Power with Purpose

God’s power doesn’t accomplish man’s ends.

This passage proceeds the stoning of Stephen – the first Christian martyr recorded in the New Testament.

Act 6:8-15

God shows power and signs and wonders yet Stephen is arrested…

What is up with that?!

God has purpose in ALL things…

God will accomplish ALL His purpose perfectly!

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Act 6:8 (ESV) And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

Power with purpose - showing His hand to those that are willing to see it

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Act 6:9 (ESV) Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.

Act 6:10 (ESV) But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

Power with purpose - impacting the eternal destiny of those who will be impacted…

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Act 6:11 (ESV) Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”

Those that will NOT will have the testimony against them…

Isa 41:4 (ESV)

4 Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.

From the beginning thru the end God has purpose for ALL the events that happen, good and bad

Isa 46:10 (ESV)

10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

God will accomplish ALL His purpose perfectly!

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Act 6:12 (ESV) And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council,

Act 6:13 (ESV) and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law,

Act 6:14 (ESV) for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”

Man clings to his performance.

God had purpose in the law but that purpose was to POINT to the need for Christ!

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Act 6:15 (ESV) And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

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We leave Stephen standing before the men who will ultimately murder him. But God is showing clearly that He is empowering and supporting this man.

God has purpose even in this!

God establishes his chosen ones to the END!

1Co 1:7-9 (ESV)

7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

What is the end?! When Stephen is stoned?

NO! It is the day of our Lord Jesus Christ and the transition to eternity!

God uses his power with purpose toward THAT end!

He protects us from Satan’s efforts to separate us from him ETERNALLY but he does not remove us from the trials in this world.

Isa 46:10 (ESV)

10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

God‘s purpose WILL stand! We can have faith in this we can trust our LIVES to this!

Pressing on into and toward God‘s faithful purpose!