Stephen's Message: A Call to Repentance and Understanding
Summary
In the seventh chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, we find Stephen, the first Christian martyr, standing trial before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. Accused of blasphemy for preaching that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God, Stephen delivers a powerful speech that reviews the history of Israel. He highlights how the Israelites repeatedly misunderstood their identity and God's purpose for them, often turning away from God to worship idols. Stephen's message is not just a recounting of history but a profound lesson for the modern world. The story of the Israelites serves as an object lesson of God's relationship with humanity. Just as God dealt with Israel, He deals with the entire human race.
Stephen's speech reveals that the world's current state of turmoil is a result of humanity turning away from God. The world blames God for its problems, yet it is man's rejection of God and His laws that leads to chaos. Stephen argues that history is not just a series of human actions but is under God's control. When humanity becomes arrogant and turns away from God, God responds by turning away from them, allowing them to experience the consequences of their actions. This is evident in the periodic rise and fall of civilizations throughout history.
God's turning away is not an act of abandonment but a call to repentance. It is a demonstration of His love, urging humanity to recognize its folly and return to Him. The ultimate expression of this love is seen in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who bore the punishment for humanity's sins. Through Christ's death and resurrection, God offers salvation to all who repent and believe. The current state of the world, with its wars and calamities, is a reminder of the consequences of sin and a call to return to God before it is too late.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Repeated Misunderstanding of God's Purpose: The Israelites' history is a testament to humanity's tendency to misunderstand and reject God's purpose. This misunderstanding leads to a cycle of rebellion and punishment, which is mirrored in the modern world. Recognizing this pattern is crucial for understanding our current condition. [02:33]
2. The Consequences of Turning Away from God: When humanity turns away from God, it experiences chaos and destruction. This is not God's doing but the natural consequence of rejecting His laws. Understanding this helps us see the importance of aligning with God's will. [11:42]
3. God's Control Over History: History is not merely a series of human actions but is under God's sovereign control. When humanity becomes arrogant, God allows them to experience the consequences of their actions, serving as a call to repentance. [18:37]
4. The Role of Government as God's Restraint: God has instituted governments to restrain evil and maintain order. This is a part of His common grace, ensuring that sin does not run rampant. Recognizing this helps us appreciate the role of authority in God's plan. [21:52]
5. The Ultimate Call to Repentance Through Christ: The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the ultimate expression of God's love and a call to repentance. Through Christ, God offers salvation to all who turn to Him, highlighting the importance of recognizing our need for a savior. [49:42]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to Stephen's Trial
- [01:50] - Accusations Against Stephen
- [02:07] - Stephen's Speech Begins
- [02:48] - Israel's History of Misunderstanding
- [04:11] - Relevance to Modern Times
- [05:23] - God's Relationship with Humanity
- [06:42] - The Importance of History
- [09:16] - Philosophy of History
- [11:42] - Consequences of Turning from God
- [18:37] - God's Sovereign Control
- [21:52] - Role of Government
- [23:33] - God's Punishment and Love
- [49:42] - Christ's Sacrifice and Call to Repentance
- [56:29] - Conclusion and Call to Action
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Acts 7:42-43
- Romans 1:24-28
- Romans 8:32
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#### Observation Questions
1. What accusations were brought against Stephen by the Sanhedrin, and how did he respond to them? ([01:18])
2. How does Stephen use the history of Israel to make his point to the Sanhedrin? ([02:20])
3. What does Stephen identify as the reason for the Israelites' repeated troubles in the Old Testament? ([12:07])
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of God turning away from humanity? ([25:53])
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Stephen's recounting of Israel's history serve as a warning to the Sanhedrin and to us today? ([05:23])
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the current state of the world reflects humanity's turning away from God? ([11:42])
3. How does the sermon explain the role of government as part of God's plan to restrain evil? ([21:52])
4. What does the sermon suggest is the ultimate purpose of God's turning away and allowing humanity to experience the consequences of its actions? ([37:37])
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you misunderstood God's purpose in your life. How did that affect your relationship with Him, and what steps can you take to align more closely with His will? ([02:33])
2. Consider the current state of the world. How can you personally contribute to aligning with God's laws in your community or workplace? ([11:42])
3. How do you perceive the role of government in your life? In what ways can you support or challenge governmental actions to align with God's purpose? ([21:52])
4. Have you ever experienced a period where you felt God was distant? What did you learn from that experience, and how did it affect your faith journey? ([25:53])
5. The sermon suggests that God's turning away is a call to repentance. What areas of your life might need repentance, and how can you begin that process today? ([37:37])
6. How does understanding the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the ultimate expression of God's love impact your daily life and decisions? ([49:42])
7. Identify one specific way you can respond to God's call to repentance and salvation in your life this week. What steps will you take to act on this? ([54:58])
Devotional
Day 1: Understanding Our Misunderstanding of God's Purpose
The history of the Israelites is a powerful reminder of humanity's tendency to misunderstand and reject God's purpose. This pattern of rebellion and punishment is not just a relic of the past but a mirror reflecting our current world. By recognizing this cycle, we can better understand our own spiritual condition and the need for alignment with God's will. Stephen's speech in Acts 7 serves as a poignant reminder that our identity and purpose are found in God, and turning away from Him leads to spiritual and societal chaos. [02:33]
"For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water." (Jeremiah 2:13, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways have you misunderstood or rejected God's purpose for your life? How can you begin to realign yourself with His will today?
Day 2: The Natural Consequences of Turning Away from God
When humanity turns away from God, chaos and destruction follow as natural consequences. This is not a punishment from God but the result of rejecting His laws and guidance. Understanding this helps us see the importance of aligning with God's will to avoid the turmoil that comes from living outside of His design. Stephen's message highlights that the world's current state of turmoil is a result of humanity's rejection of God, urging us to return to Him before it's too late. [11:42]
"Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices." (Proverbs 1:29-31, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you have turned away from God's guidance. What steps can you take today to return to His path?
Day 3: Recognizing God's Sovereign Control Over History
History is not merely a series of human actions but is under God's sovereign control. When humanity becomes arrogant and turns away from God, He allows them to experience the consequences of their actions, serving as a call to repentance. This understanding of history as divinely orchestrated encourages us to trust in God's plan and recognize His hand in the rise and fall of civilizations. Stephen's speech reminds us that God is actively involved in the world, guiding it according to His purpose. [18:37]
"The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations." (Psalm 33:10-11, ESV)
Reflection: How can you trust in God's sovereign control over the events in your life, especially in times of uncertainty or chaos?
Day 4: The Role of Government as God's Restraint
God has instituted governments to restrain evil and maintain order, which is a part of His common grace. Recognizing the role of authority in God's plan helps us appreciate the structures that prevent sin from running rampant. Stephen's message highlights the importance of understanding the divine purpose behind human institutions and the need to respect and uphold them as part of God's design for a functioning society. [21:52]
"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." (Romans 13:1, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively support and pray for the governing authorities in your community, recognizing their role in God's plan?
Day 5: The Ultimate Call to Repentance Through Christ
The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the ultimate expression of God's love and a call to repentance. Through Christ, God offers salvation to all who turn to Him, highlighting the importance of recognizing our need for a savior. Stephen's speech underscores the urgency of responding to this call, as the current state of the world serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin and the need for redemption. [49:42]
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit." (1 Peter 3:18, ESV)
Reflection: What steps can you take today to respond to Christ's call to repentance and embrace the salvation He offers?
Quotes
The story of the Jews is a great object lesson of God's relationship to and God's dealing with the entire human race. Now what God did to these people in particular, He will do with the entire human race. That's the great point of this address that is here delivered by Steven. [00:05:01]
Steven is dealing here with history. He's not dealing with Theory, he's dealing with history. You've only got to read this chapter to see that quite clearly. As I say, he rehearses the history. Now this is of tremendous importance. It isn't Theory, it isn't an attitude, it isn't a point of view. [00:06:49]
It is only as we understand the principles that are taught here by Steven that we can possibly understand the past history of the human race. I'll go further. It is only as we understand the principles taught here by Steven that we can understand the very condition in which we find ourselves as a world of people at this very moment. [00:08:18]
The world of course looking at this problem blames God for it. It's his great reason for not believing in God. This is how the world speaks, isn't it? Why does God allow this? If God is a god of love, if God is omnipotent, why does he allow these things to Heaven? Why doesn't he stop it all? [00:09:47]
Steven makes it abundantly clear it is all due to the fact that man turns away from God and God's holy laws to whom our fathers would not obey but thrust him from them Moses and the law and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt. They turned away from God. That's how they got into trouble. [00:11:38]
Nothing is characterize the history of the human race as a strange kind of periodicity. What do I mean? Well, I mean this. There have been certain times and epochs in the history of the world when things seem to be getting better, when men seem to be improving, when he seem to be rarely ascending and going upwards. [00:14:00]
The world believes in evolution. The world says that there is a force working in the direction of goodness lifting up the entire human race. The Al and vital of Burson and others. Now that's what the world believes and it believes it very firmly. It's rejected belief in God in favor of this force that is there working men and everything upwards in the direction of perfection. [00:16:05]
God has not allowed man in sin unrestrained freedom and activity. He has brought in government and Order and system in order to keep it all in bounds to keep it all in check. This is a part an essential part of the Biblical teaching. God did this when man fell he punished him certain consequences is happen but God put a limit and a control upon it. [00:22:34]
Whenever man abuses God's goodness whenever G Men becomes exceptionally arrogant and vile then God acts and he acts in a specific Manner. And I want to show you that that is precisely what God is doing at this present hour and that this is the only explanation of what has been happening in this 20th century. [00:23:07]
God gave them up. Paul says that three times he gave them up to a reprobate mind he gave them up to this he gave them up to that. What does this mean? Well, this is what it means. I told you just now that when men fell and brought Calamity upon himself and his world that God didn't just leave him. [00:30:54]
God does this in order to reveal to men his true State and condition. This is what I say for a 100 years man has been ridiculing belief in God. God's unnecessary man is perfect man is wonderful and he can make a Wonderful World. You know the people who don't believe in God they'll generally tell you themselves that what they believe in is the Dignity of men and the capability of men. [00:37:43]
God wants men to see what he's doing. God is trying to awaken the human race. It won't listen to The Gospel. It laughs at it and ridicules it. It makes fun of Jesus Christ and blasphemes His Holy Blood shed on the cross on calvary's Hill. It w have anything to do with it. Well, do you know what happens? [00:46:11]
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