Alignment (Part 5)

Forgiveness is a choice!

Last week at the Gathering of Champions we said the world would be a much better place if Christians would do two things.

1. Stop hurting each other

2. Start forgiving each other

We touched on several reasons why people hurt each other and we even took out time to wrestle with a very common, but taboo issue as it relates to the King of kings and Lord of lords. In case you missed it or forgot, we asked

What do you do when it feels like God is working against you?

and in response to that question we suggested 3 things

Trust the character of God (He wants what’s best for you)

Look for the hand of God (Trust that he is working on your behalf)

Stop fighting God (God is aligning some things in your life to develop your full potential)

As we endeavor to behave like children of God, we should not only understand this about him, but we should imitate him as we relate to others. That means we, like God should want what’s best for others.

It means if we are to have any involvement in the affairs of others, we should be working in ways that only add value to their lives. And finally, in god-like fashion, we should do what we can to help others develop their full potential. Even if that means telling them painful truths, in love.

Now that we’re all caught up, I want to spend some time today talking about the second thing we can and should do to make the world a better place. That means today’s topic is about forgiveness.

Forgiveness

I’m not going to sugar coat this because, talking someone into forgiveness is like trying to convince them to eat okra flavored candy. No one wants that. Here’s our challenge. Most of us can think of at least one thing that, if someone were to do to us, we would not forgive them for it.

I applaud parents who are able to physically embrace and forgive someone who has taken the life of their child. I’m amazed by couples who can reconcile after marital affairs.

I tend to be a very generous person but there are some things I just don’t think I’m able to give. There are some things I hope I never have to forgive someone for because I don’t know and nor do I want to know if I’m able to do so.

Perhaps that’s why Jesus taught us to pray “And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” There are some evils we don’t have in us to forgive. And that makes the earlier part of the Lord’s prayer, “Forgive our sins as we forgive others” a dangerous request.

Because what we are really asking God to do is to forgive us for hurting others to the degree that we forgive others for hurting us. And the problem with that is, we can’t pick and choose what deserves forgiveness. There is no scale to determine if the hurt we caused is equivalent to the hurt inflicted upon us.

If I’m to be forgiven for my lie, I must be willing to forgive you for punching me in the face. In the case of Stephen, things were even more dramatic. We read his story in the book of Acts

Acts 6:8-15, 7:1

Acts 6:8–15 NIV

8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. 11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” 15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Acts 7:1 NIV

1 Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”

In response to this question, Stephen replies by giving a history lesson that the high priests and even his accusers would have been familiar with. He talks about Moses in the most honorable way.

He shares the childhood stories that every Jew would intimately know. And this teaching technique is where the average preacher should be able to count on a solid hand wave or head nod in the less charismatic churches to signify he was teaching good.

But at the gathering of Champions I would imagine he’d at least get a good “Amen”, or a few “Preach preachers.” However you celebrate a good word, I want you to imagine that.

Imagine the organist getting ready to play and the drummer taking his place in anticipation of a good ole fashion praise break because Stephen was tuning for a hoop. Let’s read the closing of his sermon.

Acts 7:44–47 NIV

44 “Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. 45 After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David, 46 who enjoyed God’s favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47 But it was Solomon who built a house for him.

And here is where they really get excited because Solomon’s temple was a national monument. It was something to rally behind. After giving credit to Moses and tilting his hat toward the ancestors, Stephen had to have known that if nothing else brought the hearers on his side, mentioning Solomon’s Temple would.

But all of a sudden Stephen gets bold and says something that takes the crowd from happy to hot! Here’s what he said:

Acts 7:48–50 NIV

48 “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human 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 where will my resting place be? 50 Has not my hand made all these things?’

In other words, according to Stephen, God is saying to these people, “What! Did you think you could put me in a box?” And before we go in too hard on them, let’s consider that we may have been guilty of the same thing.

We think it takes two or three songs before God shows up to church. We think communion has to take place on first Sunday and if we aren’t dressed in black and white it don’t count. We think church is the only place we’re not supposed to cuss. What! Did we think we had God in a box?

And if this wasn’t enough to hush the keyboard and silence the drums, listen to what Stephen had to say next.

Acts 7:51 NIV

51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!

Good grief Stephen. You need a snickers? Relax bro. But he doesn’t. He goes all the way in.

Acts 7:52–53 NIV

52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”

Are yall hearing this? He just told the deacon board they all were sinners. He told the pastor, the worship team and even the ushers that they were no good murderers. And they were not going to take that lying down. So here’s what they did.

Acts 7:54–57 NIV

54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,

Now, at any point they could have stopped this. They could have said, “You know what Stephen, you’re a young dude and I see you’re zealous for your beliefs but you need a mentor.” At any point they could have just laughed it off and considered him misguided, or even crazy and just forgave his perceived ignorance. But they don’t.

They don’t because they haven’t taught themselves to do the very thing they wanted most. They have untrained emotions. They don’t know how to forgive. And it shows right here.

Acts 7:57–58 NIV

57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

They say that this is the same Saul, who persecuted Christians before becoming one of the most famous Christians to ever live. But today’s message is not about Saul’s conversion to Paul.

Today’s message is about Stephen’s conversion that lead him to conform more to the image of Christ than most people would never dare to conform to.

And so, as we look back at the narrative, what happens next is enough for the history books. What happens next makes all the difference between the religious elite and followers of Jesus.

What happens next sets the standard for what it really means to be a disciple of Christ. What happens next solidifies the fact that Stephen was willing to carry his cross, just like Jesus carried his.

The final verses of Acts 7 tell us

Acts 7:59–60 NIV

59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Did you catch that? His dying wish was not that of vengeance. He prayed not for God’s wrath to come down. He didn’t pray that they all pay for what they did to him. Instead, he prayed a prayer similar to the prayer that Jesus prayed for him. He prayed a prayer similar to the prayer that Jesus prayed for you. And for me.

You might recall, as Jesus prepared to endure the cross, after being tortured, cursed, spat on and abused, knowing they were prepared to take his life, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Like Jesus, Stephen refused to die offended. My prayer is that you and I will have the courage to do the same. Who ever it is, whatever they’ve done, don’t let them keep you from living your life like Jesus. And please don’t let them keep you from resting in peace. Eternity is a long time to be mad at somebody. Forgive them and let it go.

Remember,

Forgiveness is a choice!