17. Faithful to the Word (1)

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Hymns: RHC 386 Be Thou My Vision 389 Teach Me Thy Way 446 Lord, Speak to Me

Acts 7:1-16

1 Then said the high priest, Are these things so? 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. 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. 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.

Faithful to the Word (1)

OUTLINE

  • Living in the Centre of God’s Will 
  • Living for the Lord Even Alone

INTRODUCTION

Faithful to the Word Part 1 of this two-part message, we shall look at Acts 7:1-16 today. The Scriptures is the basis by which the people of God are to build their lives. It is the basis of God’s blessing for His people. When we live our lives faithful to the Word, God’s glory is shed on our way, and we will one day receive our Lord’s commendation and commencement to paradise in heaven. Christians look forward to that day of graduation when we struggle no more. In heaven there is no more sorrow, no more pain, no more suffering, no more tears. There is fullness of joy, fullness of peace, fullness of blessing.

And coming to know the Saviour Jesus Christ is the greatest of blessing any man can find. He is connected with the source of life, the fountain of living waters that flows to everlasting life. If you have found it, no man will trade it for anything else, not even in exchange for your life. You know it will be a poor exchange.

Jesus said in Mark 8:36-38 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

But to live an unashamed life before God and man requires some spiritual courage and backbone. Are you ashamed to testify of Jesus Christ and His words when you are told to do so in the midst of men you know will spit you in the face? 

The Apostle Paul before being called home to be with the Lord through martyrdom gave these words to his spiritual son Timothy:

2 Timothy 1:7-15 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. 15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

Chapter 7 is a great turning point in the book of Acts and in the life of the infant church – Israel’s murderous rejection of Christ now will allow the gospel to go to the Gentiles and the next phase of Acts 1:8 begins at Samaria. This is the largest chapter in this book and concludes the first section of the Book. 

The deacon Stephen had been accused of speaking against the temple, the law, Moses and against God – the most sacred things in the mind of any Jew. 

So, by a mixture of apologetics and teaching application notably from the Scriptures, he will answer these accusations before the Sanhedrin. 

Like all good preachers, he will finish off at the Cross of Jesus Christ. He will summarise the history of Israel revealing Israel’s consistently stubborn refusal of God’s witness, culminating in their rejection of His Son. 

Stephen’s defence will consist of 5 parts of which we shall consider the first two today: Abraham (v2-8), Joseph (v9-16), Moses (v17-43), Tabernacle in wilderness and Temple (v44-50), Accusations against the Sanhedrin (v51-53).

Two thoughts as we consider Stephen’s sermon:

  • Living in the Centre of God’s Will (v1-8)
  • Living for the Lord Even Alone (v9-16)

(1) Living in the Centre of God’s Will (v1-8)

1 Then said the high priest, Are these things so? 

Stephen is now in the court of law before the great council of the nation, indicted for blasphemy: what the witnesses swore against him we had an account of in the foregoing chapter, that he spoke blasphemous words against Moses and God for he spoke against this holy place and the law. 

The high priest who is Caiaphas, the same high priest who presided over the trial of Jesus. He remained in office until A.D. 36 – 4 or 5 years after this episode.

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, 

For the people of Israel, the “glory” of God was the visible manifestation of His presence among them. 

He showed respect for these men by his address. We must always be orthodox but not use unorthodox methods to defend God’s Word. 

He begins with the Glory of God speaking of God as the Ruler of the universe and God’s Word the Bible, is the record of the activity of God through the chronology of time in Creation and in the Sustenance of the Creation by the power of God. God not only made the word. He owns it and controls it. 

The gospel did not originate with religiously clever men thinking up how we can be reconciled or find God. The religions of this world work on this basis that they bring glory to man because salvation is by human works or merit.

Mesopotamia a term of physical rather than political geography, denoting the region between the Tigris and Euphrates.

Every obstacle in the early church, up to this time, has been overcome to the glory of God and the growth of the church.

Abraham is highlighted here as a man of faith who walked in the center of God’s will. He heard the call of God and he obeyed the call by simple faith. 

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. 4Then 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. 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.

(2) Living for the Lord alone (v9-16)

Misrepresented, misunderstood, maligned.

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. 14Then 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. 

We see the testimony of Joseph who lived for the Lord. How the Lord was with him. The Bible provides for us the portrait of a godly man in the person of young Joseph. The LORD was with Joseph is a phrase that was repeated in the narrative (in Gen. 39:2,21,23). Repeatedly, the Bible described Joseph as a “prosperous man” (v2), the Lord “prospered his hand” (v3), the “blessing of the LORD” was upon Joseph (v5), the LORD “showed him mercy and gave him favour” with men (v5, 21).

He was a man filled with the spirit of God as the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 5:18b (KJV) 18 Be not drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit. He was sober and not drunken. He has a presence of mind to the duties and responsibilities of life. The Lord prospered Joseph. The Lord gave him success. 

The Holy Spirit abides with Joseph. He lived a morally upright life. He has his brain between his head! There is not a wanton streak in him. He was a servant in the house of his master.

His master could recognize that God’s presence was with him to guide and help him. God’s wisdom was with him so that the things that he did, he did them well. 

Proverbs 2:6-8 (KJV) 6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. 8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

This is a good description of Joseph. 

Joseph was a man who gave God His place in his life. This man understands his position in the light of God’s created order. 

As Murray said, “As God is the ever-living, ever-present, ever-acting One – who upholds all things by the Word of His power, and in whom all things exists – the relationship of man to God could only be one of unceasing, absolute, universal dependence.” 

He exhorts us to recognize the truth that man’s relationship with God is one of unceasing dependence. This will be the order in eternity, as our Scripture text in Revelation 4 described for us, the scene of man’s paying complete homage to God in worship for eternity in heaven. 

Genesis 39:4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

We can trace Joseph’s promotion to God’s good hand in his life. He found favour with his master – Psalm 75:6-7 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. 7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

Joseph served his master Potiphar. He was obedient to his master’s instruction. He did not talk back. Purloining means “to embezzle, keep back something which belongs to another”. Joseph was honest, dependable, trustworthy and faithful to his master (showing all good fidelity).

Titus 2:9-10 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Joseph understood God’s will and was courageous and brave to do according to God’s Word. When Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him. Joseph was morally upright and averted her advances.

James 1:13-16 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: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

Joseph yielded not to temptation. He was steadfast in obedience to God. He did not err. He understood in his heart that he will sin against God to have any evil thought towards his master’s wife. 

Joseph waited for 2 years before God sovereignly orchestrated his release from prison by giving Pharaoh two dreams. You recall he interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s butler and cook, the first restored and the other killed. The butler who was restored to Pharaoh’s court forgot Joseph’s request to help him get out of prison.

Pharaoh saw in his first dream seven fat cows coming out of the Nile River that were eaten by seven lean or skinny cows that came out of the same river. Pharaoh awoke and as fast asleep again only to have another dream. He saw in the second dream a stalk that contains seven good and full ears of corn and seven thin ears of corn appearing before devouring the seven good and full ears of corn.

Pharaoh understood in his heart that there is a message for him in the spirit world but there was no one able to give him the interpretation. It is interesting to notice that none of the magicians of Egypt to decipher the dream. Pharaoh was troubled as he realized his limitation and the army of his magicians were powerless and helpless.

It was at that precise moment that the chief butler remembered Joseph. The timing couldn’t be better. It is certainly no coincidence that he remembered Joseph. It was God’s time that Joseph would be released from prison never to return again. It was God’s perfect time. He was the only person whom God chooses to reveal the dream. What a moment!

When God moves, when it is time for action, circumstance change. And whereas Joseph tried by his wisdom to get out of prison unsuccessfully, now the prison door is wide opened. 

When Moses tries to save a Hebrew slave, the carnal wisdom was to kill the Egyptian. It was not time for Israel’s deliverance. Moses had to flee Egypt. In the fullness of time, 40 years later, God will call Moses to return to Egypt to free His people! God’s perfect time for the Exodus!

Joseph, now, has to get out of prison in haste. Joseph will remember this special day in his life when as it were, “his predicament changed suddenly”! The prison garment was taken off and he put on a goodly garment, he will not be in prisoned again. No more prison food, prison duties, prison smell!

CONCLUSION

  • Living in the Centre of God’s Will 
  • Living for the Lord Even Alone