Acts 7:54-8:3 Kintsugi

Introduction

Go ahead and turn with me to Acts 7.

How many of you have ever heard of Kintsugi?

(PICTURE)

Kintsugi is a japenese art form that means “Golden Joinery”.

It’s a form of art that takes shattered pottery, and restores them using liquid gold.

What was once pieces, is now infinitely more valuable because of its restoration with gold.

And I’m here to tell you this morning, that God is in the Kintsugi business.

What once broke you, or left you in pieces… in the hands of God can be restored, but even more than restored it can be redeemed and produce something infinitely more valuable than before.

He can take what is seemingly a shattered situation, and use it for your good and His glory.

In Late 2017, a chain of events ocurred that left me in pieces. We were living in SA at the time, and

It all began when Hudson, our free climber, fell off a chair and busted his head open.

4 days later, leaving the hospital after a check up, we were rear ended by a D.D. going 60mph while our car was dead-stopped at a redlight.

The insurance company refused to process our claim unless we paid a bribe.

Annie was pregnant with Emersyn, and feared a miscarriage.

She was put on bedrest for 12 weeks, leaving me to lead our team, and daddy homemaker.

Our kids ate so many pancakes those few months.

The delivery came with Jaundice, and postpartum.

But finally we reached August 2018, our first scheduled Furlough, and as we approached passport control Annie whispers, “I need this so bad. I’m suffocating here.”

That’s when police come and pull us out of line, and question us for a few hours then refuse to allow us exit due to “faulty paper work.”

(PICTURE) The next flight back home wasn’t for another 6 hours, so we sit in the airport and finally arrive about midnight.

It’s crazy what hindsight can provide, but ya’ll in that moment we were in pieces as a family.

How many of you have had seasons like this? Maybe you’re in one now.

Another Question: What do you do when life is leaving you shattered, in pieces?

Some of you are probably like me… you just want to bow your neck and grind it out.

Work is hard. Work harder.

Life hurts. Rub some dirt on it.

Too much to do. Run faster.

Grieving, clinch your teeth and… just bear it.

Some of you are probably the opposite though… My wife and I joke that she has stress induced narcolepsy, which is actually a real thing, but she doesn’t have it.

Life gets overwhelming and she just goes to sleep.

One time in our first month of marriage we got into an argument in the car, and kid you not… feel asleep.

What do you do when you get to the point where life feels shattered?

In our passage today, we are going to find a very serious, and totally overwhelming circumstance that eventually led to Stephen’s death. The situation seemingly left Stephen shattered, in pieces.

Now most of us, if not all of us, will never be in a situation like Stephen’s. Stephen was martyred. He was persecuted for his faith in Christ, to the extent that he was killed for His faith.

Becuase of the priveleges of living here in America, Stephen’s story will probably not be your story.

But just because it isn’t your story, don’t assume that martyrdom isn’t the storyof myriads of faithful followers of Jesus all over the world.

In fact, there were more martyrs in the 20th century alone, then all of the previous centuries combined.

People today will be killed for their belief in Jesus. Whole Families today, all over the world will look into the eyes of their accusers, much like Stephen did, just before he died.

But again, for most of us today that won’t be our story. That won’t be the circumstance that shatters us.

But regardless of your situation, what I KNOW BEYOND DOUBT to be true is that God does Kintsugi!

He sees, and He cares.

But he doesn’t just see, He engages, He works, He redeems. ,

What is it for you? And how do you respond?

That’s what I want you to think about, as we look at the death of Stephen. Because if we can learn from Stephen, maybe we will see Kintsugi in our lives as well.

Read Acts 7:54-8:3

Acts 7:54–8:3 ESV

Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

The Context

Coleman’s Sermon

If you can remember from last week, or maybe you weren’t here last week.

Stephen, a recently appointed leader in the Jerusalem Church primarily responsible for the daily distribution for the Hellenist Widows.

But as Coleman shared last week, at the end of chapter 6, we find Stephen in the Hellenist Synoguges performing signs and wonders, reasoning with the Jews about the Gospel.

And He was full of grace and power, walking in the fullness of faith and the Holy Spirit, but his audience only grew more and more full of rage and envy.

So they seize him and drag him before the Sanhedrin to stand trial for his “blasphemy” about Jesus.

And what does Stephen do? From the overflow of his fullness he keeps witnessing. He preaches Christ, and concludes his sermon by saying

Acts 7:51 ESV

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.

And what began as anger, at the beginning of His sermon has now moved to RAGE at the end.

I can see it, the more Stephen preached, the more agitated the audience grows and eventually we read in vs. 54.

So they grind their teeth, literally seething with Rage.

And then Stephen sends them over the edge, by declaring “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

To this they stuff their ears and rush him.

What began as a trial, has not escalated to a mob riot.

Mob

Picture the scene church. This is chaos.

We see nothing of a formal condemnation and sentence.

There was no legal procedure being followed.

This was a the violence of an agitated MOB.

Have you ever been in a mob like situation, where you think… “This could get bad in a hurry?”

I have. Before we moved to South Asia we went through some training on how to avoid situations that could go bad in a hurry, but we got thrust into one that was unavoidable.

Hudson had just fallen and got stitches. Going to the dr. for a check up,

And on the way home rammed by a drunk driver going 65mph.

Airbags. Smoke. Stunned. Hudsons carseat had broken and flipped upside down. A traumatizing moment as I saw annie’s eyes closed on the dashboard.

By the time I got out of the car… I kid you not. We were swarmed by hundreds of locals.

They were draggin the DD out of the car and beating him, and as I’m pushing people aside to get to hudson and annie, people are going through our car trying to steal our cell phone.

I was able to get us across the street safely, but I was deeply aware that I have no control here. I was paniced. Fearful. Angry.

Stephen, is an impossible situation here. Life is stacked against him. He is in one of those spots, where enough is enough. Hanging on by a thread.

So let’s look then at how he responds, and see what that means for us as well.

First, Stephen Saw the Vision.

Looked Up

Acts 7:55–56 ESV

But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

As the gallery gazed with rage at Stephen, Stephen simply looks up and gazes at Christ.

Stephen responded to his impossible situation by Looking Up and what he saw was a the glory of God.

Stephen Saw the Glory of God

Acts 7:55 (ESV)

But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God

God’s glory is His Presence.

His magnificence, excellence, dignity, the absolute perfection of his diety.

What does this glory look like!? Listen to these Scriptures.

Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)

He, Jesus, is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

John 1:14 ESV

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Colossians 1:15 ESV

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Colossians 2:9 ESV

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

It’s Jesus, the radiance of the glory of God is the Son.

And when Stephen looked up he caught a vision of the Son.

But notice the posture of the Son.

There are over 100 instances in Scripture describing Jesus at the right hand of God, and I’ve referenced this before, but the Jesus being at the Right Hand of the Father is a position of authority and honor and affirms the truth that Jesus has equal standing with the Father.

But there is only one instance in the NT of Jesus standing… here at the stoning of Stephen.

A standing ovation, as Stephen responds to his stoning by looking up.

But Notice the form of Jesus that stephen sees…

Acts 7:56 ESV

And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

SON OF MAN

This title for Jesus is found 83 times in the NT, but EVERY OCCURENCE is used by Jesus as he chose this title in reference to himself… every occurence but one.

This is significanct church. He didn’t see a vision of a rabbi, the messiah, a Lord, a King, a Shepherd, the Lamb or the Lion. He saw the Son of Man!

What does this mean? Why the Son of Man. Well the mystery is unlocked in the OT book of Daniel.

Daniel in chapter 7 had a series of visions and dreams of various worldly empires that rule. But his vision ends, when a “Son of Man” appears. Crushes all these kingdoms, and establishes his own.

Daniel 7:13–14 ESV

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Daniel has a vision of “one like a Son of Man” and this Son of Man

would be coronated, and given a dominion and a Kingdom.

A Kindom where all peoples, nations and languages would serve and worship him.

His Kingdom would be everlasting!

The Son of Man according to Daniel’s vision, would be crowned as the Sovereign Ruler of the World, and His rule would never end.

And the Jews expected that this Son of Man would be a Militaristic Warrior that would overcome the oppressive regime of the Roman conquerers to establish this everlasting Kingdom in physical Israel.

But Jesus, in his 100+ references tried to redefine their expectation: He plainly told the people,

Luke 9:22 ESV

saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

This is why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:23, “we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the jews.”

It’s a stumbling block because the actual Son of Man came not wearing a crown, but a cross.

Not a militaristic warrior, but a passifist Lamb.

And This is why they shoved their fingers in their ears. They couldn’t stand to hear Stephen proclaim this weakling, crucified Jesus as the Son of Man

So as a sign of their own piety, they shut their ears to not hear such blasphemy!

But it didn’t matter if they shut their ears, because they had already heard this before!

This same Sanhedrin, on the day of Christ’s death, point blank asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of God? and Jesus answered, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the crowds of heaven. And the high priest tore his garments and said, “what further witnesses do we need? We have heard his blasphemy and them condemened him to death! (Mark 16:62-64).

Claiming to be the Son of Man got Jesus crucified. Seeing a vision of the Son of Man got Stephen Stoned.

Stephen was in a tight spot. An overwhelming situation. A circumstance where enough would be enough. A moment of questioning, how much more can I take?

And how did he respond to that circumstance? He looked up and saw a vision of Jesus.

What do you do when you’re in a situation like this?

Ya’ll, some of you need to look up!

Maybe your situation as left you despairing. Look up and see a vision of His soverienty who controls and rules all things.

Maybe you’re left weak. See a vision of his power, as he upholds the universe!

Maybe you’re left feeling alone! See a vision of his compassion, like when he saw the crowds, harassed, and helpless and had compassion on them.

Maybe your situation has left you feeling unloved! See a vision of his Love, a love so great that he would give his life that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Maybe your RIGHTS are being infringed upon. See a vision of His Humility, that although in the form of God he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death.

Maybe your situation has left you broken, lost, aware of your spiritual emptiness. See a vision of His Salvation! For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him!

When you come against circumstances in life that leave you wondering… “enough is enough, I don’t know how much more I can take...” LOOK UP.

Seeing the Son of Man sustained Stephen, but we also need to understand that,

Seeing His example guided his response.

Stephen Saw Example of Christ

Stephen didn’t just see a Vision of the Son of Man, he had seen an example in the Son of Man. Really quickly let’s look at Stephen’s Prayer:

Acts 7:59–60 (ESV)

And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

Does that sound familiar? Have you heard that before?

Luke 23:46, after hanging on the cross for about 3 hours he “called out with a loud voice, and said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”

Stephen is imitating Jesus!

And as they stones kept coming, He hits his knees and cries out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!”

Have you heard that before? Does that sound familiar?

Stephen is once again imitating Jesus.

As he hung on the cross he prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!” (Luke 22:34).

What would you have done in that moment? Be honest! lol

I’ve got a pretty good arm… I’d probably try a little eye for an eye.

Would you just fainting goat, and give up. A little fight or flight?

But that’s not what Stephen did. He responded to his situation by following the example of Jesus!

Although a victim of the mob, he was still in control of his response!

You too, may just be a victim of some circumstance, but you are still in control of how you respond!

Stephen’s response was guided by the example he saw in Christ. Is yours?

This is what discipleship is all about. To be a disciple is to simply be an apprentice of Jesus. To watch Him, to learn from Him, and to do what He does.

So Stephen, in a tight spot, when enough was enough.

Saw a vision of Jesus

Saw an example in Jesus.

And ultimately that response led to The Victory.

The Victory

Stephen was not in control here. Enough was Enough. He literally could not take anymore and died. Most would say that Stephen was the victim, but let me show you how he was instead the Victor.

Victory in Eternal Life

Victory is found in Eternal Life

Acts 7:60 ESV

And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

That day Stephen found the Victory of Eternal life.

And I love how Luke describe it as “falling asleep”.

In fact, the prayer “Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit.” is straight from Psalm 31:5, and was a common prayer for Jewish children at bedtime!

Before they went to sleep they’d pray, “Into your hand, I commit my spirit.”

But Jesus, and Stephen after him uses it before they die!

The church coined death as sleep AS A CONFESSION OF THEIR ASSURANCE IN THE RESSURRECTION!

You see this was a 1st Century Christian phrase used to describe death. We see it in Paul’s writing as he tells the Thessalonians about the resurrection, “we do not want you to be uninformed brothers about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.”

They weren’t dying… just going to sleep because when they wake they see what Stephen saw… CHrist standing ready to welcome because we know that when we are away from the body we are at home with the Lord.

We joke that there are only two constants in the world, death and taxes… but, ya’ll it’s true. At least it will always be true of death.

Rather at 96 years old, or 26 years young. Dying is promised.

But in Christ… it’s just sleeping. It’s an eternal victory.

We have hope, that even in our death there is Victory for when away from this body we will be at home with the Lord.

Victory in Eternal Plans

Church, nothing is wasted in a life that looks up. And Stephen’s Victory in Eternal Life also led to Victory with Eternal Plans. Plans that Stephen could have never forseen.

Acts 8:1–3 ESV

And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

His Death, fueled the plan of God in the Dispersion.

Remember the Thesis Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Up until this point, the church has congregated in Jerusalem alone. But his heart, the scope of his witness was “Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” They were going, so what happens?

Stephens death sparks a persecution that fuels the mission of God.

Becuase as these men and women were scattered like seed, Phase II has commenced and guess what seeds do? THEY GROW. They lead to eternal payoffs in the mission of God!

Their dispersion created a band of missionaries, not refugees, and The more they are persecuted, the more do others in ever increasing numbers embrace the faith and become worshippers of God!

His Death, fueled the plan of God in Saul.

As Stephen’s story ends, another is just beginning.

In our passage Saul begins as a bystander (vs58). Now why was Saul there?

Remember who Stephen was reasoning with, Acts 6:9

Acts 6:9 ESV

Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.

Greek Speaking Jews of the synagogue from various areas, including Cilicia.

As we will see in Acts 9, Saul was born and raised in Tarsus, and Tarsus was a leading city from the province of Cilicia!

Paul was probably there in Jerusalem, worshipping in the Synagogue of his compatriots when this Stephen, full of grace and power started doing his signs and wonders and disputing with him.

But as the narrative progresses, he moves from bystander to consenter (8:1), and ultimately became persecutions primary driver (vs.3)

In his zeal, Saul was driving the great persecution that ultimately led to the evangelization of Judea and Samaria, but we also know that Stephens death deeply impacted this Saul.

Now I have to leave you with that cliffhanger, and we will take a deep plunge into the life of Saul beginning in January. But let me assure you…

As St. Augustine once wrote, “It is Stephen, we have to thank for the Apostle Paul.”

A Life lived looking Up, is a life used for Eternal Purposes… Purposes you may never know about, but you can trust!

Billy Graham

Billy Graham has a recorded 11.1 million salvations attributed to his evangelistic teaching ministry. But do you know who led Billy Graham to Christ?

Mordecai Ham, another traveling evangelist?

Billy Sunday, another famous preacher.

J. Wilbur Chapman a Presbyterian evangelist with a traveling ministry.

Who was led to Christ by the famous D.L. Moody!

Who was led to Christ in a shoe store, by a local sunday school teacher, Edward Kimball.

We all want to be Billy Graham, but what if you just lived a faithful life of looking up… maybe you could one day be Edward Kimball.

Conclusion

Enough was Enough. Stephen literally couldn’t take any more stones. But he responded to that desperate circumstance by

Seeing a a Vision that led to a Victory.

How do you respond?

Becuase when you see Jesus, really see Him you’ll want to follow Him, and following Him will always lead to victory.

Why won’t you stand with me, and let’s pray together.