June 15, 2014
Morning Service

Acts  7

 

            So far through six chapters in this book of Acts we have seen:

1.       Jesus taken up into heaven.

2.      The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

3.      Peter’s first sermon on the day of Pentecost, and 3000 souls were added to the church that Jesus said He would build in Matt. 16:18.

4.      Peter’s second sermon produced another 5,000 believers to the church, whom the Scripture says, that God added them to the church.

5.      When we get to Peter’s third sermon the disciples are described as being a multitude.

6.      We see God give Peter, and John the ability to heal a lame man.  This had great results in making believers, but angered the Jewish leaders.

7.      We see the Apostles described as ignorant, and unlearned men.

8.     We see them whipped, and told not to teach in the name of Jesus.  Their reply, “we cannot but speak the things which we have heard, and seen, and should we obey man or God?”

9.      In chapter five we saw God punish Ananias, and Sapphira, for lying to the Holy Ghost.

10.  In our last chapter, chapter 6, we saw the choosing of Deacons, and their qualifications.  Faithful men full of the Holy Ghost.  One of these men’s name was Stephen, a man full of faith, and the Holy Ghost, it is he who we will discuss today, his one, and only sermon.

 

In chapter six Stephen is brought before the religious council, and accused of teaching things contrary to their faith.  Beginning in chapter seven the council ask Stephen if this is true. 

His reply is a history lesson for these Jewish leaders. 

 

I encourage you to read this chapter often, take time to refer back in the Scriptures to what Stephen talks about.

 

He first begins ( Acts 7:2-8) with how God called, and dealt with Abraham.  In verse 8 he speaks of Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve patriarchs.

 

In verses 9-19 Stephen speaks of Joseph, and the bondage of Israel in Egypt.

 

From verses 20-45 Stephen speaks of God’s dealings with Moses, and the children of Israel.

1.       His birth.

2.      His being brought by Pharaoh’s daughter.

3.      His being rejected by the Israelites, as leader.

4.      His life for 40 years away from the children Israel, where he raises his own family.

5.      The fiery bush, and the instructions from the Angel of God.

6.      His return, and deliverance of Israel from bondage.

7.      Israel’s desire to return to Egypt.

8.     Moses telling them that one day God would raise a prophet from among them like him, and they should listen to him.

9.      How that the fathers disobeyed God, and had an idol made by hand to worship.  He tells them they have always turned away from God, in disobedience.

 

Then in verses 45-50, Stephen speaks of David, and Solomon.  How that Solomon was allowed to build God a house.  Then he speaks of what God thinks of this:

Act 7:48-50  Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,  (49)  Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?  (50)  Hath not my hand made all these things?

Then Stephen puts the finishing touch on his sermon, and his life.

 

Act 7:51-60  Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.  (52)  Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:  (53)  Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.  (54)  When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 

·         Just as Peter did in his sermons, so does Stephen.  He tells them of their unfaithfulness to God, and His prophets. 

·         Notice, they were cut to the heart;  but unlike the common man, these religious leaders produced a different result.  Instead of asking what must we do to amend our actions, they gnashed on him with their teeth.

(55)  But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,  (56)  And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

I love this statement by Stephen, Jesus is standing, most describe Him as sitting, but Stephen sees Him standing; 

·         Mar_14:62  And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

·         Mar_16:19  So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

·         Col_3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

·         Heb_10:12  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

·         Heb_12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

To me, Jesus is showing His respect for Stephen.  It is customary, when respecting someone, to stand in their presence, such as a judge coming into the room, and I believe this is what Stephen is seeing.  Stephen is thinking, “My Lord, and my God approving of what I have just done.”

And you can bet if Jesus is standing all heaven is standing also.

 

(57)  Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,  (58)  And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.  (59)  And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.  (60)  And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

·         This sermon is the most complete description on how God has dealt with the children of Israel, without reading the whole book of Genesis, Exodus, and Deuteronomy, which is a summary of the first four books of the Bible.

It’s hard for us to understand why, and how, God is working things out the way He is, but we trust the Scriptures that tell us, “all things work together for good to those that love the Lord.”

 

Many times I have felt like crying out as did the souls under the altar in the book of Revelations, “Rev 6:9-10  And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:  (10)  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

 

Almighty God, help your people to wait faithfully, and patiently for Your return.  Amen.