28th Mar 26 | 12:21
Studies by Book
01 Acts 07 01-53 THE MESSAGE OF STEPHEN’ 05 Acts 07 03 Separated from the world
📖 Acts 07:01-53
05 – 13Aug2023 – *Separated from the world* - _Acts 07:01-53_ - THE MESSAGE OF STEPHEN - Bible reading: _II Corinthians 06:16-18_
“Lord Jesus, teach us to worship You. In Your name, we pray. Amen.”
_Acts 7:3 and said to him, 'GET OUT OF YOUR COUNTRY AND FROM YOUR RELATIVES, AND COME TO A LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU.'_
Abraham had seen the God of glory. He was being called into a conversion experience based on a faith-obedience-love relationship with God. Stephen’s audience needed to know the basis of the relationship of God with Abraham.
Abraham had to count the cost to walk with God.
The Lord illustrated this principle through two parables. which we see in _Luke 14:28-32_ One was of the builder who set out to build a building but was not able to complete it. The other was of a king who goes to war against another king but has not considered how he would defeat a stronger army.
Abraham had to count the cost to walk with God, which was a high price. He had to forsake all to be a follower of God. _Luke 14:33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple._
*Friend, have you counted the cost of being a disciple of Jesus?*
Many in the church have not counted the cost to follow Jesus and therefore their hearts are like the stony ground where the seed of God’s word fell. _Mark 4:16-17 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; (17) and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble._
I pray that all of us will be those who have counted and are willing to pay the cost to follow Jesus.
Abraham had to come out from his country from among his relatives for they were worshipping other gods. _Joshua 24:2-3 And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Your fathers, including Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, dwelt on the other side of the River in old times; and *they served other gods*._
Serving or worshipping other gods is a serious offence against God. Worshipping other gods is a way of saying that these gods are our source of life and everything else. Worshipping other gods is acknowledging these other gods as our providers, protectors and keepers.
This is the reason why Abraham had to leave his country and his relatives because he was now the worshipper of the God of heaven and earth.
_Exodus 20:2-6 "*I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. (3) "You shall have no other gods before Me.* (4) “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; (5) you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For *I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God*, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, (6) but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments._
We may consider this matter of worshipping other gods and say that we have not fallen here. *Yet, when we make money and materialism the basis of our choices in life then we have worshipped the god of mammon.*
_Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. *You cannot serve God and mammon*._
Consider dear friend, what is the basis of your choices in life? With what motivation did you or do you raise up your children? Have you impressed upon them that material well-being is the substance of life? Or have you taught them that God is their source and that their life must bring glory to God? _I Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God._
*If we have made money the basis of our choices in life then we are not followers of God.* God knows our motives. _Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and *is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (13) And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.*_
Therefore, Abraham had to separate himself from the land and his relatives for he had to separate himself from the gods they served.
_II Corinthians 6:16-18 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM. I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE." (17) Therefore "*COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM AND BE SEPARATE, SAYS THE LORD*. DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN, AND I WILL RECEIVE YOU." (18) "I WILL BE A FATHER TO YOU, AND YOU SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, SAYS THE LORD ALMIGHTY."_
```May the church truly be those who worship the God of heaven and earth.```