Lesson for 9/27

Hey everyone, the Sunday school lesson for tomorrow is titled, "Stand up; Speak up" comes from Acts the 7th Chapter, the publication skips around starting with verses 2-4, 8-10, 17, 33-34, 45-47, then ends with verse 53. I recommend reading the entire book, Acts, 7:1-60 NIV to really get the depth of what Stephen, one of the first deacons of the early church, is trying to bring across. He was a wise man and spoke very well; He loved to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus, and performed many miracles in Jesus' name. The lesson today starts off with verse 1,  Stephen is asked by a high priest of the Sanhedrin council "Are these charges true?' Immediately, Stephen goes into preaching, in an instant he brings up account after account of how God has expressed faithfulness to the Israelites in the past. As you read the verses, you will be encouraged to see that even today, God blesses those who truly rely and put their faith in Him; not putting matters in to their own hands. He is sovereign, He is Good!- but what we often overlook at times is God is also fair and just! We can't just repeatably sin and do any and everything, not expecting any form of punishment. In verse 39 Stephen tries to remind them: ³⁹ “But our ancestors refused to obey Him. Instead, they rejected Him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. ⁴⁰ They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him! ⁴¹ That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made. ⁴² But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars....." God turned away from them..Now jumping ahead to verse 51, Stephen is telling the council:

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! ⁵² Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— ⁵³ you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” Then in verses 54-60: it brings out how furious the Sanhedrin members became with what was all said. The members took Stephen out, and stoned him to death. THE MOST POWERFUL verses in the lesson to me are the last two.  "⁵⁹ While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep." Despite the persecution, the adversity, the anger, the hurt, the pain that he faced - he STILL prayed for the people who were killing him. What a reflection, what encouragement for us today as we continue to strive and endure! Would we today, die for what we believe in? Will we spread God's word, and proclaim the name of His son Jesus? -  Yes! God bless you. Thanks for reading.