SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11/11/2017
9:57 AM
My Worship Time Focus: “In Defense
of the Faith”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Acts 7:1-53
Message of the
verses: We will look today at the
introduction to Acts 7:1-53, but not look at all of these verses as we will
look at them when we begin to study each section.
We have been learning about Stephen in the last few
Spiritual Diaries and now we will begin to look at how Stephen defends the
faith in this rather long chapter from the book of Acts. As believers we too must know defend the
faith too when we tell others about Jesus Christ. Peter writes the following in 1 Peter 3:15 “but
sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks
you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness
and reverence;” The problem is that many believers do not know how to tell
others how they can become believers in Jesus Christ and have eternal life, miss
hell, and go to heaven. Many believers
today have no interest in understanding the entire truth of the gospel, knowing
just enough to get saved and then stop growing in their faith, thus not ready
to do as Peter writes about. Paul and
Peter both wrote about believers not growing in the faith along with the writer
to the Hebrews, stating that believers still need the milk of the Word as they
were not ready for solid food. This was
not the case of Stephen though as we will see as he preached a masterful sermon
to the Sanhedrin, but the light of God’s Word was rejected by all of them.
When I was living in Hawaii I attended a church where the
pastor of the church stated that he was an “apologetic.” John MacArthur writes “The English word derives
from the Greek word apologia, which
means ‘a speech in defense of something.’
In Acts 25:16, it describes an accused person’s defense at his
trial. Paul gave an apologia to the angry mob in Jerusalem (Acts 22:1). To the Philippians he wrote, ‘I am appointed
for the defense [apologia] of the
gospel/ (Phil. 1:16). In verse 7 of that
chapter, Paul spoke of ‘the defense and confirmation of the gospel.’ That verse delineates the two sides of
apologetics: defending the faith against
attack, and presenting truth claims of Christianity to unbelievers.”
Paul was a great defender of the gospel as we know from
reading his letters in the New Testament, but as we have been looking at
Stephen we have learned that he too was a wonderful defender of the gospel and
we will see that in these verses from Acts seven.
The trial of Stephen begins in the opening portion of
chapter seven and the main portion of this chapter consists of Stephen’s
defense against the false charges brought against him. Stephen stood accused of blaspheming God, Moses,
the law, and the temple, as these are the most serious charges imaginable in
Jewish society.
Although he was to answer the charges Stephen wove three
other ideas throughout his “sermon.” The
first was reciting Israel’s history as he laid the groundwork for his
defense. Next he wanted to indict those
listening to his sermon. This indictment
was a slow steady giving of the truth to them with a devastating climax in
verses 51-53. Rejecting the Messiah was
their biggest mistake, and for that matter the biggest mistake of all who
reject Him. Finally Stephen desire was
to present them to Jesus as the true Messiah as he used Joseph and Moses as
types of Christ.
MacArthur concludes “This passage presents Stephen’s
fourfold defense against the false charges of blasphemy brought against
him. Any commentator is best served by
not pursuing every possible lengthy discussion of the Old Testament references
Stephen employs but by seeking to capture the dramatic themes and flow of this masterful
message. Stephen’s purpose is not to
recite history but to establish that he is not guilty of blaspheming God,
Moses, the law, or the temple. His
accusers were, however, because they rejected the Messiah.”
Memory verse: Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever
is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever
is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if
anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
question: “Jubal” (Genesis 4:21).
Which of the Gospels was
written by a man who was a Publican?”
Answer in our next SD.
11/11/2017 10:28 AM
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