Decived
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Acts 6:8-15
Acts 6:8-15
8 Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from some members of the Freedmen’s Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, and they began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.
11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; so they came, seized him, and took him to the Sanhedrin. 13 They also presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the law. 14 For we heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” 15 And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Pray
Stephen
Stephen
Artwork Fra Angelico in the Public Domain St. Stephen Being Led to his Martyrdom
Not one of the 12, but But one of the 7 chosen to help take care of the Widows. He was a deacon. He was earlier described as being full of the Spirit and wisdom and full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. Luke here tells us that he was full of God’s grace and power. And he is doing great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.
Luke doesn’t tell us what these things are but he uses the same language to speak of Jesus and the disciples. God was using Him.
While he is one of the seven and hospitality is his goal he also cannot help but begin to preach along with his “waiting of tables” And opposition to Stephen arose.
These people listed were members within the Hellenistic community. They were Hellenistic synagogues, Greek speaking Synagogues. Which Stephen was primarily working with. Remember the Deacons the helpers were called to work especially with the Greek speaking Jews that had been neglected.
These men were members of the Freedmen Synagogue which was a Synagogue or church in Jerusalem founded by former slaves.
These men could not defeat Stephen openly, so they secretly (Notice how things often turn to secrets when things start to turn to the way of the devil) brought false accusations against Stephen.
They stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin is the religious leaders.
They Produced false witnesses at his trials.
I think they are trying to see how many of the ten commandments they can break.
We hear that you teach that Jesus is going to over throw everything we know and hold dear. And that nothing of the old ways will remain. Funny how that argument is still used in churches today to much change.
And as the council looked intently at Stephen. He had the face of an angel. In Judaism very devout men were often spoken of as resembling angels. It also shows that he is so filled with the Holy Spirit. God was using this man and he came face to face with the works of Satan. Known throughout the scriptures Ha Satan, The accuser AKA Devil which means Accuser or slanderer
44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father! That one was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand firm in the truth, because truth is not in him. Whenever he speaks the lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
known as the father of all liars
And this is what we see here
We see a young man that is doing the work of God and he is opposed. Satan who enslaves some and others he possesses, some he just whispers too like even in the garden. Satan uses these men who are Jews and think they are doing the will of God. They think they are just perfecting their faith. These Greek Speaking Jews are having enough trouble being accepted by the Hebrew Speaking Jews. They don’t need this kind of radicalism in there mist. They need to protect the purity of their Synagogues, there Churches.
God will never ask you to break His Law to protect His Law
God will never ask you to break His Law to protect His Law
Here is how we can tell that they were being deceived. They figured that they needed to defeat this heresy so badly that they would just break the laws of God to do it. God will never ask us to sin in order to defend him. He doesn’t need our defense. They were deceived
When We do the Lords work we will face opposition. Through the nemesis that seeks to destroy. It should be expected. This Christian walk is described as a war.
As we do the work of the lord the enemy will seek to influence you. Wanting to be your god. He will influence you through Self, You deserve, You have the right. Protection of the old ways. Way things always have been done Because it has always been done that way is the rallying cry for many. Even though it’s not really in the scriptures just the way use to do it.
This is what the devil did to these Jews. He convinced them that they were right. And needed to do anything in their power to protect it. These weren’t like the villain of some story they are just men that have been Deceived.
As we walk through life. Everything we do is either for God or against. The lie that the deceiver tells us is that there is a middle ground. Doing nothing is just as bad as what these Jews were doing. Not for God your against. In practice as well as speech
Next Steps
Next Steps
Who will you be for?
Like Steven who faces opposition
Jews who don’t
Steven who is a man of faith and God
Jews who were deceived
Don’t be deceived Study the Scriptures. Bible doesn’t need to be rewritten it needs to be reread.
Defend the scriptures don’t break the laws of God to do so. Anger, hate, gossip, bitterness, Talking about some one behind their back.
Pray