Series: Action [#15]
DOES HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF?
Acts 7:1-53
Introduction:
Today, the sermon is going to be mainly Scripture reading. I had considered many ways of preaching this sermon without just reading 50 verses of Scripture all at once. This 53 verses of Scripture is Stephen’s sermon and a historical summary of the Nation of Israel.
Today’s sermon comes at a time when our Nation is supposed to be celebrating Independence Day; but instead, there is an attack on the history of our Nation. The destruction of statues has become a “past time” in our country. A College Professor said, “When a Nation destroys its historical reminders, (statues, paintings, writings, etc…); they are in danger of repeating that history. This morning, I want to ask you this question, “Does history repeat itself”?
Acts 7:1-50
In these last words of Stephen, he uses the 3 top religious icons in Israel’s history to illustrate how fickle this Nation had been and was continuing to be. Verses 51-53 show us why people go through spiritual roller-coaster rides and why spiritual history seems to repeat itself.
Acts 7:51-53 (NIV)
I want you to think about your own spiritual life and how many times you have circled the same problems over and over again. I want you think about how in your different relationships, you go through this unending cycle of things going good and then things going bad because it seems like some people are always looking for something to stir up.
History will repeat itself if we…
1. Resist the Holy Spirit.
As Stephen said, “Those religious leaders were just like their ancestors, they continued to resist the Holy Spirit”. Sins of all types happen when God’s people choose to do things their own way instead of being led by the Holy Spirit.
History will repeat itself if we…
2. Destroy those who proclaim the truth.
Throughout history, those who proclaim the truths of God have been persecuted, threatened, tortured, and killed. Stephen did not know it at this point of his sermon; but very shortly, he became another one to be destroyed for proclaiming the truths of God.
History will repeat itself if we…
3. Betray Christ.
How do we betray Christ? “And now you have betrayed and murdered him- you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” Anyone who has received the Law and not obeyed it has betrayed Christ. Basically, anyone who has sinned has betrayed Christ. That is why Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross and had victory over sin, death, Hell, and Satan.
Conclusion:
Stephen ends his sermon by telling us how we do all 3 of these by not obeying God. The bottom line is sin is selfish and you are going to have to choose whether you help the Kingdom of God or you hinder it.
