Difficulties and Hardships and How to Get Through Them
Sermon Notes
“Difficulties and Hardships and How to Get Through Them”
Acts 7 & 8
1. Be filled with the Spirit - live with others a transformed life as Christ’s witnesses (Acts 2).
2. Know the Scriptures (Acts 7 - Stephen* - see song below)
- Know the promises of God
- Lift high the priority of exalting and loving Jesus
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye of every one that see me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
- Embrace the hardships of following Jesus
- Be aware of the danger of disobedience
- Keep trusting God - He is at work
3. Keep on the offensive (Acts 8)
- Phillip and the gospel go to Samaria, Africa, and Ceasarea
4. Don’t be taken in by deception (Acts 8).
- Truth cannot be bought by money
5. Celebrate the progress (Acts 8.40).
But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.
*No. 219. When Stephen, full of power and grace
Tune: Wellington Square, by Guy Warrack.
When Stephen, full of power and grace,
Went forth throughout the land,
He bore no shield before his face,
No weapon in his hand;
But only in his heart a flame
And on his lips a sword
Wherewith he smote and overcame
The foemen of the Lord.
When Stephen preached against the laws
And by those laws was tried,
He had no friend to plead his cause,
No spokesman at his side;
But only in his heart a flame
And in his eyes a light
Wherewith God's daybreak to proclaim
And rend the veils of night.
When Stephen, young and doomed to die,
Fell crushed beneath the stones,
He had no curse nor vengeful cry
For those who broke his bones;
But only in his heart a flame
And on his lips a prayer
That God, in sweet forgiveness' name
Should understand and spare.
Let me, O Lord, thy cause defend,
A knight without a sword;
No shield I ask, no faithful friend,
No vengeance, no reward;
But only in my heart a flame
And in my soul a dream,
So that the stones of earthly shame
A jewelled crown may seem.
