Wednesday Bible Study, March 4, 2009
Heritage & Hope
“Duty”
Introduction: President John Quincy Adams wrote: “Duty is ours; results are God’s.” With that thought, let’s consider our Christian duty. I determined years ago that I would not fight in church. The church is the Bride of Christ. He is the Head. I am to be in submission to Him (Eph.1:22; 4:15; 5:23, 24). When a question arises the church goes to the Word of God (Acts 15) and submits to His Word. My duty is to lovingly submit to Christ.
The church and the world are different. The church is the ekklesia (ek “out” + kaleo “to call”). I have been called out of the world to be a witness to the world. A fighting church is a bad witness. To be a witness to the world I must be both salt and light (Matt.5:13-16). It is my duty as a Christian to stand for what God stands for and against what God is against.
I want tonight to be an encouragement… an encouragement that we must do our duty and leave the results with God. Let’s meet some Bible characters that did their duty, and learn from them.
I. Stephen (Acts 6)
A. Stephen is one of the original seven deacons.
1. Stephen was a disciple before he was a deacon (2). First, we must be a follower, a student of Jesus.
2. Stephen was a deacon
a. Full of the Spirit (3) fully yielded to the Holy Spirit
b. Full of wisdom (3) – the ability to apply God’s Word to the age in which they live (I Chron.12:32)
c. Full of faith (5) – His faith controlled him, not the reverse. He trusted God fully.
d. Full of the Holy Spirit (5) – The Holy Spirit controlled him. He obeyed God fully.
e. Full of grace (8) – He wasn’t filled with fear or hate. He was controlled by grace (II Cor.12:9).
f. Full of power (8) – This is the result of Acts 1:8.
B. As the opposition began to argue with Stephen the Bible declares “…they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke” (10).
1. Wisdom: The Bible teaches us that the book of Proverbs was given for two main purposes:
a. “to know” or “to attain” (1:2) wisdom and instruction/discipline (the training of the moral character)
b. “to perceive” or “to understand” (1:2) words of insight. Literally, we are to “understand, understanding”
c. “In the book of Proverbs wisdom signifies skillful living- the ability to make wise choices and live successfully according to the moral standards of the covenant community” (Expositors, pg.905).
d. Stephen was wise! He could take the Scriptures and skillfully apply God’s truth to the issues of the day! That must be our goal! (I Cor.2:6, 7, 10).
2. Spirit by whom he spoke (I Cor.2:1-4)
C. Stephen maintained a face like that of an angel (6:15). We evangelicals are often characterized as very mean people. Stephen wasn’t that way. He wasn’t frustrated and mean-spirited; no, he had the face of an angel.
D. Stephen was knowledgeable! Acts 7 is Stephen’s sermon from the calling of Abraham to the crucifixion of Christ (7:1-53).
E. Stephen, for the third time, is said to be filled with the Spirit (7:54).
F. Stephen knows his opponents are lost, outside of Christ, so he prays for them (7:59) and their forgiveness (60).
G. Stephen becomes the first Christian martyr (7:60).
H. Did God approve of Stephen’s approach to opposition?
1. Stephen said he saw “…the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (56).
2. The Bible teaches that Jesus is now sitting at the right hand of God (Heb.10:12). Why was Jesus standing when Stephen saw Him?
a. to receive Stephen
b. to acknowledge Stephen (Matt.10:32) Boice, pg.126
I. Stephen’s opposition: Since they could not stand up to Stephen’s wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke what did the opposition resort to?
1. planting character assassins (11)
2. stirring up the people against him (12)
3. arresting him (12)
4. producing false witnesses (13)
II. Zerubbabel (Ezra 4)
A. The opposition tries to partner with God’s people (1, 2)
B. Zerubbabel says “No!” (3)
C. The opposition:
1. discourages (4)
2. frightens (4)
3. hires counselors against them (5)
4. frustrates their plans (5)
5. writes letters against them (6)
III. Nehemiah
A. was mocked and ridiculed (2:19)
B. his patriotism was questioned (2:19)
C. Opposition wanted to meet and “talk” to stop God’s work (6:2-4). “Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” (3)
D. Intimidation through a letter to King Artaxerxes of the Medio-Persian Empire (6:5-7)
E. Intimidation through “hiring” a man to cause Nehemiah to sin and make him afraid (6:10-13)
IV. Esther
A. Pray! (4:16)
B. Stand! “…I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (4:16)
C. Purpose! “…And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (4:14)
V. Jesus
A. Our Lord is the King of another kingdom (John 18:36).
B. His kingdom is based on truth (John 18:37).
C. The citizens of His kingdom listen to His truth (John 18:37).
D. Jesus came “to testify” to the truth (John 18:37). Testify is martureo from martus.
Conclusion: Jesus was a martyr. Stephen was a martyr. Our founders pledged their lives and possessions to build a nation based on the truth of God’s Word. Let us be careful to follow God’s advice to Jeremiah (15:19):
1. repent
2. worthy words
3. don’t turn
4. trust