The Promise Of God's Presence

The Promise of God’s Presence

Acts 7:1-8

Good Morning

John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. NKJV

Charles Williams said, “In Jesus, the truth and self-expression of God has become human; the meaning of life and all existence has become human.

Therefore, only if you know this human being will you find what you have hoped for in philosophy or the Bible

The difference between any other great figure in history and Jesus is the difference between an example of living and the One who is life itself.

Jesus is real life, and without Him, there is no life!

Many of us have heard the statement, “Jesus loves you”, so many times that we fail to ponder its significance.

The Holy, righteous, creator of the universe, whose very nature demands holiness, Loves You despite yourself!

This phrase embodies a more important truth than anyone could ever grasp: the fact that the LORD has called you into a loving relationship with Himself.

After we enter into a relationship with the LORD, He promises to be with us from that time through eternity!

Our part is simply to trust and believe in the deep care and compassion Jesus freely extends to us.

Please open your Bibles to Acts 7

Remember from last week’s message about the early Deacon Stephen, he was forced to go before the religious leaders and he told them how Jesus is so far superior to Moses.

Those who were in power were not willing to accept this teaching and became furious with Stephen.

We learned that Stephen was not only God’s agent of change, he was also a person of Faith, Character, and Courage.

So, as the religious leaders were accusing Stephen of blasphemy, they were getting stones ready to execute him.

I. The God of glory appeared.

Read Acts 7:1-5

In vs 1, the question posed to Stephen is, “Are these things so?"

What was the high priest asking about?

Acts 6:11 Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."

They also accused Stephen of speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.

The Jews identified themselves as a people who were very proud of four things: Moses, the Law, their Land, and their Temple.

Moses is revered by the Jews as a central figure, as the most important prophet and the greatest of all prophets.

Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Ten Commandments as the LORD appeared to him at Mount Sinai.

At this time in history, the Temple represented their main place of worship, the place where God’s glory dwelt, and it also represented their national pride.

So, as Stephen was being accused of attacking everything the Jews held dear, he began his defense by reminding these religious leaders of how the LORD appeared to Abraham.

Stephen gave reverence for their history as he demonstrated that the LORD is not limited by the Temple or the Promised Land.

Not only did the LORD appear to Moses before entering the Promised Land and the existence of the Temple, but the LORD appeared to Abraham before those things as well.

Stephen was trying to show these religious leaders that the LORD is present everywhere and He is always with His people, no matter where they are.

John Stott said, “A single thread runs right through the first part of his defense. It is that the God of Israel is a pilgrim God, who is not restricted to any one place…

“If He has any home on earth, it is with His people that He lives.” (Stott)

When we get to the New Testament, as Paul said…

1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? NKJV

Stephen, while being accused of wrongdoing, used the opportunity to reveal the gracious heart of the LORD through Israel’s history.

So, Stephen gave a rebuttal to the religious leaders about the story of Abraham’s faith and promise.

Abraham left the land of his father, leaving behind any possible inheritance; he had no home, no land, no children, but he believed the LORD.

Although Abraham never fully received the promise in his lifetime, his offspring would receive the Promised Land after him.

Abraham did nothing at all to deserve God’s Promise. The LORD chose him to receive the Promise, and there were no strings attached; it was an unconditional or unilateral promise.

The LORD has made us an unconditional promise as well, and that is to save those who trust in Jesus for salvation.

Stephen explained to these leaders that even though the LORD told Abraham to leave Mesopotamia, he did not immediately go into the land of Canaan but went to his father in Haran.