One Family Church Video Sermons Pastor Brent Roam

FEELING THE PRESSURE -The Acts Part 3

When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:


All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. Acts 6:16.

Pressure builds Power through Perseverance.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

hupo-meno

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God . . . Acts 7:55

The power within you is greater than the pressure around you.

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit. . . . John 14:16

[G]reater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4

[M]y yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 28:30

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

[T]hey all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Acts 7:57-58

Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. Acts 7:58


God always uses the pressure for his ultimate purpose

But Stephen . . . looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Acts 7:55

I lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help comes from the Lord. Psalm 121:1
[S]uffering produces perseverance; perseverance produces character; and character produces hope. Romans 5:3-4

My brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. John 20:1

So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” John 20:2

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. John 20:3-4

He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. John 20:5

Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. John 20:6

He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. John 20:6-7

Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. John 20:8

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark. . . . John 20:1

WHILE IT WAS STILL DARK

“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” John 20:2

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. . . . And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. Genesis 1:1-3

Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb very early in the morning, while it was still dark. . . John 20:1

In [Jesus] was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:4-5

REMIND

[T]he disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders. . . . John 20:19

Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” John 20:26

REFINE

RELEASE

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning! Psalm 30:5

I am going to him who sent me. . . . [Y]ou are filled with grief because I have said these things. But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. John 16:5-7

[I]f the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Romans 8:10-11

The people who walked in darkness Have seen the great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. Isaiah 9:2

IF THE STONES COULD SPEAK

As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. Luke 19:36-38

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
Luke 19:36-38

They quickly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, “Jehu is king!” 2 Kings 9:13

Never again will an oppressor overrun my people, for now I am keeping watch. . . . Zechariah 9:8-9

See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:8-9

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” Luke 19:38

“Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” Luke 19:36-40

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Luke 19:36-40

[I]f they keep quiet, the stones will cry out. Luke 19:40

KEEP WORSHIPPING
EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHY

When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed. . . . Joshua 6:20
KEEP THE FAITH
WHEN YOU’RE TEMPTED BY FEAR

Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear. 1 Samuel 17:24

It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. John 11:38

“Take away the stone,” he said. John 11:39

From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.

About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lemasabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). Matthew 27:45-46

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. Matthew 27:50

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. . . . Matthew 27:51-52

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:53-54

FEELING FORSAKEN

DON’T DENY YOUR FEELINGS,
BUT DON’T FORGET YOUR FAITH.

Put your sword back in its place. . . . Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” Matthew 26:52-54

They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. Matthew 27:28-31

DON’T DENY YOUR PAIN,
BUT DON’T FORGET YOUR PURPOSE

But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Matthew 27:50-51

From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. . . . When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:45, 53-54

DON’T DENY THE DARKNESS,
BUT DON’T FORGET THE LIGHT.

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me . . . . Psalm 23

Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
Matthew 26:31-41

But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.

Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping.

“Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. . . .” Matthew 26:31-41

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Matthew 26:47-56

Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.

With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” Matthew 26:47-56

How Do You Respond to an Uncomfortable Reality?

FAKE IT

Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will. . . . Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” Matthew 26:33-35

FORGET IT

With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

FIX IT

[A]ll the disciples deserted him and fled. Matthew 26:56

FLEE IT

He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him. . . . Matthew 26:37

STAY CLOSE

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.
Matthew 26:41

STAY AWAKE

Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ Matthew 26:31

But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Matthew 26:32

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