Acts

ACTS 7:54-60 – THE MARTYRDOM OF STEPHEN

-Stephen was the first martyr for the cause of Christ

-Stephens preaching cut to their heart – means to cut through with a saw.

***this was a violent reaction of anger and rejection toward the gospel

-gnashing – means to grind their teeth…snarl like a pack of dogs

vs55-56 — Stephen made it through everything by being controlled by the Holy Spirit.  He received a vision of the glory of God – 1 Peter 4:12-13

-standing on the right hand of the Father refers to the authority of Jesus Christ that every believer possesses

vs57-58 – they come against Stephen with hatred and start to stone him

v59 – Stephen is calling on the Lord while being killed

v60 – the last act of Stephen is to forgive.  He died & went to heaven…

                  The Martyrdom of Stephen speaks of OPPOSITION…

Reasons why there will be OPPOSITION…

(1.) SPIRITUAL GROWTH – 2 Timothy 4:7

-opposition comes against us as we take steps to grow

-do not settle – become unsettled in your Christianity

(2.) BE A YES BELIEVER  – Isaiah 6:1-8

-He is the God of INVITATIONS

-we are ministers of the gospel and need to say YES…

-immediately @ salvation, we become ministers of the gospel

(3.) OPPOSITION COMES AS WE INVADE ENEMY TERRITORY – Lk 19:1-10

-the church cannot go inward.  It must be outward focused

(4.) OPPOSITION WILL COME WHEN WE ABOUT TO RECEIVE THE BLESSINGS OF THE LORD – James 1:17

-get ready for something good to come your way

-do not stop serving the Lord because of opposition or you will miss your blessing

                                             ACTS 8

v1 – Saul who became Paul agreed on putting Stephen to death

-persecution started and the church scattered – seeds being sowed

v2 – Stephen is buried

v3 – havoc – this refers to an army destroying a city or a wild animal tearing apart its prey

v4 – the church scatters which was a good thing

vs5-26 – PHILIP PREACHES IN SAMARIA

-the Samaritans were known as half breeds & hated by the Jewish people

vs6-8  – people are touched by the hand of the Lord

vs9-25 – Simon the Sorcerer

vs9-11 – Simon was involved in witchcraft

vs12-17 – the Samaritans are accepted as part of the body of Christ

-John & Peter approve of what is going on and to tell them about the baptism of the Holy Spirit

vs18-25  – Simon wanted to purchase this power – Peter rebukes him…….

                                 ACTS 8:26-40

v26 – Philip is asked by the Lord to head south to the desert toward Ethiopia

vs27-28 – Philip meets an Ethiopian who is reading the Bible

vs29-31 – Philip starts to talk to the Ethiopian about Jesus Christ

vs32-35  – The Ethiopian is reading Isaiah 53:7-8

vs36-38 – the Ethiopian is saved and water baptized

vs39-40 – Philip is transported supernaturally to Azotus – 35 miles away