Acts Chapter 7:35-60

Saul who later will know if Paul was standing there listening so we have Stephen we have Saul standing opposite sides of the cross themselves watching Saul's listening and I have to believe that the hard part of salt in this with me and softly as he watched what Stephen as he watched what Stephen did not just what Stephen said but what Stephen did. Welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina. As a follower of Christ. It's in working that we don't just speak about the truth of God that we live it out today after David explains how our actions often have more impact than our words as he continues teaching the book of acts chapter 7 is David McGee as he concludes the teaching Stephen address that were in acts chapter 7 what's going on is Stephen is speaking to the Jewish leadership is doing a recap of the history of Israel is an incredible chapter. Stephen is obviously very gifted in teaching and and right now he's talking about Moses and pick it up in verse 35 this is this Moses and they rejected Singh, who made you a ruler and a judge is the one God sent me a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He brought them out after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and the Red Sea in the wilderness 40 years, was doing all these things yet they were messing verse 37 this is that Moses ascended the children of Israel, the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren can show here now. This verse is talking about Jesus.

Verse 30 this is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai. Let our fathers the one who received the living oracles to give to us were starting on whom our fathers would not obey but rejected and in their hearts they turned back to Egypt, saying that Aaron make us gods to go before us is for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt. We do not know what is become of him. Verse 41 in the minute In those days offered sacrifices to the and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven as it is written in the book of the prophets. Did you offer me slaughtered animals sacrifices during 40 years in the wilderness house of Israel. You also took up the tabernacle of Moloch and the start of your God damn phone images which you made to worship and I will carry you away beyond Babylon and NC. Stephen is point out what was really going on. What was your heart towards your goals. The people's heart toward the Lord that they were so close in the things of God. Well, I become a little bit jaded, calloused to the things of God can happen, we can begin to get caught up in religion and ritual.

And that leads into hypocrisy.

Verse 44 our fathers have the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness as he appointed instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen it makes me wonder what exactly happened when Moses was up on that map. Did Moses go up in the heaven was the tabernacle modeled in part over some structure in heaven brings interesting questions.

The reality is what we don't know what happened really know what the book tells us we can ask Moses when we get there. Verse 45 which our fathers have received it in turn also brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the Gentiles whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the days of David, Moses brought them out of Egypt and Egypt is a picture of the world. The world system the world thinking the world's philosophy. The though the words perspective the way the world has a look at things. Egypt is symbolic of that Moses the lawgiver brought them out of Egypt.

Moses the lawgiver did not take him into the promised land, Joshua, I think there's a picture here going back to what we just were talking about about the 10 Commandments, the law can't take you into the promises of God can't take you into the promised land. They can take you right up to the edge, but it's Joshua who can take you and nothing living okay. What I don't understand the connection. Well let me remind you the word Joshua and the New Testament was written in Greek. For the most part and and so Joshua is Sue this is the Greek word for Joshua and we know that that Hebrew word is Jesus is the Greek word Asus is the Hebrew word, yes. You that is the name of Jesus ceasing to see the pictures Moses the law taken to the edge of the promised land but not being able to take a stand and Joshua are Jesus being able to take us into the promises of God. It's a beautiful beautiful picture and then there's there's a lot of interesting parallels between the book of Joshua in the book of Revelation as well.

Joshua goes into the land he takes his people who had been usurping the land not living under the leadership of God just like Jesus. The new issue of your will will do in the book of Revelation interesting parallels, great notary verse 46 found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob Solomon built in the house.

However, the most high does not dwell in temples made with hands as the prophet says heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool, and what house will you build will you build for me, says the Lord. What is the place of my rest as my hand not made all these things back to this house thing back to the church as a building. The churches, it is not a building and that we should respect the house of God that the place where we meet with we should, but we should respect God more here. We allow coffee in the sanctuary that may just completely freak some of you out on me after you have a lid on it will guess what I know coffee is getting its building. This can happen.

Maybe your synagogue busted and thinking there you well. Every time we move the chairs.

There is a new coffee stained and I'll ask more concerned about people and if it intimates more comfortable for you to have a cup of coffee and sit here and hear the word of God than anyone coffee, that's the whole concept behind the café and it was interesting to bring this home weight.

I was meeting with a small group leaders in the children's church and we just laid new carpet and I found myself walking behind her when they think in place this going to trash in a hurry because kids and all that's the and this is like four days after that, I met with a small group leaders in their and I'm coffee drinker, you'll discharge how big your cappuccino with the say-so and kicked it over and since sending God in the small group leaders never praise not been baptized.

Now we need to remember we need to remember to not get caught up in the building for the structure. But remember God is about people said about buildings and structures and what happened with the Jewish people as they begin to think God was all about the Temple was about people and even to this day, everything Orthodox Jewish people there dressed in black.

They always were black. Is it being modest or not drawing attention to himself another in the morning for the temple that is been destroyed.

They missed the coming of your shoe. Jesus but their and morning overbuilding sale twisted, it can become an and again unless we point our fingers at the Jewish people us as Christians, we do similar stuff and all been all about the building, and others got stopped talking. When the parking lot people.

One day, and today can I come and address like that dress like this and we got, yeah, you is okay because I was at a church down the street and I was trying to go in as I was going in the call me at the door and said you know you're going to go to church or you need to dress up well may we never ever do that. I mean we we start down that path was just shut the doors padlock because we were missing were missing is the first life lesson man's dead traditions can never replace God's living truth man's dead traditions can never replace God's living truth. Stephen has had this dialogue. He's been talking to these guys. He's been laying the groundwork and get back in read the whole chapter later, but his generator switch gears here and he's built the bridge, but now you walk across that bridge and he's going to confront them with some truth in verse 51 he says you stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute and they killed those who foretold the coming of the just of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers you have received the law by the directions of angels and have not kept understand this is the last time the gospel will be presented to the Jewish people for staking to the Gentiles. Stephen does it with a lot of passion any sentencing you know what you guys are not The law lot because that's part of the discussion, even as also met the 10 commands probably discussion has to be. We have not kept the 10 Commandments we have not kept God's law, we can't gain entrance into heaven through that. So what are we to do and then when you're in that moment of despair where you know in your own ability can approach a righteous God, you can't get to heaven and hope walks in the form of Jesus Christ and nieces on the way your weight not your works. But what I did on the cross we need to understand that and in not get well it is you get a new Dell may have in The walk will we have a couple law either. We need to understand that and why we think about that why we consider that how in the world can we ever pick up any religious pride. When we haven't The law. The very thing that we accuse others who are following Jesus or guilty of similar same sin, it would point our fingers and we call name only make picket signs and do all sorts of things that I'm not sure God leads us to do instead of talking to people.

This is what the Bible says, Romans chapter 3 says, as it is written, there is none righteous, no not one. Nobody in one person in this room that anybody in the world, not anybody that's ever live acceptors, humbling and Romans 323 says for all sin and fall short of the glory of God.

Every one of us, all of us fall short of that glorious standard of perfection. The new living translation puts three tentlike businesses as a Scripture Satan no one is good, not even one. No one has real understanding no one is seeking God. All have turned away from God. All in all wrong. No one does good, not even want many of you reading the book. It's hard to maintain any sort of religious pride at good reasons stay in the book. We've all fallen short of God's glorious standard so that's it was close know I'm kidding that's that's that's the bad news. The bad news is we can approach God in their own goodness and that is no, that's not very encouraging, but what is encouraging is God has made a way for each and every person here now.

The key though is what your reaction will be what your decision will be your 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 simple 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 need to 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 love once 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 Louis 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 54 when they heard these things that were cut to the heart and they gnashed at him with 13 Bahamian full of the Holy Spirit gave in the heaven saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said look I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.

Stephen is about to become the church's first martyr is going to die for the cause. The word witness as it appears in like acts chapter 1 verse eight is a Greek word mark twos that's where we get a word from our list, picture that we do have to ourselves as we live for God. If you if you're near this morning. Think one can address spiritually. Well first of all if he asked Jesus to forgive you percent. We have done but you know I had also like to have this living, vibrant faith when was the last time you talk to somebody about your living, vibrant faith, meaning fairly debatable that this talking about what God is doing in your heart with God in your life is an important part of our faith. If you feel like you're stagnant in your faith and you've done those things you share anything more about serving other people because Jesus was really plain that were supposed to be serving other people and as you do that again your faith.

You get excited. Stephen realize that this place earth was not his ultimate destination was not his ultimate desk that you understand that the life lesson here. If you are following Jesus heaven and earth is your home heaven, not earth as your own, you're passing through your passing through it. It's an adventure.

It's a it's a test that's what we say around here a lot, you know, they establish low they made obnoxious noise and that the color bars.

I guess I still do it some but you know they say this is a test it's only a test of admin real emergency that it is and you know sometimes things are going all right. Just a test only test were going to happen if you set in here this morning and you asked Jesus to forgive you percent going to have what bad thing could happen that would override that nothing, not even death is will see was Stephen see what happens. I noticed one thing real quick to Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.

Usually when you see Jesus talked about him sitting at the right hand of God. Jesus is standing. I have to wonder if it's because Jesus is watching what's going on and he knows he can write to welcome the first martyr of the church and he stands up in all the wrong that you see in the world.

God is in a deal with one is going to deal with it one day and is going to deal with it in his way and his timing that day is coming, and I wonder at times of God doesn't see Jesus that look and see what what's so messed up with the world and standing up.

Sometimes verse 57. Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord the cast amount the city, and stoned him. The witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

Saul, who later will know as Paul was standing there listening so we have Stephen we have Saul standing opposite sides of the cross and Saul's watch Saul's listening and I have to believe that the hard heart of Saul and this was being softened as he watched what Stephen as he watched what Stephen did not just what Stephen said but what Stephen did. Life lesson. Here are actions often impact people more than words are actions often impact people more than words.

When we live what we say we believe as we love one another as we serve one another as we show in and tell our faith. It's a very powerful thing.

Verse 59 and they stoned Stephen as it is called a godsend.

Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Would Stephen do verse 60 then he knelt down and crowned out cried out with a loud voice, Lord, do not charge them with us in when he had said this, he fell asleep a summation of their new guy do something safe.

Stephen got Vincent.

He gave Stephen the grace why he was being stoned and killed and executed to look at the people and say forgive, that's what God insight Lord, go ahead and judge, Lord, may they reap what their so in here say anything.

He revealed the heart of Jesus remind you of the words of Jesus when Jesus and father forgive them. They don't know what you're doing.

When's the last time you looked at an unbeliever like that father forgive them.

They don't know what they're doing now.

Instead, we knew the pickets and we do the protest we talk about what all the heathen dogs are doing. Is that a setback going kind. Forgive me and got no idea what to do when assault from this occurrence that the church would spread wider than it would anybody ever thought it would, and that there was a man there would be one of the most powerful man ever used by God in history from this horrible event. Your friend, maybe you're going something that's hard when you're going through something that's hard that that's horrible. That's terrible and you're in the middle of anything when good. Can God do with this situation, I guarantee you God can bring some good. I don't know what it is I don't know what is.

But even with the martyrdom of Stephen horrible event the church spread from this event and there was this man named Saul, that was forever touched, but notice what Stephen didn't do Stephen as I got judge of where some really wrong with these people. There was no resentment for what his enemies are done to none. Ask a question.

Anybody ever done you wrong and by ever hurt you cause pain of disappointment. Re: Karen L still I still think in man that one time God that girl you have to carry that around Jesus does not intend for you to carry that around all, but I'm righteously indignant over what they did, it was wrong. I'm offended because God doesn't have the good sense the time offended on behalf of the Lord. The life lesson here do not carry baggage from people who've rolled let it go this morning an interesting person book of acts. Acts 2220 Paul is speaking, he says this and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed also was standing by consenting to his death and guarding the close of those who were killing him.

Some people believe by the fact they were put in the close' that he might've been in charge that Paul had a truckload of guilt. He didn't know what to do with you probably walked away that day and thought man sky was being spiritual laws have everybody stoning.

What about you friend. We can do with your guilt unit carried around to get to from church. It's so heavy. Why would you want to carry it around an amazing thing is what so heavy to you like a speck of dust on a scale to God, though I keep hearing that around the guilt for what you did last week.

Last year, 10 years ago. Sometimes we think that the spiritual thing to do. Romans chapter 5 verse eight says this but God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. It wasn't like godsend well during church sale now for doing something good. Know why you were the worst shape of your life messing up the worst you've ever met in your life at that time Jesus had his hand out toward you say you know what I done for that friend.

You know for sure that your sins have 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 if you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again.

Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness.

Those who were sick, not the righteous to congratulations and you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you prayed that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you visit, cross the bridge.com and click on God's plan for new life to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ.

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Whether you are married, considering marriage or engaged to be married. We have a resource for you pastor David wants to send you his four part video series allies stay friends. Allow God to minister to your marriage through his word today. This was an unforgettable weekend that encouraged many marriages and you and your spouse can be encouraged to allies stay friends is our thanks for your generous gift today to help more people hear God's truth on this station and beyond, so they can cross the bridge from death to life. Please visit cross the bridge.com today to give a gift of any amount and get your copy of allies stay friends ODA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners some days you could wake up with encouragement for pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons.

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Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse through the book of acts