Archives for June 2019

Good morning,

Independence Day: True liberty and freedom

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1

Our founding fathers knew the price of liberty. They were under the yoke of bondage of the British. When they came together to ratify and sign the Declaration of Independence, they knew that they would be committing treason and would be hunted men. Who were these men?

“All of the colonies were represented in Philadelphia to consider the delicate case for independence. In all, there were fifty-six representatives from the thirteen colonies. The ages of the signers ranged from 26 (Edward Rutledge) to 70 (Benjamin Franklin), but the majority of the signers were in their thirties or forties. More than half of the signers were lawyers and the others were planters, merchants and shippers. Together they mutually pledged “to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” They were mostly men of means who had much to lose if the war was lost. None of the signers died at the hands of the British, and one third served as militia officers during the war. Four of the signers were taken captive during the war and nearly all of them were poorer at the end of the war than at the beginning.“ (ConsitutionFacts.com)

They were willing to die for the cause of freedom.

As we enjoy our country’s Independence Day, let us consider that there is a battle for the souls of men that continues to rage.  ^“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:10-13

Our country is free.  Will you be free from your battle with sin?

Call me 907 715-4001.

Tom Stearns

WASI Chaplain

Good morning,

This will encourage and challenge your heart.

We have need to use this prayer at all times!

(Charles Spurgeon) 

“Do not forsake me, O Lord! Do not be far from me, O my God!” Psalm 38:21 

Frequently we pray that God would not forsake us in the hour of trial and temptation–but we too much forget that we have need to use this prayer at all times. There is no moment of our life, however holy–in which we can do without His constant upholding. Whether in light or in darkness, in communion or in temptation–we alike need the prayer, “Do not forsake me, O Lord!” “Hold me up–and I shall be safe!” 

A little child, while learning to walk–always needs the parent’s aid. 
The ship left by the navigator–drifts at once from her course. 
We cannot do without continuous aid from God! 

Let this be your prayer every day: 
“Do not forsake me, O Lord! Do not be far from me, O my God!
 Father, do not forsake Your child–lest he fall by the hand of the enemy.
 Shepherd, do not forsake Your lamb–lest he wander from the safety of the fold.
 Great Gardener, do not forsake Your tender plant–lest it wither and die!
 Do not forsake me now, O Lord! And do not forsake me at any momentof my life.
 Do not forsake me in my joys–lest they absorb my heart.
 Do not forsake me not in my sorrows–lest I murmur against You.
 Do not forsake me–for without You I am weak, but with You I am strong.
 Do not forsake me–for my path is dangerous and full of snares.
 Do not forsake me–for I cannot travel without Your guidance.
 The hen does not forsake her chicks. O Lord, give me refuge under Your wings.
 Do not be far from me, O Lord, for trouble is near–and there is none to help.
 Do not forsake me, O Lord! Do not be far from me, O God of my salvation!”

   ~  ~  ~  ~  
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will be studying Proverbs 3. The key verses are verses 5 and 6. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Interpersonal relationships can sometimes be difficult. The believer in Jesus Christ has the Bible to lead them when dealing with other people. Proverbs 3:27-35 is one of those passages.

It deals with how believers should treat others.

How to deal with others (27-35)

²⁷ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.²⁸ Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.²⁹ Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.³⁰ Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.³¹ Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.³² For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.³³ The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.³⁴ Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.³⁵ The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

CONCLUSION

• Trust in the Lord
• Be wise
• Rest in the Lord
• Treat others with wisdom

Proverbs 3 has given us tools to be successful in our Christian life. How well are we doing?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

PROVERBS 3

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (5-6)

INTRODUCTION

1) SUCCESSFUL LIVING (1-12)

The Law (1-2)                                                                                      

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: ² For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Mercy and Truth (3-4)

³ Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:⁴ So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord (5-6)

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Fear the Lord (7-8)

⁷ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.⁸ It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Honor the Lord with your Substance (9-10)

⁹ Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:¹⁰ So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

Chastening of the Lord (11-12)

¹¹ My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:¹² For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

2) WISDOM (13-22)

Benefits of Wisdom (13-18)

¹³ Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.¹⁴ For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.¹⁸ She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

The Lord by Wisdom… (19-20)

¹⁹ The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.²⁰ By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

Keep sound Wisdom and Discretion (21-22)

²¹ My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:²² So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

3) Wisdom results in God’s Safety (23-26)

²³ Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.²⁴ When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.²⁵ Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.²⁶ For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

4) How to deal with others (27-35)

²⁷ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.²⁸ Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.²⁹ Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.³⁰ Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.³¹ Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.³² For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.³³ The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.³⁴ Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.³⁵ The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

CONCLUSION

• Trust in the Lord
• Be wise
• Rest in the Lord
• Treat others with wisdom

Good morning,

This week we will be studying Proverbs 3. The key verses are verses 5 and 6. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

The book of Proverbs is a teaching on wisdom. Proverbs 3:13-26 tells us the benefits of wisdom, the Lord by wisdom…, to keep wisdom and discretion, and the result of wisdom is God’s safety.

Please meditate on the benefits, work of God, keeping sound wisdom, and the fact that we are safe when we have God’s wisdom.

WISDOM (13-26)

Benefits of Wisdom (13-18)

¹³ Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.¹⁴ For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.¹⁸ She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

The Lord by Wisdom… (19-20)

¹⁹ The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.²⁰ By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

Keep sound Wisdom and Discretion (21-22)

²¹ My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: ²² So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

Wisdom results in God’s Safety (23-26)

²³ Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.²⁴ When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.²⁵ Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.²⁶ For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Thank God today that He gave us the Bible that has all the wisdom that we need to live successfully in this world.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will be studying Proverbs 3. The key verses are verses 5 and 6. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Proverbs 3:1-12 describe how to live the Christian life. God lists seven things that will make us successful in our walk with the Lord.

As God speaks to us may we be sensitive to the moving of God’s Spirit.

SUCCESSFUL LIVING (1-12)

The Law (1-2)                                                                                      

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: ² For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Mercy and Truth (3-4)

³ Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:⁴ So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord (5-6)

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Fear the Lord (7-8)

⁷ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.⁸ It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Honor the Lord with your Substance (9-10)

⁹ Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:¹⁰ So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

Chastening of the Lord (11-12)

¹¹ My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:¹² For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Did you notice that the odd numbered verses were God’s commands, while the even number verses were the promises that will result if we obey the command. All God is looking for is obedience in His children. When we do He pours out His blessings!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Stephen was a mighty man of God. He was faithful and never backed down in the face of opposition. He died proclaiming God’s word.

Who was Stephen? Who opposed him? What was Stephen’s message? What was the response to Stephen’s message?

Response to Stephen’s defense (54-60)

^“54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.⁵⁵ But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,⁵⁶ And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. ⁵⁷ Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,⁵⁸ And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.⁵⁹ And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.⁶⁰ And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

Sin makes people do strange things. The people who heard Stephen’s preaching were enrage. They stoned an innocent man for telling the truth.

They could not stand it when he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”

Stephen’s response to being stoned was, “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.⁶⁰ And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

Are we willing to die for our belief in Christ? Are we willing to live for Jesus Christ each day?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Stephen was a mighty man of God. He was faithful and never backed down in the face of opposition. He died proclaiming God’s word.

Who was Stephen? Who opposed him? What was Stephen’s message? What was the response to Stephen’s message?

Rebellious nation of Israel (37-53)

“³⁷ This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.³⁸ This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:³⁹ To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,⁴⁰ Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.⁴¹ And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. ⁴² Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? ⁴³ Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.⁴⁴ Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.⁴⁵ Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;⁴⁶ Who found favor before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.⁴⁷ But Solomon built him an house.⁴⁸ Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,⁴⁹ Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?⁵⁰ Hath not my hand made all these things?⁵¹ Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.⁵² Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:⁵³ Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.”

Stephen is making the point that Israel had been rebellious in the past and his hearers were also rebellious. He accuses them of being stiffnecked and resisting the Holy Spirit. He said that they were murderers and they had not kept the law.

Stephen did not water down his witness. He was bold and truthful. Unsaved people do not like the truth about themselves.

When we witness, do we present the gospel with boldness or do we water it down? We need to be sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit, but should always tell the “good news” boldly.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Stephen was a mighty man of God. He was faithful and never backed down in the face of opposition. He died proclaiming God’s word.

Who was Stephen? Who opposed him? What was Stephen’s message? What was the response to Stephen’s message?

Stephen, the High Priest, and the Rebellious

Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. (Acts 7:51)

INTRODUCTION

Setting the stage (Acts 6:8-15) Stephen accused

STEPHEN’S DEFENSE The history of Israel (Acts 7:1-53)

a) Family history v 2-4

b) Inheritance v 5

c) Bondage v 6-7

• Covenant of circumcision v 8
• Joseph: Prison to Prince v 9-16

a) Joseph afflicted by his brothers, made governor by Pharaoh v 9-10

b) Famine v 11-12

c) Revelation to brothers and father v13-16

• Exodus v 17-36

a) Pharaoh’s plan to destroy God’s people v 17-19

b) Moses born and raised in Pharaoh’s court for 40 years v 20-22

c) Moses visits his brethren v 23-29

d) Moses flees to Midian for 40 years v 29-30

e) God calls Moses to deliver Israel v 30-35

f) God delivers Israel v 36

g) Moses reminds the people of their rebellion and idol worship v37-44

h) Joshua Promised Land till David v 45

 i) David finds favor with God v 46

 j) Temple built by Solomon v 47

k) God does not dwell in temples made by hands v 48-50

 l) Stephen’s rebuke for disobedience and death of Jesus v 51-53

RESPONSE TO STEPHEN’S DEFENSE (Acts 7:54-60)

1. High Priest, people, elders, and false witnesses v 54, 57-60

a) They were cut to the heart v 54

b) Stopped their ears v 57

c) Cast him out of the city and stoned him v 58-59

• Stephen’s response v 55-56, 59-60

a) Looked up to heaven, saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God v 55-56

b) Call’s unto God to receive his spirit v 59

c) Cries to God saying “Lay not this sin to their charge.”

CONCLUSION

• KNOW YOUR HISTORY
• OBEY GOD’S WORD

Scriptures

Introduction Setting the stage, Stephen accused

Acts 6:8-15

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angels.

Acts 7:1-60 The history of Israel (1-53)

Then said the high priest, Are these things so?

Abraham (2-7)

² And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,³ And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.⁴ Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.⁵ And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.⁶ And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.⁷ And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.

Covenant of circumcision (8)

⁸ And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

Joseph (9-16)

⁹ And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,¹⁰ And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.¹¹ Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.¹² But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.¹³ And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.¹⁴ Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.¹⁵ So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,¹⁶ And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.

Exodus (17-36)

¹⁷ But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,¹⁸ Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.¹⁹ The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.²⁰ In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months:²¹ And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.²² And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.²³ And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.²⁴ And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:²⁵ For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.²⁶ And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?²⁷ But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? ²⁸ Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?²⁹ Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons.³⁰ And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. ³¹ When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,³² Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.³³ Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.³⁴ I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt. ³⁵ This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.³⁶ He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

Rebellious nation of Israel (37-53)

³⁷ This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.³⁸ This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:³⁹ To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,⁴⁰ Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.⁴¹ And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. ⁴² Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? ⁴³ Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.⁴⁴ Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.⁴⁵ Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;⁴⁶ Who found favor before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.⁴⁷ But Solomon built him an house.⁴⁸ Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,⁴⁹ Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?⁵⁰ Hath not my hand made all these things?⁵¹ Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.⁵² Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:⁵³ Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

Response to Stephen’s defense (54-60)

⁵⁴ When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.⁵⁵ But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,⁵⁶ And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. ⁵⁷ Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,⁵⁸ And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.⁵⁹ And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.⁶⁰ And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Stephen was a mighty man of God. He was faithful and never backed down in the face of opposition. He died proclaiming God’s word.

Who was Stephen? Who opposed him? What was Stephen’s message? What was the response to Stephen’s message?

Stephen’s Message: Israel’s history (Acts 7:1-36)

“Abraham (2-7)

² And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,³ And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.⁴ Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Harran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.⁵ And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.⁶ And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.⁷ And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.

Covenant of circumcision (8)

⁸ And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

Joseph (9-16)

⁹ And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,¹⁰ And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.¹¹ Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.¹² But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.¹³ And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.¹⁴ Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.¹⁵ So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,¹⁶ And were carried over into Shechem, and laid in the sepulcher that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Shechem.

Exodus (17-36)

¹⁷ But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,¹⁸ Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.¹⁹ The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.²⁰ In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months:²¹ And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.²² And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.²³ And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.²⁴ And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:²⁵ For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.²⁶ And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?²⁷ But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? ²⁸ Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday?²⁹ Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons.³⁰ And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. ³¹ When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,³² Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.³³ Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.³⁴ I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt. ³⁵ This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.³⁶ He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.”

Stephen was well versed in the history of Israel. So far he was on common ground. No one could argue Israel’s past.

When witnessing to others about Christ, find the common ground. This will help to get the conversation started. Then move to how Christ came to earth to redeem of their sin.

Tomorrow, we will see more history, and then the contentious issue of Jesus Christ.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001