Suddenly (2)

A Stone Away

Prayer - Christian

Introductions

Explaining Acts 7:1-53

Stephen preaches to those listening about the history of their people. From Abraham to Joseph, from Moses to David to Solomon.

English Standard Version Chapter 7

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.”

Stephen is calling out the Anti-Christ spirit that has rested in the hearts of Israelites - that attempts to persecute and deny the Lordship of Jesus. He ends by telling the crowd that they have resisted the Holy Spirit just as their fathers did. And now, the blood of the Righteous One, is on their hands. They had betrayed and murdered the messiah they so desperately sought.

Main Text: (On Slide)

The Stoning of Stephen

Acts 7:54–60 ESV

Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 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. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 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. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 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.

Stephen willingly laid down his life, as a testament to the Truth, because had a revelation of who Jesus was as the Christ.

Christian, why this story? I think all to often, we portray the Christian life to be rainbows and sunshine. For so long, messages have been preached that if you will just give your life to Jesus - everything will be better. But that is unrealistic. That is not the truth that Jesus is leading us towards.

Story of the silversmith

The reality is this - when we have a sudden revelation of who Jesus is - and we submit to his rule and reign over our lives, we are given new hearts! The Holy Spirit seals us for salvation (the KJV literally translates that a measure of the Holy Spirit is deposited into upon your confession of Jesus, and seals you for salvation).

When our hearts are exposed to the glorious light of Jesus, there is no place for the darkness of our hearts to hide. Our response to this is to either recognize and repent of the wickedness found there or to turn our hearts from Jesus.

Back to Stephen. Do we notice any parallels in Stephens story that mirror Christ’ story? Stephen preaches the truth of the Gospel. He preaches Christ crucified in fact. Stephen is persecuted due to his willingness to speak the truth. Stephen is killed injustly, and his final words are “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” and “Lord, do not hold this sin against them”

Sounds like a recounting of the death of Christ. I think the martyrdom of Stephen was meant to mirror Christ.

When we receive a revelation of who Christ, we choose to embark on the path that Jesus took - a path of self sacrifice. When we have a revelation of Jesus, suddenly, our hearts change. Not the world around us. But rather, inside of us changes.

Suddenly, contemporary things importance begins to decrease. The worlds voice starts to go mute. We begin to hear Jesus’ voice calling us to truth and life. We experience His love, his kindness, he gentleness, his healing, his strength made perfect in our weakness, his grace that enables us to keep going, his mercy for when we sin, his discipline so we stay connected, his heart for others, his giftings to empower us to do the work of the Holy Spirit. But all of these things come at a price - that of self sacrifice.

DEFINITION OF SELF SACRIFICE - self sacrifice is defined as the willingness to leave one’s possessions or to give them to others; to deny oneself to the point of death or to give oneself in the service of God or other people.

The Spirit filled life is one of great immeasurable joy, peace, love, and fulfillment. But it requires self sacrifice. Can you sacrifice, or surrender, all to God? The reality is, we are most like Christ when we sacrifice as he did. Living a life of servitude and sacrifice for others, and for His will.

Conclusions