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The false witnesses accused Stephen of blasphemingblaspheming against the temple.

But the Jews had earlier turned fromturned from the Tabernacle Of GodTabernacle Of God to the Temple of MolochTemple of Moloch

and to the star of Remphanstar of Remphan. Acts 7

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It is clear whowho committed blasphemy;

Those who turnedturned from God to follow idols.

Let usLet us be the children of God who will nevernever turn back.

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Acts 7:44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilder-ness, as He had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.

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45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus (Joshua) into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; 46 Who found favor before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built Him an house.

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48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, 49 Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool: what house will ye build Me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of My rest? 50 Hath not My Hand made all these things?

Way back in Samuel's daySamuel's day, the Jews had thought to have God in a box God in a box --

The Ark of the CovenantThe Ark of the Covenant..

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God will not and can not be constrainedbe constrained to one timetime or one placeplace or one personperson.

Psalms 139 7 Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy Presence? 8 If I ascend up into Heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall Thy Hand lead me, and Thy Right Hand shall hold me.

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51 Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resistresist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just OneJust One; of whom ye have been now the betrayersbetrayers and murderersmurderers: 53 Who have received the Law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept itnot kept it.

The Jews had betrayed and murdered their MessiahMessiah.

They were proudproud of their possessionpossession of the Law, but didn't keep itbut didn't keep it.

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The Jew's hatred of Jesus was not surprising, nor anything new.

They had alwaysalways mistreated their true prophetstrue prophets. Heb 11

They had alwaysalways resisted God's Holy SpiritHoly Spirit.

They had alwaysalways willfullywillfully disobeyed the Law of Moses.

And Stephen called themcalled them on all these things.

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54 When they heard these things, they were cutcut to the heart, and they gnashedgnashed on him with their teeth.

When the Truth cuts you to the heart, what

should you do?

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55 But heBut he, being full of the Holy being full of the Holy GhostGhost, looked up steadfastly into Heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the Right Hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the Right Hand of God.

We always choose eithereither to be full of ourselves,

OrOr to be full of the Holy Ghost.

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57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned stoned himhim: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was SaulSaul.

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59 And they stoned Stephen, (while he was) calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay notlay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep (died).

Radical ForgivenessRadical ForgivenessCertainly we can forgive one anotherone another.