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

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 and his opposition (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 steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angels.”

Stephen was full of faith and power, who did great wonders and miracles. The synagogue of the Libertines did not like Stephen’s preaching. They disputed with him. When they could not convince him to stop, they hired false witnesses to testify against him.

Telling people about Christ evokes the same response from unbelievers. When we are challenged, do we quit or continue to proclaim Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection?

Stephen’s example may help us to make the correct decision.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The book of Job chronicles God’s testing of Job. We will look at two dialogs between God and Satan, their consequences, and Job’s response.

Does God tempt men? No. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:” (James 1:13) However, as we will see, God does allow Satan the ability to test believers.

Job smote with boils (Job 2:7-8)

“So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.⁸ And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.”

Job’s wife: Curse God and die (Job 2:9)

“Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.”

Job’s response (Job 2:10)

“But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.”

CONCLUSION

God does test His children

The testing is for our growth

We choose to be bitter or better

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The book of Job chronicles God’s testing of Job. We will look at two dialogs between God and Satan, their consequences, and Job’s response.

Does God tempt men? No. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:” (James 1:13) However, as we will see, God does allow Satan the ability to test believers.

God’s dialog with Satan (Job 2:1-6)

“Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord.² And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.³ And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.⁴ And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.⁵ But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.⁶ And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.”

God initiates the conversation (Job2:2)

God speaks highly of Job (Job 2:3)

Satan’s response (Job 2:4-5)

God allows Satan to touch his bone and his flesh. Puts limits on Satan (Job 2:6)

Job smote with boils (READ Job 2:7-8)

Job’s wife: Curse God and die (Job 2:9)

If it wasn’t bad enough that Job lost everything, now God allows Satan to attack his body. When we are not feeling well, we are apt to do strange things.

What will Job do now? Will he curse God?

Tomorrow we will see.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The book of Job chronicles God’s testing of Job. We will look at two dialogs between God and Satan, their consequences, and Job’s response.

Does God tempt men? No. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:” (James 1:13) However, as we will see, God does allow Satan the ability to test believers.

…HAST THOU CONSIDERED MY SERVANT JOB…

“And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” (Job 1:8)

INTRODUCTION (READ Job 1:1-5)

1) God’s dialog with Satan (Job 1:6-12)

“ Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.⁷ And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.⁸ And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?⁹ Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?¹⁰ Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.¹¹ But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.¹² And theLord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.”

God initiates the conversation (Job 1:7)

God speaks highly of Job (Job 1:8)

Satan’s response (Job 1:9-11)

God allows Satan to touch all that he has. Puts limits on Satan (Job 1:12)

Job loses everything (READ Job 1:13-19)

2)  Job’s response to losing everything (Job 1:20-22)

“Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,²¹ And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.²² In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”

3) God’s dialog with Satan (Job 2:1-6)

“Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord.² And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.³ And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.⁴ And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.⁵ But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.⁶ And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.”

God initiates the conversation (Job2:2)

God speaks highly of Job (Job 2:3)

Satan’s response (Job 2:4-5)

God allows Satan to touch his bone and his flesh. Puts limits on Satan (Job 2:6)

Job smote with boils (READ Job 2:7-8)

Job’s wife: Curse God and die (Job 2:9)

4) Job’s response (Job 2:10)

“But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.”

CONCLUSION

God does test His children

The testing is for our growth

We choose to be bitter or better

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The book of Job chronicles God’s testing of Job. We will look at two dialogs between God and Satan, their consequences, and Job’s response.

Does God tempt men? No. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:” (James 1:13) However, as we will see, God does allow Satan the ability to test believers.

Job’s response to losing everything (Job 1:13-19, 20-22)

Job loses everything

“And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:¹⁴ And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:¹⁵ And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.¹⁶ While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.¹⁷ While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.¹⁸ While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:¹⁹ And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”

Job’s response

“Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,²¹ And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.²² In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”

Job’s response was to worship and bless the name of the Lord. Job never lost sight of who was in control. God knew Job’s character. He knew Job would not curse Him. Satan is confused. He expected Job to curse God.

Job never lost sight of who was in control. God knew Job’s character. He knew Job would not curse Him. Satan is confused. He expected Job to curse God.

How strong is our faith in God? Would we murmur, complain, and reject God? Or is our faith like Job’s?

At some point in time our day of testing is coming. How will we do?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The book of Job chronicles God’s testing of Job. We will look at two dialogs between God and Satan, their consequences, and Job’s response.

Does God tempt men? No. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:” (James 1:13) However, as we will see, God does allow Satan the ability to test believers.

God’s dialog with Satan (Job 1:6-12)

“ Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.⁷ And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.⁸ And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?⁹ Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?¹⁰ Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.¹¹ But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.¹² And theLord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.”

God initiates the conversation (Job 1:7)

God speaks highly of Job (Job 1:8)

Satan’s response (Job 1:9-11)

God allows Satan to touch all that Job has. Puts limits on Satan (Job 1:12)

Job loses everything (READ Job 1:13-19)

God moves in strange and mysterious ways. Why would He allow this to happen to Job?

Clearly, God wanted Satan to see the character of Job.

Tomorrow, we will see Job’s response to losing everything. Was God’s confidence in Job’s character warranted? Would he curse God?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Temptations. We all hate to be tempted. What we do when we are tempted demonstrates our spiritual condition. Obedient to God or obedient to Satan. We choose.

We will explore 1 Corinthians 10:13, David’s sin with Bathsheba, David confronted with his sin, and Psalm 51, David’s repentance, plea for mercy, request for cleansing, and willingness to teach others about God’s righteousness.

Psalm 51

Repentance and request for mercy (1-4)

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. ² Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. ³ For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. ⁴ Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

Shapen in iniquity (5-6)

⁵ Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. ⁶ Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Request for cleansing, joy, gladness, clean heart, God’s presence, the Holy Spirit, joy of salvation (7-12)

⁷ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. ⁸ Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. ⁹ Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. ¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. ¹¹ Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. ¹² Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Results of getting right with God (13-19)

¹³ Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. ¹⁴ Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. ¹⁵ O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. ¹⁶ For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.¹⁸ Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.¹⁹ Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

CONCLUSION

Be at your appointed place

Be careful what you look at

Do not allow temptation to become sin

Cover ups are always exposed by God

The punishment of sin is always greater than the enjoyment of the sin

Repent

Seek God’s mercy

Continue to minister for God

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Temptations. We all hate to be tempted. What we do when we are tempted demonstrates our spiritual condition. Obedient to God or obedient to Satan. We choose.

We will explore 1 Corinthians 10:13, David’s sin with Bathsheba, David confronted with his sin, and Psalm 51, David’s repentance, plea for mercy, request for cleansing, and willingness to teach others about God’s righteousness.

2 Samuel 12:1-14

Story of the rich man and the lamb (1-6)

And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.² The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:³ But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.⁴ And there came a traveler unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:” ⁶ And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

Nathan declares, “…Thou art the man…” (7)

And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

Punishment (8-14)

“⁸ And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.⁹ Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.¹⁰ Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.¹¹ Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.¹² For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.¹³ And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.¹⁴ Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.”

David seems to really not realize that his behavior with Bathsheba was wrong. He is now confronted with his sin. The consequences are great. He finally understands and repents.

When we sin, there are consequences. God knows what it will take to bring us back to Him. He executes His punishment. We again have a decision to make. Repent or continue to walk away from God.

To continue in sin does not meet the common sense test. We need to repent of our sin, ask God’s forgiveness, plead for His mercy, and move on.

Tomorrow we will look at Psalm 51 and see how David prayed for forgiveness.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001