Steve looked at his phone again. He was gazing at a

Transcription

1 Lesson 4 September 27 Page 26 Remembering God s Faithfulness A Present-Day Illustration Steve looked at his phone again. He was gazing at a more recent photo of his wife and children. Tracee and his two boys smiled back at him. God had been good to him. God had been faithful. He and Tracee had been married for nine years. Their sons, Daniel and Christopher, were six and two years old, respectively. Steve was now sitting in the lobby of the Adaptions Corporation, waiting to be called for a job interview. His previous job as a human relations specialist had been downsized, and jobs in his field were hard to find. Tracee s job was steady, but the couple needed Steve s income to survive. His unemployment check was about to run out, and he needed work. Remember God s goodness to you throughout your life, his mother had reminded him just a few days before. The good Lord hasn t brought you this far to leave you now. Steve knew his mother was right. God had been good to him all his life, sparing him from harm and danger and helping him overcome some bad choices. Steve had come to Christ at the age of 23, and for the past 16 years he had watched God intercede on his behalf. I know You won t leave me now, Father, Steve prayed as he waited. I know You are with me. And I know You ve been faithful. When the receptionist called Steve s name, he reached for his briefcase and felt emboldened to make his presentation. 1. How would you describe God s faithfulness? 2. What reminds you of God s faithfulness in your life? 3. Why is remembering God s faithfulness important?

2 Week of September 27 Page 27 God s Faithfulness to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob Act 7:2-4, 8, KJV 2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. 4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. 8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. Act 7:2-4, 8, NIV 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 Haran. 3 Leave your country and your people, God said, and go to the land I will show you. 4 So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. 8 Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs. Dragged before the Sanhedrin to answer charges of blasphemy against him, Stephen faced the high priest, who asked whether these charges were true. Stephen gave a lengthy answer, which turned out to be an excellent summary of Israel s history. He began by addressing the Sanhedrin as brothers and fathers, and by referring to Abraham as our father (vs. 2). The Jewish Christians denied neither their Jewish lineage nor their relationship with their unbelieving brethren; their great desire was that their fellow Jews would also come to saving faith in Christ. As he answered the high priest s questions, Stephen

3 Week of September 27 Page 28 turned his listeners attention to when God called Abraham to the promised land. At that time the Lord called Abraham to go to a land where God would make from him a great nation. Abraham and Sarah trusted that God would be faithful, and they went where He sent them. God also instituted the rite of circumcision as an outward sign of an inward faith. By God s amazing work through Sarah and later Rebekah, Isaac and Jacob were born and subsequently through Jacob came 12 sons and the patriarchs of the 12 tribes of Israel. Thus Stephen helped his audience remember that God started the nation of Israel through two people who listened to Him, obeyed Him, and found Him faithful. 4. How did Stephen refer to the Sanhedrin? 5. How did Abraham and Sarah demonstrate their faith in God? 6. How does remembering God s faithfulness help one s faith? God s Faithfulness to Joseph and Moses Act 7:9-10, 17, 33-34, KJV 9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, 10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the Act 7:9-10, 17, 33-34, NIV 9 Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him 10 and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt; so he made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace. 17 As the time drew near for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our

4 Week of September 27 Page 29 KJV place where thou standest is holy ground. 34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt. NIV people in Egypt greatly increased. 33 Then the Lord said to him, Take off your sandals; the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt. Stephen made it clear that God was with Joseph during his journey from favored son to slave to prisoner to prime minister of Egypt. From a human perspective, Joseph s plight seemed to go from bad to worse, but God was working out His will not only for Joseph but for His people. Joseph s God-given wisdom ensured there was enough food during the famine to save not only Joseph s family, but also the Egyptians. Here we see God using a mighty foreign ruler, Pharaoh, for His purposes and His care for His people. In fulfillment of His promise to Abraham, God blessed and multiplied His people in Egypt, but a new Pharaoh arose who had no gratitude for what Joseph and his people had done for Egypt, so he enslaved the Hebrew people and condemned their newborn boys to death. Even so, God used this death sentence to raise up one of the condemned baby boys to deliver His people from bondage and return them to the land that He had promised Abraham centuries earlier. Whether by His hidden hand of providence working behind the scenes, as He did with Joseph, or by open displays of His mighty power, as He did with Moses, God works in the affairs of people groups and nations, doing miracles because of His love and faithfulness to His people. 7. How did God show His faithfulness to Joseph? 8. How did God show His faithfulness to Moses? 9. What do these events tell us about our God?

5 Week of September 27 Page 30 God s Faithfulness to Joshua and David Act 7:45-47, 53, KJV 45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; 46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built him an house. 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. Act 7:45-47, 53, NIV 45 Having received the tabernacle, our fathers under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David, 46 who enjoyed God s favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47 But it was Solomon who built the house for him. 53 You have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it. The Lord used Moses to deliver His people from Egypt and gave them His laws and instructions on how to build a tabernacle to worship Him. Joshua led the people back into the promised land and they conquered the land as God drove out (vs. 45) the pagan peoples who lived there. The people continued to worship God at the tabernacle until David s son Solomon built the temple (2 Sam. 7:3-13). However, even though the people had God s laws and a place to worship Him, Stephen charged his audience with failure to truly obey God because they still rejected His Son, the Righteous One, Jesus Christ (Acts 7:52). 10. How did God show His faithfulness to Israel after delivering them from Egypt? 11. In light of God s faithfulness, how did the Jewish leadership respond? 12. How did God s faithfulness empower Stephen?

6 Week of September 27 Page 31 God s Faithfulness to Me Never give up on God, Woodrow Kroll reminds us, because He never gives up on you. Dr. Kroll is retired president and Bible teacher of the Back to the Bible ministry. His statement reminds me that God s faithfulness is the light in my soul even in my darkest moments. This truth has flashed in my life many times and most recently several months ago. I was driving through an intersection near my home when a lady drove through a red light and T-boned my car, driving me head-on into a third car. As an ambulance was driving me to the hospital, I felt piercing pain from a broken ankle and contusions to my other leg, side, and especially my chest. Though I thought that I might be at death s doorstep, I did not despair. Instead, God poured His mercy into my soul, and I told Him I was ready to enter His heavenly kingdom if it was His will. It was, of course, not yet my time. God has more things for me to do. However, the incident is another reminder to me that God is always faithful to care for me in every situation and in all circumstances. It is a truth that empowers me to walk with Him with joy in my heart and peace in my mind. No matter how dark my path is, Christ is the lamp before my way. I may never face the kind of persecution Stephen faced, but I serve the same God who will lead me through whatever circumstances life sends my way. My thanksgiving echoes the psalmist s words: Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made (Ps. 145:13). 13. What power comes from seeing God s continuing faithfulness to you? 14. When has God s faithfulness empowered you? 15. How do you celebrate your remembrances of God s faithfulness?

7 Week of September 27 Page 32 Live an Empowered Life Stephen was Jewish, but he was also deeply committed to His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He not only knew Jewish history, but he also understood the power of God s faithfulness to His people even in the midst of their unfaithfulness toward Him. Stephen was empowered to speak of Christ with great boldness before a hostile authority. We also can recall times when the Lord has been faithful to us. Recalling those times helps us live an empowered life that declares Christ is our Lord and Savior. How is God s faithfulness empowering you now? It might be having joy in your heart, helping a person in need, studying and learning from God s Word, and so on. Thank Him for His faithfulness and respond as His faithful servant this week. KEY VERSE Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Acts 7:49, KJV 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? Acts 7:49, NIV DAILY BIBLE READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK S LESSON September 28 through October 4 (See The Quiet Hour and Cross devotionals on these passages.) Mon. Psalm 15 He Will Never Be Moved. Tues. Hebrews 13:5-10 Be Content. Wed. Ephesians 6:10-18 Stand Firm. Thurs. Acts 14:1-7 Stand Boldly. Fri. Acts 8:1-8 Stand Regardless. Sat. Acts 8:9-25 The Spirit Is Not for Sale. Sun. Acts 8:26-40 Stand Ready.