Selected Scriptures- Bible Study

As promised, I am posting here the lesson I presented to the young men who came to participate in Saturday's sword tag. I hope you enjoy!

NOBODY IS BEYOND THE REACH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

ACTS 6:8-15
ACTS 7:51-60 & 8:1A
ACTS 9:1-22

I. Prayer
2. Study

Ask) Can someone name some pretty terrible person…someone who has done terrible things, either in history or in our present times.

Ask) How would you feel if you were before such a person?

Today we are going to look at the experience of Stephen, we will look at the manner of his death…but our focus will not necessarily be Stephen. Before I give too much more away, let us begin.

Read Acts 6:8-15

Ask) What kind of man was Stephen?

Discuss

Throughout most of chapter 7 we will see Stephen bravely confront the Jewish council, declaring to them the Truth and holding them accountable for rejecting Jesus! [here we see the truth of human responsibility clearly taught.]

Ask) How do you think the council will respond?

Read Acts 7:51-60

As) Why do you think the council reacts against the message of Stephen this way?

Read 1 Peter 2:7-8

The world does not want to hear the Truth! But we are not called to spread the Word only to those we think will respond lovingly to us…no, far from it. We spread the Gospel to all men. THAT is the only thing we are called to do. We are not to concern ourselves with how they will respond! Indeed, we read in 1 Corinthians 3:5-7 that it is God who gives the increase!

And in this passage we learn something else…we are ultimately of no account in the actual salvation of men. But God has chosen to use us to bring in the lost sheep, so we are faithful to the calling. And we never know how someone will respond do we?

Will we be received with kindness and enthusiasm?
Will we be mocked and scorned?
And as rare as it may be in this country…will we be killed for the sake of His Truth?

And why are we faithful even unto death?

We DON’T know who will respond!!!!!!

Indeed, let us look here again at the text:

Read Acts 7:58 and 8:1A

Ask) Do you know who this Saul is?

Discuss

Now…

Read Acts 9:1-22

Did you catch verse 22?

This Saul is now proving to others that Jesus is Christ!! The very same one that consented to the death of Believer is now himself preaching the TRUTH!!!

Ask) Do you think Stephen knew this would happen?

Of course not…all he knew was that he faced a hostile crowd, and he probably guessed what his ultimate fate would be, but he did not hesitate. And his words did not contribute towards the weakening of Saul’s opposition to the Truth. It took the supernatural act of God to bring Saul into the fold. It always does…it may not always be as spectacularly as with Saul, but it is ALWAYS a supernatural act when men come to faith.

Little brothers, we don’t know, and we cannot know, who will be saved and who will enter into eternal damnation.

But we do know that not one man is beyond the reach of the Holy Spirit. And God, in His infinite wisdom, has chosen to use men to accomplish His work of salvation. Therefore, go out and boldly proclaim the Gospel. Who knows whether your words might be used by God to bring someone to salvation.

Ask) What do I hope you will take away from this lesson?

Two things:
1) Nobody is beyond the reach of the Holy Spirit
2) Proclaim the Truth boldly for the sake of the lost and, more importantly, for the love of God