Acts Chapter 7:1-14

That lady is an area well yeah Aileen usually do things right now.

You know, amazingly enough, he's even going to make the best of our mishaps, single mess up so God can lead you to know please. The as we look at the life of Abraham. God led him through those things.

As we look at the life of Moses rinsing again.

God is delete him through those things as well. God is even going to read Dean will especially the mistakes of welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina often requested the difficult times of life, but the reality is that many times when it's rough here God the clearest today we have a brown McGee's associate pastors with studio give us some insight Bob load times were in desperate situations. Desperate for a solution, love. Give us an answer today. I don't know what you're going to perhaps you're in a desperate situation yourself tuned into the right place to I think you're right brother because today Pastor David explains how to hear God in the midst of suffering, as he continues in the book of acts chapter 7 part two of his teaching Stevens address give you a quick catch-up. Peter and John of our menus greatly by God and they've also suffer persecution being brought before the Jewish leadership and so then we see Stephen now interestingly enough and we start to look at this last week in chapter 6. Stephen was willing to literally way on tables, and we talked about the fact that God desires us to use us in the small things and is worth paying for the small things, then God will use us in bigger things but a lot of times we wait on the bigger things. Neglecting the small things in and so we go about the whole process with semen was willing to wait on tables and then what happened. God used them in a powerful and miraculous way. Then he gets in trouble for. And so that kinda brings us to chapter 7 verse one the high priest said these things, so now this is great this is the high priest is asking a question and is asking the question because Stephen is been used by God and living his life in such a way that somebody wants to ask a question to me this is a beautiful thing. I think a lot of times we try to give answers when the mice asking us anything, and as a Christian you have to be careful with this, you can live your life in such a way that people will ask you what you believe in one per student chapter 7 says and he said brother and father listen to God's glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia before he dwelt in her land and said to get out of your country and from your relatives statement and come to a land that will show you. Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans in dwelt in Iran and from there when his father was dead, he moved into this land in which you now dwell. God gave them no inheritance in it, not even enough to satisfy Don, but even when Abraham had shot a promise to give it to them for possession and to his descendents after him.

God spoke in this way that his descendents would dwell in a foreign land that they would bring them into bondage and oppressive 400 years in the nation to whom they will be in bondage.

I will judge the God and after that they shall come out and serve me in this place. Verse eight is any game in the covenant of circumcision, and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcising on the eighth day begot Jacob, and Jacob got the 12 patriarchs, there's an interesting thing happens in the baby the ability to clot the daily born is very low, but it increases Intel on the eighth day it set up.

He will ever be in that person's life and that's when God said that's when you want to serve God knows everything he's involved in every single detail mentions the 12 patriarchs. Those are the leaders are the fathers of the will of the 12 tribes of Israel and there's no loss tribes don't know leave the Discovery Channel so there's there's 12 tribes and they came out of these relationships that get back to circumcision for just a moment because there is a spiritual aspect to circumcision that is important for us to understand Romans talks about Romans 228 you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents are because you have gone through the Jewish ceremony of circumcision. No true Jew is one whose heart is right with God and true circumcision is not a cutting of the body, but a change of heart produced by God spirit. Whoever has that kind of change seeks praise from God, not from people calling Romans, and I think to a certain degree, Stephen. Here's reminding what that's not all there is just in a ritual that you also near and the family of God. Romans 423 says for Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Skipping a few verses down Romans 410. How, then, was accounted was he circumcised or uncircumcised nylon circumcised, but while uncircumcised today. Why are you going on the circumcision because there's a concept of precept if you will. That's important for us to understand a lot of times we think that we have to turn in the good people before we asked the Lord to forgive us a reset that there's got to be something in us that were in the to be saved, if you will, and God loves us. A lot of times we start talking about repentance and we misrepresent the grace of God, and it comes out like this. Well you know you can be saved. You can be forgiven if you pray and you're really really really really really really sorry.

Then God will accept it.

How many of us in here that have prayed the prayer. Ask the Lord to forgive us our sins and receive the forgiveness of our sins honestly sit here and say that we were hundred percent sorry for everything that we've ever done. I know I can even has asked the Lord to forgive me and my humanity and my carnal mess in our work. Forgive me of this this and this and this. Forgive me. Next time I do that to yet God still forgave me why is the grace of God, and somehow we've twisted this whole thing.

Even as we look at it and this also teaching the Stevens as we look at Abraham really done anything for God and yet God counted him righteous because he believed that, let me let me explain the word were clear. I believe faith should lead to good works. I believe once you asked the Lord to forgive you present in your life should begin the change, not necessarily on your timetable are the people something a little God's timetable. Your life should begin the change. But here's the problem. While faith leads to good works, good works does not usually lead. Here's what I mean by their people in this world who pander their you would refer to them as good people. The Bible says they're not.

You might refer to him as good lately close up or seen the homeless and and all these things and yet they don't know Jesus as their trusting in their own good works to earn their entrance and and it just does not happen. So while faith leads to good works, good works doesn't always lead to faith.

Verse nine he continues in the patriarchs becoming envious sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with them, and delivered him out of all his troubles and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh king of Egypt made him governor over Egypt and all his house was God just with Joseph in Jerusalem. No, no, he was with them in Egypt, not Egypt is always scripturally and spiritually. A picture of the world and and our own selfish desires and those sorts of things we see that the children of Israel when they Go and you want to go back to Egypt and you know it took just a few months for God to get Israel out of Egypt taken about 40 years to get Egypt out of Israel as they came into the promised land. And God was with Joseph. Even in Egypt, even through those trials he went through listening to Pastor David McGee on cross the bridge will be right back with more just a moment, but I want to remind you of the free resources available to you on cross the bridge.com there's a team of hundreds of people that will pray for somebody to be saved.

You have a loved one that needs to know Jesus as Savior.

You need people to pray for them. You need someone to present God's word to them every day were present in God's virtual here on cross the bridge with Pastor David McGee. We can pray for them as well. Just by simply going to cross the bridge.com and click on the pray for the lost button. All you need to do is put in the first names of the people you love that needs know Jesus as Savior. Click on submit and immediately hundreds of people begin praying for your lost loved ones. What an awesome way to bring your loved ones to Jesus. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown.

We want to take just a couple minutes to pray for some cities in our listening audience, today specifically Grants Pass Hines John Day Junction city Kino Lakeview in Medford, Oregon, Lord, we thank you for the cities and the people who are listening now got even those who might not be listening. We lift up everyone will we pray that your Holy Spirit would draw them into a personal relationship with Jesus that they would put their faith in him.

Father we pray that they will get plugged into Bible teaching church will we pray that you get the pastors in the city's wisdom on how to make disciples and how to encourage everyone that God brings Lord, we pray for the city leaders, mayors, father, the police chief to Fire Chief little we pray that we would be an encouragement to them. Recognizing the serious responsibilities that they have father we pray that the church globally in the cities would walk in unity and Lord, we thank you for what you're doing. In Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse 11. Now in great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan and her fathers found no sustenance. Many in here are probably familiar with the story of Joseph E was beaten by his brothers and he sold in the slavery he he he gets a break in and starts working for the Scott Potter for even as these get ahead than is wrongly accused of adultery thrown in the present, interprets, drains, these guys forgetting but then finally God puts them in the place he was wanting to go and part of the end of the story is the brothers out of their needs are driven driven to Joseph, and Joseph is a really neat picture of Jesus Christ. If you will, is interesting that that during no time in that whole process do this Scripture record one Joseph wind complained or doubted an amazing thing and I'm not sure that he didn't do those things. But Scripture does not record that he ever did those things she God will use our needs to draw still been with them very long.

You found this to be true. Hill find you in a place where you need forgiveness you need many material things you need food, shelter, and clothing, and in those times were driven to God because during the tough times. The Lord doesn't necessarily speak any louder.

But we sure here about knowing when things are going good for the Lord can try to speak to us and we just can't hear very well, but wait to we had a snack and will sit for hours: the word of God, asking the Lord to speak to us coming here to this place.

Hunger Lord say something to me why because we hear much better through the trials and tribulations through the hard times and maybe this morning you're going through some trial or tribulation a hard time within brother sister loved one, make sure your ears are open because no doubt the Lord wants to speak to you maybe through the teaching this morning. Things that you need to hear. So we have Joseph going through all these things in one Joseph complained, I think because Joseph had that dream. And he knew God was going to bring it to pass. And he never really wavered.

We see in Scripture never really doubted because he trusted that God was leading him in his life. That's the next life lesson God is leading us in our lives.

God is leading in our lives that maybe a scenario where you illegally do things right, amazingly enough, he's even going to make the best of our mishaps saying go mess up so God can lead you to that.

Don't please don't misunderstand what that as we look at the life of Abraham. God led him through those things. As we look at the life of Moses to see again God is going to lead him through those things as well. God is even going to read Dean will see this actually very plain. The mistakes of Moses, God has used my mistakes the whole you get caught up in the music industry and all these things and yet all these things I learned in Egypt, if you will. God now uses for his glory. And God will use your past that you think is waste and he'll even redeem and use for his glory is an amazing thing that God does and God uses these developments with Joseph now it's interesting because certainly Joseph got to be bitter and cynical through all these hard times right now, we never see that as a matter fact when his brothers who beat him and sold him into slavery and told their father. He was dead.

He gets in a place of power and prominence in some of you remember the story in Genesis chapter 50 and his brothers are standing before him and he can do anything. I mean anything he could torture you could execute. They could start to do anything yet. What does Joseph say to Genesis chapter 50 verse 19 Joseph said to them, do not be afraid for in mind the place of God. But as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good. In order to bring it about as it is this day to save many people alive. Genesis chapter 50 verse 20 is my life verse. I have been through some experience as well talk about a lot going to the till this morning but I'm been through experiences of been extremely painful at the hands of other people and God has used those things that for me into the person into a vessel that he can use.

According to this first he meant it for good for my bad. Not for my destruction. Other people might miss it for something evil, but God was going to use it for my good for my benefit. Understand when you're going through hard times and trials is that God can use that for your benefit and you may not understand it. I'm sure Joseph at certain times then not understand why he was going to things he was wheat we look back we compartmentalize the story received over Google. It's obvious why God was. I guarantee you just didn't see the and you not get a seat at some point in your life but you can trust. You can trust God is one day you will see a friend might not be until you've asked Jesus to forgive your sins.

It might not be until you get to heaven and you look back and you go all that's why that happened and that's why went through that Lord now understand, but for now just verse 12 but when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt. He sent out her father's first and the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers and Joseph family became known to the Pharaoh. Then Joseph said he called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him.

75 people during the life of Joseph, and I mentioned this get back to this consisted of us gives us an awesome opportunity to go to do a quick overview of the whole Hebrew Scriptures.

You may remember the story. Joseph was wrongly accused and thrown in jail and while he was in jail. There were a couple of people that had dream and Joseph had this gift from God. Dream interpretation. So these guys come to Joseph and it's interesting that the translation in the King James and the new King James of law enforcement, but it mentions a Baker in a Butler. The Butler is an important translation because a better translation would be a one story, a Baker and Juan Stewart, Brad's fruit of about a picture of communion was communion for us to remind us to remind us and there's a verse in this passage of Scripture.

Joseph says to the mantis is like when you get out here when you're set free. Remember me remember me you got the bread the fruit of the vine and you got Joseph is a picture of Jesus and remember me, and there's a sad verse tucked in there. Genesis chapter 40 verse 23 says the chief Butler Juan Stewart did not remember Joseph, but forgot how guilty are we, of this we been set free from all sorts of prisons and we forget that God loves us so much they puts reminders in our passage. If it's a reminder of communion as a reminder of times like this will become the go to worship God and look into the word while God knows we need to be reminded that so often we forget there's a key here in verse 13 and it says in the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers. What is the main the first time and recognize these men that were to be the tribes of Israel did not recognize Joseph was a pitcher who Jesus the competitor was that because many of the Jewish people who have not yet recognize Jesus as the Messiah will recognize him as things one down to the second Stephen in essence is really prophesying to it many, many are going where were you get that there's going to be this Jewish revival in the end times in the book all over the book me give you this couple examples in Revelation chapter 1 verse seven says the whole, he is coming with clouds, and every I will see him, even they pierced him.

And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him. Even so. Amen. Zechariah chapter 12 verse 10 and 11 says I will pour on the house of David only happened in Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplication.

Then they will look on me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for him as one mourns for his only son to grieve for him as one who agrees for first point on top of these passes and wheat we could see her for a while.

Do this were not going to but Revelation chapter 7 talks about the 12 tribes talks about the hundred 44,000 and prophecy books out there talk about who the 444,000 will be. It's not to be Jehovah's Witnesses.

I guarantee that why you say that it tells us it's going to be the 12 tribes. It's not hard to figure out who to talk about in the Bible since 12 tribes you know what I think there talk about 12 tribes, but it took the second time it will take the second you know in the United States takes more than that on average the seventh time somebody hears the gospel is when they receive it you realize there's places on this earth were people had heard it the first.

What a luxury wedding gift that we have. Stephen was confronting these men because they needed to make a decision that day and oftentimes in the service we get towards in the service not talk about a decision being made by those who don't yet know certainly if you're in here this morning need not yet asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins, you should do that.

Not because you've been partially good because you've done something in the past week. You bought Girl Scout cookies or something that you think God is impressed with the now your hope in the snow simply on the grace of God simply by the fact that you're going to approach and ask him to forgive you of your sins will know why let up a little bit this morning. Think every single one of us has a decision either. The following are not.

The Bible says that his mercies are new every morning. I used to think as a believer I used to think okay there's one big decision for the Lord in the next pretty much it.

You know what longer walk with the Lord. The more I realized, yes, there is there's that momentous occasion when the first time you asked the Lord to forgive you, ever since he does and that begins the relationship between what are I know now you gotta come to him every day.

That's how his mercies are new every morning as you question. Have you accessed his mercies is this day.

This morning, have you looked at messages. Forgive me for what I did yesterday this past week. Forgive me, what even what I did this morning to everyone of us has a decision for some well I would encourage you to find your way to the foot of the cross friend. You know for sure that your sins been forgiven. You can know right now own Legion. A short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him.

Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now.

Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry.

Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you.

All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again. So congratulations free and you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you.

You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life you're the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. But it does cost for us to come and bring that message to you and to others in your neighborhood through radio through the Internet and through the mobile technologies that God has gifted us to be able to use so if you like to support this ministry.

Please go to cross the bridge.com.

Click on the donate button and ask God how much you would have you give either on a one-time basis or continuing basis each month to help ensure that the teaching of God's word continues to go out through cross the bridge. Thank you so much ODA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day. You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider daily reading plan enough thought to meditate on throughout your day. From the heart. The David McGee those are terrific and it's easy and it's free so folks sign up today, cross the bridge.com. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the book of acts