Scripture - Acts 7:7 'And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge,' said God, 'and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.'
Observation - This text is near the beginning of Stephens sermon. Right from the start of his preaching he talks about how God deals with the people that oppress His people. The scripture says that God will judge those that persecute them. He will have vengeance on anyone that persecutes His people. Yet he still uses that experience to drive His people closer to Himself. He says "they shall come out and serve Me in this place." God's desire is that every obstacle, every problem, every persecution drives His people closer.
Application - God uses the situations that affect our lives to drive us closer to Him. Every time we face something challenging it is an opportunity to gain an intimacy with God. When you are looking at your checkbook and it doesn't meet the accounts payable demand for the month, it is an opportunity to gain closeness with God and see Him deliver, every time we face emotional challenges or relationship challenges it is an opportunity to gain a closeness with God. God will judge those that persecute you, he will cause fight for you, he will be your deliverer and is waiting for you to call on His name. He will never leave you nor forsake you and stick by you with everything else leaves you. God wants to be close to His people.
Prayer - Father, let every obstacle in my life serve to cause me to cry out to you and see the hand of the Lord deliver and protect. I love you so much and know that you are my God and my father. You are abba father and I cry out to you.
Observation - This text is near the beginning of Stephens sermon. Right from the start of his preaching he talks about how God deals with the people that oppress His people. The scripture says that God will judge those that persecute them. He will have vengeance on anyone that persecutes His people. Yet he still uses that experience to drive His people closer to Himself. He says "they shall come out and serve Me in this place." God's desire is that every obstacle, every problem, every persecution drives His people closer.
Application - God uses the situations that affect our lives to drive us closer to Him. Every time we face something challenging it is an opportunity to gain an intimacy with God. When you are looking at your checkbook and it doesn't meet the accounts payable demand for the month, it is an opportunity to gain closeness with God and see Him deliver, every time we face emotional challenges or relationship challenges it is an opportunity to gain a closeness with God. God will judge those that persecute you, he will cause fight for you, he will be your deliverer and is waiting for you to call on His name. He will never leave you nor forsake you and stick by you with everything else leaves you. God wants to be close to His people.
Prayer - Father, let every obstacle in my life serve to cause me to cry out to you and see the hand of the Lord deliver and protect. I love you so much and know that you are my God and my father. You are abba father and I cry out to you.
