 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:47,900 wants to turn us against what most has taught us. 263 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:51,300 So they did this and that's the same thing they did with. 264 00:18:51,500 --> 00:18:54,400 Rice. Take Christ, was crucified on a 265 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:57,600 bunch of lies and on that covetousness and jealousy of who 266 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:00,900 he was, as the Divine Son of God. 267 00:19:01,900 --> 00:19:09,000 So, this man, Stephen is doing that with his whole being with 268 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:12,300 the fullness and wholeness of everything he has. 269 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:18,300 He's teaching Jesus Christ crucified and the Jews were not 270 00:19:18,300 --> 00:19:20,600 about to put up it. So they set up these false 271 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:28,100 Witnesses and they say for we have heard him, say verse 14 272 00:19:28,100 --> 00:19:32,100 that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change 273 00:19:32,100 --> 00:19:34,700 the Customs which Moses delivered to us. 274 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:38,000 You go back and take your mind to the gospels. 275 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:42,300 Is exactly what they were doing but Jesus Christ and all who set 276 00:19:42,300 --> 00:19:46,500 in the council Looking steadfastly at him. 277 00:19:47,100 --> 00:19:50,900 Saw his face as the face of an Angel. 278 00:19:52,100 --> 00:19:56,800 Now that's something to me is here, are these people that are 279 00:19:56,800 --> 00:20:04,100 working against the truth of God, his word and some capacity, 280 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:07,400 they're seeing something different than not going to 281 00:20:07,408 --> 00:20:10,900 accept it. But they're seeing someone whose 282 00:20:10,900 --> 00:20:17,400 face was as An angel. Now I'm going to maybe take a 283 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:22,400 little of Liberty here. But I'm going to think myself 284 00:20:23,100 --> 00:20:28,300 where the Apostle Paul writes in second Corinthians 4:6 for God 285 00:20:28,300 --> 00:20:32,000 who commanded the light to shine out of Darkness, has shined in 286 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:35,500 our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of 287 00:20:35,500 --> 00:20:40,900 God in the face of Jesus Christ. That word face is used there 288 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:45,600 with Jesus Christ here. We see the face of Steven. 289 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:50,400 It's as though it was an angel, he's not, he's a man not an 290 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:58,400 angel but The holy spirit is worked in this man and his 291 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:00,600 working in him as he speaks to this people. 292 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:04,700 He's not finished. Because they're going to have to 293 00:21:04,700 --> 00:21:09,700 listen to this man whose face. Seems as though it's an angel 294 00:21:09,700 --> 00:21:11,600 because they had brought him before the council. 295 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:16,200 He's there to have accusations thrown at him and he's going to 296 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:21,000 defend not so much himself. He's going to defend the gospel 297 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:25,000 and God's word. And he in chapter 7, which I'm 298 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:29,300 not going to try to go deep into that, but we need to know and 299 00:21:29,300 --> 00:21:32,800 chapter 7. They asked him. 300 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:37,000 The high priest says, are these things so and then he begins 301 00:21:37,100 --> 00:21:39,300 that Stephen says Brethren and fathers. 302 00:21:39,300 --> 00:21:43,200 Listen, the god of Glory appeared to Our Father, Abraham, 303 00:21:43,500 --> 00:21:48,300 when he was in Mesopotamia. He goes on Stephen goes on to 304 00:21:48,300 --> 00:21:52,800 proclaim a century, the history of the Hebrew people, and he 305 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:57,900 tells them about Abraham and he goes on, he talks about Egypt, 306 00:21:57,900 --> 00:22:01,800 but he talks about Moses and he talks about all All that the 307 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:06,100 Hebrew history is he relates it to him, word for word. 308 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:10,200 Now, those people that are commentators and expositors 309 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:13,800 akademi ins, they'll take this and say, well, he didn't quite 310 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:16,800 say this, right? Or he left this little part out 311 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:21,900 here, but through the Holy Spirit, he is expounding on the 312 00:22:21,900 --> 00:22:25,700 history of the Jewish people. And he talks about how the 313 00:22:25,700 --> 00:22:29,400 Jewish people rejected. Many of those people. 314 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:33,700 They rejected Moses. They brought down a golden calf 315 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:39,100 and he talked about the rebellion and in the end and the 316 00:22:39,100 --> 00:22:41,600 latter part of chapter 7 as begins. 317 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:46,600 In verse 44, he talks about the Tabernacle, and he talks about 318 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:48,400 it was a witness in the wilderness. 319 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:51,100 And then, in verse 48, he goes on. 320 00:22:51,100 --> 00:22:55,100 He says, however the most high does not dwell in temples made 321 00:22:55,100 --> 00:22:58,900 with hands, as the prophet says, now you got to remember these 322 00:22:58,900 --> 00:23:01,100 people are saying, oh, we've got the temple. 323 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:05,400 And that's what we have and it's everything and there's nothing 324 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:07,500 else. We've got to do this and that 325 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:11,400 and the tradition of our fathers and so on but we know that Jesus 326 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:14,100 Christ when he died the scriptures tell us he nailed 327 00:23:14,100 --> 00:23:17,600 that old law to the cross. It was done away with. 328 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:20,300 So what they were hearing though was something against 329 00:23:20,300 --> 00:23:23,600 everything. They had believed verse 49, it 330 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:27,000 goes on and says that the prophet says Heaven is my throne 331 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:30,100 and the Earth is my footstool. What house will you build for 332 00:23:30,100 --> 00:23:31,200 me? Says the Lord. 333 00:23:31,300 --> 00:23:35,100 Lord, but what is the place of my rest as my hand, not made all 334 00:23:35,100 --> 00:23:41,400 these things. So Stephen at this point is 335 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:44,200 going to start to show another fullness. 336 00:23:45,500 --> 00:23:50,000 Now, if you think about Jesus Christ coming into the world in 337 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:54,800 Matthew 6, 22 and 24, it talks about the light of the body and 338 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:58,000 the eye, if therefore that eye be single, thy whole body, shall 339 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:00,700 be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy 340 00:24:00,700 --> 00:24:02,400 whole body, shall be full of Darkness. 341 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:05,300 If therefore, the light that is in thee, be Darkness. 342 00:24:05,300 --> 00:24:09,300 How great is that darkness? No, man can serve two masters 343 00:24:09,300 --> 00:24:11,600 for either. He will hate the one and love 344 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:14,100 the other or else he will. Hold to the one and despise the 345 00:24:14,100 --> 00:24:17,700 other. Cannot serve God and Mammon. 346 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:22,900 So we know that Jesus Christ. He came as the light in the 347 00:24:22,900 --> 00:24:28,600 world, and we know that Jesus Christ has talked about that in 348 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:34,000 Christ's words, that end in Matthew 5, were the Beatitudes 349 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:36,800 occur. Verse 14 through 18, He says, 350 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:40,000 you are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill 351 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:43,000 that cannot be hid. Neither do men, light, a candle 352 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:46,100 and put it under a bushel. But on a Candlestick and it 353 00:24:46,100 --> 00:24:49,400 giveth light unto all that are in the house, let your light. 354 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:52,400 So shine before men that they may see your good works and 355 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:56,400 glorify your hot Father which is in heaven for verily. 356 00:24:56,400 --> 00:25:02,200 I say unto you till Heaven and Earth pass, one jot or tittle 357 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:05,900 shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled. 358 00:25:06,100 --> 00:25:09,500 I say that read those particular portion of the scriptures. 359 00:25:10,700 --> 00:25:14,400 Stephen was full of the scriptures. 360 00:25:14,700 --> 00:25:18,600 He knew the scriptures they was inspired and given to him to 361 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:22,200 remember all these things, he hadn't seen all that, he had 362 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:24,700 lived. All that yes he had heard, it is 363 00:25:24,700 --> 00:25:28,200 transgender Edition and been passed down and he had gone to 364 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:33,100 the synagogue and they read and read those old scriptures but he 365 00:25:33,100 --> 00:25:38,800 was full of the scriptures. And his speech here in Chapter 366 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:42,000 7. When you have time, you go read 367 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:43,600 it. And then what I'd asked you to 368 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:47,700 do is you turn over to acts 13 and you go read verses 16 369 00:25:47,700 --> 00:25:52,900 through 41 and 40 and on through 52 and you're going to hear Paul 370 00:25:53,200 --> 00:26:01,600 expound, A sermon that's going to cover the history just as 371 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:05,100 Stephen did. The only difference is they took 372 00:26:05,100 --> 00:26:12,000 Stephen out and they did Stony. Paul would leave Antioch safely. 373 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:19,700 But if you read that chapter 13, you'll find out, they followed 374 00:26:19,700 --> 00:26:25,600 Paul to Iconium and all. And as they did they found him. 375 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:28,500 They stirred up the people. Just like these people were 376 00:26:28,500 --> 00:26:31,400 stirred up and they take him out and they stoned him. 377 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:36,100 The difference is he lives? God has purpose was not yet 378 00:26:36,100 --> 00:26:42,500 fulfilled for Paul, but Steven here, he's going to be having 379 00:26:42,500 --> 00:26:47,000 that strength. To be able to expound. 380 00:26:48,500 --> 00:26:52,900 Because he knows the scriptures and one thing for us, if we are 381 00:26:52,900 --> 00:26:56,900 going to reach other people and to present the Plan of 382 00:26:56,900 --> 00:27:00,400 Salvation, at present the gospel, we need to know the 383 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:04,400 scriptures. We know when Ephesians 1:17 384 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:07,400 through 20, that the god of our Lord Jesus Christ. 385 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:10,700 The father of Glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom 386 00:27:10,700 --> 00:27:12,700 and Revelation in the knowledge of him. 387 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:17,800 What do we read about Stephen? He'd been given the spirit of 388 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:24,100 wisdom here, we hear Paul writing to the Ephesians, Are 389 00:27:24,100 --> 00:27:26,800 you unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation of 390 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:29,400 knowledge of him? It's perforce in the scriptures, 391 00:27:30,300 --> 00:27:33,100 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened that you may 392 00:27:33,100 --> 00:27:36,400 know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of 393 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:40,700 the glory of his inheritance in the Saints and what is the 394 00:27:40,700 --> 00:27:44,600 exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward, who believe, 395 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:47,900 according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought 396 00:27:47,900 --> 00:27:51,800 in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his 397 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:54,300 own right hand and Heaven. Places. 398 00:27:56,100 --> 00:28:03,400 So, our days need to be full. Stevens days were Full Tang. 399 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:06,600 Stevens days were short. I don't know. 400 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:09,200 How Stephen was, was he a young man? 401 00:28:09,700 --> 00:28:12,600 Was he in his thirties? Because of the nature of the 402 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:16,500 Jewish custom of being able to interact and live in that 403 00:28:16,500 --> 00:28:22,800 culture and the religious sense, was he loader 50s 60s? 404 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:27,600 I have no idea how old this man might have been, but the reality 405 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:33,700 is His days were full. And he was full of the 406 00:28:33,700 --> 00:28:38,500 scriptures are days need to be full of studying the scriptures. 407 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:42,900 Second Timothy 3:15, 17. And that from a child, thou Hast 408 00:28:42,900 --> 00:28:46,400 known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto 409 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:50,000 salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus, all 410 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:52,900 scripture is given by inspiration of God and is 411 00:28:52,900 --> 00:28:56,000 profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction for 412 00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:57,500 instruction. In righteousness. 413 00:28:57,700 --> 00:29:01,300 That the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished and 414 00:29:01,300 --> 00:29:07,300 all Works now in the process of us knowing this and even for 415 00:29:07,300 --> 00:29:11,800 that first century Church, those seven men, the body of Christ, 416 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:16,500 that was worshipping together and a congregation in the first 417 00:29:16,500 --> 00:29:20,000 century, they needed to be full of the scriptures. 418 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:23,300 So they would and wisdom. So they'd be able to edify one 419 00:29:23,300 --> 00:29:27,000 another such, as we first Thessalonians 5:11, wherefore 420 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:32,900 Comfort yourselves together, and edify one another even as Also 421 00:29:32,900 --> 00:29:38,600 you do, he was full of wisdom, it tells us acts 6 3 and 10 422 00:29:38,600 --> 00:29:41,800 wherefore Brethren look, ye Out Among seven, men of honest, 423 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:44,900 report, full of ghosts in the Holy Ghost and wisdom. 424 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:49,600 And then intended says and that they were not able to resist 425 00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:53,900 what the Hebrew leaders and people there they weren't able 426 00:29:53,900 --> 00:29:57,800 to resist the wisdom. It wasn't so much that it was 427 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:00,800 Stevens wisdom. It was the wisdom of the Gospel 428 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:03,700 that he had. That he was Party that he was 429 00:30:03,700 --> 00:30:08,200 letting other see and know but his days were full of wisdom and 430 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:13,000 understanding Colossians 2 to 3. It says this is Paul writing to 431 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:16,200 the Galatians that their hearts might be comforted being knit 432 00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:20,300 together in love and unto all Riches of the full Assurance of 433 00:30:20,300 --> 00:30:22,500 understanding to the acknowledgement of the mystery 434 00:30:22,500 --> 00:30:27,500 of God and of the father, and of Christ and whom are hidden. 435 00:30:27,500 --> 00:30:30,900 All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 436 00:30:31,100 --> 00:30:34,600 You're looking for Wisdom and knowledge wisdom and knowledge. 437 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:37,100 You need to be looking for is in this book here. 438 00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:43,900 Is there before us? now, the next thing really to 439 00:30:43,900 --> 00:30:50,000 note what Stephen was full of Something I pray more for and 440 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:55,200 that's be more. Bold be more of Courage, he was 441 00:30:55,200 --> 00:30:59,700 full of Courage. Listen to this in Acts 7 where 442 00:30:59,700 --> 00:31:05,500 he turns in his next words to say to the people there you 443 00:31:05,500 --> 00:31:09,700 stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears. 444 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:13,500 You always resist the Holy Spirit as your father's did. 445 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:17,000 So do you which of the prophets did your father's? 446 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:19,700 Not persecute? You'd and they killed those who 447 00:31:19,700 --> 00:31:23,000 foretold the coming of the just one of whom. 448 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:26,700 You now have become the betrayers and murderers, who 449 00:31:26,700 --> 00:31:30,700 have received the law by the direction of angels and have not 450 00:31:30,700 --> 00:31:34,400 kept it. Boy, you talk about a man 451 00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:39,300 standing up and letting people hear it and letting them know it 452 00:31:39,700 --> 00:31:43,800 that you people you need to hear this now, he's not telling them, 453 00:31:44,100 --> 00:31:46,500 you're condemned. He's telling this is what you 454 00:31:46,500 --> 00:31:49,200 did and he's really appealed to them. 455 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:51,700 In a sense, you need to repent from this. 456 00:31:51,700 --> 00:31:53,600 You need to change, but they're not going to hear it. 457 00:31:54,700 --> 00:31:56,500 And then today it's almost a slightly. 458 00:31:56,500 --> 00:32:00,900 How did these people not hear? And see it and know this but 459 00:32:00,900 --> 00:32:05,400 they did. They were so in touch with their 460 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:11,700 Habituated habits of centuries of the Hebrew people that 461 00:32:11,700 --> 00:32:13,700 continually rebelled against God. 462 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:18,800 That's what the hell too. Well they didn't like what they 463 00:32:18,800 --> 00:32:21,800 were hearing because in verse 54, tells us when they heard 464 00:32:21,800 --> 00:32:26,600 these things, they were cut to the heart boy. 465 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:28,400 He talked about feeling that guilt. 466 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:32,100 They felt it, they knew they were guilty but they gnashed 467 00:32:32,100 --> 00:32:34,800 with their teeth. Now you know, the concept of 468 00:32:34,808 --> 00:32:37,900 Nationals with your teachers like you hold it, you grind it 469 00:32:37,900 --> 00:32:43,900 and you know it's but the other thing to me but that really goes 470 00:32:43,900 --> 00:32:45,800 on it next. It says, but he that being 471 00:32:45,800 --> 00:32:50,600 Stephen Full of the Holy Spirit. Gazed into heaven and saw the 472 00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:54,400 glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God and 473 00:32:54,400 --> 00:32:58,700 said, look, I see the heavens open and the son of man standing 474 00:32:58,800 --> 00:33:04,600 at the right hand of God. Now, these are moments that God 475 00:33:04,600 --> 00:33:11,700 is using Stephen to speak this and live this before he dies. 476 00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:18,600 And how special? Stephen must have been. 477 00:33:21,900 --> 00:33:27,600 In the eyes of God and a Jesus. It says he goes on and says 478 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:33,700 verse 57 and then they cried out with a loud voice, they stopped 479 00:33:33,700 --> 00:33:36,800 their ears, they put hands over their ears. 480 00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:44,000 And they ran at him with one Accord to do what to take him, 481 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:48,100 and cast him out of the city and stone him. 482 00:33:48,500 --> 00:33:52,500 And those that were witnessing this, they Stone are laid their 483 00:33:52,500 --> 00:33:59,300 clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul, Here's Paul 484 00:34:00,800 --> 00:34:05,200 would be Paul Saul watching this condoning. 485 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:10,900 It taking part in it and we will leave this as you read on in the 486 00:34:10,900 --> 00:34:14,900 next chapters he's going to take off with a letter from the 487 00:34:14,900 --> 00:34:21,699 leaders of the Jewish leaders to go take people bring them and 488 00:34:21,699 --> 00:34:26,199 put them in Chains. Persecuted tortured, some put to 489 00:34:26,199 --> 00:34:29,100 death, Maybe Oh, this is going to happen. 490 00:34:31,100 --> 00:34:39,300 But in this moment, These are people there, they're good verse 491 00:34:39,300 --> 00:34:44,900 59 and they Stone Stephen, as he was calling on, God and say, 492 00:34:44,900 --> 00:34:49,300 Lord Jesus receive my spirit. Then he knelt down and cried out 493 00:34:49,300 --> 00:34:51,400 with a loud voice. Lord. 494 00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:55,900 Do not charge them with this sin and when he said this, he fell 495 00:34:55,900 --> 00:35:02,600 asleep. This is a lot to me, it's very 496 00:35:02,600 --> 00:35:04,700 heavy. But what Stephen? 497 00:35:04,800 --> 00:35:07,800 Exhibiting here? He's extent exhibiting another 498 00:35:07,800 --> 00:35:10,900 fullness. Guess you hear the word martyr? 499 00:35:11,500 --> 00:35:14,900 I think it goes beyond, just a term martyr. 500 00:35:15,300 --> 00:35:21,000 He goes on, he was full of love and forgiveness. 501 00:35:24,100 --> 00:35:28,500 X7 60 said he nailed down and cried with a loud voice Lord. 502 00:35:28,500 --> 00:35:31,700 Lay, not this sin on their charge. 503 00:35:33,400 --> 00:35:37,800 This is the sound like Jesus. On the cross. 504 00:35:41,700 --> 00:35:45,300 Christ speaking in Luke 23 24, then Jesus said father forgive 505 00:35:45,300 --> 00:35:47,000 them for they know not what they do. 506 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:54,900 I don't know. Could Steven have said these 507 00:35:54,900 --> 00:35:59,900 words on his own? Well, I do believe that he had 508 00:35:59,900 --> 00:36:05,500 sold become absorbed through the holy spirit in such a way that 509 00:36:05,900 --> 00:36:10,800 it was him. That was looking back at what 510 00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:14,000 he's learned to be able to reflect on that. 511 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:19,800 And say, I'm going to give my life all that I am. 512 00:36:22,500 --> 00:36:26,700 The die. To die for the cause of Christ. 513 00:36:28,200 --> 00:36:31,200 Because he knew he was going to live. 514 00:36:32,300 --> 00:36:34,900 He's going to live and be with the father. 515 00:36:34,900 --> 00:36:39,900 And we know. That window that opened and he 516 00:36:39,900 --> 00:36:44,500 gazed into into heaven. And we know that to me, it's as 517 00:36:44,500 --> 00:36:54,000 though, Jesus is says, and Steven Stone and he was calling 518 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:55,900 him. God saying, the Lord Jesus 519 00:36:55,900 --> 00:36:59,700 receive my soul. And to me, it's as though again, 520 00:37:00,500 --> 00:37:03,400 Christ was standing up and reaching out to Steven and this 521 00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:07,200 moment, my mind. He was seeing all this happened 522 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:10,800 before his eyes, but, you know, love and forgiveness is 523 00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:12,700 something that doesn't stop with Steven. 524 00:37:13,300 --> 00:37:15,900 It's something that we as Christians have to be a part of 525 00:37:15,900 --> 00:37:20,700 doing all the time, Matthew 5:44, but I say unto you love 526 00:37:20,700 --> 00:37:24,100 your enemies, bless them that curse, you do good to them that 527 00:37:24,100 --> 00:37:27,900 hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and 528 00:37:27,900 --> 00:37:31,700 persecute you. Christ further, speaking in 529 00:37:31,700 --> 00:37:36,700 Matthew 6, 14 and 15 for if you forgive men, their trespasses, 530 00:37:36,900 --> 00:37:40,900 your heavenly father will also forgive you but if you forgive 531 00:37:40,900 --> 00:37:45,200 not their trespasses, neither will your father, forgive you, 532 00:37:45,300 --> 00:37:50,400 your trespasses Ephesians 4:32, the Apostle, Paul writing to the 533 00:37:50,400 --> 00:37:55,200 Ephesians and be kind one to another tender-hearted forgiving 534 00:37:55,200 --> 00:37:59,400 one another, even as God for Christ's sake, hath forgiven, 535 00:37:59,400 --> 00:38:05,200 you As I look at Steven, I also read in the scriptures. 536 00:38:05,600 --> 00:38:11,700 I don't ever see word for word that he was sitting in a 537 00:38:11,700 --> 00:38:16,300 congregation hearing the Apostle preach or something, but I think 538 00:38:16,300 --> 00:38:20,500 his days at RT, proved, he was full of worship and prayer. 539 00:38:21,400 --> 00:38:26,000 He was full of it, and he was there praying to the father. 540 00:38:26,700 --> 00:38:29,100 He was filled with that Holy Spirit. 541 00:38:29,100 --> 00:38:34,500 And he was Annually in his mind that continuation of worship 542 00:38:34,900 --> 00:38:39,000 that was not just in a temple. It was not in the temple made 543 00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:43,300 with hands, it was with the body of Christ that he was serving. 544 00:38:43,500 --> 00:38:47,000 He was a man that was simply willing to minister to the 545 00:38:47,000 --> 00:38:51,200 hellenists and the Hebrews. It didn't matter what Greek or 546 00:38:51,200 --> 00:38:53,200 what culture? You would come from, you were 547 00:38:53,200 --> 00:38:58,900 Christians, he humbled himself and did that and he did more, 548 00:38:59,400 --> 00:39:03,300 but it took that That humble heart that he had that home 549 00:39:03,500 --> 00:39:09,600 atmosphere that just flowed through him and out of him to be 550 00:39:09,600 --> 00:39:13,900 able to serve, not just those people but to serve the gospel 551 00:39:14,200 --> 00:39:18,800 and Jesus Christ, and his sacrifice on the cross, John 552 00:39:18,800 --> 00:39:23,300 4:23 to 24, but the hour cometh. And now is when the true 553 00:39:23,300 --> 00:39:26,100 worshipers shall Worship the Lord in spirit and Truth for the 554 00:39:26,100 --> 00:39:28,600 father seeketh, such to worship him. 555 00:39:28,900 --> 00:39:32,800 God is a spirit And they that worship Him must worship Him in 556 00:39:32,800 --> 00:39:38,100 spirit and Truth. Jude 20, but ye beloved building 557 00:39:38,100 --> 00:39:40,500 up yourselves on your Most. Holy Faith. 558 00:39:40,900 --> 00:39:47,600 Praying in the Holy Ghost. Hebrews 10:24 and 25. 559 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:52,500 And my point is here not so much the assembling itself, but verse 560 00:39:52,500 --> 00:39:57,000 24, and let us consider one another to provoke provoke unto 561 00:39:57,000 --> 00:39:58,800 love. And to Good Works. 562 00:39:59,200 --> 00:40:02,500 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner 563 00:40:02,500 --> 00:40:06,600 of some is, but exhorting, one another so much more as you see 564 00:40:06,600 --> 00:40:11,700 the day approaching Ephesians 6:18 praying, always with all 565 00:40:11,700 --> 00:40:15,400 prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching, They're 566 00:40:15,400 --> 00:40:19,400 onto with all perseverance and supplication for All Saints. 567 00:40:20,500 --> 00:40:23,700 Philippians 19. And this, I pray that your love 568 00:40:23,700 --> 00:40:27,000 may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment 569 00:40:27,200 --> 00:40:30,800 that, you may approve things that are excellent that you may 570 00:40:30,800 --> 00:40:34,300 be sincere and without a fence till the day of Christ being 571 00:40:34,300 --> 00:40:37,800 filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus 572 00:40:37,800 --> 00:40:41,100 Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. 573 00:40:41,600 --> 00:40:45,900 It's so important that we know that we need to be about 574 00:40:45,900 --> 00:40:49,300 worshiping. We need to be about being the 575 00:40:49,500 --> 00:40:51,500 good Christian. Doing good works. 576 00:40:52,200 --> 00:40:58,600 We need to be able to forgive, and we need to be able to give 577 00:40:58,600 --> 00:41:02,900 that good example to the world. But our cause of course, is the 578 00:41:02,900 --> 00:41:07,600 cause of Jesus Christ. Paul continuing to me, when I 579 00:41:07,600 --> 00:41:11,800 speak of Paul and I'm talked about Stephen ice, just so much 580 00:41:11,900 --> 00:41:16,900 that I think of all that changed in Paul's life because of what 581 00:41:16,900 --> 00:41:20,500 happened with Steven and then Paul on that road there to 582 00:41:20,500 --> 00:41:25,400 Damascus and that, that light that Shone around him and caused 583 00:41:25,400 --> 00:41:29,400 him to be blind for that moment and be led down to the street 584 00:41:29,400 --> 00:41:32,100 called straight. And now Still him. 585 00:41:33,100 --> 00:41:35,700 And he believed, and he knew because he was talking to 586 00:41:35,707 --> 00:41:41,000 Christ, he was there in that mind and hearing the voices that 587 00:41:41,000 --> 00:41:45,400 were of Christ, speak to him because balls, reaching out Lord 588 00:41:45,400 --> 00:41:48,500 who argue. Well, he found out who he was 589 00:41:49,600 --> 00:41:55,000 and he's continuing to write these letters all the letters 590 00:41:55,000 --> 00:41:56,700 that he wrote to the different churches. 591 00:41:57,300 --> 00:42:01,500 Paul, then, and Ephesians 3, 11 to 21, says, according to the 592 00:42:01,500 --> 00:42:04,800 Eternal purpose, Which he purposed in Christ Jesus. 593 00:42:04,800 --> 00:42:09,200 Our lord in whom we have boldness and success with 594 00:42:09,200 --> 00:42:15,000 confidence by him of by the faith of him point that explains 595 00:42:15,000 --> 00:42:18,100 exactly who Stephen was. And those first two verses, 596 00:42:18,100 --> 00:42:21,500 they're 11 and 12. Wherefore Paul says, I desire 597 00:42:21,500 --> 00:42:24,900 that you faint, not at my tribulations for you, which is 598 00:42:24,900 --> 00:42:28,700 your glory for this. Cause I bow my knees on the 599 00:42:28,700 --> 00:42:32,900 Savior unto the father and our Lord, Jesus Christ of whom The 600 00:42:32,900 --> 00:42:36,000 whole family in Heaven and Earth is named that he would Grant 601 00:42:36,000 --> 00:42:39,100 you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened, 602 00:42:39,100 --> 00:42:43,700 with his might, by the spirit. In the inner man, that Christ 603 00:42:43,700 --> 00:42:47,200 May dwell in your hearts by faith, that you being rooted and 604 00:42:47,200 --> 00:42:51,900 grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints, 605 00:42:51,900 --> 00:42:56,700 what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know 606 00:42:56,700 --> 00:43:00,600 the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge that ye might 607 00:43:00,600 --> 00:43:02,700 be filled with all the fullness of God. 608 00:43:03,400 --> 00:43:07,700 Now, I want to him that is able to do exceeding, abundantly 609 00:43:07,700 --> 00:43:11,000 above all that we ask or think, according to the power that 610 00:43:11,000 --> 00:43:15,700 worketh in us to him, be glory in the church, by Jesus Christ. 611 00:43:15,700 --> 00:43:20,000 Jesus throughout all ages and the World Without End. 612 00:43:20,200 --> 00:43:24,700 Amen. Being full of understanding of 613 00:43:24,700 --> 00:43:28,900 the measureless measureless. We can't measure it. 614 00:43:29,000 --> 00:43:33,300 Scope of Christ's love. Romans 8:39 that no height nor 615 00:43:33,300 --> 00:43:36,700 depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us 616 00:43:36,700 --> 00:43:39,300 from the love of God, which is in Christ. 617 00:43:39,300 --> 00:43:43,400 Jesus, our lord, we need to have days that are filled with the 618 00:43:43,400 --> 00:43:47,900 fullness John wants 1617 and of his fullness. 619 00:43:47,900 --> 00:43:53,200 Have all, we received Grace, for grace, for the I was given Moses 620 00:43:53,200 --> 00:43:57,900 but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ. 621 00:43:58,200 --> 00:44:03,000 Arnie's day. 5 days need to be full full of replacing. 622 00:44:03,000 --> 00:44:08,200 Our will with the will, of God, Galatians. 2:20, I am crucified 623 00:44:08,200 --> 00:44:11,200 with Christ. Nevertheless, I live yet not I, 624 00:44:11,200 --> 00:44:14,700 but Christ liveth in me and the life, which I now live in the 625 00:44:14,700 --> 00:44:18,700 flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and 626 00:44:18,700 --> 00:44:22,000 gave himself for me. We need to live with the 627 00:44:22,000 --> 00:44:25,700 boldness, that Stephen lived with because the Judgment Day is 628 00:44:25,700 --> 00:44:30,200 coming first. John 4:17 here in is our love 629 00:44:30,200 --> 00:44:33,200 made, perfect. That we may have boldness and 630 00:44:33,200 --> 00:44:36,100 the day of judgment because as he is. 631 00:44:36,400 --> 00:44:41,500 So, are we in this world? We need to be looking for the 632 00:44:41,500 --> 00:44:47,500 full reward of Heaven So try faithful obedience. 633 00:44:48,700 --> 00:44:52,200 Second John 89 look to yourselves that we lose not 634 00:44:52,200 --> 00:44:56,500 those things which we have wrought but we receive a full 635 00:44:56,500 --> 00:45:01,100 reward whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine 636 00:45:01,100 --> 00:45:02,700 of Christ hath. Not God. 637 00:45:03,000 --> 00:45:05,500 He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ. 638 00:45:05,500 --> 00:45:08,000 He hath both the father and the son. 639 00:45:09,300 --> 00:45:11,600 Days. Full of walking faithful and 640 00:45:11,600 --> 00:45:15,900 steadfast this steadfast in the faith is where we need to be 641 00:45:16,300 --> 00:45:21,100 Colossians 1:23 if you continue in the faith, grounded, and 642 00:45:21,100 --> 00:45:25,200 settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, 643 00:45:25,500 --> 00:45:28,500 which ye have heard in, which was preached to every creature, 644 00:45:28,700 --> 00:45:33,000 which is under Heaven, which I Paul am made a minister asked 645 00:45:33,000 --> 00:45:38,700 for 26 and they continued daily with one Accord in the temple at 646 00:45:38,700 --> 00:45:40,400 that. I'm first century church and 647 00:45:40,400 --> 00:45:44,700 Acts chapter 2, breaking bread from house to house and it eat 648 00:45:44,700 --> 00:45:48,000 their meat with gladness is signals singleness of heart. 649 00:45:48,600 --> 00:45:54,500 So ass today, I asked, do I love God? 650 00:45:55,000 --> 00:46:01,200 How much do I love God? How full is my love for God? 651 00:46:02,200 --> 00:46:05,400 Matthew, 22:37 Jesus said unto him. 652 00:46:05,400 --> 00:46:08,800 Thou shalt love the Lord. Thy God with all thy heart, and 653 00:46:08,800 --> 00:46:11,500 with all thy soul and all thy mind. 654 00:46:13,600 --> 00:46:16,200 We thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the 655 00:46:16,200 --> 00:46:22,000 Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you 656 00:46:22,000 --> 00:46:25,000 would like any additional information, or you would like 657 00:46:25,000 --> 00:46:28,200 to receive a free Bible correspondence, course by mail. 658 00:46:28,800 --> 00:46:32,700 Please email us at info at her Church of Christ 659 00:46:32,700 --> 00:46:36,700 Bakersfield.com. Our service times are on Sundays 660 00:46:36,700 --> 00:46:42,300 at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. 661 00:46:42,900 --> 00:46:46,400 Please make plans to join us. We would love for you to be our 662 00:46:46,400 --> 00:46:47,300 honored guest.