Stephen was brought before the high priest on false charges of blasphemy. Instead of defending himself, Stephen recounted the history of Abraham and God's promises to him and Israel. Stephen told how God called Abraham to leave his home and family, how God promised Abraham the land of Canaan despite not owning any of it, and how Abraham's descendants would be slaves in Egypt for 400 years before being delivered by God.

1. www.rossvillechurch.com 781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 30741 Stephen was brought before the high priest , with false witnesses saying he had blasphemed against the temple and the Law of Moses . September 21, 2011

2. Acts 7 1 Then said the high priest, Are these things so? A chance to defend himself A false chance It's a kangaroo court with false witnesses. There's no chance of a fair trial.

3. 2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country , and from thy kindred , and come into the land which I shall shew thee . So, instead of defending himself, he preached .

5. God told Abraham to leave behind His country and his kindred . Sometimes we need to leave our past behind. If your family is dragging you down or back; If your old friends are pulling you back into sin ; Walk away and don't look back.

6. 4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran (Haran) : and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. 5 And He gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet He promised that He would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. History Lesson

7. In Hebrews 11 we are told that Abraham died without receiving God's Promise in fullness. Yet he died in faith. Faith is not wishy-washy. Faith doesn't turn off and on like a switch. Faith is constant and consistent.

8. Faith is the fruit of God's Holy Spirit. He produces faith in us; Those who are submissive unto Him. Faith enables God's children to be unwavering in our walk with our Heavenly Father. Never looking back

9. 6 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. 7 And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve Me in this place.

10. 8 And he gave him the Covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. The beginning of the nation of Israel, God's chosen people. God didn't choose a large nation, Or a mighty nation. God chose a nation that was not , that He might build it from nothing into a kingdom.

11. 9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him , 10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. His brothers hated Joseph, but God loved him. They wanted him dead or enslaved for life. God was preserving him to save his family from starvation.

12. "But God was with him." That is all we need to know: God is walking with us: loving, saving, providing, protecting, our present help in time of need.