When Bad Things Happen – Part 1

Acts 6:8-7:1 “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel. Then the high priest said, “Are these things so?”

Continuing on through our Sunday Sermon series going through the Book of Acts, Pastor Kyle begins by stating that we must trust God in bad situation that we do not desire, yet find ourselves in. Just like in Stephen’s case, people go behind our backs to stir up the crowd with false accusations. It really has nothing to do with being “good”. Remember that in Luke 18:19, Jesus said to the rich young Ruler, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.” Their problem is with God, so the best reaction is to deflect lies by not answering the allegations against us and preach Jesus. Stephen responded to the fictitious claims about him with a sermon summarizing Israel’s history of rejecting God’s messengers. If the multitude rejects our faith; they are rejecting God, whom we serve and follow.

There are four things that we need to remember as bad things happen in life. (1) We are loved by God. John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Start and plant your faith’s feet right here. 

(2) God is still in charge and in control. We report to and obey God, not man. Bad things are going to happen in life because “life in the jungle is no bowl full of cherries”, but God has a plan and bring us back to His refuge. Nothing is bigger than the Creator of the Universe and all that is in it. We can trust God. 2 Chronicles 20:15 This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

Even a God-rejecting world cannot defiantly tell their Maker anything. We have to remember who Creator God is and who is talking to Him. Romans 9:19-21 says, You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?”  But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why have you made me like this’” Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?” We need to remember who we are and who God is. Nobody said life was going to be easy, but it's easier with the Lord in front.

Let’s get to the second half of Pastor Kyle important message tomorrow on the Christian prospective in handling difficult situations that arise in life.

In Christ, Brian