HEARTBEATS
“Stephen: A heart of Commitment”
Acts 6:8-15 and 8:54-60
One of the things that are clear as you look at the gospels is that popularity can be costly. Most of us if we would admit it, certainly desire to have it. But we sometimes don’t realize what it can cost us. We see in the gospels that Jesus had become quite popular with the people. We see that He had fed the hungry, healed the sick, He performed miracles in front of thousands of people. So when the day came that He rode into Jerusalem at the beginning of what we now call Holy Week the people were ready to crown him as their next King. He was at the height of His popularity at that point and that is when things began to change. The scripture puts it this way in the gospel of Mark…. “the chief priests and the teachers of the law began looking for a way to kill Jesus because they feared Him because the whole crowd was amazed at His teaching.”
Later in the gospel of Matthew we find these words again…then the chief priests and the elders assembled in the palace of the high priest and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. We then learn that the high priest said not now, not during the time of Feast…or it could start a riot among the people. So clearly people loved and hated Jesus at the same time. It is one of the dangers of becoming so popular that those in control do not like it so they began to find ways to get rid of you.
This morning we look at man who truly had a heart for God. His name was Stephen. If you were writing a book about Stephen’s life it would basically have 7 chapters.
Chapter One. Stephen was Selected as a deacon. We learn in chapter 6 of the book of Acts that the number of disciples in the church was greatly increasing. They had seen 120 people saved; then another 3000 saved in one day and then another 2000. So right away there were over 5000 people coming into the NT church. The pastor of the church was in no way ready to shepherd that many people. Right away a problem arose. One group of the Jews started complaining that the widows in the church were being overlooked and were going hungry. So they gathered all the disciples together and made a quick decision to select 7 men to be deacons. And w we sense right away that there was something special about this man named Stephen. Stephen seems to be the leader of this group…in the list here in chapter 6 Stephen is mentioned first. There are only two of the 7 that have comments made about them….the others are simply listed. Stephen has the highest compliment paid to him as the Bible says that he was “a man who was full of faith and the Holy Spirit.” Stephen had a heart of faith. We then see that as a result of their choosing these 7 men that everyone was pleased and that following that the church began to increase rapidly and many of the Jewish priests came to know the Lord. Clearly these 7 men were very popular among the people.
Chapter Two. I have already said that with popularity can be very costly and we learn that immediately that Stephen was seized due to the opposition that began to develop. The Bible tells us that Stephen was performing wonders and signs among the people…these were miracles God had given him the power to perform. At that point a group of people came forward and began to argue with Stephen. But the Bible says that Stephen was full of wisdom and so they lost the argument. If we get into an argument with someone and you actually win the argument it’s not always a good thing, right? We lose friends; people may not speak to us ever again, so winning an argument doesn’t always turn out well for us. And that was the case for Stephen. They began to make up lies about him and they convinced the crowd that these men were dangerous and that they were blaspheming the name of God so “they seized Stephen, dragged him away and they took him to the Sanhedrin. It was composed of 70 men plus the high priest and they formed a council…… the running of the government was basically in their hands.
Chapter three. Stephen preached a Sermon to the Sanhedrin. This sermon covers the story of Abraham and how he took a step of faith. God told him to go to a country where he had never been and Abraham said yes. He then highlights the story of Joseph; then he moved to the story of Moses as he led the people through the wilderness. That all sets the stage for a discussion about the tabernacle which was known as the place where God lived. What we see in each of these situations/stories is that God took care of his people. But what we see from the people is rebellion against God. Abraham was blessed with many descendants, Joseph was made prince of Egypt and Moses was provided for every step of the way. But Israel just continued to seek other gods.
So Stephen closes this sermon by telling them that they were unclean and he calls them stiff-necked people. That’s a strange name to call someone, huh? We don’t really use that term today. I have never called anyone “stiff-necked.” The Bible uses that term about 6 times. In Israel the farmers would plow with oxen. If the oxen didn’t want to follow the farmer’s guidance then they would stiffen the muscles in their neck so that he could no longer direct them to where he wanted them to go and they could then go where they pleased. We do that. We just don’t use that phrase very often. But in Stephen’s day everyone understood that a stiff-necked person was one who was stubborn and had to have their own way, even if it wasn’t good for them.
The people were refusing to follow God’s leadership. They thought their way was better. Stephen then says to the crowd, you are a stiff necked people. You are resisting the Holy Spirit. You are doing the same thing that Moses did and you are constantly resisting the Holy Spirit you stiff-necked people. Well apparently Stephen forgot to read Dale Carnegie’s book on book on “how to win friends and influence people.” He failed that course. You see if you want to be popular you (1) let people do whatever they want to do (2) don’t call people names (3) you hold back from saying what’s really on your mind … you don’t want to risk insulting anyone and you (4) just take the path of least resistance. But the problem is you never accomplish anything. And your leadership is of no value to anyone.
Parents sometimes do this with their children and it may make them very popular with their kids for a short time but things don’t turn out well when that happens.
Look at chapter 4. The Stoning of Stephen. Acts 7:54-60. Here is what history tells us about how this took place. It was a form of execution used in that day. A criminal would be taken to a location outside the city, to a cliff; a place of some height and those who had witnessed the crime taking place would be the ones who would push the criminal off the cliff. Sometimes they died from the fall but many times they survived but their legs were broken. So there they lay and they were unable to move or to defend themselves. Then the crowd would pick up large rocks, stones and hurl them at the individual until they were dead. Here’s something to think about.
“It is always right to do the right thing, even if it is difficult. Jesus never said the Christian life would be easy. Remember, the symbol of the Christian life is a cross.
It’s hard at times to do the right things because the consequences can be painful. We tell a lie and then we have to admit that we did something wrong and no one liked to do that. Doing the right thing is not always easy. And you very often will lose the support of your friends. It’s hard to imagine but when we do the right thing it can be very, very unpopular. But not with God. Yes your friends may turn on you… and they do that until they see how everyone reacts…they do that because they are looking for popularity too. But there is always one who will not turn on you and that’s Jesus. God will stand with you through every trial, every difficulty and every problem. He will never leave you, He will never forsake you …. and He will stand up for you when no one else will.
Look at the 5th chapter in Stephen’s life. Stephen receives a standing ovation. Acts 7:55. Stephen is known as the first martyr. The first one to give his life for the cause of Christ. We don’t see this as often today. But it does happen. Saaed Albedini, who I mentioned in prayer earlier could become a martyr. The treatment he is receiving is indescribable.
When persecution comes to us, when we face trials we have two options. Fight or flight. We can stand up and deal with it or we can run. According to church history all of the disciples died as martyrs except Judas and John. Judas as you know took his own life…the pressure was too much…John died of natural causes late in life. But the rest were martyrs. Peter we are told was crucified and church history states that when he is sentenced that he said “crucify me upside down because I am not worthy to be crucified in the same manner as our Lord.” For the early disciples persecution was very real. You and I don’t really deal with very much. And when we do we don’t handle it very well. But when we do take a stand for Jesus let me tell you one person who really takes notice. Jesus does. In this passage when Stephen stood up to his accusers we see an event that only happens one time in all the Bible. The Son of Man, Jesus Christ stands up. A standing ovation from God Himself.
Look then at the 6th chapter in Stephen’s life. Saul is blamed for his death. As they were stoning him the Bible says that the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. If you read further we find the reason. Chapter 8:1 says “and Saul was there, giving approval to his death.” This was the beginning of a horrible movement against those who followed Jesus. Saul basically became the ring-leader of that group on this particular day. So he was not only approving the death of Stephen he was really saying this was just the beginning. Look further at chapter 8:1b.
Look at the 7th chapter in Stephens’ life. Saul is saved. Now Stephen is now dead and buried. He is with Jesus. But his life still has an effect on people. How does that happen? Listen. In chapter 9.
Saul was still making threats of murder against the followers of Jesus (chpt 9:1) and he gained support from the authorities that if he found anyone who was follower of Christ that he had permission to arrest them and place them in prison. We don’t know how many men and women were thrown into prison as a result of Saul but the Bible does tell us that Saul had begun to destroy the church.
In chapter 9 we learn that as Paul was on his way to Damascus to imprison more Christians…which likely meant they would be killed as well…the Bible says that a light came down from heaven and Saul was overpowered and he fell to the ground and God spoke to him and said Saul why are you persecuting me? Saul asks a very interesting question….he says who are you Lord? Sort of like me saying what is your name, Chris? Saul knew….he was just overwhelmed. Saul was blinded by this light for the next 3 days. God spoke then to a man named Ananias and told him to go to Damascus and told him where he would be able to find Saul. God said I want you to go to him because he is praying right now and as he is praying God says I have given him a vision that you are going to arrive and lay hands on him and that his sight will be restored.
And that is exactly what happens. Then this man named Saul becomes the great apostle Paul. He begins to preach right away and the church is changed forever as he wins one after another to Jesus, trains them and starts new churches. He writes half of the NT and was perhaps the greatest apostle to ever live.
How does that happen that someone’s life could be so radically changed? Simple. Jesus is in the business of changing lives. He did it then and He is not through. And He can do it for you today. If you have never committed your life to Him…if there is anything you are holding back, I encourage you to turn it all over to Him….right now.
