It's another wonderful day that the Lord has given us is allowed
us that moment to rest in the night and rises morning to
glorify him. And this morning, you're looking
at me. And that's only because brother
Terry Osborne called and asked me to fill in for him since he's
up in Oregon, tending to his mother and we pray that all was
going well with Rosetta and family there.
And they will have safe Journeys back and he'll be back here
before surely next month. We pray, it's been a while
probably since I've stood before you and had a reading.
But this morning I wanted to take a look specifically at
someone that we many times, if we've read the book of Acts and
we think about what happened to him and then what events Then
followed that would come to be known as Paul and what he would
become to be. I think there's so much to learn
from a man called Stephen and much more than it was Precious
Precious his sacrifice that he essentially was giving in his
life as he was stolen. But there's so much more to find
about Steven even though in just those two chapters of Acts 6 and
7. We know those of those things
are there to tell us a little more about it.
We don't know how old he was. We don't know more than what
those few verses tell us but they tell us I think a lot more
and in my mind personally I look and read this and in these
verses as I read about Steven what I do is I find that he was
the precursor or the cane before Saul who would become Paul Paul
wasn't saw, wasn't a Christian. He was persecuting Christians,
but he lived a life, that then, as we read more, if you were to
take time to read about Paul and reflect back, how much Paul's
life really was full, because of what that man, Stephen was in so
many ways. So this For the reading.
If you have your Bibles will look into Acts.
Chapter 6 is 15 verses long. Verse 1.
Now in those days when the number of the disciples was
multiplying There, Rose, a complaint against the Jew
Hebrews by the hellenists because their widows were
neglected in the daily distribution.
Then the 12 summoned, the multitude of the disciples and
said it is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and
serve tables. Therefore Brethren seek out from
among you seven. Men of good reputation full of
the Holy Spirit. It and wisdom whom we may
appoint over this business but we will give ourselves
continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word and the
saying please the whole multitude and they chose
Stephen. A Man full of faith and the Holy
Spirit and Phillip per course nicanor.
Timon parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte proselyte from
Antioch. Whom they set before the
apostles, and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them,
then the word of God spread and the number of the disciples
multiplied, greatly in Jerusalem and a great many of the priests
were obedient to the faith. And Stephen Full of faith and
power did great wonders. And signs among the people, then
there arose some from what is called the synagogue of the
freedmen sirenians alexandrians and those from Silesia and I
know Asia disputing with Steven and they were not able to resist
the work against his, it would be the wisdom and the Spirit by
which he spoke. Then they secretly induce men to
say we have heard him speak blasphemous.
Most words against Moses and God and they stirred up to people,
the elders and the scribes and they came upon Him seized him
and brought him to the council. They also set up false
Witnesses. Who said this man does not cease
to speak Blasphemous words against this holy place and the
law for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will
destroy this place and change the Customs, which Moses
Delivered to us and all sat in the council looked steadfastly
at him. Solve his face saw his face as
the face of an Angel. Now with these verses and
correctly, read on my part and barring any era that is the
scriptures that will study this morning and will follow on into
chapter 7. And then we will also take a
look at a concept that we will read over and over here and
these contacts. And that's full Just a simple
four letter word full and we'll follow that through the lesson.
So at this time we have the great moment opportunity and to
go to our Heavenly Father in prayer.
So if we would humble ourselves and some manners, the one
selected began, it's wonderful to look around.
Look into the faces of all that have come to the service this
morning. And as brother, Darren prayed
this morning. We're so very thankful that the
Lord is continuing to watch over each Soul here.
Especially as we think about brother, Frank and his healing
and it was so course, so wonderful to be able to see
Frank stand before us this morning and all for a prayer.
And that's wonderful to be able to see that.
It's some uplifting and it's encouraging to each person that
struggles from moment to moment and day-to-day.
As we might. And as we do that, we know that
we can turn to God and his strength will get us through.
And again, we continue to pray for all those that Darren
mentioned in the prayer that they will build up in the Most,
Holy Faith, to be strengthened, and comforted, as their needs
would be now as we look to the scriptures here and Acts chapter
6. And we think about Steven and
we'll kind of work. Rule of the chapter but also I
want to expand on that. So we're not going to
necessarily do an expository on every word that's here.
In, chapter 6, but parts of it. We will now thing that one thing
you might want to remember here, the church has been established,
but it's growing, it's manifesting itself to the world.
But at the same time, their issues and problems, we know
that people that were obeying the gospel and we Coming members
of the Lord's churches that were being added to the Lord's
church, that they were laying down their goods at the feet of
the Apostles, and everybody was sharing, and everybody was
caring and giving it was a special significant moment in
time. It was different and we know
that it was a busy time. It's so, there was a moment in
time when all of a sudden the apostles were just overwhelmed
almost. Them trying to preach the gospel
and at the same time, they were ministering to the family of
God, that was gathered together there in Jerusalem, and they
were having to take care of this ministration.
That's a word that used in the King James version distribution
and the new King James version, and it was helping them have
food and the necessities of life.
And because many of them have given up things, or they were
poor and other ways. I'm sick in need now.
Surely, of course, the gospel was there.
The powers of the Holy Spirit, there was healing of the bodies
to be healed and those ways, but you still have to have
sustenance of food and the apostles were busy.
And they hear, they say that. He summoned, they were very
busy, it's in. There was a dispute actually
between the Hebrews and ahead of us.
Now again, the King James Bible refers to the Gentiles Greeks as
it were the Greeks. The hellenists were the Greeks.
So you had two different populations of people and you
pull them together against they had become Christians but you
got to figure many of these people were of the Jewish faith,
and you got these people that were non believing in the Jewish
faith and God And also they come together, there's going to be a
clash and so conflict. And as they did, they were
thinking well, these people are getting better serve than we're
getting served. And so there was this
interpretation and so the apostles saw this and they you
know, came together with them and said, it's not desirable
that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
Therefore Brethren seek out from among you seven.
Men of good reputation full of the holy spirit and wisdom now.
I'm going to choose seven men and it gave the stipulation of
what they would be, they would be of good reputation.
And in the process of this there, looked around and saw
these men. And of course, all these people
to one degree, or the other are relatively new to the Christian
faith. But there were those, of course,
who grasped it and took it and just were able.
Then, to be able All to use what they were hearing and understand
it and be able to help others. Well, these people had good
reputation, they were honest, they were sincere.
They were loving, they were carrying all the things, you
might think in a good reputation and then it says they were full
of the holy spirit and wisdom. Now, in this case, your we're
talking about that they had already had the Holy Spirit
taken in as it were in this first century Church some more
than others, we know. That, you know, you could look
at examples where maybe there were people that would fall away
from the faith. But these people had taken in
the work and they had been blessed.
And we know then that they had been blessed with that fullness
of the wisdom of the word and we read, of course, further that
after these seven men are appointed that, you're going to
have the hands laid on them, that they would have this
blessing. And again, those Gifts that were
read about and First Corinthians where it talks about the gifts
that, then they would be able to do things have the power for my
miraculous healings or being able to teach the word with
wisdom, that's given through them through that, Holy Spirit,
being able to speak in tongues, those kinds of things.
So these men, these seven men were such that they were going
to Be able to be filled as it was with a certain fullness.
Now, it's interesting that they specifically mentioned here when
it says that and they verse 5 and then the saying please the
whole multitude and they chose Stephen, A Man full of faith and
of the Holy Ghost and then it mentions Phillip a Carson
nicanor, Timon parmenas, and Nicolas.
Those also, I don't think that necessarily means my mind that
the others didn't already have Have the qualities, but
specifically, Stephen is being called out as that person who
really has identified himself and given himself, fully and
wholly, and completely to the gospel and the cause of Christ.
These others were there doing that, too.
But also, I think it tells us that Stephen, if you were just
to take this verse, something special about this man, is there
And it's special that's going to happen.
We don't know what that is, of course, unless you read on, but
it's special for Steven here to be able to be not identified as
a man full of faith and the Holy Ghost.
Now, one thing just to talk about that four-letter word,
full in Vines dictionary. It's the sense of being filled.
The sense of being filled Strong's goes on and says, it's
by analogy complete. So this is something that we
would later. Think about the Apostle Paul, he
was definitely had that sense of being filled and analogy being
complete but hey, Paul's not Paul at this time.
Paul is Saul, he is a Pharisee of Pharisees.
He is someone that's going to be Persecuting the Christians and
he's going to come into play here shortly and chapter 7.
And so we're going to know these things about Steven and I just
kind of want you to keep out there in your mind, the
thoughts, or the back of your minds of apostle Paul.
And what he's going to be doing to the Christian specifically
and the stoning process of having Stephen stoned and at
this man would become Paul. The Vessel chosen by God, to be
able to take the gospel to the Gentiles and in some ways to me.
Steven is a conduit. That works.
To have Saul and his heart prick to the point that he's going to
Forever. Carry the death of Stephen
before him. so, as we read on there, And we talked about this,
it also mentions the course, the word full of power.
And I think full of here, says, full of faith and verse 8, full
of faith and full of power, and great wonders.
And miracles, among the people, well, here, we see the Holy
Ghost. Holy Spirit working in Stephen.
He's been given this power and we're going to see this also.
And the other Apostles other people that are have the hands
laid out upon them, and they're doing miraculous things, and
Bringing people to the church. Again, the the concept of the
power of Miracles that was just to be able to perform as it
were, that the gospel is there. And it is able to be seen.
These people had not seen or heard of Jesus Christ.
He died on the cross, some of the people in the Church.
Of course, maybe had been there and witnessed the actual blood
flowing from Christ down that cross and his death.
I've often wondered that many times how many of those people
that maybe had actually visually seen the crucifixion of Christ
actually, then were able to to come to Christ on that day of
Pentecost when Peter preached that First Gospel sermon, I've
just wondered who was there and who was there and saw it and
turned away and didn't accept it.
And it's just something that today, I think about those
people that hear the gospel. But then they turn away from it.
It's it's something that comes to me.
Now, power in this specific verse here, Strong's comments
that the it is the ability as given by the holy spirit.
So it's not a power that that Steven had in of himself, thus
the power came through the Holy Spirit.
It was bestowed upon him as Were I find another annotation here
in verse 6? 1500 6:15.
Where it's at the end. And one thing he's doing here
and the latter part of chapter 6, Steven is is someone that is,
is out there preaching to those Jews in the synagogue and as he
preaches then of course, these people are pushing back against
what he's saying. And as they push back there,
kind of resisting is the It's used in the new King James
version so they're pushing back their resisting and they push
back so much and maybe this is one of the Early times when you
look at the scriptures here. When all of a sudden here's a
man that's not one of the Apostles and he's out there
teaching the gospel, he's teaching, Jesus Christ,
crucified, and these Jews aren't going to accept it.
They're pushing Back and they're pushing to the point, they're
going to do the same thing they did with Christ.
In a sense they went out and support.
Suborned is the word in the King James version, they went out and
grabbed some men. Basically said, okay, come over
here and we want you to go tell some lies about this math.
Tell them that he's corrupting the religion, that we know he
wants to turn us against what most has taught us.
So they did this and that's the same thing they did with.
Rice. Take Christ, was crucified on a
bunch of lies and on that covetousness and jealousy of who
he was, as the Divine Son of God.
So, this man, Stephen is doing that with his whole being with
the fullness and wholeness of everything he has.
He's teaching Jesus Christ crucified and the Jews were not
about to put up it. So they set up these false
Witnesses and they say for we have heard him, say verse 14
that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change
the Customs which Moses delivered to us.
You go back and take your mind to the gospels.
Is exactly what they were doing but Jesus Christ and all who set
in the council Looking steadfastly at him.
Saw his face as the face of an Angel.
Now that's something to me is here, are these people that are
working against the truth of God, his word and some capacity,
they're seeing something different than not going to
accept it. But they're seeing someone whose
face was as An angel. Now I'm going to maybe take a
little of Liberty here. But I'm going to think myself
where the Apostle Paul writes in second Corinthians 4:6 for God
who commanded the light to shine out of Darkness, has shined in
our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of
God in the face of Jesus Christ. That word face is used there
with Jesus Christ here. We see the face of Steven.
It's as though it was an angel, he's not, he's a man not an
angel but The holy spirit is worked in this man and his
working in him as he speaks to this people.
He's not finished. Because they're going to have to
listen to this man whose face. Seems as though it's an angel
because they had brought him before the council.
He's there to have accusations thrown at him and he's going to
defend not so much himself. He's going to defend the gospel
and God's word. And he in chapter 7, which I'm
not going to try to go deep into that, but we need to know and
chapter 7. They asked him.
The high priest says, are these things so and then he begins
that Stephen says Brethren and fathers.
Listen, the god of Glory appeared to Our Father, Abraham,
when he was in Mesopotamia. He goes on Stephen goes on to
proclaim a century, the history of the Hebrew people, and he
tells them about Abraham and he goes on, he talks about Egypt,
but he talks about Moses and he talks about all All that the
Hebrew history is he relates it to him, word for word.
Now, those people that are commentators and expositors
akademi ins, they'll take this and say, well, he didn't quite
say this, right? Or he left this little part out
here, but through the Holy Spirit, he is expounding on the
history of the Jewish people. And he talks about how the
Jewish people rejected. Many of those people.
They rejected Moses. They brought down a golden calf
and he talked about the rebellion and in the end and the
latter part of chapter 7 as begins.
In verse 44, he talks about the Tabernacle, and he talks about
it was a witness in the wilderness.
And then, in verse 48, he goes on.
He says, however the most high does not dwell in temples made
with hands, as the prophet says, now you got to remember these
people are saying, oh, we've got the temple.
And that's what we have and it's everything and there's nothing
else. We've got to do this and that
and the tradition of our fathers and so on but we know that Jesus
Christ when he died the scriptures tell us he nailed
that old law to the cross. It was done away with.
So what they were hearing though was something against
everything. They had believed verse 49, it
goes on and says that the prophet says Heaven is my throne
and the Earth is my footstool. What house will you build for
me? Says the Lord.
Lord, but what is the place of my rest as my hand, not made all
these things. So Stephen at this point is
going to start to show another fullness.
Now, if you think about Jesus Christ coming into the world in
Matthew 6, 22 and 24, it talks about the light of the body and
the eye, if therefore that eye be single, thy whole body, shall
be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy
whole body, shall be full of Darkness.
If therefore, the light that is in thee, be Darkness.
How great is that darkness? No, man can serve two masters
for either. He will hate the one and love
the other or else he will. Hold to the one and despise the
other. Cannot serve God and Mammon.
So we know that Jesus Christ. He came as the light in the
world, and we know that Jesus Christ has talked about that in
Christ's words, that end in Matthew 5, were the Beatitudes
occur. Verse 14 through 18, He says,
you are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill
that cannot be hid. Neither do men, light, a candle
and put it under a bushel. But on a Candlestick and it
giveth light unto all that are in the house, let your light.
So shine before men that they may see your good works and
glorify your hot Father which is in heaven for verily.
I say unto you till Heaven and Earth pass, one jot or tittle
shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled.
I say that read those particular portion of the scriptures.
Stephen was full of the scriptures.
He knew the scriptures they was inspired and given to him to
remember all these things, he hadn't seen all that, he had
lived. All that yes he had heard, it is
transgender Edition and been passed down and he had gone to
the synagogue and they read and read those old scriptures but he
was full of the scriptures. And his speech here in Chapter
7. When you have time, you go read
it. And then what I'd asked you to
do is you turn over to acts 13 and you go read verses 16
through 41 and 40 and on through 52 and you're going to hear Paul
expound, A sermon that's going to cover the history just as
Stephen did. The only difference is they took
Stephen out and they did Stony. Paul would leave Antioch safely.
But if you read that chapter 13, you'll find out, they followed
Paul to Iconium and all. And as they did they found him.
They stirred up the people. Just like these people were
stirred up and they take him out and they stoned him.
The difference is he lives? God has purpose was not yet
fulfilled for Paul, but Steven here, he's going to be having
that strength. To be able to expound.
Because he knows the scriptures and one thing for us, if we are
going to reach other people and to present the Plan of
Salvation, at present the gospel, we need to know the
scriptures. We know when Ephesians 1:17
through 20, that the god of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The father of Glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom
and Revelation in the knowledge of him.
What do we read about Stephen? He'd been given the spirit of
wisdom here, we hear Paul writing to the Ephesians, Are
you unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation of
knowledge of him? It's perforce in the scriptures,
the eyes of your understanding being enlightened that you may
know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of
the glory of his inheritance in the Saints and what is the
exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward, who believe,
according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought
in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his
own right hand and Heaven. Places.
So, our days need to be full. Stevens days were Full Tang.
Stevens days were short. I don't know.
How Stephen was, was he a young man?
Was he in his thirties? Because of the nature of the
Jewish custom of being able to interact and live in that
culture and the religious sense, was he loader 50s 60s?
I have no idea how old this man might have been, but the reality
is His days were full. And he was full of the
scriptures are days need to be full of studying the scriptures.
Second Timothy 3:15, 17. And that from a child, thou Hast
known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto
salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus, all
scripture is given by inspiration of God and is
profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction for
instruction. In righteousness.
That the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished and
all Works now in the process of us knowing this and even for
that first century Church, those seven men, the body of Christ,
that was worshipping together and a congregation in the first
century, they needed to be full of the scriptures.
So they would and wisdom. So they'd be able to edify one
another such, as we first Thessalonians 5:11, wherefore
Comfort yourselves together, and edify one another even as Also
you do, he was full of wisdom, it tells us acts 6 3 and 10
wherefore Brethren look, ye Out Among seven, men of honest,
report, full of ghosts in the Holy Ghost and wisdom.
And then intended says and that they were not able to resist
what the Hebrew leaders and people there they weren't able
to resist the wisdom. It wasn't so much that it was
Stevens wisdom. It was the wisdom of the Gospel
that he had. That he was Party that he was
letting other see and know but his days were full of wisdom and
understanding Colossians 2 to 3. It says this is Paul writing to
the Galatians that their hearts might be comforted being knit
together in love and unto all Riches of the full Assurance of
understanding to the acknowledgement of the mystery
of God and of the father, and of Christ and whom are hidden.
All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
You're looking for Wisdom and knowledge wisdom and knowledge.
You need to be looking for is in this book here.
Is there before us? now, the next thing really to
note what Stephen was full of Something I pray more for and
that's be more. Bold be more of Courage, he was
full of Courage. Listen to this in Acts 7 where
he turns in his next words to say to the people there you
stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears.
You always resist the Holy Spirit as your father's did.
So do you which of the prophets did your father's?
Not persecute? You'd and they killed those who
foretold the coming of the just one of whom.
You now have become the betrayers and murderers, who
have received the law by the direction of angels and have not
kept it. Boy, you talk about a man
standing up and letting people hear it and letting them know it
that you people you need to hear this now, he's not telling them,
you're condemned. He's telling this is what you
did and he's really appealed to them.
In a sense, you need to repent from this.
You need to change, but they're not going to hear it.
And then today it's almost a slightly.
How did these people not hear? And see it and know this but
they did. They were so in touch with their
Habituated habits of centuries of the Hebrew people that
continually rebelled against God.
That's what the hell too. Well they didn't like what they
were hearing because in verse 54, tells us when they heard
these things, they were cut to the heart boy.
He talked about feeling that guilt.
They felt it, they knew they were guilty but they gnashed
with their teeth. Now you know, the concept of
Nationals with your teachers like you hold it, you grind it
and you know it's but the other thing to me but that really goes
on it next. It says, but he that being
Stephen Full of the Holy Spirit. Gazed into heaven and saw the
glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God and
said, look, I see the heavens open and the son of man standing
at the right hand of God. Now, these are moments that God
is using Stephen to speak this and live this before he dies.
And how special? Stephen must have been.
In the eyes of God and a Jesus. It says he goes on and says
verse 57 and then they cried out with a loud voice, they stopped
their ears, they put hands over their ears.
And they ran at him with one Accord to do what to take him,
and cast him out of the city and stone him.
And those that were witnessing this, they Stone are laid their
clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul, Here's Paul
would be Paul Saul watching this condoning.
It taking part in it and we will leave this as you read on in the
next chapters he's going to take off with a letter from the
leaders of the Jewish leaders to go take people bring them and
put them in Chains. Persecuted tortured, some put to
death, Maybe Oh, this is going to happen.
But in this moment, These are people there, they're good verse
59 and they Stone Stephen, as he was calling on, God and say,
Lord Jesus receive my spirit. Then he knelt down and cried out
with a loud voice. Lord.
Do not charge them with this sin and when he said this, he fell
asleep. This is a lot to me, it's very
heavy. But what Stephen?
Exhibiting here? He's extent exhibiting another
fullness. Guess you hear the word martyr?
I think it goes beyond, just a term martyr.
He goes on, he was full of love and forgiveness.
X7 60 said he nailed down and cried with a loud voice Lord.
Lay, not this sin on their charge.
This is the sound like Jesus. On the cross.
Christ speaking in Luke 23 24, then Jesus said father forgive
them for they know not what they do.
I don't know. Could Steven have said these
words on his own? Well, I do believe that he had
sold become absorbed through the holy spirit in such a way that
it was him. That was looking back at what
he's learned to be able to reflect on that.
And say, I'm going to give my life all that I am.
The die. To die for the cause of Christ.
Because he knew he was going to live.
He's going to live and be with the father.
And we know. That window that opened and he
gazed into into heaven. And we know that to me, it's as
though, Jesus is says, and Steven Stone and he was calling
him. God saying, the Lord Jesus
receive my soul. And to me, it's as though again,
Christ was standing up and reaching out to Steven and this
moment, my mind. He was seeing all this happened
before his eyes, but, you know, love and forgiveness is
something that doesn't stop with Steven.
It's something that we as Christians have to be a part of
doing all the time, Matthew 5:44, but I say unto you love
your enemies, bless them that curse, you do good to them that
hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and
persecute you. Christ further, speaking in
Matthew 6, 14 and 15 for if you forgive men, their trespasses,
your heavenly father will also forgive you but if you forgive
not their trespasses, neither will your father, forgive you,
your trespasses Ephesians 4:32, the Apostle, Paul writing to the
Ephesians and be kind one to another tender-hearted forgiving
one another, even as God for Christ's sake, hath forgiven,
you As I look at Steven, I also read in the scriptures.
I don't ever see word for word that he was sitting in a
congregation hearing the Apostle preach or something, but I think
his days at RT, proved, he was full of worship and prayer.
He was full of it, and he was there praying to the father.
He was filled with that Holy Spirit.
And he was Annually in his mind that continuation of worship
that was not just in a temple. It was not in the temple made
with hands, it was with the body of Christ that he was serving.
He was a man that was simply willing to minister to the
hellenists and the Hebrews. It didn't matter what Greek or
what culture? You would come from, you were
Christians, he humbled himself and did that and he did more,
but it took that That humble heart that he had that home
atmosphere that just flowed through him and out of him to be
able to serve, not just those people but to serve the gospel
and Jesus Christ, and his sacrifice on the cross, John
4:23 to 24, but the hour cometh. And now is when the true
worshipers shall Worship the Lord in spirit and Truth for the
father seeketh, such to worship him.
God is a spirit And they that worship Him must worship Him in
spirit and Truth. Jude 20, but ye beloved building
up yourselves on your Most. Holy Faith.
Praying in the Holy Ghost. Hebrews 10:24 and 25.
And my point is here not so much the assembling itself, but verse
24, and let us consider one another to provoke provoke unto
love. And to Good Works.
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner
of some is, but exhorting, one another so much more as you see
the day approaching Ephesians 6:18 praying, always with all
prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching, They're
onto with all perseverance and supplication for All Saints.
Philippians 19. And this, I pray that your love
may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment
that, you may approve things that are excellent that you may
be sincere and without a fence till the day of Christ being
filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus
Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
It's so important that we know that we need to be about
worshiping. We need to be about being the
good Christian. Doing good works.
We need to be able to forgive, and we need to be able to give
that good example to the world. But our cause of course, is the
cause of Jesus Christ. Paul continuing to me, when I
speak of Paul and I'm talked about Stephen ice, just so much
that I think of all that changed in Paul's life because of what
happened with Steven and then Paul on that road there to
Damascus and that, that light that Shone around him and caused
him to be blind for that moment and be led down to the street
called straight. And now Still him.
And he believed, and he knew because he was talking to
Christ, he was there in that mind and hearing the voices that
were of Christ, speak to him because balls, reaching out Lord
who argue. Well, he found out who he was
and he's continuing to write these letters all the letters
that he wrote to the different churches.
Paul, then, and Ephesians 3, 11 to 21, says, according to the
Eternal purpose, Which he purposed in Christ Jesus.
Our lord in whom we have boldness and success with
confidence by him of by the faith of him point that explains
exactly who Stephen was. And those first two verses,
they're 11 and 12. Wherefore Paul says, I desire
that you faint, not at my tribulations for you, which is
your glory for this. Cause I bow my knees on the
Savior unto the father and our Lord, Jesus Christ of whom The
whole family in Heaven and Earth is named that he would Grant
you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened,
with his might, by the spirit. In the inner man, that Christ
May dwell in your hearts by faith, that you being rooted and
grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints,
what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know
the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge that ye might
be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now, I want to him that is able to do exceeding, abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the power that
worketh in us to him, be glory in the church, by Jesus Christ.
Jesus throughout all ages and the World Without End.
Amen. Being full of understanding of
the measureless measureless. We can't measure it.
Scope of Christ's love. Romans 8:39 that no height nor
depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us
from the love of God, which is in Christ.
Jesus, our lord, we need to have days that are filled with the
fullness John wants 1617 and of his fullness.
Have all, we received Grace, for grace, for the I was given Moses
but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ.
Arnie's day. 5 days need to be full full of replacing.
Our will with the will, of God, Galatians. 2:20, I am crucified
with Christ. Nevertheless, I live yet not I,
but Christ liveth in me and the life, which I now live in the
flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and
gave himself for me. We need to live with the
boldness, that Stephen lived with because the Judgment Day is
coming first. John 4:17 here in is our love
made, perfect. That we may have boldness and
the day of judgment because as he is.
So, are we in this world? We need to be looking for the
full reward of Heaven So try faithful obedience.
Second John 89 look to yourselves that we lose not
those things which we have wrought but we receive a full
reward whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine
of Christ hath. Not God.
He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ.
He hath both the father and the son.
Days. Full of walking faithful and
steadfast this steadfast in the faith is where we need to be
Colossians 1:23 if you continue in the faith, grounded, and
settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel,
which ye have heard in, which was preached to every creature,
which is under Heaven, which I Paul am made a minister asked
for 26 and they continued daily with one Accord in the temple at
that. I'm first century church and
Acts chapter 2, breaking bread from house to house and it eat
their meat with gladness is signals singleness of heart.
So ass today, I asked, do I love God?
How much do I love God? How full is my love for God?
Matthew, 22:37 Jesus said unto him.
Thou shalt love the Lord. Thy God with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul and all thy mind.
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