Tim Timberlake deep biblical wisdom empowers audiences to create transformative change in their lives.
#Martyrs
#Bible
#Transformation
#Boldness
#Courage
#Gospel
#Revelation
#Sacrifice
#Jesus
#Pride
#Humility
#SeekGod
#TimTimberlake
Closed captions
Show Timecode
Tim Timberlake | Tim Timberlake - Blinded By Certainty | May 31, 2026
- ♪♪
- 00:00:00.050 --> 00:00:08.058
- ♪♪
- 00:00:08.324 --> 00:00:17.700
- Hey family its tim timberlake at celebration church.
- 00:00:17.700 --> 00:00:20.036
- And i'm honored and privilege
- 00:00:20.036 --> 00:00:21.337
- That you would take out time to lean into this moment with us.
- 00:00:21.337 --> 00:00:25.508
- I believe this word
- 00:00:25.508 --> 00:00:26.509
- That god has given me for our time together
- 00:00:26.509 --> 00:00:28.611
- Is going to change and transform you.
- 00:00:28.611 --> 00:00:30.980
- And so i want you to grab your pin, grab your notepad,
- 00:00:30.980 --> 00:00:33.249
- Grab your bible as we go into the word of god,
- 00:00:33.249 --> 00:00:35.285
- Text your friends. call them.
- 00:00:35.285 --> 00:00:36.352
- Let them know we're on live right now.
- 00:00:36.352 --> 00:00:38.555
- I want to unpack this message that i believe is going
- 00:00:38.555 --> 00:00:41.391
- To change your life, entitled blinded by certainty.
- 00:00:41.391 --> 00:00:46.396
- Acts chapter seven begins to unpack
- 00:00:47.130 --> 00:00:49.766
- And unfold for us stephen,
- 00:00:49.766 --> 00:00:52.836
- The first martyr
- 00:00:52.836 --> 00:00:55.438
- In the bible that is standing
- 00:00:55.438 --> 00:01:00.510
- For who he believes in.
- 00:01:00.510 --> 00:01:03.046
- Not afraid of death.
- 00:01:03.046 --> 00:01:04.247
- Not afraid of threats.
- 00:01:04.247 --> 00:01:07.150
- Not afraid of accusations or allegations.
- 00:01:07.150 --> 00:01:10.153
- He's standing for who he believes in.
- 00:01:10.153 --> 00:01:13.923
- And scripture teaches us that instead of defending himself,
- 00:01:13.923 --> 00:01:17.560
- He shares with the accusers, which is the sanhedrin council,
- 00:01:17.560 --> 00:01:21.798
- The word of god.
- 00:01:21.798 --> 00:01:23.533
- Acts chapter seven is the longest
- 00:01:23.533 --> 00:01:25.602
- Recorded message in the entire
- 00:01:25.602 --> 00:01:29.005
- Acts of the apostles, and it comes from a man
- 00:01:29.005 --> 00:01:33.109
- Who did not physically see jesus, who was not a disciple
- 00:01:33.109 --> 00:01:37.380
- Of jesus directly, who was not named an apostle.
- 00:01:37.380 --> 00:01:40.717
- He was a hellenistic jew, but he has a revelation of who
- 00:01:40.717 --> 00:01:44.754
- Jesus is, which shapes his conviction.
- 00:01:44.754 --> 00:01:47.757
- And those convictions shape his life.
- 00:01:47.757 --> 00:01:49.792
- And because his life is shaped even in his suffering,
- 00:01:49.792 --> 00:01:53.563
- He is pointing people back to jesus.
- 00:01:53.563 --> 00:01:56.466
- And scripture teaches us that standing on trial
- 00:01:56.466 --> 00:01:59.903
- In front of the sanhedrin, he begins to teach
- 00:01:59.903 --> 00:02:02.906
- To the sanhedrin from the word of god.
- 00:02:02.906 --> 00:02:05.842
- He does not defend himself.
- 00:02:05.842 --> 00:02:07.343
- He does not exalt himself.
- 00:02:07.343 --> 00:02:08.811
- He does not even try to deny the allegations.
- 00:02:08.811 --> 00:02:12.115
- His posture and position in acts chapter seven
- 00:02:12.115 --> 00:02:15.652
- Is that he desires to reflect those that will listen
- 00:02:15.652 --> 00:02:19.556
- Back to the heart of the father.
- 00:02:19.556 --> 00:02:21.424
- And as we read acts chapter seven, beginning at verse 56,
- 00:02:21.424 --> 00:02:25.461
- It starts off by saying, behold,
- 00:02:25.461 --> 00:02:27.363
- I see the heavens opened up, and the son of man
- 00:02:27.363 --> 00:02:29.599
- Standing at the right hand of god.
- 00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:31.267
- But they cried out with a loud voice,
- 00:02:31.267 --> 00:02:33.236
- And covered their ears, and rushed at him with one mind.
- 00:02:33.236 --> 00:02:36.306
- And when they had driven him out of the city,
- 00:02:36.306 --> 00:02:38.141
- They begin stoning him, and the witnesses laid aside
- 00:02:38.141 --> 00:02:40.743
- Their cloaks at the feet of a young man named saul.
- 00:02:40.743 --> 00:02:43.746
- And when i read this, i'm reminded that your vision
- 00:02:43.746 --> 00:02:46.783
- Will cost you greatly in the earth.
- 00:02:46.783 --> 00:02:48.985
- When you get a glimpse and a revelation of who
- 00:02:48.985 --> 00:02:51.221
- Jesus actually is, it will cost you some friendships.
- 00:02:51.221 --> 00:02:54.424
- It will cost you some relationships,
- 00:02:54.424 --> 00:02:56.092
- It will cost you some suffering.
- 00:02:56.092 --> 00:02:57.860
- It will cost you some inconveniences.
- 00:02:57.860 --> 00:02:59.762
- It will cost you some comfort.
- 00:02:59.762 --> 00:03:01.531
- Because when you see christ as he is,
- 00:03:01.531 --> 00:03:04.801
- You can no longer live as if he isn't.
- 00:03:04.801 --> 00:03:09.739
- And the reality
- 00:03:10.106 --> 00:03:11.341
- For some of us is we truly have not got a glimpse of jesus.
- 00:03:11.341 --> 00:03:14.711
- We've read about him, we've heard about him,
- 00:03:14.711 --> 00:03:17.080
- But we have not gotten a vision of who he actually is.
- 00:03:17.080 --> 00:03:20.116
- Because if you get a glimpse of who jesus is,
- 00:03:20.116 --> 00:03:23.186
- It will remove the pride out of your life.
- 00:03:23.186 --> 00:03:27.323
- It will remove the arrogance, the ego, the
- 00:03:28.224 --> 00:03:31.394
- The selfish ambition, and the thing that you will try
- 00:03:31.394 --> 00:03:34.364
- To do for the rest of your life is to make sure that he is
- 00:03:34.364 --> 00:03:38.101
- Pleased, satisfy and and fulfilled with
- 00:03:38.101 --> 00:03:41.371
- What you do as it pertains to your life.
- 00:03:41.371 --> 00:03:44.707
- And as we read this passage,
- 00:03:44.707 --> 00:03:46.409
- I want us to go through each verse word by word.
- 00:03:46.409 --> 00:03:49.445
- Break it down so that you understand in
- 00:03:49.445 --> 00:03:51.347
- Context what's happening and how it applies to your life.
- 00:03:51.347 --> 00:03:54.550
- So verse 56, i see the son of man standing.
- 00:03:54.550 --> 00:03:58.554
- That first word, behold, that is prophetic urgency.
- 00:03:58.554 --> 00:04:01.624
- It is stephen telling the sin.
- 00:04:01.624 --> 00:04:03.293
- Hedren counsel, you need to see what i am saying.
- 00:04:03.293 --> 00:04:06.162
- You need to look at what i am looking at.
- 00:04:06.162 --> 00:04:08.064
- You need to gaze at the king of kings.
- 00:04:08.064 --> 00:04:10.566
- And the lord of lords said, is standing
- 00:04:10.566 --> 00:04:12.769
- At the right hand of the father.
- 00:04:12.769 --> 00:04:14.637
- He is urging them.
- 00:04:14.637 --> 00:04:16.105
- He is not telling them, don't stone me.
- 00:04:16.105 --> 00:04:18.241
- He's not trying to defend or protect his life.
- 00:04:18.241 --> 00:04:20.510
- He's telling them, behold,
- 00:04:20.510 --> 00:04:22.912
- I urge you to look
- 00:04:23.346 --> 00:04:25.448
- Where i'm looking so that you can see what i see.
- 00:04:25.448 --> 00:04:28.985
- Look at me for a second.
- 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:31.421
- I urge you in this hour to keep your eyes fixed on jesus.
- 00:04:31.421 --> 00:04:36.859
- Are you listening to me?
- 00:04:37.393 --> 00:04:39.662
- I urge you in this season to keep your gaze locked on him.
- 00:04:39.662 --> 00:04:43.633
- Don't be concerned about what the right or the left is doing.
- 00:04:43.633 --> 00:04:48.004
- Keep your gaze fixed on him.
- 00:04:48.004 --> 00:04:50.840
- If you do not have your gaze
- 00:04:50.840 --> 00:04:52.408
- Fixed on jesus in this season, you will be afraid.
- 00:04:52.408 --> 00:04:56.446
- You'll be worried.
- 00:04:56.446 --> 00:04:57.680
- You'll be stressed, you will suffer with anxiety,
- 00:04:57.680 --> 00:05:00.550
- And you won't be able to pinpoint why.
- 00:05:00.550 --> 00:05:05.788
- I'm telling you
- 00:05:06.155 --> 00:05:07.223
- If you are not focused on jesus and what he said,
- 00:05:07.223 --> 00:05:11.594
- What he is saying, and what he desires to see in
- 00:05:11.594 --> 00:05:14.864
- And through you, you will lose the plot
- 00:05:14.864 --> 00:05:17.834
- Because of what you hear.
- 00:05:18.401 --> 00:05:21.604
- Look at what scripture says
- 00:05:22.205 --> 00:05:24.607
- The heavens opened, which is apocalyptic language
- 00:05:24.607 --> 00:05:27.310
- According to exit chapter one, verse one,
- 00:05:27.310 --> 00:05:29.812
- Or matthew chapter three, verse 16.
- 00:05:29.812 --> 00:05:31.547
- Then he says, i see the son of man.
- 00:05:31.547 --> 00:05:34.584
- He does not say, the son of god.
- 00:05:34.584 --> 00:05:36.519
- He says, the son of man.
- 00:05:36.519 --> 00:05:38.321
- This takes us back to a prophecy.
- 00:05:38.321 --> 00:05:40.223
- And daniel, where daniel said,
- 00:05:40.223 --> 00:05:41.924
- The messiah will come as the son of man.
- 00:05:41.924 --> 00:05:44.060
- So what stepan is telling
- 00:05:44.060 --> 00:05:45.828
- And declaring in front of the sanhedrin, count.
- 00:05:45.828 --> 00:05:47.764
- So jesus has divine authority.
- 00:05:47.764 --> 00:05:50.666
- He is the suffering servant that has come to save.
- 00:05:50.666 --> 00:05:55.037
- And if you acknowledge him, he will save you, even
- 00:05:55.037 --> 00:05:57.907
- Though you are persecuting and killing his servant.
- 00:05:57.907 --> 00:06:01.644
- He says standing, which is different from most
- 00:06:01.644 --> 00:06:04.547
- Passages that describe jesus at the right hand of the father.
- 00:06:04.547 --> 00:06:07.950
- Most passages describe jesus as seating, as sitting
- 00:06:07.950 --> 00:06:11.721
- At the right hand of god. but he says standing.
- 00:06:11.721 --> 00:06:14.390
- This standing reveals a posture of
- 00:06:14.390 --> 00:06:17.427
- Welcome for the martyr that is coming home,
- 00:06:17.427 --> 00:06:21.330
- The posture of a witness who is defending him
- 00:06:21.330 --> 00:06:24.066
- Because he stood for righteousness.
- 00:06:24.066 --> 00:06:26.235
- The posture of judgment
- 00:06:26.235 --> 00:06:27.770
- Against the sanhedrin who can't quite see the messiah.
- 00:06:27.770 --> 00:06:31.808
- The way stephen sees the messiah
- 00:06:31.808 --> 00:06:34.777
- And i want you to write this down
- 00:06:35.545 --> 00:06:37.046
- As it leads us to point number one.
- 00:06:37.046 --> 00:06:41.317
- When heaven opens to you,
- 00:06:41.884 --> 00:06:44.554
- Earth will often close in on you.
- 00:06:44.554 --> 00:06:49.058
- I said again, when heaven opens to you,
- 00:06:49.926 --> 00:06:53.029
- Heaven will often expose
- 00:06:53.029 --> 00:06:56.032
- How earth is closing in on you.
- 00:06:56.032 --> 00:06:59.769
- Hear me?
- 00:07:00.002 --> 00:07:01.237
- You don't get heavenly vision without earthly opposition.
- 00:07:01.237 --> 00:07:05.274
- And some of us are so focused on being affirmed and approved
- 00:07:06.476 --> 00:07:09.879
- By men and women that we have forgotten
- 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:11.848
- That we're supposed to be approved by one.
- 00:07:11.848 --> 00:07:15.551
- You cannot get promoted in the spirit
- 00:07:16.352 --> 00:07:19.422
- Without experiencing earthly opposition.
- 00:07:19.422 --> 00:07:23.025
- If you are not experiencing earthly opposition, then it is
- 00:07:23.025 --> 00:07:26.729
- Quite possible that you are headed in the wrong direction,
- 00:07:26.729 --> 00:07:30.500
- Because the enemy does not mess with his own.
- 00:07:31.434 --> 00:07:34.604
- That's why you don't hear other people
- 00:07:35.371 --> 00:07:37.507
- Tearing down other religions,
- 00:07:37.507 --> 00:07:40.910
- Because the enemy does not mess with his own.
- 00:07:40.910 --> 00:07:43.679
- That's why you here in movies and on all of your social media
- 00:07:43.679 --> 00:07:47.450
- Platforms and in all of the news
- 00:07:47.450 --> 00:07:49.685
- And media outlets, christianity being torn down
- 00:07:49.685 --> 00:07:52.889
- Because it is the only true and living god
- 00:07:52.889 --> 00:07:57.827
- That points us back to not a religion, but a relationship.
- 00:07:57.827 --> 00:08:02.598
- That's when whenever you hear someone get in trouble
- 00:08:03.633 --> 00:08:06.102
- Or they get afraid, they don't shout out other gods.
- 00:08:06.102 --> 00:08:08.838
- They set out one god and they say jesus christ.
- 00:08:08.838 --> 00:08:18.481
- Because even an atheist
- 00:08:18.981 --> 00:08:20.349
- Needs someone to cling to.
- 00:08:20.349 --> 00:08:26.923
- When all else fails,
- 00:08:27.390 --> 00:08:29.191
- You don't get heavenly vision without earthly opposition
- 00:08:29.191 --> 00:08:32.562
- And the reality of this text
- 00:08:32.562 --> 00:08:33.996
- That it should teach us and it should
- 00:08:33.996 --> 00:08:36.599
- Model in front of us is the clearer you see jesus,
- 00:08:36.599 --> 00:08:39.201
- The more uncomfortable you make people who refuse him.
- 00:08:39.201 --> 00:08:42.972
- Stephen teaches us something so profound,
- 00:08:43.806 --> 00:08:47.443
- He teaches us that it doesn't matter what happens to you,
- 00:08:47.443 --> 00:08:52.381
- As long as your gaze is fixed
- 00:08:52.381 --> 00:08:55.084
- On who approved you.
- 00:08:55.084 --> 00:08:58.588
- See? see, we too concerned
- 00:08:58.588 --> 00:09:00.590
- About who like us and who don't like us.
- 00:09:00.590 --> 00:09:03.826
- And we're so focused on wanting to be liked that we have
- 00:09:03.826 --> 00:09:09.198
- Sacrificed loyalty to jesus.
- 00:09:09.765 --> 00:09:13.903
- And it is not until
- 00:09:14.370 --> 00:09:15.638
- You don't care who like you,
- 00:09:15.638 --> 00:09:18.941
- Because you are loyal to jesus,
- 00:09:18.941 --> 00:09:21.310
- That you actually see the king of kings and the lord of lords
- 00:09:21.310 --> 00:09:24.547
- Operate in and through your life like he desires to operate in
- 00:09:24.547 --> 00:09:27.717
- And through your life.
- 00:09:27.717 --> 00:09:28.584
- You cannot worry about who likes you,
- 00:09:28.584 --> 00:09:31.887
- Who approves of you, who affirms you, and who does not.
- 00:09:31.887 --> 00:09:35.758
- The only thing
- 00:09:35.758 --> 00:09:36.826
- That you need to be focused on is keeping your gaze
- 00:09:36.826 --> 00:09:39.662
- Fixed on jesus.
- 00:09:39.662 --> 00:09:40.630
- Because he's already called you.
- 00:09:40.630 --> 00:09:42.431
- He's already anointing you. he's already set you apart.
- 00:09:42.431 --> 00:09:45.201
- He calls you a peculiar person.
- 00:09:45.201 --> 00:09:46.869
- He said, you've been chosen
- 00:09:46.869 --> 00:09:48.270
- To do what it is i've chosen you to do for such a time as this.
- 00:09:48.270 --> 00:09:51.841
- So who cares if they don't like you or not?
- 00:09:51.841 --> 00:09:57.913
- When you
- 00:09:58.180 --> 00:09:59.281
- Get a revelation of jesus, what you must understand
- 00:09:59.281 --> 00:10:01.651
- Is that revelation will alleviate
- 00:10:01.651 --> 00:10:04.820
- All these people that speak clutter into your mind.
- 00:10:04.820 --> 00:10:09.291
- It will bring you to
- 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:10.860
- A place of greater discernment, where you can decide
- 00:10:10.860 --> 00:10:13.729
- Whether you want to follow what they're saying,
- 00:10:13.729 --> 00:10:15.431
- Or whether you want to follow what jesus has said.
- 00:10:15.431 --> 00:10:19.035
- And you get a real glimpse of who jesus is,
- 00:10:19.035 --> 00:10:21.303
- It gives you a revelation that will elevate
- 00:10:21.303 --> 00:10:23.906
- You spiritually but isolate you socially.
- 00:10:23.906 --> 00:10:27.510
- And some of us, we pray for revelation,
- 00:10:28.310 --> 00:10:30.479
- But we cling on to the circle that we are part of
- 00:10:30.479 --> 00:10:33.182
- Because we are so used to the comforts of this life
- 00:10:33.182 --> 00:10:36.352
- That we don't want to spend any time
- 00:10:36.352 --> 00:10:38.421
- In isolation to actually hear from god
- 00:10:38.421 --> 00:10:40.890
- So that he can show us who we are found in him.
- 00:10:40.890 --> 00:10:44.427
- And so revelation, it will bring you to a place
- 00:10:45.394 --> 00:10:47.830
- Where you are isolated here on earth,
- 00:10:47.830 --> 00:10:51.100
- But you receive something in return that cannot be purchased,
- 00:10:51.100 --> 00:10:54.170
- That cannot be bought,
- 00:10:54.170 --> 00:10:55.204
- That cannot be given to you by men and women.
- 00:10:55.204 --> 00:10:56.972
- You will receive insight and foresight
- 00:10:56.972 --> 00:11:00.042
- As to who jesus actually is,
- 00:11:00.042 --> 00:11:03.312
- And god will show you something that cost
- 00:11:04.213 --> 00:11:06.716
- You everything to believe.
- 00:11:06.716 --> 00:11:09.885
- I said again, god will show you something
- 00:11:10.786 --> 00:11:13.222
- That will cost you everything to believe.
- 00:11:13.222 --> 00:11:16.559
- I want to remind you of this, stephen.
- 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:18.194
- He is not a disciple. he's not an apostle.
- 00:11:18.194 --> 00:11:20.329
- He's a hellenistic jew.
- 00:11:20.329 --> 00:11:21.564
- He did not visibly see jesus, yet
- 00:11:21.564 --> 00:11:23.265
- He has a revelation of jesus and it cost him everything.
- 00:11:23.265 --> 00:11:26.402
- It cost him his status.
- 00:11:26.402 --> 00:11:27.803
- It cost him his security, and eventually it cost him his life.
- 00:11:27.803 --> 00:11:30.840
- But his gaze is still fixed on jesus, and he does not fear.
- 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:34.844
- He says, behold, and i wonder what would happen
- 00:11:34.844 --> 00:11:37.847
- To a body of people who are no longer afraid of dying?
- 00:11:37.847 --> 00:11:43.786
- What what what weapon?
- 00:11:44.253 --> 00:11:45.721
- Hear me,
- 00:11:45.721 --> 00:11:46.322
- Could the enemy
- 00:11:46.322 --> 00:11:47.189
- Point in your direction
- 00:11:47.189 --> 00:11:48.691
- When sickness does not get you into fear,
- 00:11:48.691 --> 00:11:51.927
- Where lack does not make you afraid.
- 00:11:51.927 --> 00:11:54.764
- We're pain does not scare you away.
- 00:11:54.764 --> 00:11:57.433
- We're not even death
- 00:11:57.433 --> 00:11:58.768
- Can make you change your mind as to who jesus is.
- 00:11:58.768 --> 00:12:02.104
- Stephen teaches us something so profound
- 00:12:02.104 --> 00:12:04.673
- That when your eyes are fixed on jesus,
- 00:12:04.673 --> 00:12:06.742
- It does not matter what is happening around you
- 00:12:06.742 --> 00:12:09.278
- Because your focus is on who saved you.
- 00:12:09.278 --> 00:12:16.952
- It says, behold,
- 00:12:17.353 --> 00:12:20.756
- I see the heavens open, and i see the son of man
- 00:12:20.756 --> 00:12:23.159
- Standing at the right hand of god.
- 00:12:23.159 --> 00:12:26.662
- And then verse 57 says, they covered their ears.
- 00:12:26.662 --> 00:12:32.034
- They rejected truth.
- 00:12:32.501 --> 00:12:35.805
- This not only has
- 00:12:36.238 --> 00:12:38.040
- Spiritual ramifications, this is also legal symbolism,
- 00:12:38.040 --> 00:12:42.444
- Because they understood that they would be judged
- 00:12:43.445 --> 00:12:45.714
- Based upon what they heard.
- 00:12:45.714 --> 00:12:46.949
- So if they don't hear it, they can't be judged for it.
- 00:12:46.949 --> 00:12:50.619
- And the same thing goes with us.
- 00:12:51.253 --> 00:12:52.888
- We may not cover
- 00:12:52.888 --> 00:12:53.989
- Our ears in the service, but we'll cover our heart.
- 00:12:53.989 --> 00:12:57.059
- We'll cover our wallet,
- 00:12:57.560 --> 00:12:59.829
- We'll cover our purse,
- 00:12:59.829 --> 00:13:02.431
- Because if we don't hear it,
- 00:13:02.431 --> 00:13:04.967
- We don't have to apply it.
- 00:13:04.967 --> 00:13:08.938
- They're technically saying
- 00:13:09.505 --> 00:13:11.140
- We have heard enough,
- 00:13:11.140 --> 00:13:14.143
- And their refusal
- 00:13:14.143 --> 00:13:15.911
- To continue to hear and listen
- 00:13:15.911 --> 00:13:18.781
- Was their testimony of who they actually believed in.
- 00:13:18.781 --> 00:13:23.452
- And this is not justice.
- 00:13:23.986 --> 00:13:26.622
- Stephen is not standing a fair trial.
- 00:13:26.622 --> 00:13:30.359
- He is standing in the middle of predicated outrage.
- 00:13:30.359 --> 00:13:34.563
- And scripture teaches us,
- 00:13:35.130 --> 00:13:36.332
- They cried out loudly, drowning out the truth.
- 00:13:36.332 --> 00:13:40.502
- And it says they rushed him out of the city
- 00:13:40.502 --> 00:13:43.672
- And they begin to stone him.
- 00:13:43.672 --> 00:13:47.042
- Now when it says, they stone him, let me paint to you
- 00:13:47.042 --> 00:13:50.045
- A picture of what a stoning was at this particular time,
- 00:13:50.045 --> 00:13:54.550
- Because it wasn't them picking up gravel and throwing
- 00:13:54.550 --> 00:13:57.319
- Gravel at him.
- 00:13:57.319 --> 00:13:59.054
- There were two
- 00:13:59.388 --> 00:14:00.656
- Different types of stoning that took place in this time period.
- 00:14:00.656 --> 00:14:03.759
- The first type of stoning.
- 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:05.394
- They would dig out a trench that was about eight feet deep.
- 00:14:05.394 --> 00:14:08.430
- They would kick the
- 00:14:08.430 --> 00:14:09.565
- The victim over into this hole,
- 00:14:09.565 --> 00:14:11.667
- And then they would take small
- 00:14:11.667 --> 00:14:12.902
- Boulders, and they would aimed them
- 00:14:12.902 --> 00:14:14.470
- At the head of the person that was being stoned
- 00:14:14.470 --> 00:14:17.673
- With the desire to crush their skull.
- 00:14:18.474 --> 00:14:22.011
- The second method of stoning that they would use,
- 00:14:23.012 --> 00:14:25.547
- They would dig
- 00:14:25.547 --> 00:14:26.615
- A hole in the ground and they would bury the person
- 00:14:26.615 --> 00:14:29.351
- Neck deep, leaving their head exposed,
- 00:14:29.351 --> 00:14:32.154
- And they would take stones and crush their skull onto the dirt.
- 00:14:32.154 --> 00:14:36.392
- Stephen, understanding that this, this,
- 00:14:37.192 --> 00:14:40.229
- This plight that he is walking through
- 00:14:40.229 --> 00:14:42.531
- As it pertains to stoning, he does not cover his head.
- 00:14:42.531 --> 00:14:45.567
- Look at what scripture says.
- 00:14:45.567 --> 00:14:46.902
- He points his head towards heaven.
- 00:14:46.902 --> 00:14:49.905
- Come on.
- 00:14:50.172 --> 00:14:51.440
- And he does not pay attention to what's happening around him.
- 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:54.910
- The physical pain that his body isn't doing.
- 00:14:54.910 --> 00:14:57.246
- His gaze is fixed on god, and it has the heavens open,
- 00:14:57.246 --> 00:15:01.317
- And he sees the son of man standing next to god.
- 00:15:01.317 --> 00:15:04.386
- What happens to a person that is no longer afraid?
- 00:15:04.386 --> 00:15:10.392
- Because they got a revelation of who jesus is?
- 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:16.732
- When the enemy can no longer threaten you
- 00:15:17.599 --> 00:15:19.368
- With weapons of fear, weapons of sickness, weapons
- 00:15:19.368 --> 00:15:23.405
- Of pain, weapons of death, weapons of premature
- 00:15:23.405 --> 00:15:27.209
- Death, weapons that you will never walk into,
- 00:15:27.209 --> 00:15:29.411
- The things that god showed you that you would walk in
- 00:15:29.411 --> 00:15:31.480
- When he can no longer threaten you with those things,
- 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:33.682
- He loses power over your mind to tempt you with
- 00:15:33.682 --> 00:15:36.919
- Fearing and worrying and being anxious over those things.
- 00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:40.522
- But you have to decide.
- 00:15:40.522 --> 00:15:44.493
- This is
- 00:15:44.727 --> 00:15:45.594
- The revelation of the god you serve,
- 00:15:45.594 --> 00:15:48.964
- Greater than the fear the enemy presents to you.
- 00:15:48.964 --> 00:15:58.874
- How can you kill a person
- 00:15:59.441 --> 00:16:00.609
- That's already dead?
- 00:16:00.609 --> 00:16:04.646
- How can you convince a person that sickness can kill
- 00:16:05.681 --> 00:16:08.083
- What jesus has already healed?
- 00:16:08.083 --> 00:16:13.188
- How can you get me to make my mind up
- 00:16:13.989 --> 00:16:16.325
- That god is not who he said he was?
- 00:16:16.325 --> 00:16:17.993
- Because i've seen him do miracles, signs and wonders.
- 00:16:17.993 --> 00:16:23.999
- Only a person
- 00:16:24.366 --> 00:16:25.401
- That has a revelation of jesus.
- 00:16:25.401 --> 00:16:29.405
- Does not fear being stoned.
- 00:16:30.005 --> 00:16:34.510
- Not. not with fruity pebbles.
- 00:16:35.144 --> 00:16:39.515
- Small boulders.
- 00:16:39.882 --> 00:16:41.950
- Historians and theologians say each stone
- 00:16:41.950 --> 00:16:45.154
- Weighed 15 to 20 pounds,
- 00:16:45.154 --> 00:16:48.757
- And not once does it say he addresses
- 00:16:48.757 --> 00:16:51.226
- The size of the stones.
- 00:16:51.226 --> 00:16:52.227
- Not once does it
- 00:16:52.227 --> 00:16:53.462
- Say he addresses the amount of people coming towards him.
- 00:16:53.462 --> 00:16:56.065
- Not once does it say that he addresses the crowd.
- 00:16:56.065 --> 00:16:58.267
- It continues to say he looked to heaven,
- 00:16:58.267 --> 00:17:01.170
- And he saw the heavens open, and he saw the son of man
- 00:17:01.170 --> 00:17:04.073
- Standing at the right hand of god. hear me.
- 00:17:04.073 --> 00:17:06.008
- This is the longest message in all of the acts of the apostles.
- 00:17:06.008 --> 00:17:09.445
- It is him teaching them about the goodness of god
- 00:17:09.445 --> 00:17:11.914
- In the face of adversity, and not once that they use one
- 00:17:11.914 --> 00:17:14.950
- Scripture for their allegations and accusations against him,
- 00:17:14.950 --> 00:17:18.520
- Which teaches us a valuable lesson
- 00:17:19.288 --> 00:17:22.624
- Whenever the enemy presents false facts against you.
- 00:17:22.624 --> 00:17:25.527
- He never uses scripture.
- 00:17:25.527 --> 00:17:29.231
- He always uses your past.
- 00:17:29.798 --> 00:17:33.669
- Whenever jesus presents the facts in front of you.
- 00:17:34.670 --> 00:17:37.406
- He never goes back to your past.
- 00:17:37.406 --> 00:17:40.843
- He always paints a picture of your future.
- 00:17:40.843 --> 00:17:47.716
- When you talk about
- 00:17:48.183 --> 00:17:50.652
- Will dictate and determine your reality.
- 00:17:50.652 --> 00:18:01.130
- Point number two is this
- 00:18:01.630 --> 00:18:04.199
- People don't always reject truth because it's unclear.
- 00:18:04.199 --> 00:18:07.903
- They reject it because it's undeniable.
- 00:18:07.903 --> 00:18:11.974
- He speaks the same message
- 00:18:12.541 --> 00:18:14.676
- In front of two groups of people.
- 00:18:14.676 --> 00:18:18.046
- He listens to what he's saying.
- 00:18:18.046 --> 00:18:20.616
- He is transformed and he eventually receives
- 00:18:20.616 --> 00:18:23.752
- The crown of righteousness.
- 00:18:23.752 --> 00:18:25.120
- Because of the revelation,
- 00:18:25.120 --> 00:18:26.855
- The sanhedrin hear the same message
- 00:18:26.855 --> 00:18:28.757
- And they refuse rebellion against it,
- 00:18:28.757 --> 00:18:32.294
- Which shows us that conviction.
- 00:18:32.961 --> 00:18:35.330
- It often sounds like offense when you don't want to change.
- 00:18:35.330 --> 00:18:39.668
- That's why two people can hear one message
- 00:18:40.536 --> 00:18:43.672
- And one person ask the question, god, what is it
- 00:18:43.672 --> 00:18:46.808
- That you want me to hear so that i can be transformed?
- 00:18:46.808 --> 00:18:49.678
- And the other person they ask themselves
- 00:18:49.678 --> 00:18:51.813
- The question, i wonder,
- 00:18:51.813 --> 00:18:52.915
- Is the person beside me listening so they can change?
- 00:18:52.915 --> 00:18:58.587
- That's why two different people can hear the same message.
- 00:18:59.721 --> 00:19:02.658
- One says, god,
- 00:19:02.658 --> 00:19:03.926
- Transform me from the inside out and the other person can say,
- 00:19:03.926 --> 00:19:06.929
- I hope my mother in law's listening on youtube right now.
- 00:19:06.929 --> 00:19:13.435
- Because conviction.
- 00:19:13.902 --> 00:19:15.537
- It sounds like offense when you don't want to change,
- 00:19:15.537 --> 00:19:19.408
- And some people would rather silence truth than surrender
- 00:19:19.408 --> 00:19:23.645
- To it.
- 00:19:23.645 --> 00:19:28.684
- The sanhedrin
- 00:19:29.051 --> 00:19:30.852
- Show us that unity
- 00:19:30.852 --> 00:19:31.887
- Without truth is just organized rebellion.
- 00:19:31.887 --> 00:19:34.990
- And so people don't always reject truth
- 00:19:34.990 --> 00:19:36.658
- Because it's unclear.
- 00:19:36.658 --> 00:19:37.859
- They reject truth because it's undeniable.
- 00:19:37.859 --> 00:19:40.462
- He had an undeniable encounter with jesus.
- 00:19:40.462 --> 00:19:42.898
- That undeniable encounter with jesus led him to
- 00:19:42.898 --> 00:19:45.601
- Lay his life on the line for who he said
- 00:19:45.601 --> 00:19:47.970
- That he believed in because he understood.
- 00:19:47.970 --> 00:19:49.805
- If i lay my life down, the messiah will pick it up.
- 00:19:49.805 --> 00:19:55.877
- And for some of us, we keep
- 00:19:56.478 --> 00:19:57.779
- Asking jesus to elevate a life we have not yet laid down.
- 00:19:57.779 --> 00:20:03.218
- I want him to bless my job,
- 00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:05.120
- But you have not laid it at his feet.
- 00:20:05.120 --> 00:20:07.356
- I want him to bless my finances,
- 00:20:07.356 --> 00:20:08.724
- But you have not laid it at his feet.
- 00:20:08.724 --> 00:20:09.992
- I want him to bless my marriage.
- 00:20:09.992 --> 00:20:11.126
- But you have not, lady, at his feet.
- 00:20:11.126 --> 00:20:12.594
- I want you to bless my my entrepreneurial endeavors.
- 00:20:12.594 --> 00:20:14.896
- But you have not laid it at his feet.
- 00:20:14.896 --> 00:20:16.198
- And god
- 00:20:16.198 --> 00:20:17.399
- Will not elevate anything that you have not laid at his feet.
- 00:20:17.399 --> 00:20:21.036
- His life had been laid at the feet of jesus.
- 00:20:21.937 --> 00:20:23.872
- Therefore he was not concerned about them
- 00:20:23.872 --> 00:20:25.974
- Burying him, because he knew that
- 00:20:25.974 --> 00:20:27.743
- The king of glory would elevate him.
- 00:20:27.743 --> 00:20:31.880
- So people don't always reject truth because it's unclear.
- 00:20:33.048 --> 00:20:35.484
- They reject it because it's undeniable.
- 00:20:35.484 --> 00:20:39.921
- Point number three is this
- 00:20:40.489 --> 00:20:43.725
- Someone is watching how you suffer,
- 00:20:43.725 --> 00:20:47.129
- And it is shaping their salvation.
- 00:20:47.863 --> 00:20:51.967
- Someone is watching how you suffer
- 00:20:52.734 --> 00:20:54.936
- And it is shaping their salvation.
- 00:20:54.936 --> 00:20:56.738
- Scripture teaches us in acts chapter 758,
- 00:20:56.738 --> 00:20:59.441
- They took off their cloaks.
- 00:20:59.441 --> 00:21:00.542
- They laid them at the feet of a young man named saul.
- 00:21:00.542 --> 00:21:02.678
- We understand that saul would become paul.
- 00:21:02.678 --> 00:21:04.513
- Paul would encounter jesus on the road,
- 00:21:04.513 --> 00:21:06.815
- And he would encounter a light
- 00:21:06.815 --> 00:21:08.617
- So bright that it would blind him
- 00:21:08.617 --> 00:21:10.319
- Until he turn his life over to jesus.
- 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:12.354
- He would go on
- 00:21:12.354 --> 00:21:13.121
- To write
- 00:21:13.121 --> 00:21:13.789
- A lot of the new testament,
- 00:21:13.789 --> 00:21:14.823
- And we would get most of the letters
- 00:21:14.823 --> 00:21:16.925
- To the church from the apostle paul,
- 00:21:16.925 --> 00:21:18.794
- Because he saw the way this man suffered.
- 00:21:18.794 --> 00:21:24.132
- And so
- 00:21:24.333 --> 00:21:25.367
- Obedience in this season might look like a loss,
- 00:21:25.367 --> 00:21:28.537
- But in the season to come, it might look like legacy.
- 00:21:29.604 --> 00:21:35.377
- And some of you,
- 00:21:35.777 --> 00:21:36.845
- You are complaining too much about the suffering
- 00:21:36.845 --> 00:21:41.083
- And not thanking god enough about the surrender
- 00:21:42.017 --> 00:21:44.252
- You have in the suffering.
- 00:21:44.252 --> 00:21:51.293
- And god
- 00:21:51.526 --> 00:21:52.694
- Will use your worst moment as someone else is awakening
- 00:21:52.694 --> 00:21:57.499
- God. god will use the moment
- 00:21:58.100 --> 00:21:59.634
- You thought was going to bury you
- 00:21:59.634 --> 00:22:03.138
- To resurrect the king of kings
- 00:22:03.138 --> 00:22:05.040
- And the lord of lords and someone else.
- 00:22:05.040 --> 00:22:08.210
- God will use that moment that you thought was going
- 00:22:08.210 --> 00:22:10.779
- To strip you of everything you had held on to,
- 00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:14.783
- To position someone else to see the faithfulness of a god
- 00:22:14.783 --> 00:22:17.552
- They know could only save you.
- 00:22:17.552 --> 00:22:19.287
- God will utilize the worst season,
- 00:22:19.287 --> 00:22:21.089
- The worst pain,
- 00:22:21.089 --> 00:22:22.057
- The worst difficulty, the words friendships,
- 00:22:22.057 --> 00:22:24.092
- The worst relationships, the worst
- 00:22:24.092 --> 00:22:25.660
- Financial and economic crisis in your life.
- 00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:28.130
- To point people back to the king of glory
- 00:22:28.130 --> 00:22:30.732
- And the hope of jesus christ that can only be displayed
- 00:22:30.732 --> 00:22:34.169
- And demonstrated through
- 00:22:34.169 --> 00:22:35.337
- Someone that is willing to put it on display
- 00:22:35.337 --> 00:22:37.873
- In the worst season of their life.
- 00:22:37.873 --> 00:22:39.574
- Here, stephen is on his death bed,
- 00:22:39.574 --> 00:22:43.512
- Being stoned and and being being tortured to death.
- 00:22:43.512 --> 00:22:47.215
- And still he's declares the works of jesus christ,
- 00:22:47.215 --> 00:22:50.685
- And his declaration serves as a shaper, as a molder, as
- 00:22:50.685 --> 00:22:55.257
- As a tool for the gospel to be proclaimed to saul of tarsus.
- 00:22:55.257 --> 00:23:00.462
- And the enemy thought that he was burying stephen.
- 00:23:01.496 --> 00:23:04.232
- But what he did not realize is that he was planting paul.
- 00:23:04.232 --> 00:23:11.440
- And here's my question for you
- 00:23:12.040 --> 00:23:13.842
- Who is watching you suffer today that is shaping a testimony
- 00:23:13.842 --> 00:23:18.380
- On the inside of them
- 00:23:18.380 --> 00:23:19.614
- That can only bear witness to the faithfulness
- 00:23:19.614 --> 00:23:22.150
- Of an almighty god.
- 00:23:22.150 --> 00:23:23.318
- Even when you are faithful in seasons that you cannot see.
- 00:23:23.318 --> 00:23:29.424
- And so the pain that you are stewarding,
- 00:23:30.258 --> 00:23:31.860
- The difficulty that you're going through, the seasons
- 00:23:31.860 --> 00:23:33.962
- And the circumstances that you're navigating
- 00:23:33.962 --> 00:23:35.764
- Right now,
- 00:23:35.764 --> 00:23:36.465
- They are serving as a testimony
- 00:23:36.465 --> 00:23:38.133
- Of the faithfulness of jesus christ in your life
- 00:23:38.133 --> 00:23:40.502
- And is helping to satan someone else's salvation.
- 00:23:40.502 --> 00:23:46.341
- And so what
- 00:23:46.675 --> 00:23:47.576
- They meant to silence stephen's voice,
- 00:23:47.576 --> 00:23:50.712
- They failed to realize that god used to multiply it
- 00:23:50.712 --> 00:23:54.783
- And what the enemy meant to silence your voice.
- 00:23:54.783 --> 00:23:57.052
- God will use to multiply
- 00:23:57.052 --> 00:23:58.687
- What the enemy meant to hush you up and shut you up.
- 00:23:58.687 --> 00:24:01.723
- God will use as a microphone, as a megaphone
- 00:24:01.723 --> 00:24:04.192
- To proclaim his faithfulness and his glory.
- 00:24:04.192 --> 00:24:06.928
- Even when you don't have words to say,
- 00:24:06.928 --> 00:24:08.563
- You can look to the hills from which come at your help,
- 00:24:08.563 --> 00:24:10.765
- Because you understand that
- 00:24:10.765 --> 00:24:12.000
- Your help comes from the lord, and your testimony should be
- 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:15.971
- And will always be that god did what only god can do.
- 00:24:15.971 --> 00:24:25.780
- So with stones being thrown in his head,
- 00:24:26.581 --> 00:24:28.416
- Stephen says, behold,
- 00:24:28.416 --> 00:24:31.553
- I see the glory of god,
- 00:24:31.553 --> 00:24:34.422
- And i see the son of man standing
- 00:24:34.422 --> 00:24:37.592
- At the right hand of god.
- 00:24:37.592 --> 00:24:43.098
- When life begins to press on
- 00:24:43.698 --> 00:24:46.902
- And life begins to pressure you,
- 00:24:46.902 --> 00:24:49.838
- And life begins to weigh on you,
- 00:24:49.838 --> 00:24:52.974
- Which way do you look?
- 00:24:52.974 --> 00:24:56.711
- Do you look for handouts?
- 00:24:57.279 --> 00:25:00.782
- Or do you look for the hand
- 00:25:01.383 --> 00:25:02.450
- That stretched out?
- 00:25:02.450 --> 00:25:10.025
- Well,
- 00:25:10.258 --> 00:25:11.092
- This is the portion of the broadcast
- 00:25:11.092 --> 00:25:12.894
- Where i have to tell you we're out of time,
- 00:25:12.894 --> 00:25:15.063
- But not out of the word of god.
- 00:25:15.063 --> 00:25:16.631
- And so i want to ask you to
- 00:25:16.631 --> 00:25:17.966
- Continue
- 00:25:17.966 --> 00:25:18.900
- To go on this journey with us as we travel
- 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:20.235
- Through the acts of the apostles.
- 00:25:20.235 --> 00:25:22.170
- I truly believe that this book in the bible is is powerful.
- 00:25:22.170 --> 00:25:27.475
- It infuses us with the power,
- 00:25:27.475 --> 00:25:29.377
- The knowledge, the comfort of the holy spirit.
- 00:25:29.377 --> 00:25:31.446
- And if applied, this book
- 00:25:31.446 --> 00:25:33.515
- Will change your life for the rest of your life.
- 00:25:33.515 --> 00:25:37.352
- I understand some of you may be in moments
- 00:25:37.352 --> 00:25:39.154
- And seasons of pain right now,
- 00:25:39.154 --> 00:25:40.722
- And i want to set myself in agreement with you.
- 00:25:40.722 --> 00:25:43.058
- But before i do that, i want to encourage
- 00:25:43.058 --> 00:25:44.859
- You go back over these notes that you took today.
- 00:25:44.859 --> 00:25:47.796
- Go back over this passage that you're in,
- 00:25:47.796 --> 00:25:50.365
- See how it applies to your life, and ask the holy spirit
- 00:25:50.365 --> 00:25:53.735
- To reveal to you the things that he desires
- 00:25:53.735 --> 00:25:56.838
- For you to see, and the things he desires
- 00:25:56.838 --> 00:25:59.541
- For you to hear from this passage.
- 00:25:59.541 --> 00:26:01.576
- With that being said, let me pray for you.
- 00:26:01.576 --> 00:26:04.479
- Father.
- 00:26:04.479 --> 00:26:05.413
- I thank you for my brothers and sisters
- 00:26:05.413 --> 00:26:06.481
- That are watching on the other side of the screen.
- 00:26:06.481 --> 00:26:08.650
- No matter where they are in the world,
- 00:26:08.650 --> 00:26:10.285
- Your presence is there with them.
- 00:26:10.285 --> 00:26:12.420
- You are not restricted to a location or a building.
- 00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:15.457
- You you're able to do anything and everything anywhere.
- 00:26:15.457 --> 00:26:20.195
- And so
- 00:26:20.195 --> 00:26:21.062
- Right now i ask that you would heal
- 00:26:21.062 --> 00:26:22.497
- Those that need to be healed, deliver
- 00:26:22.497 --> 00:26:24.599
- Those that need to be delivered
- 00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:25.834
- And set free, those that need to be set free.
- 00:26:25.834 --> 00:26:28.336
- And lord, we ask that you would get glory
- 00:26:28.336 --> 00:26:30.538
- Out of our lives and that you would open our eyes
- 00:26:30.538 --> 00:26:33.742
- To see you in every area of our lives.
- 00:26:33.742 --> 00:26:36.811
- In jesus name we pray. amen.
- 00:26:36.811 --> 00:26:39.981
- Our team's going to throw some information
- 00:26:39.981 --> 00:26:41.449
- At the bottom of the screen.
- 00:26:41.449 --> 00:26:43.018
- Would you prayerfully consider partnering with us?
- 00:26:43.018 --> 00:26:45.320
- Every contribution
- 00:26:45.320 --> 00:26:46.421
- Matters in helping us advance
- 00:26:46.421 --> 00:26:47.889
- And spread the gospel of jesus christ.
- 00:26:47.889 --> 00:26:50.291
- If you're ever in the jacksonville area
- 00:26:50.291 --> 00:26:51.860
- Or north florida area, stop by on a sunday.
- 00:26:51.860 --> 00:26:54.362
- Visit us at our 9 a.m., 11 a.m., or 1:30 p.m.
- 00:26:54.362 --> 00:26:57.732
- Gatherings.
- 00:26:57.732 --> 00:26:58.733
- We would love to host you and your families
- 00:26:58.733 --> 00:27:00.368
- If you're not within the north florida area any weekend.
- 00:27:00.368 --> 00:27:03.204
- Continue to watch us right here on this incredible network
- 00:27:03.204 --> 00:27:06.007
- As we endeavor to continue to spread the word of god.
- 00:27:06.007 --> 00:27:08.877
- I want you to know god loves you and i love you to be blessed.
- 00:27:08.877 --> 00:27:12.414
- Until next time.
- 00:27:12.414 --> 00:27:13.715
- ♪♪
- 00:27:13.715 --> 00:27:21.723
- ♪♪
- 00:27:21.990 --> 00:27:21.990
