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Acts 07:37-53 Stephen’s Sermon Stings – audio
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Text: Acts 7:37-53
Introduction
Last Sunday night’s sermon helped us learn about those with hardened hearts and stiffened necks. Today we want to study about many that suffered from those symptoms, and the damage that was caused.
In fact, it is very relevant for all of us even today.
Body
I. Stephen preached about Moses.
A. Many years earlier, Moses told the children of Israel that God would raise up for them a Prophet like him (Acts 7:37). The Old Testament records when Moses spoke these words (Deuteronomy 18:15,18-19).
Naturally, that Prophet was Jesus Christ! Jesus would later appear with Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration, and it was made clear that we should no longer hear Moses or the prophets, but rather Christ (Matthew 17:4-5).
B. Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt, and later gave them God’s commandments from Mt. Sinai (Exodus 12-20).
Stephen said their fathers rejected those commandments (Acts 7:38-39). John also testified that Moses gave the law, but grace and truth came from Jesus Christ (John 1:17).
C. The people denied Moses and turned back to Egypt in their hearts (Acts 7:40-43). They also began to serve idolatry (Exodus 32, Deuteronomy 9:16).
II. Stephen preached about Christ.
A. Just as their fathers rejected Moses, the people rejected Christ who Moses spoke about (Acts 7:51-53).
1) The LORD taught Samuel that Israel had rejected Him from reigning over them (1 Samuel 8:7).
2) The LORD sent prophets, and as Stephen said, they were all killed (2 Chronicles 36:15-16).
3) Stephen’s audience was stung by hearing they were betrayers and murderers (Acts 7:52-53). Maybe some heard something similar by Peter (Acts 2:22-24,36; 3:13-15,18).
B. Moses was the lawgiver until Christ came (Galatians 3:19). When Christ arrived, He is the Mediator of the New Covenant (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 12:24).
C. The common factor between the people of Moses’ day and Christ’s day is they both resisted the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51).
1) The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession (Ephesians 1:14).
2) We should not grieve the Holy Spirit as Stephen knew they were doing (Ephesians 4:30).
3) God gives us the Holy Spirit, and by rejecting Him we reject God (1 Thessalonians 4:8; 2 Timothy 3:16).
4) God reveals the hidden things through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10; 2 Peter 1:16-21).
Conclusion
Jesus taught that people would not always listen to Him, and they will not always listen to us.
Jesus says that when people hear us, they hear Him; if they reject us, they reject Him (Luke 16:10; John 13:20).
Jesus also knew that as He was persecuted, we will also (John 15:20). Stephen was then persecuted, even to death (Acts 7:54ff.).
Content by Richard Dillon
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Decision Tree – Reject God’s Word
(Did you jump into the middle of this? Please start at the beginning of the decision tree.)
Your sin continues to separate you from God. You have heard God’s Word, but rejected His instruction. There is nothing else that can save you. Perhaps you will have time to reconsider, but that is really not in your hands.
Perhaps you will continue to live, but perhaps not.
It is not really in your hands (James 4:14, Hebrews 9:27), but select a path and see what comes next.
Content by Zachary Van Tassel
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Decision Tree – Reject God’s Word
(Did you jump into the middle of this? Please start at the beginning of the decision tree.)
Your sin continues to separate you from God. You have heard God’s Word, but reject His instruction. There is nothing else that can save you. Only hearing God’s Word can lead to you believing (Romans 10:17). Your only hope is to go back and make different decisions.
Perhaps you will have time to reconsider, but that is really not in your hands.
Perhaps you will continue to live, but perhaps not.
It is not really in your hands (James 4:14, Hebrews 9:27), but select a path and see what comes next.
Content by Zachary Van Tassel
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Decision Tree – Reject God’s Word
(Did you jump into the middle of this? Please start at the beginning of the decision tree.)
Refusing to be baptized is really an indication that you don’t truly believe. If you really believe that God is your creator, and wants what is best for you, why would you reject His instruction? Your sin continues to separate you from God. You have heard God’s Word, but rejected His instruction. There is nothing else that can save you. Perhaps you will have time to reconsider and be immersed for the forgiveness of your sin, but that is really not in your hands.
Perhaps you will continue to live, but perhaps not.
It is not really in your hands (James 4:14, Hebrews 9:27), but select a path and see what comes next.
Content by Zachary Van Tassel
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Decision Tree – Reject God’s Word and God Himself
(Did you jump into the middle of this? Please start at the beginning of the decision tree.)
You may still be alive on this earth, but spiritually, your sin continues to separate you from God.
Satan is rejoicing because you are his. Meanwhile, God is patiently waiting for you to turn to him, but he will not wait forever.
- “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:9-10)
- “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11)
- “And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.” (Isaiah 30:18)
Perhaps you will continue to live, but perhaps not.
It is not really in your hands (James 4:14, Hebrews 9:27), but select a path and see what comes next.
Content by Zachary Van Tassel
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