Acts 7:20-50

Once again, just like He did with Joseph, God raised Moses up as a deliverer. And, again, the Hebrews reject God’s chosen one. But God doesn’t give up on His people. Psalm 106:7 says, “When our ancestors were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.” 

God heard the misery of the Israelites even though, according to Psalm 106:7, they were unfaithful to God while in Egypt. And He still used Moses as He planned even though Moses murdered an Egyptian.The Hebrews turned their hearts back to Egypt. 

Think about that for a minute. Despite everything God had done for them, they longed to go back to the place where they were enslaved. They told Aaron to make them a golden calf to worship, and Aaron did. Now Aaron tried to merge this Egyptian god represented by the golden calf with the God of the Israelites by saying in Exodus 32:5 that they would have a feast to the Lord the next day. The people said that the calf was the god who brought them out of Egypt and offered sacrifices to the calf and worshiped it. Verse 41 says that they reveled in what their own hands had made. They rejected God in favor of the idols they made. But God still gave them the chance to repent.

But how many people do you know think they are outside of the reach of God’s love? There may be people that hear this message that believe that they have sinned so much that they have ruined whatever plan God had for them. That is the ultimate in self-worship!

Who are we to think that we can derail God’s plan for us? How often do we convince ourselves that we are unworthy of participating in God’s plan because of whatever in our past? How often do we look at someone else and deem them unfit to be a part of God’s plan?

My question to anyone who takes it upon themselves to determine someone’s worthiness to be part of God’s plan (even if it is their own) is, “Who died and made you God?” Who made you ruler and judge?

We can’t do anything, nor can anything be done to us that can make us forever unworthy of God’s love or His plan short of turning our back on God and refusing to repent. Don’t get me wrong, we can refuse to participate, but because of Jesus, God sees us as worthy.

Sermon Audio

Daily Prayers

Daily Prayers September 4-10

Sunday, September 4
Acts 7:20-25

20 “At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. For three months he was cared for by his family. 21 When he was placed outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. 22 Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action. 23 “When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites. 24 He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. 25 Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not.We praise you,

Lord. You are our Rock who has prepared us for whatever we face (Psalm 144:1). The story of Moses is just one of the many examples you’ve given us that show how you are always making a way for your people. At the height of Egyptian persecution, you prepared a deliverer who would lead the people out of slavery. There is nothing you cannot do. Help us remember the examples you have given us when we face what seem to be impossible mountains in our own lives. We pray this in the name of Jesus, Amen

Monday, September 5
Acts 7:26-34

26 The next day Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them by saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you want to hurt each other?’ 27 “But the man who was mistreating the other pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us? 28 Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner and had two sons. 30 “After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. 31 When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to get a closer look, he heard the Lord say: 32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look. 33 “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.

’Lord, you are so mighty that the heavens and the earth will tremble when you speak, but you are a refuge for your people (Joel 3:16). You see our sins but forgive us and use us in your plan for redemption. You see us as we struggle, hear our groans and prayers, and make provisions to bring us to freedom. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen

Tuesday, September 6
Acts 7:35-40

35 “This is the same Moses they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 He led them out of Egypt and performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the wilderness. 37 “This is the Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people.’ 38 He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us. 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!

Lord, you are a shield around us. You protect and sustain us (Psalm 3:3-5). Forgive us for the times we let someone else decide we aren’t enough. You have prepared us for the unique call you place on our lives throughout our lives. The ups and downs, the failures and successes, have all happened because you knew what you would call each of us to do.

Help us shake off the criticisms that prevent us from moving forward in your plan. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
 
 

Wednesday, September 7
Acts 7:41-46

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. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets: “ ‘Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel? 43 You have taken up the tabernacle of Molek and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile’ beyond Babylon. 44 “Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. 45 After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David, 46 who enjoyed God’s favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.

Lord, you alone are great; our deliverance comes from you (Psalm 3:8). Father, open our eyes to see the golden calves in our lives. The Moleks that we worship above you that are harming our children and other gods of our own making that come between us and our worship of you. Thank you for giving us your Word! Help us lay down the idols that keep us from being the people you call us to be. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.
 

Thursday, September 8
Acts 7:47-50

47 But it was Solomon who built a house for him. 48 “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: 49 “ ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? 50 Has not my hand made all these things?’

Father, we glorify you and exalt your name (Psalm 107:19). Your hand has made everything, Lord. We gather in our church to worship you, but you long to be Lord over our hearts, where we always worship you. Help us to stay in prayer to you and praise of you at all times. In the name of your son Jesus, we pray, Amen.
 

Friday, September 9
Acts 7:51-53

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.”

Lord, you are gracious and righteous and full of compassion (Psalm 116:5). Father, your Word shows us that you don’t call us to an easy task. In fact, Lord, you show us the exact opposite. Strengthen our faith and dependence on your Holy Spirit as we answer your call to witness. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
 

Saturday, September 10

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!!” (1 Peter 1:3). Thank you, Father! Thank you for not only our blessings but our trials because it is in our trials that we learn to lean on you. This week, we have seen joys and struggles, laughter and tears; thank you for all of our moments. As we prepare our hearts to hear your Word tomorrow, help us lay down anything that is coming between our hearts and your’s Lord. We lift up our pastors and pray that you bless them with your Spirit. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.