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Stephen faces false charges of Blasphemy against Moses, God, the Tabernacle/Temple, and the Torah. Stephen gives his response and levels his indictment on the elders of Israel. Today we see how they respond.
My big idea for today is that we can experience the fullness of the Spirit if we are willing to give ourselves to fully to Him. My prayer for today is that by hearing this message we will more freely submit to the will and work of the Holy Spirit and not hold back in the areas that seem unpleasant. If you have your Bibles today you can join me in Acts chapter7, verse 54.
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.”
Acts 7:54-60
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.
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.
In order to help me share with you today, I have separated my thoughts into 2 sections or points that stood out to me.
POINT #1: We Must Seek the Fullness of the Spirit
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.”
Acts 7:54-56
What do I mean the fullness of the Spirit? Stephen was known to be full of the Holy Spirit, He was endowed with an anointing that rested on him, the same as many of you. He was empowered to become a witness for Christ in Jerusalem just as it says in Acts 1:8. We’ve talked a bit about suffering in these resent passages, but what I want to drill down on today is this idea of an anointing or empowerment to submit to suffering for the sake of Christ. First, the Jews here in the Sanhedrin had become so angry that they literally could not stand to hear another word. As much as Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit, they had become filled with a different spirit. Spirits of pride, religiousness, legalism, etc. These men had fallen so far from God/into their evil ways that they could not bring themselves to admit they were wrong. All the while, in the midst of their anger, Stephen was embracing the journey with his Lord even into a seemingly dark time/place. These men were obviously moved to the point of murder. And in Stephen’s greatest time of need he is strengthened by a vision confirming the exaltation of Jesus Christ. He sees into the throne room of heaven. He uses messianic language “Son of Man”. {last used in the N.T.} He sees Jesus standing at the right hand of God, as to say He was advocating for Stephen like a defense attorney in a court of law. He became a witness to the Sh’khinah glory of God. Stephen is fully submitted to the concept of shared suffering that it has brought him closer as he has become fully reliant on God that he has held nothing back. And God has strengthened him from the potency of His manifest presence. Similar to the experiences of Moses and Isaiah, to whom were given access to the glory of God. Moses in the cleft of the rocks and Isaiah through his commissioning vision.
Can you image, this conflict that you are willing to bet your life on is being confirmed in your darkest hour for your advancement in the faith and to strengthen you for God’s work.
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
Acts 1:9
He was taken up to heaven exalted as the risen Lord to the right hand of the Father. This is the crux of the entire issue. Is Jesus Christ Lord and Messiah or not? Here’s my question… If we aren’t willing to submit to the suffering associated with Christ, will we actually know Christ? Jesus had this to say in
”But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.”
Matthew 13:16
These men could not see what Stephen saw because they did not know Christ, nor did they actually know the father whom they have claimed.
What does that look like for us today. It might look like rejection, yet you will persevere. You will be disappointed in those for whom you have high hopes in the faith. Those close to you will mistreat you any falsely accuse you. You will be otherwise betrayed or marginalized because of your faith.
I’ll move on to my next point.
POINT #2: We Must Embrace a Theology of Suffering
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.
Acts 7:57-60
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.
By developing or adopting a biblical theology of suffering was Stephen able to avoid the humanistic tendency of trying to avoid suffering altogether. Stephen understood Christlikeness was to accept the unpleasant aspects of Jesus’ actual life and ministry. Just as Stephen mirrored the other aspects of Christ’s character, Stephen Committed his spirit to God and he asked God to forgive the sin of his own murder. Only by adopting this theology of suffering was Stephen able to see the will of God fleshed out in his own obedience. It was through this theology of suffering was Stephen able to encounter the fullness of the Spirit revealed in the exaltation of Christ Jesus the Messiah.
In our minds we have to put down the false teaching that God will save us from calamity here on earth. Nowhere in the Bible that I have found says that. What it says is that God will give us peace in the midst of the calamity. God will walk through the issues of life with us. He said we will not be alone. That He would never leave us nor forsake us. Jesus assured us that we would have trouble in this life.
I’ll close with this. I have said all this today for 2 purposes:
- So that you would know the truth about what the word of God has to say.
- This is big. So that you would be encouraged to move closer to Christ and understand suffering in a different light.
What the world means to shame you Christ gives you honor in his kingdom. When the world means to crush you, Christ will not allow you to be destroyed. When the world rejects you, Christ accepts you. Be joyful church we are under a persecution right now and God is awakening His people. Eyes are beginning to see, and ears are beginning to hear. The closer we get to His suffering, the closer he will bring us to Himself. This is the making of a theology of suffering. And it has everything to do with a personal relationship with Christ. And It has everything to do with authentically knowing Him.
Will you join me as we seek an authentic relationship united in Christ and each other? Rejecting division, embracing God’s reality in Jesus, and encouraging one another. It’s just between you and God. Here’s the thing, If we love God and abide in Christ we will find ourselves more and more loving each other. You will we more and you will love better. We will experience God in spirit and in truth and we will share that amongst each other. Share all the ways God has shown you mercy and grace. Will you allow the Holy Spirit to stir faith in someone through your testimony? Would you join me as the Holy Spirit moves on us to be unified in the spirit of Christ? These are the kingdom values. This is truly the work of God. The intentional actions of the body of Christ. Remember the devil seeks only to kill steal and destroy. Steal your freedom, kill your joy, and destroy your destiny for hope and love. But God has a plan! He’s stealing from your neighbor, your family, and your loved ones today.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Jesus, He’s the Son of the living God, and we can receive from Him today His Righteousness, His purpose and His calling. Will you call on him today? Your salvation/forgiveness is just one prayer away. Will you trust in his ability to do what He said He would do? Will you believe today? Many of you need a fresh touch from God today. Is there some form of unbelief or a fracture of trust as it relates to God in your life today? God wants to redeem and restore those areas of your life? He wants to restore Joy and hope for you today. You’re hearing this now and the Holy Spirit has brought someone or something to mind. He wants to speak life into this today. He wants to bring healing in this area today. There are areas of deep regret when it comes to your relationship with God and you have rejected Christ as your savior …It’s not too late
It’s not too late to humble yourself before him today, hold out your arms and open your hands to receive from him today. Will you say yes to Jesus, today? Will you bow your heads with me? Some of you already know the Lord, but maybe he’s put something on your heart that you need to deal with, you need to ask his forgiveness today. If that’s you will you just acknowledge that to him today. This is just you and God here. Now someone here may not have that relationship with Jesus and today you’ve felt him tugging at your heart, you’ve been hurt, and you’re guarded, I know. Jesus is here and wants set things right in your life. If you’ll say Pastor, I want Jesus to be my Lord and savior. Remember, it’s just you and God here. Will you pray with me today, We’ll pray here as a family and you can repeat after me.
Jesus, I know that I’m a sinner. I ask you today for your forgiveness. I believe that you died for my sins and on that 3rd day, you rose from the dead. I ask you to come into my heart today. I trust and follow you as my Lord and savior. Guide me and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name Amen.
“‘“The Lord bless you
Numbers 6:24-26
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’