“EXPECTATIONS FOR GODLY PEOPLE”

Acts 6:8-15

I. INTRODUCTION:
A. Maintaining purpose in the midst of contention in the
body:
1. “It is not fitting” – what Christ did: v. 2
2. “The word of Christ increased” – what the Holy Spirit
did: v. 7

B. Who, why, and how the accuser targets individuals:
1. Who the accuser is - “Satan” means “accuser”:
2. Why the accuser targets Christ’s purpose:
3. How the accuser selects his individual target:

II. THE ACCUSATION OF STEPHEN - “CROWNED ONE”:
A. The accused: v. 8
1. The source: (See Eph. 6:12)
2. The target: (See II Tim. 3:12)
a. His name:
b. His reputation:
B. The accusers: vv. 9, 11-12
1. Who they were:
a. Libertines:
b. Cyrenians:
c. Alexandrians:
d. Cilicia:
e. Asia:
2. Their threefold strategy:
a. Argumentation:

b. Hiring liars:
c. Physical intimidation:

C. The accused responds to his accusers: vv. 10, 15
1. His verbal response:
2. His visible response:

III. PRINCIPLES TO PERSONALLY APPLY:
(Together becoming “people of the Word” in principle AND in practice)
A. Those choosing to be Godly individuals committed to
aggressively sharing the Gospel, promptly sign up for
“darts” of accusations, from the evil one.
(Zech. 3:1-2; Eph. 6:12, 16; II Tim. 3:12)
B. In the midst of the “darts” of accusations (can be truths
with wrong motives), peace and joy can be the outcome
when the “shield of faith” is implemented. (Eph. 6:16)

C. The “shield of faith” is only available to those who have
surrendered their lives to Christ and are now walking in
obedience. (Acts 6:5; Ps. 3:3; 18:1-3; 27:1; 31:3-5)
(See also Mt. 19:26; I Thes. 5:19, 24)

Sinners Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, I was made by you and I was made for
you, but I have been living for myself. I am sorry for that self-
rule you call sin. I believe that Jesus Christ being my creator
God, died, was buried, and rose again to pay the
insurmountable debt that my sin has created. So right now, I
am turning from a life of going my own way, to by faith, place
my trust in Jesus Christ, to pay the debt of all my sin, and to
get me to heaven, when I breath my last breath. Lord Jesus,

from today on, I am yours. Thanks for saving me, this very
moment, in Jesus name, Amen.

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