Ep 475 | Steven - Dave Morgan 10/16/22

It's another wonderful day that the Lord has given us is allowed

us that moment to rest in the night and rises morning to

glorify him. And this morning, you're looking

at me. And that's only because brother

Terry Osborne called and asked me to fill in for him since he's

up in Oregon, tending to his mother and we pray that all was

going well with Rosetta and family there.

And they will have safe Journeys back and he'll be back here

before surely next month. We pray, it's been a while

probably since I've stood before you and had a reading.

But this morning I wanted to take a look specifically at

someone that we many times, if we've read the book of Acts and

we think about what happened to him and then what events Then

followed that would come to be known as Paul and what he would

become to be. I think there's so much to learn

from a man called Stephen and much more than it was Precious

Precious his sacrifice that he essentially was giving in his

life as he was stolen. But there's so much more to find

about Steven even though in just those two chapters of Acts 6 and

7. We know those of those things

are there to tell us a little more about it.

We don't know how old he was. We don't know more than what

those few verses tell us but they tell us I think a lot more

and in my mind personally I look and read this and in these

verses as I read about Steven what I do is I find that he was

the precursor or the cane before Saul who would become Paul Paul

wasn't saw, wasn't a Christian. He was persecuting Christians,

but he lived a life, that then, as we read more, if you were to

take time to read about Paul and reflect back, how much Paul's

life really was full, because of what that man, Stephen was in so

many ways. So this For the reading.

If you have your Bibles will look into Acts.

Acts 6 · chapter mention

Chapter 6 is 15 verses long. Verse 1.

Now in those days when the number of the disciples was

multiplying There, Rose, a complaint against the Jew

Hebrews by the hellenists because their widows were

neglected in the daily distribution.

Then the 12 summoned, the multitude of the disciples and

said it is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and

serve tables. Therefore Brethren seek out from

among you seven. Men of good reputation full of

the Holy Spirit. It and wisdom whom we may

appoint over this business but we will give ourselves

continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word and the

saying please the whole multitude and they chose

Stephen. A Man full of faith and the Holy

Spirit and Phillip per course nicanor.

Timon parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte proselyte from

Antioch. Whom they set before the

apostles, and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them,

then the word of God spread and the number of the disciples

multiplied, greatly in Jerusalem and a great many of the priests

were obedient to the faith. And Stephen Full of faith and

power did great wonders. And signs among the people, then

there arose some from what is called the synagogue of the

freedmen sirenians alexandrians and those from Silesia and I

know Asia disputing with Steven and they were not able to resist

the work against his, it would be the wisdom and the Spirit by

which he spoke. Then they secretly induce men to

say we have heard him speak blasphemous.

Most words against Moses and God and they stirred up to people,

the elders and the scribes and they came upon Him seized him

and brought him to the council. They also set up false

Witnesses. Who said this man does not cease

to speak Blasphemous words against this holy place and the

law for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will

destroy this place and change the Customs, which Moses

Delivered to us and all sat in the council looked steadfastly

at him. Solve his face saw his face as

the face of an Angel. Now with these verses and

correctly, read on my part and barring any era that is the

scriptures that will study this morning and will follow on into

chapter 7. And then we will also take a

look at a concept that we will read over and over here and

these contacts. And that's full Just a simple

four letter word full and we'll follow that through the lesson.

So at this time we have the great moment opportunity and to

go to our Heavenly Father in prayer.

So if we would humble ourselves and some manners, the one

selected began, it's wonderful to look around.

Look into the faces of all that have come to the service this

morning. And as brother, Darren prayed

this morning. We're so very thankful that the

Lord is continuing to watch over each Soul here.

Especially as we think about brother, Frank and his healing

and it was so course, so wonderful to be able to see

Frank stand before us this morning and all for a prayer.

And that's wonderful to be able to see that.

It's some uplifting and it's encouraging to each person that

struggles from moment to moment and day-to-day.

As we might. And as we do that, we know that

we can turn to God and his strength will get us through.

And again, we continue to pray for all those that Darren

mentioned in the prayer that they will build up in the Most,

Holy Faith, to be strengthened, and comforted, as their needs

would be now as we look to the scriptures here and Acts chapter

Acts 6 · chapter mention

6. And we think about Steven and

we'll kind of work. Rule of the chapter but also I

want to expand on that. So we're not going to

necessarily do an expository on every word that's here.

In, chapter 6, but parts of it. We will now thing that one thing

you might want to remember here, the church has been established,

but it's growing, it's manifesting itself to the world.

But at the same time, their issues and problems, we know

that people that were obeying the gospel and we Coming members

of the Lord's churches that were being added to the Lord's

church, that they were laying down their goods at the feet of

the Apostles, and everybody was sharing, and everybody was

caring and giving it was a special significant moment in

time. It was different and we know

that it was a busy time. It's so, there was a moment in

time when all of a sudden the apostles were just overwhelmed

almost. Them trying to preach the gospel

and at the same time, they were ministering to the family of

God, that was gathered together there in Jerusalem, and they

were having to take care of this ministration.

That's a word that used in the King James version distribution

and the new King James version, and it was helping them have

food and the necessities of life.

And because many of them have given up things, or they were

poor and other ways. I'm sick in need now.

Surely, of course, the gospel was there.

The powers of the Holy Spirit, there was healing of the bodies

to be healed and those ways, but you still have to have

sustenance of food and the apostles were busy.

And they hear, they say that. He summoned, they were very

busy, it's in. There was a dispute actually

between the Hebrews and ahead of us.

Now again, the King James Bible refers to the Gentiles Greeks as

it were the Greeks. The hellenists were the Greeks.

So you had two different populations of people and you

pull them together against they had become Christians but you

got to figure many of these people were of the Jewish faith,

and you got these people that were non believing in the Jewish

faith and God And also they come together, there's going to be a

clash and so conflict. And as they did, they were

thinking well, these people are getting better serve than we're

getting served. And so there was this

interpretation and so the apostles saw this and they you

know, came together with them and said, it's not desirable

that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.

Therefore Brethren seek out from among you seven.

Men of good reputation full of the holy spirit and wisdom now.

I'm going to choose seven men and it gave the stipulation of

what they would be, they would be of good reputation.

And in the process of this there, looked around and saw

these men. And of course, all these people

to one degree, or the other are relatively new to the Christian

faith. But there were those, of course,

who grasped it and took it and just were able.

Then, to be able All to use what they were hearing and understand

it and be able to help others. Well, these people had good

reputation, they were honest, they were sincere.

They were loving, they were carrying all the things, you

might think in a good reputation and then it says they were full

of the holy spirit and wisdom. Now, in this case, your we're

talking about that they had already had the Holy Spirit

taken in as it were in this first century Church some more

than others, we know. That, you know, you could look

at examples where maybe there were people that would fall away

from the faith. But these people had taken in

the work and they had been blessed.

And we know then that they had been blessed with that fullness

of the wisdom of the word and we read, of course, further that

after these seven men are appointed that, you're going to

have the hands laid on them, that they would have this

blessing. And again, those Gifts that were

read about and First Corinthians where it talks about the gifts

that, then they would be able to do things have the power for my

miraculous healings or being able to teach the word with

wisdom, that's given through them through that, Holy Spirit,

being able to speak in tongues, those kinds of things.

So these men, these seven men were such that they were going

to Be able to be filled as it was with a certain fullness.

Now, it's interesting that they specifically mentioned here when

it says that and they verse 5 and then the saying please the

whole multitude and they chose Stephen, A Man full of faith and

of the Holy Ghost and then it mentions Phillip a Carson

nicanor, Timon parmenas, and Nicolas.

Those also, I don't think that necessarily means my mind that

the others didn't already have Have the qualities, but

specifically, Stephen is being called out as that person who

really has identified himself and given himself, fully and

wholly, and completely to the gospel and the cause of Christ.

These others were there doing that, too.

But also, I think it tells us that Stephen, if you were just

to take this verse, something special about this man, is there

And it's special that's going to happen.

We don't know what that is, of course, unless you read on, but

it's special for Steven here to be able to be not identified as

a man full of faith and the Holy Ghost.

Now, one thing just to talk about that four-letter word,

full in Vines dictionary. It's the sense of being filled.

The sense of being filled Strong's goes on and says, it's

by analogy complete. So this is something that we

would later. Think about the Apostle Paul, he

was definitely had that sense of being filled and analogy being

complete but hey, Paul's not Paul at this time.

Paul is Saul, he is a Pharisee of Pharisees.

He is someone that's going to be Persecuting the Christians and

he's going to come into play here shortly and chapter 7.

And so we're going to know these things about Steven and I just

kind of want you to keep out there in your mind, the

thoughts, or the back of your minds of apostle Paul.

And what he's going to be doing to the Christian specifically

and the stoning process of having Stephen stoned and at

this man would become Paul. The Vessel chosen by God, to be

able to take the gospel to the Gentiles and in some ways to me.

Steven is a conduit. That works.

To have Saul and his heart prick to the point that he's going to

Forever. Carry the death of Stephen

before him. so, as we read on there, And we talked about this,

it also mentions the course, the word full of power.

And I think full of here, says, full of faith and verse 8, full

of faith and full of power, and great wonders.

And miracles, among the people, well, here, we see the Holy

Ghost. Holy Spirit working in Stephen.

He's been given this power and we're going to see this also.

And the other Apostles other people that are have the hands

laid out upon them, and they're doing miraculous things, and

Bringing people to the church. Again, the the concept of the

power of Miracles that was just to be able to perform as it

were, that the gospel is there. And it is able to be seen.

These people had not seen or heard of Jesus Christ.

He died on the cross, some of the people in the Church.

Of course, maybe had been there and witnessed the actual blood

flowing from Christ down that cross and his death.

I've often wondered that many times how many of those people

that maybe had actually visually seen the crucifixion of Christ

actually, then were able to to come to Christ on that day of

Pentecost when Peter preached that First Gospel sermon, I've

just wondered who was there and who was there and saw it and

turned away and didn't accept it.

And it's just something that today, I think about those

people that hear the gospel. But then they turn away from it.

It's it's something that comes to me.

Now, power in this specific verse here, Strong's comments

that the it is the ability as given by the holy spirit.

So it's not a power that that Steven had in of himself, thus

the power came through the Holy Spirit.

It was bestowed upon him as Were I find another annotation here

in verse 6? 1500 6:15.

Where it's at the end. And one thing he's doing here

and the latter part of chapter 6, Steven is is someone that is,

is out there preaching to those Jews in the synagogue and as he

preaches then of course, these people are pushing back against

what he's saying. And as they push back there,

kind of resisting is the It's used in the new King James

version so they're pushing back their resisting and they push

back so much and maybe this is one of the Early times when you

look at the scriptures here. When all of a sudden here's a

man that's not one of the Apostles and he's out there

teaching the gospel, he's teaching, Jesus Christ,

crucified, and these Jews aren't going to accept it.

They're pushing Back and they're pushing to the point, they're

going to do the same thing they did with Christ.

In a sense they went out and support.

Suborned is the word in the King James version, they went out and

grabbed some men. Basically said, okay, come over

here and we want you to go tell some lies about this math.

Tell them that he's corrupting the religion, that we know he

wants to turn us against what most has taught us.

So they did this and that's the same thing they did with.

Rice. Take Christ, was crucified on a

bunch of lies and on that covetousness and jealousy of who

he was, as the Divine Son of God.

So, this man, Stephen is doing that with his whole being with

the fullness and wholeness of everything he has.

He's teaching Jesus Christ crucified and the Jews were not

about to put up it. So they set up these false

Witnesses and they say for we have heard him, say verse 14

that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change

the Customs which Moses delivered to us.

You go back and take your mind to the gospels.

Is exactly what they were doing but Jesus Christ and all who set

in the council Looking steadfastly at him.

Saw his face as the face of an Angel.

Now that's something to me is here, are these people that are

working against the truth of God, his word and some capacity,

they're seeing something different than not going to

accept it. But they're seeing someone whose

face was as An angel. Now I'm going to maybe take a

little of Liberty here. But I'm going to think myself

where the Apostle Paul writes in second Corinthians 4:6 for God

2 Corinthians 4:6

who commanded the light to shine out of Darkness, has shined in

our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of

God in the face of Jesus Christ. That word face is used there

with Jesus Christ here. We see the face of Steven.

It's as though it was an angel, he's not, he's a man not an

angel but The holy spirit is worked in this man and his

working in him as he speaks to this people.

He's not finished. Because they're going to have to

listen to this man whose face. Seems as though it's an angel

because they had brought him before the council.

He's there to have accusations thrown at him and he's going to

defend not so much himself. He's going to defend the gospel

and God's word. And he in chapter 7, which I'm

not going to try to go deep into that, but we need to know and

chapter 7. They asked him.

The high priest says, are these things so and then he begins

that Stephen says Brethren and fathers.

Listen, the god of Glory appeared to Our Father, Abraham,

when he was in Mesopotamia. He goes on Stephen goes on to

proclaim a century, the history of the Hebrew people, and he

tells them about Abraham and he goes on, he talks about Egypt,

but he talks about Moses and he talks about all All that the

Hebrew history is he relates it to him, word for word.

Now, those people that are commentators and expositors

akademi ins, they'll take this and say, well, he didn't quite

say this, right? Or he left this little part out

here, but through the Holy Spirit, he is expounding on the

history of the Jewish people. And he talks about how the

Jewish people rejected. Many of those people.

They rejected Moses. They brought down a golden calf

and he talked about the rebellion and in the end and the

latter part of chapter 7 as begins.

In verse 44, he talks about the Tabernacle, and he talks about

it was a witness in the wilderness.

And then, in verse 48, he goes on.

He says, however the most high does not dwell in temples made

with hands, as the prophet says, now you got to remember these

people are saying, oh, we've got the temple.

And that's what we have and it's everything and there's nothing

else. We've got to do this and that

and the tradition of our fathers and so on but we know that Jesus

Christ when he died the scriptures tell us he nailed

that old law to the cross. It was done away with.

So what they were hearing though was something against

everything. They had believed verse 49, it

goes on and says that the prophet says Heaven is my throne

and the Earth is my footstool. What house will you build for

me? Says the Lord.

Lord, but what is the place of my rest as my hand, not made all

these things. So Stephen at this point is

going to start to show another fullness.

Now, if you think about Jesus Christ coming into the world in

Matthew 6, 22 and 24, it talks about the light of the body and

the eye, if therefore that eye be single, thy whole body, shall

be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy

whole body, shall be full of Darkness.

If therefore, the light that is in thee, be Darkness.

How great is that darkness? No, man can serve two masters

for either. He will hate the one and love

the other or else he will. Hold to the one and despise the

other. Cannot serve God and Mammon.

So we know that Jesus Christ. He came as the light in the

world, and we know that Jesus Christ has talked about that in

Christ's words, that end in Matthew 5, were the Beatitudes

occur. Verse 14 through 18, He says,

you are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill

that cannot be hid. Neither do men, light, a candle

and put it under a bushel. But on a Candlestick and it

giveth light unto all that are in the house, let your light.

So shine before men that they may see your good works and

glorify your hot Father which is in heaven for verily.

I say unto you till Heaven and Earth pass, one jot or tittle

shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled.

I say that read those particular portion of the scriptures.

Stephen was full of the scriptures.

He knew the scriptures they was inspired and given to him to

remember all these things, he hadn't seen all that, he had

lived. All that yes he had heard, it is

transgender Edition and been passed down and he had gone to

the synagogue and they read and read those old scriptures but he

was full of the scriptures. And his speech here in Chapter

7. When you have time, you go read

it. And then what I'd asked you to

do is you turn over to acts 13 and you go read verses 16

through 41 and 40 and on through 52 and you're going to hear Paul

expound, A sermon that's going to cover the history just as

Stephen did. The only difference is they took

Stephen out and they did Stony. Paul would leave Antioch safely.

But if you read that chapter 13, you'll find out, they followed

Paul to Iconium and all. And as they did they found him.

They stirred up the people. Just like these people were

stirred up and they take him out and they stoned him.

The difference is he lives? God has purpose was not yet

fulfilled for Paul, but Steven here, he's going to be having

that strength. To be able to expound.

Because he knows the scriptures and one thing for us, if we are

going to reach other people and to present the Plan of

Salvation, at present the gospel, we need to know the

scriptures. We know when Ephesians 1:17

Ephesians 1:17–20

through 20, that the god of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The father of Glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom

and Revelation in the knowledge of him.

What do we read about Stephen? He'd been given the spirit of

wisdom here, we hear Paul writing to the Ephesians, Are

you unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation of

knowledge of him? It's perforce in the scriptures,

the eyes of your understanding being enlightened that you may

know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of

the glory of his inheritance in the Saints and what is the

exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward, who believe,

according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought

in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his

own right hand and Heaven. Places.

So, our days need to be full. Stevens days were Full Tang.

Stevens days were short. I don't know.

How Stephen was, was he a young man?

Was he in his thirties? Because of the nature of the

Jewish custom of being able to interact and live in that

culture and the religious sense, was he loader 50s 60s?

I have no idea how old this man might have been, but the reality

is His days were full. And he was full of the

scriptures are days need to be full of studying the scriptures.

Second Timothy 3:15, 17. And that from a child, thou Hast

2 Timothy 3:15

known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto

salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus, all

scripture is given by inspiration of God and is

profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction for

instruction. In righteousness.

That the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished and

all Works now in the process of us knowing this and even for

that first century Church, those seven men, the body of Christ,

that was worshipping together and a congregation in the first

century, they needed to be full of the scriptures.

So they would and wisdom. So they'd be able to edify one

another such, as we first Thessalonians 5:11, wherefore

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Comfort yourselves together, and edify one another even as Also

you do, he was full of wisdom, it tells us acts 6 3 and 10

wherefore Brethren look, ye Out Among seven, men of honest,

report, full of ghosts in the Holy Ghost and wisdom.

And then intended says and that they were not able to resist

what the Hebrew leaders and people there they weren't able

to resist the wisdom. It wasn't so much that it was

Stevens wisdom. It was the wisdom of the Gospel

that he had. That he was Party that he was

letting other see and know but his days were full of wisdom and

understanding Colossians 2 to 3. It says this is Paul writing to

the Galatians that their hearts might be comforted being knit

together in love and unto all Riches of the full Assurance of

understanding to the acknowledgement of the mystery

of God and of the father, and of Christ and whom are hidden.

All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

You're looking for Wisdom and knowledge wisdom and knowledge.

You need to be looking for is in this book here.

Is there before us? now, the next thing really to

note what Stephen was full of Something I pray more for and

that's be more. Bold be more of Courage, he was

full of Courage. Listen to this in Acts 7 where

he turns in his next words to say to the people there you

stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears.

You always resist the Holy Spirit as your father's did.

So do you which of the prophets did your father's?

Not persecute? You'd and they killed those who

foretold the coming of the just one of whom.

You now have become the betrayers and murderers, who

have received the law by the direction of angels and have not

kept it. Boy, you talk about a man

standing up and letting people hear it and letting them know it

that you people you need to hear this now, he's not telling them,

you're condemned. He's telling this is what you

did and he's really appealed to them.

In a sense, you need to repent from this.

You need to change, but they're not going to hear it.

And then today it's almost a slightly.

How did these people not hear? And see it and know this but

they did. They were so in touch with their

Habituated habits of centuries of the Hebrew people that

continually rebelled against God.

That's what the hell too. Well they didn't like what they

were hearing because in verse 54, tells us when they heard

these things, they were cut to the heart boy.

He talked about feeling that guilt.

They felt it, they knew they were guilty but they gnashed

with their teeth. Now you know, the concept of

Nationals with your teachers like you hold it, you grind it

and you know it's but the other thing to me but that really goes

on it next. It says, but he that being

Stephen Full of the Holy Spirit. Gazed into heaven and saw the

glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God and

said, look, I see the heavens open and the son of man standing

at the right hand of God. Now, these are moments that God

is using Stephen to speak this and live this before he dies.

And how special? Stephen must have been.

In the eyes of God and a Jesus. It says he goes on and says

verse 57 and then they cried out with a loud voice, they stopped

their ears, they put hands over their ears.

And they ran at him with one Accord to do what to take him,

and cast him out of the city and stone him.

And those that were witnessing this, they Stone are laid their

clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul, Here's Paul

would be Paul Saul watching this condoning.

It taking part in it and we will leave this as you read on in the

next chapters he's going to take off with a letter from the

leaders of the Jewish leaders to go take people bring them and

put them in Chains. Persecuted tortured, some put to

death, Maybe Oh, this is going to happen.

But in this moment, These are people there, they're good verse

59 and they Stone Stephen, as he was calling on, God and say,

Lord Jesus receive my spirit. Then he knelt down and cried out

with a loud voice. Lord.

Do not charge them with this sin and when he said this, he fell

asleep. This is a lot to me, it's very

heavy. But what Stephen?

Exhibiting here? He's extent exhibiting another

fullness. Guess you hear the word martyr?

I think it goes beyond, just a term martyr.

He goes on, he was full of love and forgiveness.

X7 60 said he nailed down and cried with a loud voice Lord.

Lay, not this sin on their charge.

This is the sound like Jesus. On the cross.

Christ speaking in Luke 23 24, then Jesus said father forgive

them for they know not what they do.

I don't know. Could Steven have said these

words on his own? Well, I do believe that he had

sold become absorbed through the holy spirit in such a way that

it was him. That was looking back at what

he's learned to be able to reflect on that.

And say, I'm going to give my life all that I am.

The die. To die for the cause of Christ.

Because he knew he was going to live.

He's going to live and be with the father.

And we know. That window that opened and he

gazed into into heaven. And we know that to me, it's as

though, Jesus is says, and Steven Stone and he was calling

him. God saying, the Lord Jesus

receive my soul. And to me, it's as though again,

Christ was standing up and reaching out to Steven and this

moment, my mind. He was seeing all this happened

before his eyes, but, you know, love and forgiveness is

something that doesn't stop with Steven.

It's something that we as Christians have to be a part of

doing all the time, Matthew 5:44, but I say unto you love

Matthew 5:44

your enemies, bless them that curse, you do good to them that

hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and

persecute you. Christ further, speaking in

Matthew 6, 14 and 15 for if you forgive men, their trespasses,

your heavenly father will also forgive you but if you forgive

not their trespasses, neither will your father, forgive you,

your trespasses Ephesians 4:32, the Apostle, Paul writing to the

Ephesians 4:32

Ephesians and be kind one to another tender-hearted forgiving

one another, even as God for Christ's sake, hath forgiven,

you As I look at Steven, I also read in the scriptures.

I don't ever see word for word that he was sitting in a

congregation hearing the Apostle preach or something, but I think

his days at RT, proved, he was full of worship and prayer.

He was full of it, and he was there praying to the father.

He was filled with that Holy Spirit.

And he was Annually in his mind that continuation of worship

that was not just in a temple. It was not in the temple made

with hands, it was with the body of Christ that he was serving.

He was a man that was simply willing to minister to the

hellenists and the Hebrews. It didn't matter what Greek or

what culture? You would come from, you were

Christians, he humbled himself and did that and he did more,

but it took that That humble heart that he had that home

atmosphere that just flowed through him and out of him to be

able to serve, not just those people but to serve the gospel

and Jesus Christ, and his sacrifice on the cross, John

John 4:23–24

4:23 to 24, but the hour cometh. And now is when the true

worshipers shall Worship the Lord in spirit and Truth for the

father seeketh, such to worship him.

God is a spirit And they that worship Him must worship Him in

spirit and Truth. Jude 20, but ye beloved building

up yourselves on your Most. Holy Faith.

Praying in the Holy Ghost. Hebrews 10:24 and 25.

Hebrews 10:24

And my point is here not so much the assembling itself, but verse

24, and let us consider one another to provoke provoke unto

love. And to Good Works.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner

of some is, but exhorting, one another so much more as you see

the day approaching Ephesians 6:18 praying, always with all

Ephesians 6:18

prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching, They're

onto with all perseverance and supplication for All Saints.

Philippians 19. And this, I pray that your love

may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment

that, you may approve things that are excellent that you may

be sincere and without a fence till the day of Christ being

filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus

Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

It's so important that we know that we need to be about

worshiping. We need to be about being the

good Christian. Doing good works.

We need to be able to forgive, and we need to be able to give

that good example to the world. But our cause of course, is the

cause of Jesus Christ. Paul continuing to me, when I

speak of Paul and I'm talked about Stephen ice, just so much

that I think of all that changed in Paul's life because of what

happened with Steven and then Paul on that road there to

Damascus and that, that light that Shone around him and caused

him to be blind for that moment and be led down to the street

called straight. And now Still him.

And he believed, and he knew because he was talking to

Christ, he was there in that mind and hearing the voices that

were of Christ, speak to him because balls, reaching out Lord

who argue. Well, he found out who he was

and he's continuing to write these letters all the letters

that he wrote to the different churches.

Paul, then, and Ephesians 3, 11 to 21, says, according to the

Eternal purpose, Which he purposed in Christ Jesus.

Our lord in whom we have boldness and success with

confidence by him of by the faith of him point that explains

exactly who Stephen was. And those first two verses,

they're 11 and 12. Wherefore Paul says, I desire

that you faint, not at my tribulations for you, which is

your glory for this. Cause I bow my knees on the

Savior unto the father and our Lord, Jesus Christ of whom The

whole family in Heaven and Earth is named that he would Grant

you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened,

with his might, by the spirit. In the inner man, that Christ

May dwell in your hearts by faith, that you being rooted and

grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints,

what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know

the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge that ye might

be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now, I want to him that is able to do exceeding, abundantly

above all that we ask or think, according to the power that

worketh in us to him, be glory in the church, by Jesus Christ.

Jesus throughout all ages and the World Without End.

Amen. Being full of understanding of

the measureless measureless. We can't measure it.

Scope of Christ's love. Romans 8:39 that no height nor

Romans 8:39

depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us

from the love of God, which is in Christ.

Jesus, our lord, we need to have days that are filled with the

fullness John wants 1617 and of his fullness.

Have all, we received Grace, for grace, for the I was given Moses

but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ.

Arnie's day. 5 days need to be full full of replacing.

Our will with the will, of God, Galatians. 2:20, I am crucified

Galatians 2:20

with Christ. Nevertheless, I live yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me and the life, which I now live in the

flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and

gave himself for me. We need to live with the

boldness, that Stephen lived with because the Judgment Day is

coming first. John 4:17 here in is our love

1 John 4:17

made, perfect. That we may have boldness and

the day of judgment because as he is.

So, are we in this world? We need to be looking for the

full reward of Heaven So try faithful obedience.

Second John 89 look to yourselves that we lose not

those things which we have wrought but we receive a full

reward whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine

of Christ hath. Not God.

He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ.

He hath both the father and the son.

Days. Full of walking faithful and

steadfast this steadfast in the faith is where we need to be

Colossians 1:23 if you continue in the faith, grounded, and

Colossians 1:23

settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel,

which ye have heard in, which was preached to every creature,

which is under Heaven, which I Paul am made a minister asked

for 26 and they continued daily with one Accord in the temple at

that. I'm first century church and

Acts chapter 2, breaking bread from house to house and it eat

Acts 2 · chapter mention

their meat with gladness is signals singleness of heart.

So ass today, I asked, do I love God?

How much do I love God? How full is my love for God?

Matthew, 22:37 Jesus said unto him.

Thou shalt love the Lord. Thy God with all thy heart, and

with all thy soul and all thy mind.

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