Witness: Stephen (3)

Witness: Stephen

Acts 7

INTRODUCTION

Each of us also has people who have invested in our lives that have helped shaped us into who we are today.

-Telling my grandfather of my call.

-Grandfather’s advice for me.

Billy Graham has preached at some of the largest observed funerals the world has known including JFK. He always preached Jesus.

- Funeral service for fallen police officer. –Chase Whitebird (23)

Largest group I've ever preached to.

Over 1,000 in our building- many state dignitaries-

and hundreds more at other churches across town.

Broadcast live on the internet on the website of the 3 TV stations in OKC. (This was 16 to 18 years ago)

I preached Jesus. – because I already made up my mind to be faithful.

Stephen was an early believer.

He was not an Apostle.

It doesn’t appear he is a trained leader of any kind.

He was a Hellenistic Jew (name- as was all first 7 deacons).

He had just recently been given a responsibility to serve the widows.

He gets arrested and has a chance to speak to the religious leaders. Talk about intimidating. How does he respond?

Acts 7:51–60 ESV

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.” 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.

6 Characteristics of Stephen's Witness

Opportunistic (1)

Acts 7:1

Acts 7:1 ESV

1 And the high priest said, “Are these things so?”

Took advantage of the opportunity

Seems like a hardship, not an opportunity.

Acts 6:8-14

Acts 6:8–14 ESV

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 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. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 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, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”

Will you preach Jesus or preach self preservation?

In most settings it takes a risk.

ILL-I learned why my grandfather made a big deal of preaching the gospel at funerals.

It is easy to think your job is to please the family.

How do you please an unchurched family? Impress dignitaries?

ILL-Many preachers have been on major news talk shows. Some compromise and some get criticized for taking a stand.

Relevant (1-8)

Acts 7:1-8

Acts 7:1–8 ESV

1 And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” 2 And Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ 4 Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. 5 Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child. 6 And God spoke to this effect—that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years. 7 ‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’ 8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

He was speaking to educated Jews. Religious leaders.

This message does not work with a Gentile audience who doesn't have a clue who he is referring to.

Paul- when he was preaching to Gentile pagans at Athens he spoke about the Temple to the Unknown God.

In America it is important to tell people the importance of not making up own rules for salvation. Telling them they need Jesus goes nowhere for someone who believes that they are good and going to heaven as they are.

In African village who has never heard of Jesus- you start with Creation.

Revealing (35-50)

Jesus was light in darkness – We are to be too.

John 3:19-22

John 3:19–22 ESV

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” 22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing.

Showed them Failure in Rejection (35-43)

Acts 7:35-43

Acts 7:35–43 ESV

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. 37 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ 38 This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us. 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.’

Showed Them Failure in the System (44-50)

Acts 7:44-50

Acts 7:44–50 ESV

44 “Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. 45 Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David, 46 who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47 But it was Solomon who built a house for him. 48 Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, 49 “ ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? 50 Did not my hand make all these things?’

Bold (51-53)

Acts 7:51-53

Acts 7:51–53 ESV

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.”

Consequence of actions.

He had nothing to gain and everything to lose by talking to them.

“Right to remain silent.

Boldness to tell them what they did not want to hear. But need to hear.

Different in large group setting- compared to one on one.

Hopeful (54-60)

Pointed them to the forgiveness through Jesus. (54-60)

Acts 7:54-60

Acts 7:54–60 ESV

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.

7:60- he didn't take their sins personally.

Acts 7:60

Acts 7:60 ESV

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.

Sermon did not come from a heart of hate but of love.

He showed them something better than the way they were living.

Never preach condemnation without giving hope to those condemned.

We were all condemned because of our sin.

We received the hope of eternal glory.

Jesus paid the price for that sin.

Point to the cross.

Fruitful (58)

Acts 7:58

Acts 7:58 ESV

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.

Saul is there to hear this sermon and witness the miraculous face of Stephen.

Unintended consequences

At the end of this event it appears Stephen dies and no one changed because of his message.

It even appears that a negative change happens against the church

Acts 8:1-3

Acts 8:1–3 ESV

1 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. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

But in reality the next great godly leader has been introduced.

seeds were planted in a hard heart- Saul.

Road to Damascus- not the first Saul heard of Jesus.

He was persecuting them not out of ignorance.

He had seen Stephen’s face glow.

He heard the message of forgiveness and the vision of Stephen of heaven.

You may never know the impact of your witness.

Even when it seems to have no fruit- you may have planted seeds in the heart of the next Saul, or Billy Graham.

CONCLUSION

It is not our place to determine if it is worth the risk.

It is our place to take advantage of every opportunity to witness, whether one or millions.

Are you faithful in every opportunity?

What opportunity have you been missing?

Today is an opportunity. An opportunity to surrender.