Stephen's Address: The Call of Abraham -Acts 7:1-8

Stephen, a deacon in the early church, was known for his ministry and spreading the Word of God. Despite attempts by religious leaders to argue with him, Stephen used his Holy Spirit wisdom and power to preach the gospel. As a result, he was arrested and brought to court on false accusations of blasphemy. Instead of defending himself, Stephen gave a sermon recounting the history of Israel, starting with Abraham. He highlighted how Abraham believed in God's promises, even when he didn't have any children of his own. This story serves as a reminder to always believe in and give glory to God. Acts chapter 7, and we're beginning in the story about—we're getting into the story about Stephen. Just as a brief recap here, Stephen was a deacon in the early church. He's waiting on tables. He's sharing the Word of God, and God's using this man in miraculous ways. There were signs and miracles that happened through his ministry, and he was helping people in a practical way, and God was using him to proclaim the Word of God boldly. And some of the religious leaders tried to get in an argument with him, and they couldn't win any arguments against this guy because he had Holy Spirit wisdom and Holy Spirit power to preach the gospel. And so since they couldn't shut him up, they decided they would arrest him and drag him to court, and they hired some people to make some false accusations against him and accuse him of blasphemy. And so now in chapter 7, Stephen has an opportunity to defend himself, but rather than defending himself, he begins basically a sermon. In his sermon, he's giving basically a re-history or an account of the history of Israel, starting with Abraham. And in verses 1 through 8 here, he talks about the call of Abraham, how God called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldeans, and how he left his father's family, and he traveled to the land of Canaan. And God told him that he was going to give his descendants, or that his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan. And when God told him this, he didn't even have, he didn't have any children. He didn't have any children by his own blood. He had people in his house, but he didn't have his own natural son. And yet God told him that he would have a son, and that son would inherit this land of Canaan. And we see that's what happened. He had Isaac, and Isaac had Jacob, and Jacob had the twelve patriarchs. And so we see here in this recounting of the history about Abraham, we know that Abraham unbelieved God, and it was accounted unto him as righteousness. And I'm always reminded of that verse in Romans chapter 4, verse 20, where it says that Abraham staggered not at the promise of God and unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. And I kind of hold that verse as a ideal for my walk with the Lord, that I always want to believe the Lord. I want to give glory to God, and when God speaks, I want to listen, and I want to receive, and I want to believe what God says. I want to hold on to all of his exceeding great and precious promises that he has made, and all the promises that he has given to us. Amen. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you.