Oct 27: Titus 3:9-15

Stephen is the first Christian martyr. For clarification, a martyr is a person who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs. There are many stories of Christian martyrs, There’s a book even a book written in the 1500 called Foxes Book of Martyrs that tells stories of Christians who were killed for their faith mainly in England and Scotland. There are modern examples as well. But as you read them, have you ever wondered how they could go through that. Because all they had to do was recant. That’s it. Just say, “Yah, I was wrong.” And the turture would stop.

Or, how about this, your talking to someone, and they start asking questions about your faith. Your not known as the quick on your feet type, so you can’t think about your gifting or something like that. But suddenly, you have a flood of thoughts and words and confidence as you begin to talk about the message about Jesus? You think back and think, “Wow, where did that come from? I didn’t know I could do that.” Or maybe you have seen that happen to to a friend as they defend the faith and you kind of look at them with that, “Who are you?” look. You friend just went into beast mode.

How could they stay faithful as they faced trails in sharing their faith?

Transition: Over these next couple of chapters, we are further introduced to Stephen, one of the people who was chosen to relieve the apostles from a task that would take away from the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. As we saw in verse 5, Stephen was a man full of faith coming with an empty hand reaching out to take hold of the Saviour who was given to us in our sorry situation and misery. Stephen, was a man who was full of that certain faith and was ready to head straight on whatever may come his way knowing that God was in complete control.

READ Acts 6:8-15

PRAY

The Holy Spirit Empowers Vs. 8-10

Vs. 8 We were introduced to Stephen in verse 5 as a man who was full of faith and the Holy Spirit. A man that had clear evidence of Spirit-filled faith. And this faith is what we see here in verse 8 and is what will guide what he does and what happens to him in the next following chapters.

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

Stephen wasn’t just given for organization of the distribution to the needs of the widows, but also for speaking.

Full of grace and power shows the Holy Spirit was present and working through Stephen.

great wonders and signs we don’t know to what extent these spiritual gifts were given to other besides the apostles, but we do know one thing, is that these signs and wonders were used to accompany the gospel as a way to confirm the preaching of the Word. So don’t get stuck on what was done, but what they were used to do. It was about the preaching of the Word.

What characterizes Stephen is what we see is promised to the disciples from Jesus in Acts 1:8 “8 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.”” And gifted to bring the message about Jesus to the world. There’s a continuation from what Jesus told the Apostles, to all other christians. God empowers his people to bring his message to the world and gifts them to do that. This wasn’t a “power” that was physical or a worldly knowledge or influence, this was the power of the Holy Spirit. All that is to happen is only by the power of God in his life.

Also notice that Stephen wasn’t just involved in the serving the church, but also active outside of the church in the proclamation of God’s message. The gospel doesn’t just stay contained. Not just something that happens on a Sunday morning, God’s people gather to scatter. The gospel is important for God’s people as we are reminded of who God is, as we are reminded us of the hope we have in Christ, but it’s also the hope of the nations and God’s people get to proclaim that message.

Stephen didn’t say to himself, “Alright, I came to church, helped some widows, I’m good for the week. Who he was because of Christ, effected the other 6 days of his week.

Vs. 9 But the people got upset about what was happening. We see people who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen. These were Jewish people who were at one time slaves or were children of slaves, that had been freed. These were people from all over the Roman Empire that had found themselves back in Jerusalem.

It was these men who heard what Stephen was saying and didn’t like what they heard.

Our response to God’s Word shows the true state of our hearts. God’s people seek to obey what God has to say because they have a new heart that changes that desire.

Stephen, proclaiming the message about Jesus that he is the Christ, that he died for his peoples sin, and rose again, wasn’t being received very well.

It’s a reminder for us that as we go out a speak the message about Jesus, that it won’t always be received well. In fact, most of the time, it won’t be received, some of the time, it will have a hostile response like we see here with Stephen.

because these people in the synagogue of Freedmen…rose up and disputed with Stephen.

Rose up meaning they were probably sitting around listen and watching what Stephen had to say. You can picture these people just starting to shake their heads and eventually couldn’t take it anymore, so they stand up stare Stephen in the eyes and say, “Your wrong.”

So they disputed meaning they were being very forceful with their difference of opinion, but weren’t necessarily seek a solution. This wasn’t a conversation, but a yelling at Stephen. They were mad.

How dare you say what you have to say. You’re wrong. That’s not right. Ever had people like that? You present God’s Word to them and their response is just anger? I’ve had my fair share. It’s a reminder though that they aren’t angry at you, but if you are being faithful to God’s Word, it’s God that they have a problem with.

Vs. 10 This is a big reminder for me. You don’t need to know a certain amount of knowledge in order to tell someone the message about Jesus. What you need to know is the Gospel. Do you need to know all the answers? No. Will you mess up? Yes. But will God use your faithful witness? absolutely. Because as Isaiah 55:11 “11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Another reason why we need to be people of God’s Word and use God’s Word in our evangelism and our discipleship. But, does that mean you should ever stop being a Christ-learner? Absolutely not. Because you will never be done, so continue to grow, but don’t think you need to get to some sort of boss level of experience in order to be a faithful witness.

Some of the the most faithful witness I know are those who God has recently called to himself. In fact, the people who are know who are the most evangelistic are those who God saved later in life. It’s like they aren’t bogged down with some sort of shame.

So they rise up. Yelling facts at him. But they couldn’t argue Stephen. Why?

They could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit. I love how the NIV translates this passage: But they could not stand against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.

Could not withstand These people were no match for Stephen, they actually were no match the Holy Spirit who was working through Steven. They tried to fight Stephen, but found they were fighting the Holy Spirit.

The character of wisdom that Stephen had was showing in the way he spoke, not just in his management skills.

So how can we explain Stephen’s ability?

See Jesus’ words in Luke 21:15“15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.”

This is such an example for anyone who may find that they are on trail for their faith.

Stephen didn’t have theological training. He didn’t attend a Bible college or seminary. Attend an evangelism class. He was a person of the word and prayer. And because he was full of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit empowered him to do the task ahead. But he did more than just pray, if we are to know the mind and help of the Spirit, we must not only be in prayer, but be in the Word of God that is inspired by the Spirit.

This week I got a text message from one of our young adults asking for prayer. This is the exact text: I have one other prayer request: I'm in [a city] for the week. I'm staying with the family I use to live with before, and they aren't believers. Please, pray for the Holy Spirit would give me the right words at the right moments and for their souls. It's hard for me to talk about eternal condemnation when sharing the Gospel.

Yes, yes I will pray for you. This young woman who understands a few fundamental things:

There is eternal condemnation for those who reject the gospel, who reject Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

These are people she loves who without Jesus don’t face a throne of grace, but a throne of judgement with no mediator, no advocate.

She understand that there is hope for the lost, the broken, the sinner, in Jesus Christ.

So, She knows that even though these loved ones are facing condemnation, that there’s a hope in the gospel, because Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again.

She understands it’s hard for her to talk about those truths.

So with the tension of knowing the gospel in her own live and a very real fear, she prays and asks for prayer. Why? Because she know she can’t do it on her own. But more than that, it’s not even her words that will convince or convict. It is the Holy Spirit, working through her telling of the message of Jesus, that will bring conviction. So I pray, Lord, give her the boldness and the Words to say. Lord, by your Spirit, will you convict these friends hearts so that they may see that they are sinners and the need of a Saviour and that you are him.

Acts 4:23–31 ESV

23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Transition: The people who listened, the people who couldn’t stand up against the wisdom of Stephen, couldn’t stand up to it because it was the Holy Spirit who was empowering Stephen to speak these things.

Let’s be disciples who are learning Christ in repentance and faith, trust the Holy Spirit in the proclamation of Jesus’ message, understanding at the same time, that there are only two reaction to the message about Jesus. Rejection or acceptance. These people reject God as we see in verses 11-15

The People Reject God Vs. 11-15

Do you notice that no amount of good argument can win a heart that has not been first convicted by the Spirit? John 16:8 “8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:”

What is the reaction of the people who were listening? They couldn’t withstand the wisdom of Stephen because it wasn’t his, but God’s wisdom. So they begin to scheme, gather support, send out letters and phone calls to try and get people on their side, and they do this in secret. It’s intereesting, I wonder what would happen if we took our words, acions, thoughts, motives, and compared them to the two groups of people that are always presented in the Bible, those who are godly and those who are ungodly, and see what side of the fence we are finding ourselves on.

So what do they resort to?

vs. 11 Then points out an important development of what’s happening next. The people who couldn’t win Stephen in a theological debate move on to secretly instigated

hypoballō The word there is talking about putting words in someone’s mouth or making a false suggestion.

men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” So they gather false witnesses,

They accuse him of blasphemy, which is to speak against Moses, the Law, and against God, against the temple which was where God dwelled. You can see that these are some serious charges that Jesus was charged with. (Mark 14:63-64). I’m reminded of

Matthew 10:22-24 “22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.”

John 15:20-21 “20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.”

All the actions we will see that are happening to Stephen will look familiar because they happened to Jesus too. So when Jesus said that a disciple is not above his teacher, or because they persecuted him they would persecute his people, Stephen is walk through this. But remember the response of the Apostles in Acts, as they rejoiced because they were found worthy to be persecuted for the name of Jesus.

Vs. 12 So they stirred everyone up with these thoughts, after all, how dare a man say such things against God and and against the Temple.

But here’s the funny thing, it was a lie what these men were saying about Stephen and what Stephen was saying about Jesus. In Matthew 5:17-48 and Mark 2:23-3:6, Jesus actually holds up the law. In fact, he is the one who fulfills the law as Galatians 4:4-5 “4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Jesus was addressing the things that were added to the law that weren’t the law.

And what Stephen was doing, and he repeats later, is that when Jesus came, the temple order was done as the temple curtain was torn in two at Jesus’ death making it possible for all people to come to God through Jesus. Jesus said the these things as we see in John 2:19, but he explains them in John 2:21 “21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body.” Jesus was refering to how the authorities, who Stephen is now standing before, will kill Jesus and three days later he will rise again.

The scheme works. The people start gather a bit of crowd around them with the usual suspects, people who don’t have a good track record, the crowds, leaders, and scribes.

Vs. 13 So they set up false witnesses, people who are willing to lie. Stephen doesn’t stop talking about how Jesus will destroy this holy place. Hebrews 10:1-4 says that Jesus sacrifice was once for all. That all other sacrifices needed to go because they didn’t fully pay the price for sin, but Jesus’ dead was perfect. Hebrews 10:11-13 “11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.”

Vs. 14 and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us. Because Stephen would have proclaimed that salvation comes through faith in Christ rather than by the works of the law as Romans 3:28 “28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”

What is Stephen’s response to what is happening?

He has been dragged before the council, he’s been lied about. Jesus has been lied about. So he begins to freak out, right?

No.

Vs. 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

What does that look like? He was the complete opposite of freaking out. He was calm, unaggressive. The complete opposite of what the other people were acting like. Stephen was a man full of the Spirit and even his demeanor showed that. As he was being accused, he was still showing the fruit of the Spirit. He was facing false charges, and his face looked calm and collected. In the face of trails, the Holy Spirit gives Stephen the ability to trust that God has the situation in complete control and that God will use this for his own glory, but also for Stephen’s good. He wasn’t afraid of his persecutors. He didn’t shrink back from the fight.

Someone once said it this way, “Character is what a man is in the dark.” Psalm 27:4 puts it so well, Ps. 27:4 “4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”

Transition: Let me ask you these questions:

Are you too concerned about our reputation when faced with opposition? Do we shrink from asserting our confidence in the Lord when asked to make a stand that we know will prove unpopular? Stephen was fearless in his opposition to the kingdom of darkness, resolute in his determination to remain true to his Lord, and focused on his mission to bring the message about Jesus. He understood that God sovereignly uses the church as his means to accomplish the mission of Jesus to spread the message about Jesus. He looked forward to his ultimate home in heaven, along with the angels: Acts 6:15 “15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.”

What we see here is an example for you and I on how we need to be prepared to make a stand in defence of the gospel. This might be in the classroom or at the water fountain or at a board meeting or the park. But when the moment comes to stand for the truth of the gospel and honour of our Savior, we need to stand firm as Stephen did with our fixed on the hope we have in Jesus Christ. Stephen could stand faithful because his eyes were on the prize of Jesus Christ.

So What?

BI: The Holy Spirit empowers his people to be faithful under trial, trusting him in the proclamation of Jesus’ message.

When it comes to faithful talking about the message about Jesus, the first step is to know it. And if you claim to be a Christian, you should already know it, because you can’t believe something you don’t know. It’s the Holy Spirit that empowers you and I, in our weak and feeble state to go out and talk to the mom at the park, or the neighbour, or the co-worker, or the friend in the school hallways. It’s why it’s important to pray for boldness. Knowing that we can’t do it, but God can.

How do we win the fight? How do we finished this race well? By living closely to God. It’s when we do that that we will reflect his glory in how we act. Where was Stephen looking? His gaze was upward. his eyes were firmly fixed, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith. (Hebrews. 12:2) Stephen serves as a model for those of us who may find ourselves opposed and victimized.

We need to go in with the understanding that the gospel is hated. But because of the hope we have, because of the Holy Spirit, we can be faithful under trail. Stephen, was a man who was full of that certain faith and was ready to head straight on whatever may come his way knowing that God was in complete control.

This week, I pray, that you would know more of the one your faith is in, so that you can face whatever situation comes your way with certain that God is in complete control.

BI: The Holy Spirit empowers his people to be faithful under trial, trusting him in the proclamation of Jesus’ message.

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