115 lines
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115 lines
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<title>Blue Letter Bible - Chuck Smith Sermon Notes</title>
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Passage = 'Acts 7:54 ';
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SermonID = 2023;
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<div class="SSN_rnum">I. AND WHEN THEY HEARD THESE THINGS, THEY WERE CUT TO THE HEART.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">A. Stephen's message was anointed by the Holy Spirit and was cutting.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">1. I am certain that he preached it with great conviction.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">2. They were forced to certain conclusions that they did not like.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">a. Their illustrious fathers for the most part were a bunch of jerks always missing the will of God.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">b. They failed to comprehend the plan of God.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">c. They often turned away from God to idolatry.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">d. They seemed to always reject at first appearance God's anointed deliverer.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">e. They persecuted every true prophet of God.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">f. They were worse than their fathers, for they killed the Messiah who had been prophesied.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">3. "They were cut to the heart."</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">a. True Spirit filled preaching always seems to bring strong conviction.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">b. People react in different ways to conviction.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">c. In chapter two when Peter had finished his message that people were cut to the heart and they repented.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">d. Here they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">e. Some people's hearts are softened when faced by the truth of God, while others are hardened.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">B. In this story we see a classic example of what Jesus had told His disciples would happen.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Mat',10,16);">MAT 10:16</a> Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Mat',10,17);">MAT 10:17</a> But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Mat',10,18);">MAT 10:18</a> And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Mat',10,19);">MAT 10:19</a> But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.</div>
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<div class="SSN_rnum">II. "BUT HE."</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">A. What a contrast we see here.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">B. The word but, is a disassociative conjunction. It is a word that joins two contrasting conditions.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">C. On the one side you see the council agitated, gnashing their teeth, frothing at the mouth, so to speak and on the other side, Stephen, filled with peace his countenance shining with the glory of God.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">1. This is often the way the contrast goes between those who are good and those who are evil, the right and the wrong.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">a. The wrong seem to get upset and start demeaning their opponents when the truth becomes manifest.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">b. They turn a debate into an attack on the character of their opponent.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">D. The secret of the peace that Stephen manifests, "Filled with the Holy Spirit."</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">1. Oh how we need the fullness of the Spirit in our lives.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">2. What a difference it makes as to how we react when we are under pressure.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Rom',15,13);">ROM 15:13</a> Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Phl',4,7);">PHI 4:7</a> And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.</div>
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<div class="SSN_rnum">III. HE LOOKED STEDFASTLY INTO HEAVEN AND SAW THE GLORY OF GOD.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">A. Stephen suddenly received a vision of heaven. This was given to him just before he was to enter into heaven.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">B. Many people when they read the heroic actions of the martyrs feel that would never be able to match their courage and strength.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">1. God does not give you a martyr's courage until you are facing martyrdom.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">2. Stephen is facing death, so the Lord gives to him a vision of heaven.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">C. Stephen saw the glory of God.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">1. Isaiah in a moment of discouragement saw the glory of God. "In the year king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and lifted up and the glory of the Lord filled the temple."</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">2. John saw the glory of God and describes it to us in Revelation.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">D. He also saw Jesus standing at the right had of God.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">1. Luke tells us of the word of Jesus to this very council.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Luk',22,66);">LUK 22:66</a> And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Luk',22,67);">LUK 22:67</a> Art you the Messiah? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, you will not believe:</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Luk',22,68);">LUK 22:68</a> And if I also ask [you], you will not answer me, nor let [me] go.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Luk',22,69);">LUK 22:69</a> Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">2. Matthew gave us his account of this event.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Mat',26,63);">MAT 26:63</a> But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure you by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Messiah, the Son of God.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Mat',26,64);">MAT 26:64</a> Jesus saith unto him, You have said it: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Mat',26,65);">MAT 26:65</a> Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">3. Now Stephen declares that He sees Jesus standing on the right hand of God. This is more than they can bear.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">4. Jesus is presently at the right hand of God in glory.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Rom',8,34);">ROM 8:34</a> Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Hbr',1,3);">HEB 1:3</a> Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Psa',110,1);">PSA 110:1</a> The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Act',5,31);">
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ACS 5:31</a> Him hath God exalted with his right hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('1Pe',3,22);">1PE 3:22</a> Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.</div>
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<div class="SSN_verse"><a onClick="return mV('Rev',3,21);">REV 3:21</a> To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">5. If Stephen saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God what are all of these scriptures that speak of Jesus sitting on the throne. Some have speculated that He stood to welcome each martyr into the Father's kingdom.</div>
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<div class="SSN_rnum">III. THE RESPONSE OF THE COUNCIL, "THEY CRIED OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE AND STOPPED THEIR EARS."</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">A. Note how irrational they became.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">1. This is often true of a person who is fighting against the witness of the Holy Spirit to their hearts.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">2. They become totally irrational.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">3. They close their ears to the truth.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">4. There is an old proverb, "None so blind as those who will not see." It could also be said, "None so deaf as those who will not hear."</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">B. Many people refuse to hear the truth. They do not want to hear it.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">1. I think that this is what Jesus was referring to when He said, "Give not that which is holy to the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine."</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">C. They all rushed upon him, they are out of control, they have gone berserk.</div>
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<div class="SSN_rnum">IV. THEY DRUG HIM OUT OF THE CITY AND STONED HIM.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">A. There is a gate in the wall of Jerusalem opposite to the Mount of Olives that is known as the Lion's gate, it is also called St. Stephen's gate. Tradition has it that this is the gate through which Stephen was dragged.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">B. It is here that we are introduced to a young man who was a zealous Pharisee, and who had voted for the death of Stephen named Saul.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">1. This whole experience will have a profound effect upon his life.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">2. He at first will react against the conviction with hatred against the believers in Jesus Christ.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">3. He will take a lead roll in the persecution of the church, and imprison many of the believers, and cause others to blaspheme the name of Jesus.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">4. Inwardly he will be fighting against what the Spirit is telling him is truth.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">C. In our introduction he is holding the coats to facilitate those who are casting the stones at Stephen.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">1. He will be changed from Saul of Tarsus, to Paul the apostle.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">2. The most of the book of the Acts of the Apostles will be centered upon his apostleship.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">D. As Stephen was being stoned, he cried out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">E. As the stones continued to pelt him he knelt down and prayed, And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge."</div>
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<div class="SSN_level2">F. Having thus prayed, he fell asleep.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">1. That is another way of saying, he died.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">2. When a Christian died, they used the term sleep.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">3. This term they no doubt got from Jesus.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">a. He said this concerning the daughter of Jarius.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level4">b. He said this of Lazarus.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">4. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians concerning those who slept in Christ.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">5. This is not a reference to soul sleep.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">6. Death is a term for sinners, when a sinner dies it is far different than when a child of God ceases his earthly existence, thus the different term to express the different experience.</div>
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<div class="SSN_level3">7. Jesus had said that if you lived and believed in Him you would never die. Thus, it is wrong to say of a believer that he died.</div>
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