Satan’s Blunder (Part C)

A man has to graduate from the approved of God school. That is where pastors are made approved by God. The pastor does not have to be and usually is not the smartest person in the church. In fact, the whole church to be smarter than him is not my problem.

Giving he has to be anointed to do what he does.

That's all this is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of acts. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, and now here's Pastor Rick with the conclusion of his message called Satan's blunder as he teaches in acts chapter 7. It was at this word of that Jesus is equal with God the father that they ended their tolerance that's what Stephen meant to say that someone was standing at the right hand of God was is to put him on the platform with God, and they understood it that way. The cults don't understand the Scripture. They only understand parts they can twist well. Their intolerance is ignited. At this point, and though the Scriptures sided with Stephen. They brushed that aside not only did Stephen look toward heaven, he looked into heaven, and he has a profound thought that God can be seen from Earth, by faith, by his people. God can make himself visible to us without materializing in front of us. In this case is materialized in the eyes of Stephen. Stephen sees him evidently others don't. Paul's conversion will involve some of that goes with Paul, they won't share what Paul got to see and hear, as Paul did.

Everyone gets to see Jesus on his throne. At some point, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess Daniel 12 to some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt don't downside that word everlasting hell is not Bisno purgatory purgatory is not a teaching from the Bible and if it's not a teaching from the Bible about the things of God.

It is called heresy. Second Corinthians 510 for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that puts Christ on equal platform with God the father because he is.

That's how it has been ordained.

There is no veil between Christ and Stephen, there's nothing blocking the site of of Christ. Stephen does not have to run down and get a shot lamb, or sheep to offer so that he can have this audience with God is the blood of Christ that is on him and these things are for us to not in this necessarily in this exact format but on a daily format we can approach God does not have to be this dramatic verse 57.

Then they cried out with a loud voice, stop the ears, and ran at him with one accord well.

This enraged mob never answered any of Stephen's charges because they could not when he made these when he says your stiff neck which the prophets have not killed they couldn't say all yacht pottery one because they were lined up with those ancestors that were guilty of those things having Bibles where they go wrong, you would think they had the Scripture, where did they go up the same place that Christians that Christians can go wrong. Titus 116 they profess to God.

But in works they deny him or as we read earlier from Peter writing to the Christians saying to them that they didn't obey what they read. They cherry picked they kept the things they like and they dismissed the things they did not care for.

That's how you can have the Bible be religious, be zealous, be fanatical and be wrong at the same time. Verse 58 and they cast them out of the city, and stoned him and the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul will death by stoning was how was the legal method of dealing with a blasphemer which they were charging Stephen with and I you know again that they had little boxes like in case of blasphemy, break glass grabber rock install.

I mean, it is always these rocks around, and it's a city, it is not like you're out any and all gravel roads, you know how I wish I look at the video when I get to heaven to find out that's a joke of the house. It is the epitome of an irrational mine to suppose that men face such things for known fiction. It is the epitome of your rationale. To think that Stephen said I saw Jesus rise from the dead were risen from the dead, and he is the Messiah and then die for. If it were true. This this this is something you cannot argue away with these apostles had Jesus not risen from the dead. None of them would've died, claiming they saw him rise from the dead, they would've been insulted. People don't do that. People die for a lie.

If they think it's true, but if the known law is very likely not die for. And then this this is just more testimony to the veracity of the Scripture and the history that belongs to Christianity and the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul what Paul evidently told Luke.

This book is the one who was put together this book of acts.

He wrote years later Paul bid almost 30 years later. Although I was formerly a blasphemer or a persecutor and an insolent man but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief and the grace of our Lord Jesus our of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. So the things he was charging Stephen with was actually what he was guilty of doing blasphemer he is saying I was the blasphemer I stood there that day when Stephen was executed on the charge of blasphemy. But it was me. We should of been stolen. They have their garments taken off because they don't want to be hindered as they throw stones. Incidentally, the roads were in the way, Stephen. He had refuted those who were even from Celestia. The men of the synagogue of Friedman's itemized verse in acts chapter 6 Paul was from Celestia. He admits that in chapter 21 and so he knew what was being preached.

He was being picked apart with everybody else. Verse 59 and they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Well there is such a thing as zeal without knowledge and thus those who are killing him are doing just that Paul would later write I have is I bear them witness that is his own people. The Jewish people. The unconverted ones that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge God's word is a hammer, and it can be Jeremiah chapter 23 verse 29 God says is not my word like fire says Yahweh. And like a hammer that breaks the rock rocks in pieces. That's what's going on here in this section of Scripture right now Stephen is using that rock on that that word of God as a hammer against the rock Jesus had said they will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God's service. In these things they will do to you because they have not known the father, nor me so you can have religion without knowing God again. Jeremiah chapter 9 Jeremiah says look if you're going to boast about something boast that you, your you you know God that your understanding God and the people in Jeremiah's day were devoutly religious and the persecuted him.

They sure tried to kill him.

This is the third murder in relation to the Messiah. They permitted John the Baptist to be killed by Herod that was a sin against the father because the father sent John.

They had asked for Jesus to be killed. That is sin against God the son, and they killed Stephen sin against the Holy Spirit because we had read that he was full of the spirit, doing signs and wonders in the spirit.

And this is something that is part about preaching to this day to tell people who reject the Scripture to point these things out. Why did they kill John the Baptist. What crime did he commit what kind it did Jesus commit crimes.

Stephen commit is everything he said was true. Just read Isaiah 53 wide why did they not make the connection to Isaiah 53 he says it says here that here in verse 59, saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit to him. We seek Jesus praying directly to Christ all prayed to Jesus.

Also in second Corinthians 12 eight this vision that he is getting here is granted, I believe, to those in the hour of death by persecution. He is still addressing their sin is saying, Lord, forgive them, meaning they are sending. He is not walking any of it back to his death. When Jesus said, father, into your hands I commend my spirit. He also said asked that same time that his executioners would be forgiven will father into your hands I commend my spirit said Jesus but Stephen is saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit that proclaims again the fact that Jesus is coequal with the father is saying that good. These would being received after death by Christ.

The source of life, the victor over death.

Lana doctrine. This verse 60 then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, Lord, do not charge them with this sin when he had said this, he fell asleep again. This is the kind the grace of God gives when it is needed, Stephen. As with the Lord Jesus Christ had a full life, but not a long one. He didn't get to have so many things that you know the family and the retirement package is just there were many things he did just did not get to have the was cut off in his youth lease.

We presume he was a relatively young man, Jesus of course prayed the same thing. I actually they were incensed that Christ in Mark chapter 2.

When Jesus said, go in your your sins are forgiven sin no more, and your sins are forgiven and they said who can forgive sins but God and at that point they were right.

Only God can forgive sin. And so Jesus is of course equal with God, the truth may seem unloving when you don't like it when it's cutting when it's doing its work when it's tearing out of someone with lies that they cherish in their heart. Paul had to deal with this and in must've broken his heart. He put so much work in these churches for them to turn on him. They would not have known Christ had it not been for him and that you know it's a little like a child. He gets too big for their britches.

Galatians 416. Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth, welcome to public preaching. There will be people that say they love Christ, but you point out things from the Scripture that they do wrong and they have no defense for the turn on you instead of saying good point pastor.

I many Christians do that many Christians do Satan yeah amen. That's what the Scripture says, but there are others that they're not so quick to submit but in time. Many times they do come around. The Lord is long-suffering and not only with the loss, but with the saved also. So the word of God. The sword of truth, it hacks it stabs it slices it does the dirty work that needs to be done and we have to learn this and understand it. Galatians 310 foolish Galatians who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified see that Gnosticism was creeping into everything. This only I want to learn from you.

Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of the faith that point it was Judaism that was messing with them while Romans, Galatians, Hebrews written for those Christians who were trying to mix Judaism into Christianity, but there was also that Gnostic element creeping in, causing the doubt about a literal crucifixion, a literal Christ. All of the stuff was going on these apostles had to deal with this. He says are you so foolish, having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh. Have you now departed from being submitted to the Holy Spirit and his leading and you not doing it on your own. That is, his question is your flesh going to do this now. Are you going to do this in your own strength. Are you now better off without being subject to the Holy Spirit don't have their answer. This continues here in verse 60 Lord do not charge them with the sin. Okay, here's the part I wanted to get to Saul who was standing there just as guilty as everybody else. The only reason why he did not hurl stones on his only we believe because of the rabbinical writings that he was a member of the Sanhedrin and he was not to take part. The others could do it and he was not well that is really not too important. He certainly agreed with the execution of Stephen but is benefiting from this prayer because he gets saved.

God doesn't hold the sin against Paul Saul. At this point, he changes his name to Paul later. God grants Stephen's prayer. What about the others. We don't know what we know about Saul and here is the blunder of Satan. One champion is dead of future champion stands in the shadows, oblivious to his own destiny in Christ that does not mean that he is forced to become a Christian against his will. He has a big say so and that Saul watched the champion die and he was never the same after that we get that from acts chapter 9 verse five.

This was the beginning of Saul's conversion process and anoint no one else in no one on earth knew that Saul was being converted, which Satan did not know and did not see was that this man would be approved by God. At this point at when at the stoning of Stephen Paul was approved by Satan is going to be approved by God. So any of you here have sinned in your past. When you are under the influence of Satan.

And now here you are in the body of Christ taken communion with the saints preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This is the God we serve. This is the Savior we have was abundant in mercy, abundant. It doesn't run out for those who come receive first Thessalonians to four, but as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. Second Timothy 215. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. I think it is a very ignorant Christian to, or supposition, to suppose that this man needs to go to seminary to know the Bible preach God's word, a man has to graduate from the approved of God school.

That is where pastors are made approved by God.

The pastor does not have to be and usually is not the smartest person in the church.

In fact, the whole church to be smarter than you is not my problem. He has to be anointed to do what he does. That's all he has to be anointed when he is in that pulpit and when he is ministering the work outside the pulpit. That's it. God takes it from there.

This man Paul will write 28% of the New Testament.

Satan doesn't see that coming. Satan never saw that coming. He thought he was shutting down Christianity and the super preacher named Stephen, only to awaken another. Don't underestimate your preaching. Don't underestimate your life in Christ, your ability to share the gospel how meaningful you want to Christ so easy to prove how meaningful every Christian is to Christ. Just consider which Satan thinks about you, and you should automatically understand by default, God does not share his views.

Satan is the accuser of the brethren don't listen to letter the accusations before the throne of God with the mercy of God presides. That's why the chest had over at the mercy seat, the word of God. The rod of Aaron in the matter had over it.

The mercy of God. Stephen leaves a testimony as a witness to all the ages without Paul. The New Testament was asleep within Judaism without the apostle Paul.

Christianity was snoring in Judaism and God raised him up, and this is the this is where it began right here Stephen sacrifice was not in vain. Had there been no man like Paul raised up by God.

Christianity would've been absorbed there in Antioch when James sent men to spy out their liberty, and the next thing you know Peter and Barnabas were carried away with them. Christianity would've been gone, Paul rose up how hard it must've been for him to stand up against his friends.

Barnabas and Peter how difficult must that have been the put is friendship on the line in the interest of truth.

He did Satan didn't see that coming. God did, and when he said this, he fell asleep that the use of euphemism for the died they killed him. But his sermon survived in the work of that sermon survive if you were to say if if if Stephen survived and you were to to ask him about why did you go off on these guys. With this you know you stiffnecked and uncircumcised.

Which of the proper W not guilty would've said to you the spirit of God surged up within me and demanded that I confront their guilt.

That's why I did. They were unaccountable they fought for murdering Stephen persecution against Christians sword right after this work were going to get to that next chapter. The admiration that the Jewish people had for the church that we found the next chapter 2 is now gone. The second blunder Satan makes in the story.

I'm almost finished. Acts chapter 8 verse four. Therefore, those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word will start in chapter 8, with the persecution of the church because of Stephen and it ended up pushing the gospel throughout Israel and then into Samaria and then up to Antioch it is Antioch, where the Christians were first called Christians where the Gentiles were really brought into the church with a great work of Paul and Barnabas was in front Antioch.

Paul and Barnabas were sent in to Asia minor and their more Gentiles received systematically the message would reach the people of the earth, and it all started here at closer than Alan Redpath quote for forget, as with Naboth, where was God when Stephen was being stoned, opening the gates of heaven to let them in.

It was not a wasted death quote from Alan Redpath the impact of my life upon the world depends entirely upon the impact of the Holy Spirit upon me.

Let's pray our father to be able to know when to preach like this to be able to know when to remain silent all comes from depending on you being led by you. Sometimes we just want to throw the word out there cast the pearls before the swine and then scratch our heads and wonder why it's so fruitless, but then in time, we learn that we just trust you if we remain full of the spirit. If the sword of the word remains sharp within the scabbard. The time will come when you will allow us to preach your son the truth about human beings being sinners and lost in their sin, and in need of a Savior. No matter what anybody else thinks you been listening to this and you cannot open your heart to Christ, then you are outside the mercy of God. If you present an argument that you think you still will find favor on judgment day. You have no basis for that you have no right to do that because there is no proof or evidence.

Unlike Christianity, which has a plethora of evidence, proof fax prophecies testimonies if you want to be right with God. You gotta come through his son. He is the way the truth and the life and there is no other way and there's no apology, the ghost of this just an invitation. If you want to be right with God and make this prayer in earnest, God will receive you if you say Lord Jesus, I am a sinner I broken your laws and I come to you and I ask you to forgive me. You are the one that not only died from my sin. The penalty that I would face, but also the one who is risen again son of God. I give my life to you and ask you to be my Savior and my lord from the stateful. No father anyone is made this prayer and not be ashamed of it may be quick to make the confession known pray these things in Jesus name, amen.

Move you've been listening to cross reference radio daily radio ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia. As we mentioned at the beginning of today's broadcast.

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