Series Idea
Acts 6:8-15
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to cope with his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away, and brought him before the Council. 13 They put forward false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop speaking against this holy place and the Law; 14 for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses handed down to us.” 15 And all who were sitting in the Council stared at him, and they saw his face, which was like the face of an angel.
April 21, 2024
Acts: To All the World Part 13
Acts: To All the World Part 13
A Message from A Martyr
Sermon Idea – Stephen’s Life & Death revealed him to be a man whose heart aligned with Christ’s to the end.
Sermon Text – Acts 6:8-15,7:1-60 NASB
Mission/Prayer Intro
As we make our way through the book of Acts, we have witnessed the Apostles do some amazing work enabled by the Holy Spirit. We have observed the Holy Spirit lead Peter & John to heal a lame man. We have seen the Holy Spirit reveal the deception of Annias & Sapphira. We have witnessed the Holy Spirit move on the heart of Barnabas to sale some land and bring it as an offering.Up to this point everything we have observed has been the Holy Spirit moving through the Apostles. |
Today, we will see a marvelous example of a Lay Leader whose heart and actions are aligned with Jesus Christ.
Background – In the opening of chapter 6 the church is experiencing explosive growth, God is adding to the church. However, there is a conflict arising between two groups of the Jews. The Hellenistic (Greek) Jews and the Hebraic (Aramic) Jews. They chose 7 men (deacons) to take on this responsibility.
“It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task
One of the men selected was a man named Stephen. and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,
1. Stephen – A Life Lived Fully v. 8-10
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
a.Full of Faith
b.Full of Grace & Power
c.Full of Wisdom & Spirit
Stephen’s life is a reminder that our faith is not just about what we believe, but also about how we live
Transition – Stephen lived life fully and spoke truth.
2. Speaking Truth in the Face of Persecution
11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council. 13 They put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; 14 for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.” 15 And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.
Stephen’s response –
7 The high priest said, “Are these things so?” 2 And he said, “Hear me, brethren and fathers! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in [a]Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.’
Recounts History – Abraham, Moses, Joseph, David
Land –
The point is, God blessed Abraham even though he did not yet occupy as much as a foot of the Holy Land. The land is not the blessing.
The greatest miracles of Israel happened in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the desert—not in the Promised Land
Law –
The law of Moses could not save the Israelites. Besides, Moses told them to look for another prophet.
Temple –
“God is surely with us—we have the temple.” Stephen answered this foundation of false security in verses 48–50, quoting Isaiah 66:1–2:
48 However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says: 49 ‘Heaven is My throne, And earth is the footstool of My feet; What kind of house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord, ‘Or what place is there for My repose? 50 ‘Was it not My hand which made all these things?’
Israel’s resistance – Their dead traditions had replaced God’s living truth.
The Jews were accustomed to worshipping God in a physical way, either the Land, Law or the Temple. They got sidetracked and forgot God wanted a relationship more than anything.
They professed to treasure God’s law as law keepers, but the actions of their hearts were lawless.
Look @ 7:51 This was the trigger
51 “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. 52 Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; 53 you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.”
“Uncircumcised ears” are those that hear the Word of God imperfectly, usually because they hear only what they want to hear, or they hear with such a strong prejudice that they reject the truth.
What enabled Stephen to speak so bold & courageous?
Prayer from Acts 4:29 “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Thy bond-servants may speak Thy word with all confidence.
3. Stephen the Martyr
54 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. 55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently 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 up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. 58 When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he [ag]fell asleep.
a. Faithful until the end
Stephen’s martyrdom is a testament to his unwavering faith.
b. Sacrifice and the Glory of Jesus
Stephen’s martyrdom also reveals the glory of Jesus in a profound way.
Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
Closing – So, what is the challenge from this “Message from a Martyr”?
We can live life full of the Holy Spirit, Faith, Grace and Power
- Let us live out our faith with courage and conviction.
- Let our lives bear witness to the glory of Jesus.
- And let us remember the example of Stephen, who showed us that even in the face of persecution, we can stand firm in our faith and glorify God with our lives.
