Walking according to God’s will

• Philippians 1:27

• John 14:15; 15:14; 12:48

• Ephesians 5:15; Colossians 4:5

• I Thessalonians 4:1; 2:12

• II Corinthians 5:7; Romans 10:17

• Psalms 119:105

• Galatians 5:16

• Romans 8:1-4

• Ephesians 2:10; 4:1; 5:8

• Philippians 3:16

Some did not walk in God’s way

• II Thessalonians 3:11

• II Corinthians 5:7

• “To behave in an unauthorized manner.”

• Luke 6:46

• The Lord demands self-denial. We must seek God first.

  • Luke 14:26-27

  • Matthew 6:33

  • Colossians 3:17

  • Colossians 1:18

  • Matthew 28:18

  • Romans 12:1-2

  • Matthew 5:16

  • I Peter 2:12

  • Revelation 2:5

  • James 1:21-25

“I keep a close watch on this heart of mine.”

• Proverbs 4:23; 23:7

• Matthew 5:8; 12:34-35

• Mark 7:21-23

• Colossians 3:1

• Ephesians 1:7

• I Peter 3:7

• Is Christ our life? Is He our focus?

  • Matthew 6:33

  • Psalms 1:1-2

  • Psalms 40:1, 8; 66:18; 119:10-11, 36

  • Proverbs 23:17

  • Matthew 6:19

• We must be careful!

  • I Peter 5:8

  • I Corinthians 10:12

  • James 4:7

  • II Corinthians 11:3, 14-15

“I keep my eyes wide open all the time.”

• Matthew 13:15-16

• Proverbs 3:7

• Psalms 119:105

• John 8:12; 9:5

• Luke 1:79

• I John 1:6

• II Timothy 4:10

• II Peter 1:5-11

“I keep the ends out for the ties that bind.”

• Romans 8:16-17

• Acts 2:37-38, 41

• The tie that binds is love!

• Psalms 119:63

• Hebrews 10:24-26

• Psalms 119:111, 15-16, 97, 103-105

• I Timothy 4:16

• II Timothy 2:15

• II Peter 3:18

• I John 5:3

• II John 1:6

• Matthew 16:25

• Revelation 12:1

• Jude 1:21

“… because I’m thine, I walk the line.”

• Ephesians 6:6

• Romans 1:1

• I Corinthians 6:19-20

• I Thessalonians 4:1

• Revelation 2:10

• I Corinthians 15:58

• Revelation 3:21

Romans 10:16

Romans 6:17-18, 1

Luke 6:6

His words – We have to learn what He taught!

• Deuteronomy 18:15-19 – Prophecy of Jesus – we have to listen to His words!

• John 1:1, 14, 18

• Luke 9:35

• John 12:48-50 – There is no expiration date on Jesus’ words.

• John 14:23-26 – The Holy Spirit would help the apostles remember Jesus’ words.

• Acts 3:22-23

• Acts 5:18-21

His death – We have to die to sin (quit doing it!)

• Luke 23:33-49 – Jesus crucifixion

• Hebrews 12:2

• Matthew 26:28

His resurrection – We have to live to righteousness!

• Luke 24:1-9

• Romans 6:1-12

Acts 5:29-7:53

Acts 5:29 – Christians are subject to the governing authorities (Romans 13:1-7; I Peter 2:13-15), but the apostles showed that Christians are authorized to disobey civil authority if that authority required them to disobey God.

Acts 5:33-42 – The teaching of the apostles threatened the status quo. This made the leaders feel threatened as they stood to lose their followers.

Acts 6:1-6 – Seven men were appointed to help with the work. These men did not serve in the same capacity as deacons since they were chosen for a particular time-limited work. It’s not specified exactly what was being served to the widows. It could have been food, money, or something else. Whatever it was, it was clear this was not a public outreach program – it was simply caring for the needy Christians.

Acts 6:7-15 – Some men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen stirred up the people against Stephen. They accused him of blasphemy, but he was doing the opposite.

Acts 7:1-53 – Stephen’s defense

• Stephen recited Israelite history, include a few things not recorded in Genesis (Acts 7:2-4; cf. Genesis 11:31).

• Stephen showed they were committing the same sins as their ancestors.

  • Guilt of jealousy:

    • OT Jews: Jealous of Joseph, Acts 7:9

    • NT Jews: Jealous of Jesus & apostles, Matthew 27:18; Acts 5:17

  • Rejecting God’s people and plan

    • OT Jews: Rejected Moses, Acts 7:27, 35-41

    • NT Jews: Rejected Jesus, Acts 2:23; 7:52

  • Resisting the Holy Spirit

    • OT Jews: Persecuted prophets, Acts 7:52

    • NT Jews: Persecuted prophets, Acts 7:51