February 14, 2016

Sunday School
Acts 6 & 7

Acts 6

• The widows were complaining about being overlooked and the Christian population was growing rapidly so the twelve apostles convened to select seven men of good character and reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.
• The seven were Stephen, a man full of faith and full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, Philip and Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholaus a proselyte from Antioch.
• Stephen, full of grace and power worked great wonders and miracles among the people but some belonging to the Synagogue of the Freedmen disputed Stephen.
• The Synagogue of the Freedmen did not want to listen but saw that Stephen's face was aglow as of an angel's.

Acts 7

• The high priest asked Stephen if the charges were true?
• Stephen reviewed for them the Jewish history which gives a clear testimony of God's faithfulness and sovereignty.
• For more details read Acts 7:2-51
• Upon hearing all these things the Jews were cut to the heart and infuriated. They ground their teeth against Stephen. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit and controlled by Him, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand.
• "Look! I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at God's right hand," Stephen said.
• The Jews raised their voices, laid hands over their ears then dragged Stephen out of the city and began stoning him.
• Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive and accept and welcome my spirit!" Then falling on his knees, he cried out loudly, "Lord fix not this sin upon them." And when he had said this, he fell dead.
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Sermon

Psalms 3:5-6 - v5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. v6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against round about.

Subject: "It's A Matter of Trust"

• It's all about relationship - Jesus to the Father and us to Jesus
• In a relationship there is TRUST!
• Trust means to relinquish control to another. We oft times do not want to do that. We like to be in control.
• Waiting on the Lord is what matter of trust.

Four things about Trust when it comes to God

1. God is conscious. Our Father knows what we need before we even ask. Behold, He that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:4  
2. God is concerned. Cast all your cares on the Lord because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7; For God so loved the world, that He have His only begotten Son, that whosoever believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16; Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4; Jesus paid it all; There is not a friend like the lowly Jesus.
3. God is consistent. We can depend on Him. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As is is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39
4. God is able. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that work in us.  Ephesians 3:20

All to Jesus, I surrender!

I trust in God!