The God Who Keeps Coming
[ READ ] Acts 7:30-53
30 “Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord: 32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. 33 Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’
35 “This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. 37 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ 38 This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us. 39 Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42 But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:
“‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices,
during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
43 You took up the tent of Moloch
and the star of your god Rephan,
the images that you made to worship;
and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’
44 “Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. 45 Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David, 46 who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47 But it was Solomon who built a house for him. 48 Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by 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 what is the place of my rest?
50 Did not my hand make all these things?’
51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”
35 “This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. 37 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ 38 This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us. 39 Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42 But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:
“‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices,
during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
43 You took up the tent of Moloch
and the star of your god Rephan,
the images that you made to worship;
and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’
44 “Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. 45 Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David, 46 who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47 But it was Solomon who built a house for him. 48 Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by 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 what is the place of my rest?
50 Did not my hand make all these things?’
51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”
Stephen's speech to the Pharisees is probably one of the most convicting streams of Truth in the New Testament. In this, the message, while lengthy, is simple… God sends us redemption and we are too blind, too legalistic, and too prideful to receive it. In the most palatable way for his audience, Stephen identifies the very man who was the mouthpiece for God’s law, a man who redeemed his people and the one who they revere so deeply. Moses.
After drawing the comparison, he then talks about the Holy Spirit. The very Spirit that dwelt in the tabernacle and eventually the first and second temples, dwells within us as believers. I seriously doubt man's ability to speak with the same level of conviction, facing the same level of consequences. That's boldness. That is the Spirit at work.
Too often we read stories about the Pharisees and they seem almost cartoonishly evil. We have this depiction of them as if they were not the MOST faithful men to YHWH. They weren’t persecuting Christians for fun, they were the MOST deceived. They had the understanding that they were defending God’s plan and his coming Messiah. They missed it right in front of their faces. I think we need to stop viewing the Pharisees as unintelligent, unfaithful men. They are us. We are deceived and fall into legalism all too often. The Truth of relationship with Jesus is uncomfortable and we as sinful creatures find comfort in the black and white of the letter of the law. We should read Acts 7:51 and feel the weight of that. I am a stiff necked person who resists and denies the Holy Spirit. God, I repent! Mold my heart and allow me to listen to your Spirit with integrity and conviction. May we hide our hearts in His love and allow Him to change our stone into flesh constantly. May we resurrender.
- Quentin Parker
After drawing the comparison, he then talks about the Holy Spirit. The very Spirit that dwelt in the tabernacle and eventually the first and second temples, dwells within us as believers. I seriously doubt man's ability to speak with the same level of conviction, facing the same level of consequences. That's boldness. That is the Spirit at work.
Too often we read stories about the Pharisees and they seem almost cartoonishly evil. We have this depiction of them as if they were not the MOST faithful men to YHWH. They weren’t persecuting Christians for fun, they were the MOST deceived. They had the understanding that they were defending God’s plan and his coming Messiah. They missed it right in front of their faces. I think we need to stop viewing the Pharisees as unintelligent, unfaithful men. They are us. We are deceived and fall into legalism all too often. The Truth of relationship with Jesus is uncomfortable and we as sinful creatures find comfort in the black and white of the letter of the law. We should read Acts 7:51 and feel the weight of that. I am a stiff necked person who resists and denies the Holy Spirit. God, I repent! Mold my heart and allow me to listen to your Spirit with integrity and conviction. May we hide our hearts in His love and allow Him to change our stone into flesh constantly. May we resurrender.
- Quentin Parker
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Compare and contrast Moses’ life and calling to Jesus’ time here on earth.
+ How can we learn from Stephen’s boldness?
+ Compare and contrast Moses’ life and calling to Jesus’ time here on earth.
+ How can we learn from Stephen’s boldness?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ How can we prevent legalism in our own lives? What are some practical steps?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ How can we prevent legalism in our own lives? What are some practical steps?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
God, search my heart. Identify my shortcomings and help my unbelief. You are good, You are perfect. Guide me and give me eyes to see and ears to hear. Thank you for the cross and your sacrifice, in Jesus' Holy Name, amen.
+ Pray with me:
God, search my heart. Identify my shortcomings and help my unbelief. You are good, You are perfect. Guide me and give me eyes to see and ears to hear. Thank you for the cross and your sacrifice, in Jesus' Holy Name, amen.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ Who can you share the gospel with, with the boldness of Stephen?
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ Who can you share the gospel with, with the boldness of Stephen?
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