TFB Sermon Notes: A Cold Heart Toward Jesus -- A Reminder from God

STEPHEN’S HISTORY LESSON FOR THE SANHEDRIN

God chose a pagan idolater living in a pagan culture, led him here and promised to make him the father of a nation (vv. 2-8).

“The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia…” (v. 2).
“God sent him to this land where you are now living (v. 4).
“God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land…” (v. 5).

God used the evil action of our patriarchs and the brother they despised to save them from extinction (vv. 9-16).

“Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him…” (v. 9).
“Then a famine struck…and our fathers could not find food” (v. 11).
“After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family…” (v. 14).

God raised up a man, whom our ancestors rejected, to rescue them from slavery (vv. 17-38).

“Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not” (v. 25).
“I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt. This is the same Moses whom they had rejected…. He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God Himself…” (vv. 34-35).
“This is that Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will send you a prophet like me from your own people’” (v. 37).

God brought judgment upon our ancestors when they rebelled against Him and turned to other gods (v. 39-43).

“But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back
to Egypt” (v. 39).
“…and held a celebration in honor of what their hands had made” (v. 41).
“But God turned away and gave them over to the worship of the heavenly bodies” (v. 42).

“It (tabernacle) had been made as God directed Moses” (v. 44).
“David…asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built the house for Him” (vv. 46-47).
“However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men” (v. 48).

KEY PRINCIPLES

Flood – God destroys the human race for their rebellion. Genesis 6:5-7
Tower of Babel – God fulfills His plan to have people scattered all over the earth by creating languages. Genesis 11:9
Pharaoh of Egypt – God uses him to show His power. Exodus 4:21
King Nebuchadnezzar – God inflicts him for his arrogance. Daniel 4:34-35; Acts 17:22-28

Abraham was chosen by God even before he trusted in Him.
The Patriarchs were full of envy, jealousy, rage and murder, but God still saved them. Genesis 50:19-20
The Israelites were full of fear and refusal to trust, but God still rescued them Acts 7:34-35; Exodus 5:10-21; Exodus 14:11-12
God rescues people through His grace. Luke 4:18-19; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 3:5; 2 Peter 3:9

GOD RULES WITH JUSTICE.
God judges the Israelites for abandoning him for idols of their making. Exodus 20:3

TFB Sermon Notes