The Power of a Vital Witness

INTRODUCTION

As we looked at Acts 6:8-15 we saw that many Jews from various synagogues were disputing with the Deacon Stephen about the truths of Christianity and the failings of the Jewish system, and the fact that the nation had rejected the Messiah they claimed to be looking for.

As you read verses 9-10 you can get at least a picture of what Stephen’s arguments were in the synagogues that it mentions.

· There were discussions about their misunderstanding about Moses (“we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses”)

· There were discussions about their misunderstanding about God (“and against God”)

· There were discussions about the role of the Temple (and this would have meant the sacrifices, the ark of the covenant, the ceremonies, the role of the priests, etc) (“This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place…”)

· There were discussions about the Law, and how it was not enough to get them into the presence of God (“…and the law”)

As Stephen revealed their errors, the Jews accused him of blasphemy and some were even paid to lie about what he had said. Despite all of that, Stephen maintained a Godly testimony. As we looked at this passage last time, we noted several important truths, and they are truths that we need to …

In regards to our character, like Stephen we should live in such a way that when we speak, our words can be trusted. Now, that doesn’t mean that people will actually like what we have to say. It does mean that for someone to question what we have said they would have to take it out of context or simply make something up. And the way we live should be so in-line with what we are saying that we cannot (legitimately) be called a hypocrite.

Secondly, we should speak and stand with confidence regarding the message that we carry just as Stephen did. In Stephen’s day his confidence was bolstered by the spiritual gift of faith that allowed him to belief that God would do a miracle through him. And while the spiritual gift of faith is no longer active, we as believers are still to live by faith. The Bible goes so far as to say that without faith it is impossible to please Him. And that faith should drive us to have confidence in our witness and not be ashamed. Romans 1:15-16 says…

15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Then, thirdly, our conversation should also be like Stephen’s as we witness to others. It should first of all be based on the truths found in Scripture. But it must also be relevant and presented in such a way that those who hear our message understand that they need the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Lastly, we must also have the same kind of controlled temperament that Stephen exhibited. Even in the face of accusations and arguments and outright deception and lies, he never lost his cool. He never resorted to the same tactics used against him as the way to make his point. Instead, it was apparent that Stephen had been with Jesus.

In the message tonight, we move into chapter 7. The accusations against Stephen have been made, and the High Priest (and most likely it was the same High Priest Caiaphas from the mock trial of Christ before His crucifixion) asks, “Is what they are saying true?” And we see Stephen’s defense and witness as he stands before them all. It is a powerful message, and again reveals to us some important truths that we must be aware of when we think about our witness.

Notice first of all…

I. The Testimony of Faith (vs 1-53)

In Luke 12:11-12, Christ told a group of his disciples…

11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: 12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

So, as we read the words of this defense, we can clearly praise the Lord for the guidance in what was said to the religious leaders of the Jewish nation.

But there is no doubt that Stephen must have also been a Jew who knew what we call the Old Testament Scriptures very well. In this single message, Stephen used three major people of the Old Testament to show the people their need for Christ.

· Abraham

· Joseph, and

· Moses

With Abraham, he reminded them that they were God’s chosen people. But with Joseph and Moses he showed them that in both cases, the people had originally rejected a deliverer in the beginning only to accept them at a later time.

Of course, we know that with Joseph the brothers hated Joseph and sold him into slavery. But years later they would rejoice when Joseph revealed himself and he was in the position to deliver them from the famine. With Moses, after Moses killed the Egyptian the Children of Israel were afraid of him. Only when he returned 40 years later would they follow him out of Egypt.

As you read through this defense, three key things are clearly seen, and they are important for our witness today. First of all, Stephen relied on the Truth of the Word of God. Everything Stephen said was either grounded in Scripture or was a direct quotation of Scripture.

Now, I am not saying that when we witness, we should never do anything but quote Scripture. But what I AM saying is that our witness should be grounded in the Scripture. And the only way that can happen is if we are truly students of the Word and have a high respect for it. We never know what kind of situation may bring up an opportunity to witness, and we should know enough of the Word of God that we can base our witness during that opportunity to some aspect or truth found in Scripture.

Secondly, we also see that Stephen’s defense relied heavily on sharing the works of God as well as the Word of God. He talks about

· The glory of God as it was revealed to Abraham

· The promises of God as it related to the birth of Isaac

· The covenant of God given to Abraham and later ratified by the children of Israel in the days of Moses

· The presence of God as he watched over Joseph during the years of his slavery and imprisonment

· The appearance of God to Moses in the burning bush

As Stephen shared the Word of God, he was also careful to show over and over again how God was active in the lives of His people. And we need to do the same thing…we must share the Word of God, but it is equally important that within that we share how God has moved since before the foundation of the world to save souls.

But then lastly, we also see in verses 51-53, the need to share the problem with man. It is not enough to just talk about the God who wants all men to be saved. We must also be willing to tell people what is wrong with where they are and what they are doing, and why they need to be saved. You will often times here people who regularly win people to Christ that a person has to see himself or herself as lost before they will

II. The Hindrances to Faith (vs 54-58)

When you read this passage, you cannot help but see how frustrated and angry the people were at the words of Stephen. What is truly interesting are the phrases used to describe their reactions…

· Cut to the heart: It literally means to have their heart sawn in two. It pictures the idea of being enraged, not of being convicted of their sin.

· Gnashed on him with their teeth: This is speaking of clenching their jaws together so hard that you could actually hear the sound of the grinding. It was a term used of the snarling of a mad dog.

· Cried out with a loud voice: the Greek word itself is based on the hoarse cry of the raven. In this case it is a scream of frustration and anger, with no words being spoken

· Stopped their ears: figuratively means they plugged their ears…in other words, they were so angry they would no longer listen to what Stephen said

· Ran upon him with one accord: it was a concerted and violent rushing towards Stephen so they could grab him and force him outside the city to be stoned.

Notice that Satan had so blinded the minds of these people that their response to the truth involved virtually their whole being: mind, soul, emotions, and body.

And that is what we have to understand as well. When we share the truth with people, some will be open to what we say. Others will be dismissive. And yet others will be violently opposed to our witness. When we talk about salvation, most times people will either be open or simply dismissive. But when you reveal a sin in their life, or talk about sin in general, you will usually face the more aggressive rejection of the Gospel.

But what we have to remember is that it is Satan that has blinded their hearts and their minds. The Bible says in II Corinthians 4:1-7…

1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

There is one other thing that we need to see here though. What was not a hindrance was Stephen himself. Look again at the words used to describe his actions and attitude in verses 55-56…

55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly 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.

And that leads us to the last key that we see, which is…

III. The Reward of Faith (vs 59-60)

Being stoned may not seem like much of a reward, and from the human side it is not something that anyone aspires to. But what each of us should aspire to is the desire to end our race with the power of God on our lives and the praise of God on our lips. That is exactly what we see here with Stephen in his final moments.

Just this past week, I had the opportunity to talk to a man that I have come to appreciate greatly. He has several different health conditions, and earlier this year he told me that there was little that could be done. He said then, “I am living for God’s glory and dying by His grace”. And you could tell that he truly meant it. When I called him this past week, I asked how he was doing, and he said the same thing, and if it is possible, he said it with even more conviction and actual joy than he did the last time we talked. His voice was weaker, but his faith was incredibly strong.

In the case of Stephen, his witness for the vital nature of Christianity ended with his life being taken for that witness. All over the world, this happens multiple times on a daily basis. But for most of us, the day of our death is usually not connected to what we have said for Christ. But that doesn’t mean that our last witness cannot be connected to the witness that we have had for Christ.

For the saint, our hope at death should be that our words would have the same kind of lasting effect on others as Stephen’s did with a man in the crowd named Saul. When Christ spoke to Saul some time later on the road to Damascus, He said in Acts 9:4…

I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Those “pricks” or “oxgoads” that Saul was kicking against was the Holy Spirit most likely using the testimony of Stephen…His words…His attitude…His death to show Saul that Jesus was real…Christianity was real…that a personal relationship with Christ was vital and necessary.

The death Stephen died was a means of leading others to Christ even after he had entered glory…that was his reward. May the same thing be true of us.