God’s Will Can Be Difficult
1. In the 1800’s there was a typical family.
2. This household consisted of a mother, a father, and 2 children.
3. The husband in this story was called away from home.
4. During his absence both children became sick and died.
5. The mother covered the youngsters with a sheet and waited for her husband’s return.
6. When her mate came back she met him at the door and said these words:
7. “A person lent me some jewels.”
8. “He now wants them back. What should I do?”
9. The husband said, “return them.”
10. At this point the wife took her husband to the sheet covering the children.
THERE ARE EVENTS IN LIFE WHICH ARE HARD TO ACCEPT AND EVEN UNDERSTAND.
a) Tonight we want to think about hard times.
b) We want to give consideration to accepting God’s will in our lives.
2) When God’s will is easy and times are good, most are okay with that.
3) This evening we want to think about accepting God’s will when His will is hard.
4) The basis for our study comes from the beginning of Acts 6 and end of Acts 6 & 7.
a) In the opening verses of Acts 6 we read about Stephen.
b) Only seven men were selected for a special task and he was one of the seven.
c) According to Acts 6:3, Stephen had a good reputation.
d) Luke also said he had wisdom.
e) Stephen was an outstanding Christian who helped the needy.
f) He was also a Bible teacher.
5) This Christian was a very dedicated member of the church.
6) Many in this room are just like him—faithful and dedicated to God.
a) What was God’s will for this righteous man?
b) Initially heaven’s will was for him to help with benevolence and teach.
c) As the story continues, the will of God took a different course.
7) Let’s look at Acts 6:12 – READ.
8) Stephen was brought before people who were on the Jewish supreme court.
9) During the court session false witnesses (verse 13) testified against Stephen.
10) Verses 13-14 describe some very specific and serious charges.
11) It is important to remember that Stephen was full of the Spirit (verse 5).
a) God working in this man’s life, but this activity meant trouble for Stephen.
b) Acts 6 tells us it was God’s will for this man to be on the hot seat.
c) He was seized and brought before people who were upset with him.
12) The group of men Stephen appeared before were not satisfied with his answers.
a) Let’s look at verse 51of Acts 7 – READ.
b) Stephen said the people in a hostile crowd were “stiff necked.”
c) Was this a rash statement on his part or was it a statement based upon God’ will?
d) Acts 6:5 says he was filled with the Holy Spirit and this is repeated in 7:55.
13) These verses indicate the expression stiff necked came from God.
14) Telling people they were stiff necked meant they were stubborn, obstinate, headstrong.
15) These people were like oxen that would not accept a yoke.
16) The anger in the hearts of these people was beginning to grow.
a) Notice a second detail added by Luke.
b) The preacher referred to these same people as “uncircumcised in heart” (51a).
c) Telling a Jew that he was uncircumcised would create problems.
d) This is the kind of remark that starts fights and brawls.
17) Uncircumcised in heart meant the Jews refused to submit to God’s law.
18) They were so bad Stephen accused them of “resisting” (present tense) the Holy Spirit.
19) If all this were not enough he began to talk their relatives.
a) He claimed their “fathers” were just as bad.
b) Little by little Stephen is creating absolute rage in the minds of these rulers.
20) Had he stopped at this point his life might have been preserved.
21) This man was doing God’s will and it was God’s will that he continue to talk.
a) He did and what he said next made things a whole lot worse.
b) Verse 52 – READ.
c) This must have really stung.
d) Stephen asked for the Jews to name one prophet that had not been persecuted.
e) Name one servant of God who had been treated well by their relatives.
22) Stephen said their ancestors had been persecutors and even “killers.”
23) They were even guilty of betrayal. They were backstabbing murderers.
24) Verse 53 adds that the law came from a divine source but the Jews didn’t obey it.
25) There were several charges and the Jews were outraged.
26) They were so filled with hate and wrath they lost it - verse 54 – READ.
a) “Cut to the heart” comes from a single word.
b) This term meant to saw something in two.
c) The gnashing of teeth describes a grinding of the teeth.
d) The imperfect tense indicates the teeth were almost gnashed again and again.
27) Stephen then said he saw the heavens opened and Jesus standing by the Father.
28) This was another indication the resurrection had taken place.
29) The Jews didn’t have the authority to kill people, but they had stopped thinking.
a) Verse 58 – READ.
b) It should be noted that one or two stones were not cast.
c) Luke used the imperfect tense to say the rocks were repeatedly cast.
d) One stone after another was hurled at this man of God.
THE DETAILS WE JUST COVERED HAVE ONE OF THE MOST PROFOUND LESSONS FOR CHRISTIANS IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.
a) The first point is that God’s will for our life can change.
b) What do we find when Stephen is first introduced?
c) There was harmony and peace in his life.
d) He is a well-respected man who was doing a nice work among God’s people.
e) At a later time what was God’s will?
2) It was coming into contact with a hostile crowd and dying a painful death.
3) Why the change?
4) Why couldn’t Stephen have always had an easy time of things?
5) These questions are not specifically answered, but other verses suggest an answer.
a) Acts 8 suggests Stephen’s death helped spread the gospel to other areas.
b) One man lost his physical life but hundreds or thousands gained spiritual life.
c) God’s will actually brought forth a great blessing to several others.
6) This chapter provides a second useful lesson about God’s will.
7) If we pursue God’s will in our life, we must be willing to accept the consequences.
a) Most are okay with God’s will as long as the times are good.
b) When the going gets rough, the complaints start.
c) Too many assume that God’s will always means a nice, peaceful, and easy life.
8) This is not what we find in the New Testament.
9) In the next chapter Christians had to leave their homes.
10) This was God’s will because it helped the gospel go where Jesus said.
11) Other Christians who accepted God’s will found that it could be hard.
a) Paul had a thorn in the flesh.
b) Whatever this was, he didn’t like it and he wanted it removed.
c) This was not God’s will so Paul had to live with it.
12) Moses really wanted to enter into the promised land.
13) God said “no,” and “don’t speak any more about it” (Deut. 3:22-27).
14) David pleaded for God to let a young child live (2 Sam. 12:12-18). God said no.
15) At times Job begged for help but God didn’t immediately intervene.
16) The Old Testament story of Joseph is yet another example.
17) God had a will for His life and a lot of His will was not very pleasurable.
a) Jesus prayed about alternatives to the cross; not one was available.
b) Most believe Heb. 5:7 refers to a time just before the cross.
c) The writer says Jesus prayed, made supplication, shed tears, and cried strongly.
d) Jesus earnestly hoped for another but God’s will was death on the cross.
18) Noah had to accept God’s will when he went into the ark.
19) He surely left some people he cared for behind as he was closed off from the world.
20) God’s will can be very difficult but He calls upon us to accept it.
a) Was this not part of the model prayer Jesus gave in Mt. 6:10?
b) Did He not teach us to pray, “thy will be done?”
c) As long as heaven’s will is easy, that attitude is easy.
d) What about the times when heaven’s will is hard or painful?
21) The great people of God have accepted heaven’s will.
22) Think about Mary, the mother of Jesus.
23) She was told what was to happen and she said “be it unto me according to thy word.”
24) I had not planned a little detail with you, but I have reconsidered this choice.
a) If you still have you Bible open to Acts 7, let’s look at the last verse – 60 – READ.
b) Stephen “kneeled.”
25) This fellow was being hit with rocks but he got down on his knees. Why?
26) Why even record this detail?
27) I used to think Stephen was hit and fell to his knees because of the rocks.
28) This may be the right explanation but there is another alternative.
29) Luke used a very unusual word.
30) This word is almost exclusively joined with prayer and worship.
a) Paul used it in Eph. 3:14 to say, “I bow my knees unto the Father.”
b) That is, “I submit to God’s will no matter what it is.”
c) This term occurs again in Rom. 11:4 to describe those who “bowed the kneel to Baal.”
31) It is very possible this word describes Stephen’s attitude.
32) If this is right the meaning is something like, “God, I bow and submit to your will.
33) “If it is thy will for me to be pounded with rocks until I die, I accept that.”
34) This is one of the keys to successful Christian living.
35) A mature Christian can say “they will be done” no matter how difficult something is.
36) If we are a Christian this should be our goal.
1. Without faith we cannot please God (Heb. 11:6).
2. We cannot be a child of God without repentance (Lk. 13:3).
3. We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God (1 Tim. 6:12; Acts 8:36-38).
4. Finally we must be baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27) for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).
5. Have we done these things and are we living a faithful Christian life?