Comitted Unto Death - Bro.Lawrence Richardson 4-14-10 wed

[Note: Verses and commentary extracted using http://www.wordsearchbible.com/]

Acts 6:8-10 (KJV)
8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

Acts 6:15 (KJV)
15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Acts 7:54 (KJV)
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

Acts 6:11-14 (KJV)
11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

Acts 7:54-60 (KJV)
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.



Message Notes From Bro. Lawrence Richardson

Committed Unto Death
The Cost of Convictions
Revelation 2:10
Acts 6:8-15

Introduction:

  1. Faithful unto death sounds great but faithfulness may bring on persecutions and troubles.
  2. Conviction-A fixed firm belief that is non-negotiable.  Unchanging beliefs.
  3. Paul tells us to “stand and having done all, stand.
  4. Acts 6 gives us the account of a man of conviction that cost him his life.
  5. Much of what we call conviction is only convenience.
  6. God demands faith in all things we do. 
  7. Our text gives us the consequence and reward of conviction.

I.       ENCOURAGEMENT FOR CONVICTIONS  Acts 6:8-10, 15, 7:54
A..    Right convictions evoke the power of God Vs. 8

  1.     Right convictions are irresistible Vs. 10
  2.     Right convictions reveal Godliness  Vs. 15
  3.     Right convictions move men to action   7:54

II.      ENEMIES OF CONVICTIONS  Acts 6:11-14

  1. The person (Vs. 11) wicked men
  2. The purpose  (Vs. 12)  “stirred up the people.”
  3. The proclamation  (Vs. 13-14)

III.     EXAMPLE OF CONVICTIONS  (Acts 7:55-60)

  1. The vision of Stephen  Vs. 55-56
    1. The glory of God
    2. Jesus standing on the right hand of God
  2. The viciousness of his accusers.
    1. They gnashed on him with their teeth  Vs. 54
    2. The cried out with a loud voice  Vs. 57
    3. They stopped their ears  Vs. 57
    4. They ran upon him  Vs. 57
    5. They cast out of the city  Vs. 58
    6. They stoned him  Vs. 58

C.      The voice of love   Vs. 60