TWCC Service | July 2, 2023: The Testimony of Stephen

[Music] foreign [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] thank you [Music] thank you [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] [Music] right okay foreign [Music] [Music] good morning [Music] thank you for joining us today here at the way City Church it's great to have you here with us we want to invite you to enter into a time of worship and praise of all that God has done for us thank you for joining us online as well we appreciate those who continue to join with us it's exciting to me that we have that opportunity and and we we're thankful that so many do take a part of that every week when you when you can when it's when you're able we would appreciate we would love to have you come in and join us physically personally I believe there's nothing like being in the service to really fill your heart with what God has for you but uh we're all we're all glad to be here today we're all thankful for the ones that who can be here a couple of quick announcements I want to share with you I'm going to start with the men guys we have a meeting this Saturday at Wegmans it's our monthly men's meeting it is happening at nine o'clock in that upper area so come join us the more I read the more I see in our world the more I realize that it's Godly men who have to take a stand for Christ and this will help you do that so I encourage you to be part of this to join us for the men's meeting we also have an evangelism event coming up um and that evangelism event is in a couple of weeks right okay so we'll have more information about that you can keep watching the screens or you can look on our website at the waycitychurch.org and guys if you want to come out and just be part of that I'd encourage you to be involved in that we're still celebrating all the things that God has done for us and the wonderful vacation bible school that we were able to have I don't think there was a day that went by and they didn't have 24 kids here and I think the total was 41. 41 different children who were touched with God's message that was because we were able to make some arrangements with Dexter Baptist Church in Dexter Georgia who came up and helped us and it was because our people were willing to stand up and do the work needed to see that happen it was so so exciting half of my fun was just watching the different people all of the different places uh doing the different jobs that they were assigned because it was great it was it was really something special I want to remind you that this church exists because God's called us to be here in this area we are here because God has provided everything we need all the electronics all the funds to rent this building all the things that we've been involved in God has been good to us and he's provided what we need and he provides what we need primarily through you when you give to support this ministry we keep the ministry going if you uh want to give today you can do that by going online at our website the waycitychurch.org forward slash giving you can text to give at 84321 there's a little box out in the foyer where Fred and Kim are you can drop your offering in there we'll set up direct deposit for you if you'd like whatever it's going to be most convenient for you and I'm not going to stand up here and bring you to tears about the reason you need to give God will lay on your heart what you're supposed to give I just want to remind you that if you feel that urge from God we want to make it easy and simple for you to to make that gift to us so that we can continue the work that we're doing we're thankful for all that God has done for us we're thankful for the many many new faces we've seen over the last couple of years as we've been meeting together and we just want to take a moment this morning and Commit This Day to his ministry so will you join me in prayer Holy Father we stand before you today so thankful for all that you're doing for us we stand before you recognizing your love your watch care your guidance your protection we see that your provision has allowed us to do the work of ministry here in Woodbridge throughout the area and even across the world and we're thankful for that for every opportunity you give us Lord open our eyes to see what you want us to do open our hearts to receive your message open our hands and our feet that we went move forward and do the work you've called us to do thank you for this time today Lord we can gather together as a church and be refreshed and strengthened and renewed for the work ahead help us to leave this place ready to go and do the ministry work you've called us to because of what we hear the words we sing the message that comes to our heart help us to be ready Lord for what lies ahead we pray in Jesus name amen good morning I want to invite you to stand for a time of worship this morning as we lift our praises [Music] let praise be you open that silence is the enemy let praise be a weapon that conquers all anxiety [Music] let praise arise we sing your name in the dark it changes everything we sing with all we are we claim your Victory let it rise let praise arise we'll see you break down everyone we'll watch the Giants fall fear cannot survive when we praise you the god of breakthroughs on a side forever lift him high with our creation God we will praise you oh oh we praise you let Faith be a song that overcomes the Raging Sea let Faith be the song that calms the storm inside of me let it rise we'll see you break down every wall we'll watch the Giants fall fear cannot survive when we praise you the god of breakthroughs on a side forever left in my with our creation cry God we praise you oh we praise you [Music] sing this is what living looks like this is what freedom feels like this is what heaven sounds like we praise you we praise you this is what living looks like this is what freedom feels like this is what heaven sounds like we praise you we praise you itself [Music] creation cry God we praise you oh [Music] oh we praise you [Music] amen amen [Music] worthy of every song we could ever sing worthy of all the praise [Music] Jesus the name above every other name he's just the only one who could ever say [Music] worthy of every breath we could ever breathe we live for you oh we live for you and holy there is no one like you there is [Music] [Music] around me sing Jesus the name Jesus the name above every other name Jesus the only one who could ever say worthy of everybody [Music] and holy there is no one like you there is none beside you open up my eyes [Music] [Music] [Applause] see I will build my life upon your love [Music] and I will build my life upon your love it is [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] of my body show me who you are and fill me with your hearts [Music] upon your life it is [Music] [Music] let's continue this time of praising God and building our life upon him [Music] with Darkness tries to roll over my bones when sorrow comes to steal the joy I own with Brokenness is in pain is all I know I Won't Be Shaken so I won't be shaken over my fear doesn't stand a chance when I stand in your love my fear doesn't stand the chance when I stand in your love my fear doesn't stand a chance foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] when I'm standing in your love is power there's power that can break off every chain this power this resurrection power that can save this [Music] this power that can't break off every change there's power that came empty out of grave this resurrection power that can say [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] isn't stand a chance [Music] foreign [Applause] now on those days now in those days when the number of disciples was multiplying there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the hellenists because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution then the twelve some in 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 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 those the whole multitude and they chose Stephen A Man full of faith and the Holy Spirit and Philip for crocus Nicor Timon permias and Nicholas a prosely die from Antioch whom they set before the apostles and when they prayed they laid hands on them then the word of God spread and the number of 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 and there arose some from what is called the synagogue or the free man cyrenians alexandrians and those from solicia and Asia disputing with Stephen and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke then they secretly induce men to say we have heard him speak Blasphemous words against Moses and God and they stirred up the 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 the holy place and the law and we have heard him say this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the Customs which Moses delivered to us then all who said in the council looks steadfastly at him and saw his face as a face of an Angel the word of the Lord [Music] Great Is Thy Faithfulness oh God my father there is no shadow of turning with thee vowel changes not thy compassions they fail not as though has been the forever will be Great Is Thy Faithfulness Great Is Thy Faithfulness morning by morning new mercies I see all I have been great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me Summer and Winter Springtime and harvest sun moon and stars in their courses above join with the nature and manifold witness to I pray faithfulness mercy and love [Music] Great Is Thy Faithfulness Great Is Thy Faithfulness morning by a new mercies I see all I have been in thy and death provided Great Is Thy Faithfulness Lord unto me pardon for sin and a peace that endurance thine own dear presence to cheer to God strength for today and by Hope For Tomorrow blessings are mine with ten thousand besides if Great Is Thy Faithfulness Great Is Thy Faithfulness morning by morning new mercies I see all I have needed thy hand have provided Great Is Thy Faithfulness Lord unto me [Applause] bow your heads with me for a moment and just begin to think of the faithfulness of God as we sang that song how exactly has God been faithful to you recall to mind right now God's faithfulness remember his faithfulness so just take a moment and begin to think of God's faithfulness to you before we transition this morning take some time and think of that thank you thank you [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] we thank you Lord God Almighty for your faithfulness and waking us up this morning the privilege that we have to gather in this place and to worship you this morning we thank you that your mercies are new every single morning and that we get to partake of that today father we thank you as we transition for a time of of hearing and receiving your word we thank you Lord that you have been faithful to preserve your word and to give your word to us your people so we thank you for the privilege we thank you for the access that we have to and Lord we give this time into your hands in Jesus name we pray amen amen good morning church you may be seated God is good amen thank you all for joining us this morning at the way City Church as usual we are glad that you're here and for those of you who could not be with us in person but you're with us online thank you for joining us as well the way City Church as you know is a new church that exists in Woodbridge to reach the lost and to disciple the believer that's why we are here that's why we exist and we invite you all to come on this spirit-led journey with us as a church our children's leaders have prepared a great lesson this morning as they always do each and every single week so at this time my children are free to go to their Bible class God bless you guys let's give our children a quick hand [Applause] today we uh pick up we pick back up in our Series going through the book of Acts we've been out of our series for the past uh two weeks or three Sundays due to special services uh two weeks ago or three Sundays ago I shared a Father's Day message with you entitled a father's Petition of faith and then last week I continued with the VBS theme on the armor of God and we spoke about that and by the way after we complete Acts chapter 7 God willing next week I want to take a break from our Series going through the book of Acts for the summer because I really want us as much as possible to go through this book together as a church and summer is a time of traveling and Vacations so God willing we will pick back up after Acts chapter 7 in the fall is that okay it's gonna have to be but but let me uh quickly recap Acts chapter six before we move on today Acts chapter 6 verses 1 through 7. there was a problem in the church acts 6 1-7 there was a problem regarding the daily distribution of the food toward the Hellenistic widows but there was a plan there was a problem but we spoke about the plan there was a problem but there was a plan the apostles had a plan and they shared their plan with the church they shared it with the congregation and their plan included a plea and their plea was for the church to find seven men who were leaders overseers to oversee this task of the widows and also to stop the murmuring from continuing within the church so the men chosen were Stephen Philip prokorus nicono Timon palminus and Nicholas and these men had five requirements number one they were to be Christian men number two of a good reputation number three full of the Holy Spirit number four they were to be wise men and number five they were to be again leaders overseas to oversee this ministry or this task so after their plea they found their people and now because the right people are in place the church can continue on in power Stephen however one of the seven men who were chosen and perhaps the the first among the seven men chosen he he stands out from among the saints and also from among the seven and he is known by the church as a man full of the Holy Spirit and full of power the scriptures tell us these things about Stephen Stephen was full of Faith Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit Stephen was full of power Stephen spoke with wisdom and Stephen spoke by the spirit and the spiritual as Stephen was there's still a rose some who came against him disputing with him out of nowhere it almost seems like but we know this was the plan of the enemy men were secretly hired against Stephen false Witnesses were sent against him Stephen was lied upon and then Stephen was seized and while they are speaking against Stephen Stephen has the attention of the council he has the attention of the Sanhedrin as his face the Bible says is shining like an angel God is clearly with Stephen Stephen found himself where he is not because he lacked faith or because he wasn't led by the spirit not because he did not have power or because he lacked wisdom Stephen found himself where he was because of his faith because he was as bold as a lion because he did not grieve nor hinder the power of the flow of the Holy Spirit from working through him because he spoke the word of God and because he imitated the very words of Jesus he finds himself in the position that he's in Stephen is here because he's in because he did the right thing because he did the right thing so in Acts chapter 6 verses 8 through 15 Stephen is on trial and so his trial continues today and acts chapter 7. and it's a it's a very lengthy passage so bear with me this morning but let us pray father we thank you as we open your word to Acts chapter 7. we thank you for this amazing journey of us going through the book of Acts together as a church we thank you for all that you have shared with us and spoken with our spirit of the Living God we thank you for the life and the testimony of Stephen we thank you for Acts chapter 7. and we pray Lord God Almighty our prayer is that you would speak to us this morning I know that no one here today is here by chance or by coincidence but we are all here by a Divine appointment and I pray that no one would leave this place in the same way that they came so I pray that you would open our eyes to see and open our ears to hear what you desire to show us and what you desire for us to hear we pray that we would be alert that we would be focused that we would be connected and in tune with your spirit this morning we pray all these things in Jesus name amen amen foreign of Stephen began again in Acts chapter 6. verses 8 through 15 and today we will speak about the testimony of Stephen the trial of Stephen the testimony of Stephen and then God willing next week we will conclude Acts chapter 7 and we'll speak about the triumph of Stephen so the testimony of Stephen Acts chapter 7 verses 1 through 53 is where we will be this morning verse 1. then the high priest said are these things so are these things so what things so he is referring to the accusations made at the end of Acts chapter 6. we can turn over there real quick acts 6 11-14 this is what he is referring to then they secretly induced men to say we have heard him speak Blasphemous words against Moses and God and they stirred up the 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 so are these things so and so they want an explanation from Stephen explain to us Stephen have you spoken Blasphemous words against Moses and God have you Stephen spoken Blasphemous words against this holy place and the law will Jesus of Nazareth destroy this place and change the Customs which Moses delivered to us these things are these things so and so they asked Stephen what he perceives to be an open-ended question have you guys ever been in a in a hurry and you're engaged in conversation with a really talkative person and then the conversation is is kind of wrapping up and then you accidentally ask them an open-ended question and they just kind of take that as an opportunity to to walk through the door which you gave them to be fair but they take it as an opportunity to um to share with you an oral dissertation right and they're just going this this is what is happening here and what is not happening here right the council they are not in a hurry but Stephen will take their question as an Open Door and an opportunity for him to minister for him to correct for him to rebuke and for him to share Jesus as the Messiah he will take their question as an open door as an and as an opportunity to share the gospel with them he takes it Stephen is a man Again full of faith and the Holy Spirit and wisdom and he rightfully seizes this opportunity here in a good way in in fact in a pretty spectacular way as you will hear he he marches through this Open Door given to him through the question are these things so and now you will see a man Again full of the Holy Spirit and power and wisdom will see a man in operation as the spirit leads him to speak and he speaks a somewhat perfectly crafted message I say somewhat because the holy spirit is still working through human flesh the holy spirit's message obviously is perfect but it doesn't 100 of the time come through human vessels in a perfect way in Mark chapter 13 Jesus is speaking about the signs of the times and the end of the age and Jesus has these words to share with us beginning with verse number nine pay attention to what Jesus said but watch out for yourselves for they will deliver you up to councils and you will be beaten in the synagogues you will be brought before rulers and kings for my sake for a testimony to them and the gospel must first be preached to all the nations but when they arrest you and deliver you up do not worry beforehand or premeditate what you will speak but whatever is given you in that hour speak that for it is not you who speak but the holy spirit this passage sounds as though it was written for Stephen and for all believers who will seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness in Acts chapter 7 Stephen is here literally delivered up before the council the text in Mark chapter 13 was not yet written and therefore not read by Stephen but he himself will be a testimony before the council for Jesus's name's sake Stephen has been arrested Stephen has been delivered up and he does not worry about what he is going to say this is not a premeditated speech that he shares with the people but now Stephen's hour has come someone say Stephen's hour has come his hour has come and he is seeking now the leading and the guidance The Guiding of the Holy Spirit not just to get him through this but for him to be able to articulate God's message clearly and there was even a supernatural boldness that overtakes Stephen by the end of his testimony let me also say that that oftentimes not always but oftentimes the holy spirit will draw from what is within you and I believe that's exactly what is happening here right Stephen has studied something Stephen has heard something Stephen knows some stuff and the Holy Spirit is basically drawing it out of him bringing it back to his remembrance at this very hour Proverbs 20 and verse 5 says counsel in the heart of a man is like deep War but a man of understanding will draw it out Stephen knew his audience he knew his history Old Testament history he knew the truth of God's word and it was hidden in his heart Stephen was a defender of the faith a a great defender of the faith I mentioned to you the word apologetics last week again apologetics being the biblical reasonings and arguments that we use to defend our faith and to justify why we believe what we believe well this is what apologetics looks like Acts chapter 7. Stephen was accused and these people did not believe the truth about Jesus and so Stephen defends his faith and he tells them the truth and he does it my friends very well verse number two and he said brethren and fathers listen the god of Glory appeared to Our Father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia before he dwelt in haran so Stephen starts with God the best place to start and he said Brethren and fathers listen the god of Glory right appeared to Our Father Abraham he starts with God and then he goes from God to Abraham and he refers to Abraham as our father Our Father Abraham both his and theirs right common ground is always a good foundation to start with before you're about to rebuke someone right it kind of breaks the ice to say right so Stephen saying Hey Hey listen we have this in common right we're both children of Abraham remember Stephen is a wise man but let's look at the beginning of verse number two again I want to show you something here that kind of sets the stage for the direction that Stephen is going in Stephen addresses the council as Brethren and fathers take note of the word fathers and this will make more sense later on but let me introduce to you the point these men of the council were now the current fathers of Israel they were the current fathers of Israel now let's pause and let's go back these men had great pride these men took great pride in their forefathers great pride in their forefathers I want to stress that point these men took great pride in their forefathers they almost made an idol out of them right 18 times in this passage it mentions father or fathers and a dozen times it mentions our fathers or the forefathers specifically let me help you better understand the Jews were patriotic toward their fathers forefathers kind of like how you are towards your founding fathers right patriotism right the the Constitution for many American Believers holds equal value right to scriptures for many and they may not say that but but it's true and they will defend the Constitution before they distract before they defend the word of God right it's it's the the Bible in one hand and the constitution in the other hand right you guys have to forgive me it's July 4th weekend and I always get a little bit triggered around this time as a British man so see you guys but you guys get point right if I was to stand here and and and speak against uh the forefathers and the Constitution maybe some of you would be be triggered right and they are they are triggered as Stephen is speaking about their four fathers the Jews were patriotic right way before Americans right and and again they they loved their forefathers the Jews not only lived in the present they also lived in the past right and their history is extremely important to them so much so that they have great reverence if you didn't know for the Dead right there is a suspicion and perhaps a better word would be a Superstition well but there is a suspicion among the Jews that if you want to be near to God that you should be near to the the body of his Saints so they have a common practice of going to the graves of the Patriarchs to pray for example at the cave of mapella in the West Bank city of Hebron the Jews come by droves to pray they come by droves to pray there at the burial cave where where Abraham and Jacob and Isaac were buried and also their wives Sarah Rebecca and Leah but they they travel there and they pray we also see that in Jerusalem by Mount Zion there's a place called the tomb of David which you've heard of and all throughout the day you will find usually the older men that would go to that place and they would go there to pray the same is true of the tomb of Rachel near Bethlehem the men and women would go there often and they would pray the men have their heads down they Rock back and forth and they usually have prayer books in their hands and there's also a secret section for the women and the women would go there and pray so the Jews again go to the graves of the righteous people to pray because they have a suspicion or a feeling that the spirit of God Still Remains around the graves of righteous people and so they believe that in these places it's a good place to get close to God I can testify that there are people in this country that do similar practices but to the extreme actually curse and I were talking about this the other day but there are people in this country that do similar practices you know there's a church called Bethel in Reading California and they have a practice of they call it grave sucking but they go to the graves to the tombs of men and women who died in faith and they lay on their tombstones and their hope is that they can suck or receive the anointing from that dead person and it will come upon them and they actually do this and there are there are videos to prove it but they lay on the tombs of men and women who have died men and women of God and they call it grave sucking and they believe they can get the anointing so this is more extreme than what the Jews were doing but I'm just saying I can testify that people here in this country do similar practices and so the the Jewish people they they prided themselves in their fathers right they were always talking about our fathers this and our fathers that and always with with immense Pride right and now Stephen in his address to the council is showing them that the history of their fathers isn't as outstanding and as glorious as they would like to make out that's what Stephen is doing here in Acts chapter seven so let's let's read on and he said Brethren and fathers listen the god of Glory appeared to Our Father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia before he dwelt in her own and said to him get out of your country and from your relatives and come to a land that I will show you then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in haran and from there when his father was dead he moved him to this land in which you now dwell and God gave him no inheritance in it not even enough to set his foot on but even when Abraham had no child he promised to give it to him for a possession and to his descendants after him verse 6. but God spoke in this way that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them 400 years and the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge said God and after that they shall come out and serve me in this place then he gave him the Covenant of circumcision and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day and Isaac forgot Jacob and Jacob begot the twelve Patriarchs and the Patriarchs becoming envious verse number nine and the Patriarchs their forefathers and the Patriarchs becoming envious sold Joseph into Egypt but God was with him and he delivered him out of all his troubles and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of pharaoh king of Egypt and he made him Governor over Egypt and all his house now a famine and great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan and our fathers found no sustenance but when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt he sent out our fathers first and the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers and Joseph's family became known to the pharaoh then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him 75. people real quick if you remember earlier I said that Stephen's speech is almost perfect Deuteronomy 10 verse 22 Exodus 1 5 and Genesis 46 27 all say that 70 persons went down to Egypt right however this is probably not Steven's full right because Stephen as you know he's a Hellenistic Jew right he's he's a he's a Grecian Jew right he was heavily influenced by the Greek culture and was a part of the diaspora that came back to to Israel right this means that he read the Septuagint and in the Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls they record it as 75 people and actually um they're just counting the numbers a little bit differently right so it's actually not even a big deal I'm not going to get into it today for the sake of time but he says 75 here um the masoretic Hebrew text which we have obviously says 70. verse 15. so Jacob went down to Egypt and he died he and our fathers and they were carried back to shechem and laid in the Tomb that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of homo the fathers of shechem so in in verse number nine right Stephen reminds them that their fathers sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt right Stephen is making this as a point they rejected Joseph they sowed him as a slave to Egypt but God was with him Stephen is building his case here against their fathers I want you to understand that he's slowly building his case against their fathers and he's reminding them that their fathers the Patriarchs Judah and the rest of Joseph's brothers who sold him into slavery that they did a terrible thing to Joseph Stephen then goes from the the rejecting of Joseph which is the first example which he presents to them of the sins of their fathers and then he moves on to Moses but before he does that he makes it clear again that Joseph and I'm stressing his point Joseph was a hear me a god ordained leader who they rejected Joseph I'm going to say again was a god-ordained leader who their forefathers rejected and now Moses again is the second example that Stephen is about to present to them he's showing them the mistakes the sins of their of their forefathers they're not as big or as great as they thought and he's making this pretty clear verse 17. but when the time of the promise Drew near which God had sworn to Abraham the people grew and multiplied in Egypt till another king arose who did not know Joseph this man dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our forefathers making them expose their babies so that they might not live at this time Moses was born and as well pleasing to God and he was brought up in his father's house for three months but when he was set out Pharaoh's daughter took him away and brought him up as her own son and Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and deeds now when he was 40 years old it came into his heart to visit his Brethren the children of Israel by the way Moses's life is divided into three 40-year periods the first 40 years he was there in the palace the second 40 years he was in the land of Midian and he was a shepherd and then his final 40 years he's in the wilderness leading the children of Israel on adventures in the wilderness so when he's 40 years old the Bible says it came into his heart to visit his Brethren the children of Israel I assume that God planted the desire in Moses heart and verse 24 and seeing one of them suffer wrong he defended and Avenged him who was oppressed and struck down the Egyptian there are different seasons of life Moses's response here is a natural response it is a spontaneous response this was not premeditated right Moses was revolted at this time but this has been happening to the children of Israel for over 350 years already and Moses's entire life they've been in bondage but now all of a sudden Moses is touched right he's impacted by what he sees right he's moved with compassion he's sensitive toward their pain so this is mocking the transition right a new season in Moses is hot and also in his life and this clear transition takes place at the time when he is 40 years old verse 25. for he's supposed that his Brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand but they did not understand for he supposed that his Brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand but they did not understand now again with Stephen's speech here I'm not sure where Steven gets this this Insight from you know at what point did Moses actually know that he was the deliverer right because I don't think that Moses actually knew that he was the deliverer here at this point perhaps his sister or his brother or his mother dropped some hints but again how did they know right um the the truth is that God has been preparing Moses his whole life right to be a deliverer right the 40 years in the palace was part of the preparation knowing the land of Egypt and the highest officials in the land Etc but Moses is not yet ready at this point right he's not ready he's not ready Moses is not ready so he goes into the desert for 40 more years as a shepherd and God is dealing with him and God is training him and God will introduce himself to him because God does not yet Moses does not yet know God at this point so God introduces himself to Moses when he's in the desert later on the second four-year period of Moses life all right so again I don't know exactly where Stephen got the Insight from that that Moses um in his heart believed that his um well he suppose that his Brethren would have understood that God would deliver him I don't know where he where he got that from but moving on verse 26. and the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting and tried to reconcile them saying men you are Brethren why do you wrong one another but he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away saying who made you a ruler and a judge over us this is their fathers their forefathers the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting and tried to reconcile them saying men you are Brethren why do you wrong one another but he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away saying who made you a ruler and a judge over us do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday then at this saying Moses fled and became a dweller in the land of Midian where he had two sons and when 40 years have passed an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush right see this is when Moses meets God and when 40 years have passed an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush in the wilderness of Mount Sinai when Moses saw it he marveled at the site and as he drew near to observe the voice of the Lord came to him saying I am the god of your fathers the god of Abraham the god of Isaac and the god of Jacob and Moses trembled and dared not look then the Lord said to him take your sandals off your feet for the place where you stand is Holy Ground I have surely seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt I have heard they're groaning and have come down to deliver them and now come I will send you to Egypt verse number 34. I love it this is still true for God's people today and we should take great comfort in this God sees God hears and God comes down to deliver us amen Church this Moses verse 35 this Moses Steven's Point whom they rejected who rejected their fathers rejected this Moses whom they rejected saying who made you a ruler and a judge is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush Moses whom they rejected saying who made you a ruler and a judge is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush so Stephen is making a great Point here that historically regarding major events and the big things that God himself was doing you did not recognize it you were unable to see God's hand your fathers were wrong about Moses is what Stephen is saying he was the deliverer he was the one whom God sent and the one who God used verse 36 he brought them out after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for 40 years so Stephen from their fathers has given them two solid examples of their fathers both rejecting and afflicting God's anointed ones the dream that Joseph had depicted that his brothers would serve him and then Joseph was to be a leader in the land but they rejected the dream and they rejected Joseph but the Dream came to pass again because God was with him Stephen is saying they cost out Moses too but God brought him back after 40 years and God's plan prevailed Moses came back and he took the people out of Egypt just as God desired Stephen Church is is showing the council a pattern of their forefathers he's showing them a pattern of their forefathers their fathers were unable to recognize God's ordained plan and God's ordained rulers they couldn't see them they could not acknowledge them verse 37. this is that Moses who said to the children of Israel the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren him you shall hear I mean he's he's going in and he's continuing here this is that Moses who said to the children of Israel the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren him you shall hear this is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and with our fathers the one who received the living oracles to give to us who our fathers would not obey but rejected Stephen is saying here that God was clearly with Moses it was evident there was actual signs there was Supernatural manifestations the angel of God spoke to him on Mount Sinai right your fathers knew this they witnessed this Moses came down from the mountain and they saw his face radiant and shining it was clear it was clear to them and in their hearts they turned back to Egypt verse 4 he's saying to Aaron how do how do they turn back to Egypt saying to Aaron make us Gods to go before us I mean look at this I mean this is this is a bunch of foolishness I hope you guys are following with me right Stephen 's making up powerful case here and in their hearts they turned back to Egypt saying to Aaron make us Gods to go before us as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt we do not know what has become of him and they made a calf in those days offered sacrifices to the idol 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 and sacrifices during 40 years in the wilderness or House of Israel you also took up the Tabernacle of malloc and the star of your God Ram fan images which you made to worship and I will carry you away Beyond Babylon verse 39 again whom our fathers would not obey but rejected and in their hearts they turned back to Egypt listen to this the their fathers were in the very presence of God their fathers were in the very presence of God they were not present with God they were in his presence but they were not present God LED them daily Church God LED them daily with a physical pillar of cloud that they could see God LED them nightly through the night with a pillar of fire that they could see they they saw these things and let's go back even further than that right they they cried out to God because they were in bondage in Israel in Egypt they cried out to God and God sent them a deliverer he sent Moses these folks right their fathers they saw the ten plagues that came upon the Egyptians follow with me they saw God turn the Egyptian water into blood they saw God cause an infestation of frogs to disturb the Egyptian land they saw the lice that came upon the Egyptians and the Bible says tormented them they saw the the flies that harassed the Egyptians right the death of the Egyptian livestock they they saw and witnessed all these things the the pestilence right the boils upon their flesh right they saw these things the Bible speaks about hell that came down like huge destructive bulls and they came down like lightning and they destroyed everything anything that did not have shelter died and it messed up the land they saw the darkness that filled the land the darkness came down like like a cloak and the Bible says that it could be felt and there was not a glimmer of light throughout the entire land they saw the the locusts that God had sent anything that the hell didn't destroy the locusts destroyed and ate everything and the Bible says and every every tree that grew for the Egyptians the locusts ate and obviously finally the the the worst and final plague the death of the firstborn they witnessed the Egyptian firstborns die perish death in the land but the Israelites were covered under and behind the blood of the slain lamb which is a type of shadow for salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ Alone so through through all of this their fathers their their ancestors witnessed all these things that came against the Egyptians but the Israelites guess what they had water to drink no frogs entered their homes they weren't affected by the lies or the gnats or the Flies right their livestock never died the Bible even says that Pharaoh did an inspection afterwards and none of the livestock of the Israelites had died incredible the Israelites had no sores or boils on their skin the hell never affected the Israelites at all in a land full of Darkness the Bible speaks about whether Israelites were in the land of Goshen there was light no locusts in the land of Goshen destroying their agriculture I mean I mean this is pretty pretty incredible in the land full of Darkness they had light again their their firstborn didn't die no one died as they followed the instructions of the Lord and smeared the blood of the Lamb on their doorpost so they I mean that alone is enough that alone is enough this is not stuff that you forget you don't forget this stuff this stuff stays with you forever right but God has not he's not done showing the Israelites his love and his power right the Bible speaks about the Israelites passing through the Red Sea as of dry land I mean they passed through the Red Sea they walked through it and it was dry the Egyptians attempting to do the same drowned God provided for them bread from heaven every single day in the wilderness in the desert God caused water to come out of a rock and we can keep on going but you get the point they they saw all these things they experienced all these things so so do you get Stephen's point I mean how hard Church how hard does your heart have to be and how stiff does your neck have to be after all of this that I just mentioned and there's a lot more that I did not mention right but how hard does your heart have to be and how stiff does your neck have to be for you to reject God after all of this and his messenger turn back to Egypt create an idol with your hands and give that Idol the credit for getting you out of Egypt how hard does your heart have to be and how stiff does your neck have to be for you to do that verse 44. our fathers had the Tabernacle of witness in the wilderness as he appointed instructing Moses to make it according to the patent that he had seen which our fathers having received 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 who found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling for the god of Jacob but Solomon built him a 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 what house will you build for me says the Lord or what is the place of my rest has my hand not made all these things so he's saying some things here also against the temple you have to understand that many of the folks worshiped the temple more than they worshiped God but now now it's too late right Stephen has said all that all that he wants to say right the the Catapult has been pulled all the way back he's been pulling it back it's been stretched back and now here is the release the attack the strike be wise as a serpent but harmless as a dove and boom this is it you stiff-necked and uncircumcised in hot and Iris 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 one of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers who received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept this is the attack you stiff-necked and uncircumcised in hot and ears this is offensive to them they take a lot of pride in their circumcision and him saying hey you guys are uncircumcised and hot right outwardly you may be circumcised but but inwardly you guys are uncircumcised you stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears you always resist the Holy Spirit as your fathers did so do you he's gone from speaking about their fathers now he's speaking to them which of the prophets did your fathers don't persecute 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 verse 51 now here comes the application right this is the application and Stephen said all that he said all that we covered this morning fairly quickly but Stephen said all that he said in order to say this sometimes you can't just say what you want to say but you have to build your case and Stephen has crafted his case very well and now he's he's going in right and this is the point you are just like your fathers so remember the point that I made at the beginning he addresses them as as fathers right they are now the fathers the current fathers of Israel verse 52 you know history shows us that their fathers persecuted every true prophet of God their fathers persecute every true prophet of God Isaiah Jeremiah Elijah Elisha Etc these Prophets hear this these Prophets spoke of Jesus right they spoke of Jesus they they spoke of the Messiah but you guys truly got to meet him and you guys actually got to hear him right your fathers they they spoke about right and they persecuted those who who spoke about Jesus but you guys actually met him you actually heard him and you did exactly exactly what your fathers have always done you killed him you killed him this is deep this is really deep and Stephen is not just saying Church Stephen is not just saying that they are like their fathers he is saying that they are worse than their fathers because their fathers did what they killed the prophets who spoke of the coming and the just one the Messiah but you guys actually killed the Messiah your fathers killed the prophets who spoke of him and you guys actually killed him your father's rejected Joseph and God made him a leader your father's rejected Moses and God made him a leader your fathers or you guys now have rejected Jesus Christ but God has made him the ruler of rulers amen Church next week we're going to get to the uh the response next week God willing will finish this chapter and we'll close with the the response the response to this great testimony that Stephen shared you have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it a powerful thing that he says but next week we're going to get to their response right maybe they they repent after this Cliffhanger we'll find out next week in conclusion it is do you resist the Holy Spirit as your fathers did you do you resist the Holy Spirit as your fathers did is your heart is your neck stiff I remember when I was a kid and I quite frequently sleep with my head in the wrong position at night I don't know if you guys remember that as a kid I seem to do it all the time but I'd wake up with excruciating pain right as I attempted to to move my neck and all I could do was keep my neck steady in the same position and if I attempted to move it again I would cry out and pain and the pain was unbearable you guys know what I'm talking about right when you sleep with your head or neck in the wrong position this is true with the Sanhedrin right with with the council they have slept in their traditions for way too long and Stephen is showing them something that they missed about the Messiah but it's way too painful for them to deal with it's way too painful for them to deal with so they decide that they don't want to make any changes or any adjustments because to do so again would be too painful they want to keep things exactly the way they are and the way they they have been so next week we will witness the explosion this happens when when truth confronts you head on and you pretty much have nowhere to run or go this happens when when truth confronts you head on and you can't deny it but you don't want to make a change there's an explosion truth confronts you you can't deny it but you also don't want to make a change Something's Gonna explode and next week we will witness the explosion bow your heads please think about the word that you heard today from Acts chapter 7. what is the Holy Spirit saying to you this morning what is the holy spirit saying to you these people saw miracles signs wonders seems like every single day but yeah they still their hearts were still hard their necks were still stiff now what has God done for you I know that God has done a lot for you but if the only thing God did for you was salvation that he saved you that is enough that is more than enough for you to follow him if you for you to walk with him you to surrender all to him that is enough I believe that there are many in the room today that are rebellious they have rebellious Natures a rebellious heart the Bible says like a dog returns to his vomit is the man or the woman who returns to his folly like a dog that returns to his body he throws up and then he licks it up he likes it all back up again that's what it's like for you who God has visited shown himself to you've experienced his power in your life freedom but you live as though he's done nothing father we thank you for your word today in Acts chapter 7. oh Lord God Almighty how we can learn from fathers of Israel and Lord we see we see men Lord God Almighty at his best at his finest Lord God Almighty you walked with these people you showed yourself and revealed yourself to these people and it reminds me Lord God Almighty that we need more than Miracle signs and wonders but we need your indwelling spirit and we thank you Lord God Almighty that we have that and Lord God Almighty I pray that as Stephen was sensitive to your spirit I pray that we would be sensitive to your spirit that we would know your spirit that we would commune with your spirit that we would fellowship with your spirit that we would be led and guided by your spirit Lord God Almighty I pray thank you that your spirit Lord God Almighty within us will keep us and father we take great comfort in that but father I pray this morning for conviction Holy Spirit for those who need to be convicted of their sin of their Rebellion against you those who know you and those who may not I pray Lord God Almighty that you bring them back to a place of repentance I pray Lord God Almighty that their hearts would be softened I pray Lord God Almighty that they would turn their neck from their the era of their ways and from their sins and look to you King Jesus we thank you Lord God Almighty that you came to this world and you came here for us as a testimony of your love for us and even though you came for us we crucified you but we know that it was a part of your plan as you said Lord God Almighty no one takes your life from you but you lay it down but we thank you that you came and you lived for 33 years and you lived a perfect life on the Earth you showed us what it's like to walk as men and what it's like to to walk as human beings you attempted in every way as we are yet you were without sin and Lord God Almighty when your hour had come you laid your life down on a cross and you took the sins of the entire world and now for all of us who turn away from our sins and look to you as king and Savior and Lord we can receive forgiveness of our sins for you paid the price for us you are and we're our Ransom and Lord God Almighty you showed us through the resurrection that death again had no power over you whether you had power over the grave and over death and again that all of us who put our faith and trust in you we can be sure we can have confidence that one day when we die you will resurrect us and bring us back to life again so there's anyone in this place that does not know you Lord God Almighty spirit of God convict their hearts and may they call upon you today may you call upon him today for today is the day of salvation and for us who know you Lord God Almighty may we walk accordingly we love you Lord we bless you and we thank you again for your word this morning [Music] for I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which he was betrayed took bread and when he had given thanks he broke it and said take eat this is my body which is broken for you do this in remembrance of me in the same manner he also took the cup after supper saying this cup is the New Covenant in my blood this do as often as you drink it in remembrance of me for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord but let a man examine himself and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup we at the way sea Church believe that the table of communion is for the saints of God so if Jesus Christ is King if he's Lord of your life you're welcome in just a moment to come forward and partake of the table together with the Saints here at the way City Church if Jesus Christ is not King and Lord and as I prayed just a moment ago I invite you to call upon him he promises that all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved so I ask you not to take communion but to call upon the name of Jesus and take him instead the table is now open [Music] [Music] [Music] thank you lift up the bread in your hands please ah father we we thank you Father Lord may this never be common to us or routine to us but every time Lord God Almighty when we hold that which represents your body and your blood in our hands may we remember what you did perfectly for us may we never come to the table and then irreverent way I mean we always come over the reverence and with the humility thank you that you are our head and you have made us your body thank you for your body broken for us we remember your great sacrifice today you can partake thank you lift up the cup in your hands please Lord Jesus we thank you for your blood that was shared on the cross for all of us who hold the cup in our hands your blood was not just shed for the world but it was shed specifically for us and we thank you for your shed blood and it's because of your blood alone that we have life eternal and that our sins have been washed away and that we have been forgiven thank you for your shed blood you can partake [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] expectation to declare the reign of the Lord our God will not be moved when the Earth gives way for the reason one is overcome we're for every fear there's an empty grave for the reason one is overcome another silence breaks in the name of Jesus All The Heavens crying at the Earth respond or creation shouts with a voice of Triumph to declare the reign of the Lord our God we will not be moved when the Earth gives way for the reason one is overcome fear for every fear there's an empty grave for the reason one is overcome Donald [Music] he shall reign forever stronghold now surrender for the Lord our God is overcome who can be against us Jesus or defend he is Lord and he has overcome he shall reign forever strongholds now surrender for the Lord Our God has overcome overcome [Music] [Applause] we will not be moved when the Earth gives way for the reason one is overcome it for every fear there's an empty grave for the reason why it's overcome will not be moved when the earth is way for the reason one is overcome [Music] it for every fear there's an empty grave for the reason one is overcome [Music] for the reason one is overcome [Music] amen praise the Lord amen lift up your hands please therefore my beloved brethren be steadfast immovable always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord amen love your church God willing we'll see you here next week same time a quick announcement just a quick reminder everyone of July 22nd July 22nd keep that on the calendar for our Outreach evangelism Outreach tentatively Potomac Mills Mall we'll be meeting up there 1pm to just evangelize and and interact with the community [Music] [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] [Music]

Channel: The Way City Church

Views: 580

Keywords: TWCC, The Way City Church, Christian, Gospel, prayer, Marlon Yearwood, live stream church, church plant, church planting, sermon, praise and worship, gathering, Jesus, love, Woodbridge, DC, TheActs, SoeakingInTongues

Id: a1srzvezjSI

Length: 111min 25sec (6685 seconds)

Published: Mon Jul 03 2023