JESUS MOVEMENT 10 – “INVISIBLE” GOD, 6-16-24, Jeff Aenk – Lead Pastor, New Hope Christian Church
Key Verse – Matthew 16:18b - I (Jesus) will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
We miss God when we focus on what WE want rather than on GOD & what he wants.
Acts 6:8 -15 - 8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. 11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”
12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” 15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Acts 7:1 – 60 - 1 Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?” 2 To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran. 3 ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’……………………………………………………………
48 “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: 49 “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? 50 Has not my hand made all these things?’
51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Here’s What I Want us To Do this upcoming season
1. Evaluate your life. Is there anything that you honestly are Wanting or Focusing on MORE than God & what He wants -(Idolatry)?
*If so, Write it down, & Confess it to God & a Christian Friend, so that you can start to Experience the Abundant Life of Peace, Love, Joy, & Purpose that ONLY Comes when you CAN SEE God!
2. Please Pray through the New Hope Info & Commitment Sheet, Follow God’s Lead, & Drop it in one of the Gray Tithe & Offering Boxes by Sunday July 7th.
*Scripture Assignment this Week: 1. Write/Type following Verses, One Each Day, in your Own Words. 2. Write/Type what God is Saying to You Personally through it. 3. Write/Type what You will Do as a Result. Mon – Acts 6:8-11, Tue – Acts 6:12-15, Wed – Acts 7:1-3, Thu – Acts 7:48-50, Fri – Acts 7:51-53, Sat – Acts 7:54-60
Key Verse – Matthew 16:18b - I (Jesus) will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
We miss God when we focus on what WE want rather than on GOD & what he wants.
Acts 6:8 -15 - 8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. 11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”
12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” 15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Acts 7:1 – 60 - 1 Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?” 2 To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran. 3 ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’……………………………………………………………
48 “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: 49 “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? 50 Has not my hand made all these things?’
51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Here’s What I Want us To Do this upcoming season
1. Evaluate your life. Is there anything that you honestly are Wanting or Focusing on MORE than God & what He wants -(Idolatry)?
*If so, Write it down, & Confess it to God & a Christian Friend, so that you can start to Experience the Abundant Life of Peace, Love, Joy, & Purpose that ONLY Comes when you CAN SEE God!
2. Please Pray through the New Hope Info & Commitment Sheet, Follow God’s Lead, & Drop it in one of the Gray Tithe & Offering Boxes by Sunday July 7th.
*Scripture Assignment this Week: 1. Write/Type following Verses, One Each Day, in your Own Words. 2. Write/Type what God is Saying to You Personally through it. 3. Write/Type what You will Do as a Result. Mon – Acts 6:8-11, Tue – Acts 6:12-15, Wed – Acts 7:1-3, Thu – Acts 7:48-50, Fri – Acts 7:51-53, Sat – Acts 7:54-60