HOPE IS ALIVE - RISE
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I want to welcome you to our Easter service today. My name is Brad, and I’m the Lead Pastor hear at Marysville Christian Fellowship.
If you’re new to our church today, not only do we want to welcome you, but we also want to make sure that before you leave here today you have a better understanding of who we are, what we believe, and what we are trying to accomplish as a church.
First, let me say, at MCF, we love people where they are at. In other words, regardless of your background, your past, your social or economic demographic, your race, or even your political viewpoint, none of that matters to us when you walk through our doors.
We do that because that’s how Jesus loved people. Because when people came to Jesus, he didn’t ask them if they were a democrat or republican. He didn’t ask them if they were Baptist, Methodist, or Catholic. He didn’t ask them if they had a shady past or a list of failures in their life. He didn’t require them to clean up or dress up, or even accept his message. He took them right where they were, and He loved them regardless. That’s our desire as well.
Second, while we love people where they’re at, we don’t leave them there. Because our hope is, as you spend time with us, you’ll learn more about Jesus and who He is. That you’ll discover Jesus is the one who has the power and the ability to truly transform your life and give you true hope, true purpose, and a new identity. A hope not only for this life, but for the life to come.
Finally, in order to lead you to Jesus, one of our main focuses at MCF will be to teach you God’s Word. To show you that the Bible, not culture, not even your religious heritage or traditions, should be what guides your beliefs, desires, and convictions. In fact, we believe the Bible is more than a book with good ideas. We believe the Bible i s God’s Word, and it’s a living Word. The Apostle Paul puts it like this:
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
So, in order to help you understand what the Bible says and how it applies to your life, we’ve adopted a form of preaching here at MCF called “Expository Preaching”.
What that means is, we believe the Bible is best taught by taking books of the Bible and then studying them from beginning to end, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, in order to understand what it means in our lives today.
With that said, we are currently doing that through the NT book of Acts. A book that tells us how the church was started and teaches us how Jesus intends His church to accomplish the mission of taking the Gospel to the entire world.
Currently, we are in chapter 7 of our study, and while chapter 7 isn’t what you might consider a typical Easter passage. As we close out chapter 7 today, I think you’re going to be surprised to discover that regardless of what book, chapter, or verse of the Bible we find ourselves in, at the end of the day, it’s all about Jesus and what He’s done for us. In other words, the entire Bible points to Easter.
So, as we jump back into chapter 7, and just to make sure we are all on the same page, I want to quickly summarize where we’ve been in the past few weeks.
You may recall chapter 7 started with a Christian named Stephen being confronted by a group of Jewish religious leaders known as the Sadducees. In fact, this particular group is the same group that only weeks earlier had put Jesus on trial and called for His crucifixion. So, as you can imagine, this is not a friendly group. And now with the church growing, they have their sights set on Stephen.
You may recall back in chapter 6 we read:
12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council,
Acts 6:12.
And so in order to address this hostile group, Stephen shares the gospel with this group by referencing key OT characters and stories they would have been familiar with. Characters and stories meant to lead them to Jesus.
So, to start the story, Stephen begins with a man named Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation. And he reminds the religious leaders of how God made a promise to Abraham that through Abraham’s offspring, God would raise up a great nation that would become a blessing the entire world.
18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”
Blessed because through Abraham’s offspring God will provide a promised redeemer. A redeemer who will save man from sin and reconcile his relationship with God. A redeemer you and I know as Jesus Christ.
And so, to lead them to that conclusion and to Jesus, Stephen begins with Abraham and the promise.
Stephen then moves to a descendent of Abraham’s, a great great grandson named Joseph. A young man who God would use to prepare and protect the people Israel as they began to grow as a people in the land of Egypt.
“And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-fiver persons in all. And Jacob went down into Egypt...” (ESV)
Acts 7:
14 And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all.
And that’s exactly what happened as 75 descendents of Abraham move to Egypt.
From there, the story continues as Stephen moves 430 years into the future to another descendent of Abraham’s, a man named Moses.
17 “But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt 18 until there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph. 19 He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, so that they would not be kept alive. 20 At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God’s sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father’s house,
Acts 7:17-
Stephen says as the centuries passed, the nation grew strong and became a great people.
And from there Stephen reminds them of how God raised up and used Moses to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, into the Wilderness, and eventually into the Promised Land that God had promised to give them. Stephen says:
35 “This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.
Acts 7:35-
And he reminds them of how God raised up Moses and used Moses to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt and lead them to the Promised Land.
Again, this is a story the religious leaders were well familiar with. It was their history and religious heritage.
And them from there, Stephen reminds the religious leaders that despite God’s goodness, how the people of Israel rebelled against God as they journeyed towards the promised land. How they began to reject Moses, reject God, and started to worship false gods. Stephen summarizes it like this:
But then the story takes a turn. Because at this point, Stephen reminds the religious leaders that despite God’s goodness, the people of Israel rebelled against God as they journeyed towards the promised land. He reminds them how their ancestors began to reject Moses, reject God, and started to worship false gods. Stephen summarizes it like this:
39 Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42 But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:
“ ‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices,
during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
39 Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42 But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:
“ ‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices,
during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
43 You took up the tent of Moloch
and the star of your god Rephan,
the images that you made to worship;
and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’
39 Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands.
Acts 7:39-
Stephen reminds them that even when God reached out to help them, they pushed Him away. They refused to listen. And instead of obeying and putting their hope in God, they longed to go back to worldly hope.
So, a good question might be, “Why is Stephen reminding them of all this?”
He’s reminding them because that’s exactly what the religious leaders in Jesus’s day had done. Because now, thousands of years later, God has sent another redeemer. But despite that, the people of Israel are still rejecting God. The people of Israel are still living in disobedience. They are still putting their hope in false hope.
But the difference is, this time God hadn’t just sent a man. God hadn’t just sent somebody to lead them to a better place. God had sent His Son. God has sent THE PROMISED REDEEMER. One greater than Abraham, Joseph, and Moses. God had sent the promised offspring. The One who had the power to truly save them. But like their forefathers, they had rejected God’s chosen redeemer. That’s why Stephen says at this point:
51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”
Acts 7:51-
Stephen now drives his point home as he accuses them of rejecting the Righteous One, the one God had sent. As he accuses them of killing God’s Son, Jesus. Stephen steps on their toes.
So, how did the religious leaders respond to Stephen’s accusation? As you can imagine, not every well. In verse 54 we read:
54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.
Apparently Stephen’s words didn’t sit well with them. And now they are fighting mad. Now they’re ready to take drastic measures. Now, they’re ready to kill him.
So, before we go any further, I want to stop and answer a question that might be on your mind at this point. The question being, “While this is all interesting Pastor, what does this have to do with me, my life, and Easter?”
So, before we go any further, I want to stop and answer a question that might be on your mind. The question being, “While this is all interesting, what does this have to do with us?”
To be frank, it has everything to do with you and your life, and specifically with Easter, in three ways:
First, the promise that God made to Abraham wasn’t just for Israel, it was for all mankind. Meaning, the promise of a redeemer isn’t just for Israel, it’s for you and I as well. That’s why God said His offspring would be a blessing to all nations. A promise to provide deliverance from this world of sin and death. A promise of a future hope.
Second, like Israel, you and I are guilty of rebelling against God. Like Israel we are guilty of putting our hope in false hope and false gods. The truth is, we do it everyday as we put our hope in material possessions. As we put our hope in false beliefs. As we put our hope in sexual immorality and addiction. As we put our hope in everything and anything but God. The Apostle Paul puts it like this:
Romans 1:18
Third, while we weren’t the ones who put Jesus on trial, sentenced him to death, or drove the nails through His hands, we are as guilty as the people and religious leaders who did. The Apostle Paul puts it like this:
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
Romans
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
So, like it or not, we’re all guilty of rejecting and disobeying God. Nobody has lived a perfect life. And at some point we’ve all rejected the truth. The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.
Third, while we weren’t the ones who put Jesus on trial, sentenced him to death, and drove the nails through His hands, we are as guilty as the people and religious leaders who did. The fact is, we too are guilty of murdering the righteous one. The Apostle Paul puts it like this:
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Paul says our sin put Jesus on that cross. Our sin drove those nails through His hands. Our sin killed the Righteous One.
So, you see, this story applies to us because like Israel and like these religious leaders we are part of the story of redemption. A story of how a loving Father sent His only Son to die for His rebellious creation. Jesus puts it like this:
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
And the good news of the gospel is this. Because Jesus is more than a man, and because He was without sin, death was unable to hold Him. And on the third day, on Easter, when it seemed like evil had won the day, an empty grave proclaimed that Jesus isn’t dead, and that HOPE is Alive. This is he message Stephen is proclaiming to these religious leaders. A message they continue to reject.
So, the question for you and I now is, “How will we respond to this story? How will you respond to Easter?”
Will you respond like the religious leaders did and get offended, mad, and upset? Will you choose to continue to deny your sin. Will you continue to deny your need for God? Will you continue to put your hope in false hope? Or, will we choose to respond differently?
My prayer today is that you would be open to responding differently. That by the time we walk out of this room in a few minutes, you will be open to the idea that HOPE is ALIVE. That before this service ends, you will be open to receiving the HOPE that God has provided you through faith in Jesus. That you will no longer seek to find hope in what the world promises and can’t deliver on. And that your hope will be in the true savior. A savior named Jesus.
And so, to help us get to that point, we’re going to let Stephen demonstrate for us what that HOPE looks like, and what that HOPE provides us. Because in the midst of a hostile crowd, Stephen’s circumstance are about to put his faith to the test, as he is not only persecuted, but killed for his faith in Jesus. And through his death, Stephen is going to demonstrate to us why Hope is alive, what it offers, and why you and I should embrace it.
So, in order to get us all on the same page, I want to take a few minutes and build some framework for what we are about to read. And to do that, I want to begin by asking you a question. A question I think we can all relate with:
Question - “How many of you are familiar with consequences?”
I think we probably all are. The fact is, we’ve all experienced consequences at some point in our life.
And when I say consequence, I’m talking about the result or effect that comes from an action, condition, or decision.
Definition - A consequence is a result or effect of an action or condition.
Let me give you a couple of examples of what I’m talking about.
Example #1 -If you’re a Kansas City Chiefs fan, there are consequences to that decision. And the consequence is you’re probably never going to know what it feels like to win a Super bowl.
Example #2 - If you’re getting ready to jump off a cliff, there are going to be some consequences to that decision. The consequence being, your probably going to die.
Now, you might be thinking, “Pastor, I get what you’re saying, but are you using negative examples for a consequence?” I’m using negative examples because more often than not, when we think of the word “consequence”, we typically think of it in a negative or disciplinary way.
And when I say “consequences”, I’m not just talking about negative results. Because often times that’s what people tend to think of when they think of the word “consequence?”
For example, if you have children, you might tell them, “If you don’t obey me, there is going to be a consequence.”
And what you mean by that is, “There are going to be negative results for your lack of obedience.”
And so, when your kids don’t obey, you say something like, “Because you disobeyed me, you don’t get to go to the park today.” Or, “you don’t get to go out with your friends.” And now, because they disobeyed, they get to experience the consequence.
Or in your workplace, your boss might say, “If you don’t get this task done today, there will be consequences.”
And what he/she is implying is, “There will be negative results for your job if you fail to meet the expectation.”
And so, when you don’t complete the task, your boss says, “Because you goofed around all day, you’re getting your hours cut.” Or, “You’re no longer up for the promotion.” And now, because you didn’t complete the task, you get to experience the consequence.
I think we’ve all experienced something like that when it comes to consequences.
But the truth is, the word “consequence” can also be used in a positive sense.
For example, If you ask your kids to obey, and they do, the consequence might be a reward. So you say, “Because you were good today, I’m going to take you to get ice cream”. Or, “I’m going to take you to the park”.
The same is true in your workplace. You worked hard to accomplish the task. So your boss says, “Because you worked hard, I’m recommending you for the promotion.” Or, “I’m giving you a raise.”
The point is, consequences aren’t always negative, in fact, many times they are positive.
Here’s why I ask you to consider this question. As we come back to , and as we read about the death of Stephen, what we are going to discover is that when it comes to following Jesus there are consequences. Consequences that on the surface might appear negative, but when considered correctly, are extremely positive.
Here’s why I ask you to consider this question. As we come back to , and as we read about the death of Stephen, what we are going to discover is that when it comes to following Jesus there are consequences.As we read our passage today, and we watch Stephen get stoned to death, initially the death of Stephen might seem like a negative consequence for his faith. But the truth is, it’s a positive consequence. And one we should pursue as well.
And so, with our time remaining today, I want to introduce you to the consequences of following Jesus. Consequences that can lead to great hope in your life.
So, to get us started, let’s jump back into as the religious leaders respond to Stephen’s words. Picking back up in verse 54, Luke writes:
54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 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. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 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. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 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.
Acts 7:54-
Luke says as Stephen finishes speaking, the leaders don’t respond well, and in a fit of rage, they drag Stephen outside of the city, and stone him to death.
Now, as I said, at first glance, it might appear that Stephen’s decision to stand for Jesus resulted in a pretty negative consequence. In fact, you could frame the consequence like this:
Consequence - Because of Stephen’s faith in Jesus, Stephen lost his life.
And maybe that shouldn’t surprise us, because Jesus did warn his disciples that following Him could cost them their lives. Jesus puts it like this:
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.
So, apparently, this comes with the territory.
But let’s just be honest, that’s not a great selling point if you’re trying to convince somebody they need to put their faith in Jesus. To say, “If you follow Jesus, people are going to hate you and maybe even want to kill you.” Ok, where do I sign up for that. The truth is, it sounds like a negative consequence, doesn’t it?
But what we’re going to discover today, is that while on the surface the consequence appears negative, if we dig a little deeper into this passage, Stephen’s consequence is actually extremely positive. And the reason it’s positive is because Stephen has a different perspective most in his circumstance would.
Because he knows something the religious leaders don’t, and maybe something that some of you don’t realize this morning. You see, what Stephen believes, and what Stephen has put his faith in, is that while they thought Jesus was dead, Stephen believes Jesus is alive. And so, for Stephen, Hope is Alive. And because Jesus is alive, Stephen perceives a different consequence from his faith. In fact, if I could speak for Stephen, I think he would put it this way:
Consequence - Because of my faith in Jesus, I can now live to rise.
So, a good question might be, “What does that mean? What does it mean to live to rise? And how is that a positive consequence?”
Because Jesus has RISEN, we can RISE.
That’s what I want to show you this morning. So, with the time we have left, I want to show you what “living to rise” means and what makes it a positive consequence for the person who puts their faith in Jesus.
To Live To Rise Means:
What does it mean for us to RISE?
I can now live with a new hope and perspective.
In verse 54 we read:
54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 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. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 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.
What I want you to notice is because Stephen has put his faith in Jesus, he is now living with a new hope and perspective. A persecutive that comes from the work of the Holy Spirit in his life. Verse 55 says, “But he (Stephen), full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.”
Because of his faith in Jesus, Stephen now has the Spirit of God living inside of him. The Apostle Paul describes it like this:
11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Paul says for the the person that has put their faith in Jesus, God’s Spirit is now living in side of you.
I want you to think about that for a second. Pauls says the same life giving Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of the Christian. So, a good quesiton might be, “If that’s true, what is the Spirit doing inside of us?”
The Spirit is doing the work of regeneration. In other words, the Holy Spirit is turning you into a different person and giving you an entirely new perspective. Paul puts it like this:
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
o put it simply, He’s transforming us into the image of Jesus.
Paul says when you put your faith in Jesus, your eyes are opened to a new reality as the veil that kept us from the presence of God has now been removed. And as a result we can see God in a way we couldn’t see Him before. And now we are being transformed into the same image of His Son. And Paul says this comes from the work of the Spirit within us.
And as a result, Stephen now lives with an entirely different perspective. He now sees life differently. Because no longer is Stephen living horizontally with his eyes on wordly hope, instead, he’s living vertically with his eyes set on heavenly hope. Stephen is living his life with his eyes on Jesus. The Apostle Paul describes it like this:
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Notice what Paul says. He says seek things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
And that’s exactly what Stephen is doing. Because as the stones begin to leave the hands of his accusers, verse 55 says, “But he (Stephen), full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” (ESV)
Stephen knows where to look for true hope.
Here’s what this is saying to us. When you put your faith in Jesus, regardless of what the world throws at you, your hope and your security is now found in a higher source.
And that’s the difference from between living horizontally and living vertically. Because people who live horizontally don’t have that certainty. People who live horizontally only have what the world can offer. And let’s just be honest, the world doesn’t have much to offer. Because everything it promises eventually fails.
But not for the Christian. Because we’re no longer living with worldly hope . That’s why Paul goes on to say in :
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
Paul says, stop walking horizontally, and start walking vertically. Stop putting your hope in the false hope of this world, and start putting your hope in the new life Jesus offers. Seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Because that’s where true hope is found. That’s where life beyond this life can be found.
You see, to live to rise means the Christian lives with his eyes looking up. Looking to true hope. Looking forward to a new life. Living to rise above the hopelessness of this life.
Let me ask you something, “How are you living your life? Are you living with your eyes set on the world and its false hope? Trying to find hope in a person. Trying to find hope in a possession. Trying to find hope in a position. Trying to find hope in an occupation?”
Or, are you walking looking up, with your eyes set on the promises that God offers. A promise of new life in Jesus. A promise of His Spirit living in you. The Spirit that gives you a new perspective. The Spirit that renews and changes your thinking. The Spirit that allows you too look up and see where true hope lies. The Spirit that allows you to live to rise.
This leads us to a second consequence for putting your faith in Jesus.
You’re living for the world to come. For you, this world is no longer your final destination. Because you don’t serve a dead savior. You serve a living savior who went ahead of you and is prep
2. I can now live without fear of death.
As Stephen declares his faith, listen to what happens next:
Acts 7:56-
56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 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. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Couple things I want you to notice.
First, when you put your faith in Jesus, and you begin to live with a new perspective, the world is going to go to extreme measures to shut you down. Luke says as Stephen declared his faith, they began to cry out, they put their fingers in their ears, and they rushed him.
Have you ever seen somebody do that? They were so upset by what you had to say that they tried to talk over the top of you, refused to listen, and maybe even forcefully tried to quiet you.
I want you to think about this imagery for a moment and what it means. First, they began to cry out. Why? So they could muffle his words. So others wouldn’t hear what he had to say. So others wouldn’t believe.
Second, they put their fingers in their ears. Why? Because they didn’t want to hear what he had to say. It infuriated them. It ran contrary to what they believed.
Third, they rushed him. Why? To attack him. Because the only way to shut this guy up is to take him out.
You see, that’s how a hostile world responds to the gospel. In fact, we see it in our culture on a daily basis.
The truth is, our culture is working hard to muffle Biblical truth.
We see it constantly in movies and television shows as the world promotes sexual immorality, worldly thinking, and unbiblical living. As gay lifestyle and immoral living are shoved in our faces. Gone are the days of movies and television shows that promote Biblical living, marriage, and fidelity.
The fact is, Hollywood is doing everything it can to muffle and distort biblical truth.
And as a result, a spirit of fear and political correctness as crept into our nation, keeping many Christians from voicing the truth. They’ve been muffled.
And for those who do speak out, those who refuse to be muffled, they are met with a hostile response. They are shouted down, verbally attacked, and accused of being racist, homophobic, Islamic phobic, and the list goes on.
And if their verbal attack and threats won’t work, the world won’t hesitate to rush you. Hesitate to sue you. Hesitate to do whatever it takes to shut you down. And while we haven’t seen it in our country yet, hesitate to kill you.
In Stephen’s case, Luke says, “They they cast him out of the city and stoned him.” (ESV)
Now, some of you might be thinking, “Wow pastor, that’s discouraging. Pastor I was hoping for more of an uplifting message on Easter.”
Well, here’s the uplifting part. The truth is, it doesn’t really matter how the world responds. Because regardless of what the world does to you, even if they kill you for your faith, you have nothing to fear. Why? Because death isn’t the end. For the Christian, it’s the beginning. Why? Because as a Christian, you know when you leave this earth, when you take your last breath, you’re going to be in the presence of Jesus. Listen to the words of Stephen:
“And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit.’” (ESV)
Stephen knew where he was headed. He had nothing to fear. This wasn’t the end. It was the beginning. He was living to rise. Rise to a new life with Jesus.
You see, that’s the security we now have as believers. That’s what gives us the ability to live without fear. Paul puts it like this:
8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
Paul says because of our faith in Jesus, we can live with courage. Why? Because to be absent from the body is to be home with the Lord. And that’s the confidence we have. To know this world isn’t the end. To know when we take our last breath whether it’s from old age, a sickness, or somebody taking our life, that when we die we don’t die. We actually rise. We rise to a new life with Jesus, to a place he has prepared for us. In fact, Jesus promises us that. In the gospel of John Jesus says:
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
Let me ask you something, “Do you have that confidence in your life? Do you live without fear of death? Or is death a concern for you? Do you have doubts of what death might mean for you?”
The good news of the Gospel is, because of what Jesus did for us, and because of our faith in Him, we don’t have to live in the fear of death any longer. Instead, we can live to rise.
This leads us to a final consequence for faith in Jesus. Because not only does it allow us to live with a new perceptive and live without fear of death. Because of my faith in Jesus:
3. I can now live and die in peace
3. I can now live and die in peace
As the stones take Stephen out, listen to what he has to say:
60 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.
Acts 7:
A couple of things I want you to notice.
First, as those who hated Stephen killed him, Stephen prayed God would forgive them. That’s amazing, isn’t it?
Well, it shouldn’t suprise us too much. Stephen is a Christ follower, and he’s simply modeling what He knew Jesus would do, and did.
Because if you recall, when Jesus was hanging on the cross, he uttered similar words. The Gospel writer Luke records Jesus’s words:
34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Luke says as the slayers of Jesus cast lots for his clothes, Jesus looked down and asked God to forgive them. And now, as the stones are thrown, Stephen does the same.
So, a good question might be, “How could Stephen pray that? What gave him the ability to love the people who were killing him?”
Simply put, it’s the work of the Spirit in Stephen. Because the Spirit of God lives in him, he now views people much differently. The Apostle Paul gives us some insight once again in in to what this looks like. Paul writes:
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
Colossians 3:
2:
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
You see, Stephen understood something every Christian needs to understand. He understood the only way to experience true peace is through forgiveness.
He goes on to say:
Because that’s what happens when a person puts their faith in Jesus. For the first time in their life they experience a peace that the apostle Paul says in surpasses all understanding as the peace of Christ enters them. It’s a peace that only God can give. And it’s a peace that allows us to show compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience to others. It’s a peace that allows us to forgive others just like Christ forgave us.
Because that’s what forgiveness does. Forgiveness brings peace. Forgiveness allows us to let go of anger. Let go of the burden un-forgiveness heaps upon us. And as a result, instead of living your life in unrest, you can live it in peace. A peace that can bring healing first to you, and then with others.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Unfortunately, I know a lot of people who haven’t figured this out. And so instead of living in peace, they live in unrest. Unrest in almost every relationship that touches their life. Always mad at something or somebody. Always quick to get angry. Quick to get even. What a miserable way to live.
And as a result, they end up living in regret. Regret as relationships they’ve destroyed in the past keep them from healthy ones in the present. Regret as they get even with somebody that wronged them only to discover their bitterness has grown deeper. Regret as somebody they wrote off long ago passes on without any ability now to reconcile the relationship.
And I’m going to tell you right now, people who live like that never live and die in peace.
But that wasn’t true for Stephen. When he died, he had reconciled in his heart with those who had wronged him. Stephen didn’t go to the grave with hatred in his heart. For Stephen, there was no regret. And so, he died in peace.
Now, you might be thinking, “Pastor, how can you say he died in peace? They were throwing stones at him. He was dying a horrific death. How can you say he died in peace?”
That’s the second thing I want you to see. Listen again to what we are told:
I didn’t say it, the Bible does. Listen to how the Bible says Stephen died:
60 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.
The term “feel asleep” is a common term in the Bible for when a Christian dies. and it’s used for a couple of reasons.
First, when a Christian dies, it’s not the end. The fact is, they’re going to wake up again. No, not in this life, but in the life to come. The Apostle Paul writes:
51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
5:
Now when I say that, some might ask, “Pastor are you saying when we die we go in a holding
Paul says strive to live at peace with all as you let go of un-forgiveness. Let God deal with them, that’s His job. Your job is to love them. Your job is to show them the love and peace of Christ. Paul says that’s how you overcome evil.
Second, it symbolizes the state of a Christians death. And it’s a state of peace. Why? Because when a Christian dies, they die with peace and security.
Paul says we are to live
Because that’s what it takes to go to sleep, right? Because isn’t it true it’s hard to go to sleep when your upset, uncertain, or full of anxiety.
But not Stephen. When he dies, he’s full of peace. His eyes are on Jesus. And he’s reconciled his relationship not only with God, but with man. He’s ready to go. So despite the horrific means of his death, when the final stone strikes Stephen, he just falls asleep. He enters death in peace.
Let me ask you something, “If you died to today, would you die in peace? Would you die knowing all is well in your heart first with God and second with man?”
Or would death be a traumatic experience for you? Traumatic because you’re not at peace with God and you’re not sure what the next life looks like. Traumatic because your heart is full of anger towards others, un-forgiveness, unrest, and regret.
Unfortunately, I’ve seen a lot of people die in that state. And for them, death is always a traumatic experience. People like that never die in peace.
But the good news of the gospel is, if you’ve put your faith in Jesus, you can live without the burden of un-forgiveness. You can live without the fear of regret. You can live knowing when you die, you’ll die with peace in your heart, and it will be like falling asleep, knowing that when you wake in death, you’ll experience a peace you could have never imagined. An ultimate peace that comes in the presence of God.
That’s what Jesus offers us. That’s why through faith in Him, we can live to rise.
Listen, I don’t know where you’re at with Jesus this morning. But here’s what I do know. When you put your faith in Jesus there are some amazing consequences that come with it. Consequences that allow you to live and die with a new perspective, without fear, and with ultimate peace. But they’re consequences you can only have if you’re willing to surrender your life to the one who offers it. If you’re willing to give your life to Jesus.
Let me put it to you like this, “Because Jesus died and rose again, you can live to rise.”
However, I will say this. If you’re not willing to do that, there are consequences for that as well. And the consequences are quite the opposite. Because without Jesus, you’ll continue to live with a worldly perspective that only offers a false hope.
Without Jesus you’ll continue to live in fear and doubt, unsure and uncertain of what the future holds.
Without Jesus, you’ll live with unrest and regret in your heart, and for you, death will be a traumatic experience as you die without having made peace not only with man, but with God.
You see, there are consequences. Consequences for putting your faith in Jesus and consequence for not putting your faith in Jesus, and at the end of the day, the choice is yours. The question for you is, “Which consequence will you choose?”
Let’s Pray
18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.