Stephen's Address: The Call of
Abraham
Then the high priest said, "Are these things so?" And he said, "Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, 'Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.' Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him. But God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years. 'And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge,' said God, 'and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.' Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs."
The Patriarchs in Egypt
"And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Now a famine and great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. And the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to the Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him, seventy-five people. So Jacob went down to Egypt; and he died, he and our fathers."
NKJV
Then the high priest said, "Are these things so?" And he said, "Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, 'Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.' Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him. But God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years. 'And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge,' said God, 'and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.' Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs."
The Patriarchs in Egypt
"And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Now a famine and great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. And the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to the Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him, seventy-five people. So Jacob went down to Egypt; and he died, he and our fathers."
NKJV
These verses
in Acts chapter seven speak of men who were possessors of faith: Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob, and Joseph. Many of us have made professions of faith, but our idea of
faith is an interesting one. In order to appear that we are not 'going
overboard' with our faith, many of us try to live under the umbrella of 'safe'
Christianity. We want just enough Christianity that it doesn't make the
neighbors worry about us. We assume that a small dose of religion can give us
the peace and contentment we so desperately need in this crazy world. There is a
problem with this type of thinking. Jesus, the one we are to be following said,
"He who is not with Me is against Me" (Matthew 12:30 partial NKJV). In another
place He says, "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could
wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold
nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth." (Revelation 3:15-17 NKJV)
How would
you describe your faith?
- a radical, on fire, life changing faith
- a reserved, quiet faith that does not interrupt your busy life
- a life unchanged except perhaps for your Sunday mornings
There is
only one true kind of faith, and that is 'a'. Jesus died for us, so that He
could turn our lives radically right side up. So often we try to live a life of
'b' and 'c', but desire the benefits of 'a'. Stop trying to keep God at arms
length. Embrace Him and watch Him change your life. Take those small steps
toward a big radical faith. God will be with you and will enlarge your steps
beneath you.
"Life is not
a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and
well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, and
loudly proclaiming, 'Wow - What a ride!'" ~ I wanted to share this quote with
you.
Life
Lesson: We should be possessors of faith not just professors of faith.
Lord,
You are anything but ordinary and boring. Help me to live a passionate life for You. I have lived for myself and found a life with no meaning. I want to live for You. Help me to step out with boldness to serve You. I know I can trust You to strengthen me and give me the things I need to serve You. When I enter into heaven, I want to hear, 'well done good and faithful servant.' Help me to radically live for You now so that I may hear You say that then. In Jesus' name, Amen.
You are anything but ordinary and boring. Help me to live a passionate life for You. I have lived for myself and found a life with no meaning. I want to live for You. Help me to step out with boldness to serve You. I know I can trust You to strengthen me and give me the things I need to serve You. When I enter into heaven, I want to hear, 'well done good and faithful servant.' Help me to radically live for You now so that I may hear You say that then. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Living to
tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Pastor David McGee
My comment: I am a radical, what I used to call those who loved the Lord, read the Bible and talked as if they knew the Lord Jesus personnally, prayed etc fanatics. My Aunt Mona, Uncle George and their son Georgie were that "kind". In those days I was one who talked yet did not know the whole truth and had many thing wrong. They actually knew what they were talking about and lived their faith. I did not. I drank, smoked and had even been with men before being married the first time and thought there was nothing wrong with that. There are many professing "Christians" now days who live this life and believe they will go to heaven when the die and they are as wrong as I was!
It is not in just talking about the Lord Jesus and the Bible or doing good works or even trying to live a good life. It is about really accepting the Lord Jesus as Savior and letting Him live in you and letting Him change you and having an intimate walk with Him and because we love Him doing all for Him. It is soooo simple and so fulfilling and Peaceful beyond imagining. The first step is a step of faith and the rest becomes a journey of joy no matter what is happening in ones life whether it is a death of a loved one, loss of a job, thwarted plans or an accident.
I lost my fifth daughter Kariena last March to cancer. It was hard watching her suffer especially the last few months before the Lord took her home. Yet there was great joy knowing the Lord used it for His glory and to bring souls to Him. I know I will be with her someday and I know she wears a beautiful crown and see the Lord face to face. There is unbelieveable joy in that. Yes, I miss hearing her voice and seeing her smile, that is natural yet I trust my Abba who loved her completly and loves me unfailingly.
Yes, I am a fanatic now. One who believes completely in the Word of God, who knows she is God's child and that I am filled with the Holy Spirit and Saved by the blood of the Lamb and if I continue to hold this course I will one day hear as I know Kariena heard, "Well done good and faithful servant."
Everyone can know they are saved by having faith and accepting the sacrifice of Jesus the Christ on the Cross. Just ask Him to forgive you your sin and to come in and be one with you. Let Him know you love Him and believe in all He has done for you. He will do the rest.
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