Read Part 7

(9/22) We are continuing with this message of Stephen to his accusers as he testifies to their own story. In other words, he is a Jew and he is talking about their fathers, their history, and the revelation of the God of glory to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He reminds them of the promise and provision of God through the patriarchs, the twelve tribes of Israel, the mighty deliverance of God through Moses, but we have discovered that there is just so much more to the story.

In fact, I didn’t want to end the sermon last week, because I was just getting to one of my favorite parts of the story. I’m not talking about that generation that lived after Joshua in the promised land, or the story of Rahab and the mighty power of God to conquer Jericho, I’m talking about this story in Acts chapter seven. The story of Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, who was anointed with the power of God, doing great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.

We have seen over the past seven weeks that Stephen taught with authority, because he knew the Word of God, he was filled with the Spirit of God, but what we have seen so far is just individual scenes in a bigger story. In other words, his story hasn’t been completely told, and there is so much more that God wants to do. The Holy Spirit was working through Stephen intending to reveal to the Jewish leaders that they had placed too much emphasis on status, religious performance, and outward privileges; when God had a greater inner work that he wanted to do in them.

Last week, we saw Stephen talking about the tabernacle and the ark of the testimony which contained the two tablets of stone written by the finger of God as a witness against the people. In other words, God had given them the Law and they had promised to obey but they didn’t, and so there must be more to the story.

I have learned this as a pastor, because I often have people come and talk with me and they tell me their side of the story and they would be so sincere but I discovered that there is more to the story. Because when I talked to their wife and she told me the same story from a different perspective, I found out that there was so much more to the story. And if I didn’t learn that as a pastor, I have certainly learned that as a parent, because I can make a fool of myself charging into a situation not realizing that there is more to the story.

You know, when Johnny comes whining to me that Susie bit his finger, but then to discover the rest of the story is that he had her in a stranglehold with his hand over her mouth.

And so, it takes a little bit of living to learn that there is more to the story.

Here in Acts chapter seven, Stephen is explaining to the Sanhedrin that their fathers had not used the law, the tabernacle, the temple or its services for the purpose of worship or expanding the kingdom of God in the world. In fact, when we left off last week Stephen illustrated that the worship of God is not confined to one place. He said, God is living and active and moving because,

"Our forefathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the desert" (Acts 7:44).

In other words, just like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob worshiped God under trees, in the desert, and on the mountain, God can be worshiped anywhere. And so, later when Moses led the children of Israel in that great exodus from Egypt, God was worshiped in the tabernacle, a portable sanctuary, traveling with them through the wilderness.

And so, the Holy Spirit is using Stephen to speak to the Sanhedrin, with the intent that they would see with their minds and understand with their hearts, coming to repentance and faith in Christ Jesus. And he tells them in verse 45,

"Having received the tabernacle, our fathers under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David, who enjoyed God's favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob" (Acts 7:45-46).

In other words, not only was God worshiped in the tabernacle in the desert, he was worshiped in the tabernacle in the promised land, and he was worshiped in the tabernacle in the holy city of Jerusalem. And it was there in Jerusalem that David asked for the privilege to make a dwelling place for God, but the Bible says it was Solomon who built the house for him (Acts 7:47).

Stephen goes on further to explain that the infinite majesty and glory of God cannot be confined to temples made by human hands. He says, "However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet Isaiah said,

"Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things?" (Acts 7:48-50).

And so, Stephen proves from Scripture, that neither the tabernacle nor the temple was essential for true worship, because the Lord God of Israel can be worshiped by the righteous in heart in any place.

Now, apparently, at this moment there arose such a clamor of opposition from the members of the Sanhedrin that they interrupted him. And so, Stephen addresses them in the same way as Moses had spoken to their fathers saying,

"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute?" (Acts 7:51-52).

In other words, they had rejected the word of the prophets, persecuting and killing them even though Moses had said,

"God will send you a prophet like me from your own people" (Acts 7:37).

But they had no discernment or fear of God, and they killed Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, Amos, and Zechariah. Stephen says,

"They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it" (Acts 7:52-53).

In other words, not only did they reject the prophets and killing them, but when John the Baptist came on the scene, the one who Isaiah said was sent to prepare the way for Jesus, they argued and debated with John, rejecting him as well.

Finally, when that great Prophet, Priest, and King, Jesus the Christ appeared, they rejected him and crucified him. And so, not only did they reject the Father, but they rejected the Son, and in doing so they were rejecting the Holy Spirit who had testified to the Son. Of this Jesus had warned,

"Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come" (Matthew 12:31-32).

And so, God had given them every evidence that Jesus was the Messiah, but they resisted the testimony of the Holy Spirit, and like their fathers before them they hardened their hearts. The Holy Spirit had warned them saying,

"So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert" (Hebrews 3:7-9).

In other words, they heard his voice, but they covered their ears. For forty years they saw what the Spirit of God did, but they closed their eyes. And so, the Holy Spirit says of them,

"They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways." So, I declared on oath in my anger, "They shall never enter my rest" (Psalms 95:10-11).

And the Sanhedrin was just like their fathers, they hardened their hearts, resisting the Holy Spirit, persecuting the prophets, and killing Jesus, the Righteous One.

Now this was the climax of Stephen’s message. He said, "You have betrayed and murdered the Messiah, the Righteous One."

"When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 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" (Acts 7:54-55).

In other words, Stephen ignored the haters, and fixed his eyes on Jesus. As the psalmist prayed,

"Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long. Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries, the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually" (Psalm 74:22-23).

And in that moment, Stephen saw Jesus rise from his throne at the right hand of the Father in glory. As Jesus looked over the threshold of heaven, honoring Stephen who is about to enter into his rest, Stephen said to the Sanhedrin,

"Look, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God" (Acts 7:56).

"At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him…" (Acts 7:57).

These Jewish leaders, the same ones who crucified Jesus, rushed at Stephen and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.

Like those haters in our culture today, they know how to tear you down, and they were good at what they did. They knew how to kill you with rocks, and so his Jewish brothers began throwing rocks at him, hitting him on the head, bruising him, and knocking him down to the ground.

"Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul" (Acts 7:58).

In other words, the members of the Sanhedrin took off their outer robes to free up their arms to throw rocks. And these men were experienced at throwing rocks, like David, they could take you out with a rock. But I want you to notice that as they were stoning him, Stephen was forgiving them. He prayed,

"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 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, and Saul was there, giving approval to his death" (Acts 7:59-60; 8:1).

In other words, Saul judged him and found him guilty of blasphemy, and so he gave the nod of approval and turned the posse loose on Stephen.

The Sanhedrin was the highest court in Israel, they didn’t have all the answers, but they knew what they believed and they found him guilty. In fact, it’s interesting, not only was Stephen accused of some of the same things as Jesus was, but he died with a similar prayer on his lips,

"Forgive them for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).

And then, Stephen fell asleep, because when believers die, the body goes to sleep, and the spirit goes to be with the Lord. That’s what we learned from Jesus, because he said,

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies" (John 11:25).

That’s how the apostle could say with such confidence, I would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. He said,

"I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far" (Philippians 1:23).

Now, this is where the story gets good, because the Sanhedrin thought it was over, they supposed him to be dead, they didn’t think that he would ever get back up again. But Stephen knew he was in the Lord’s hands, as the psalmist said,

"You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with your counsel, and afterword receive me to glory" (73:23-24, NKJV).

Today, there are some of you who have been left for dead, they left you in trouble, they left you in debt, they left you with the kids, supposing that you will never amount to anything without them, supposing you were dead. And they didn’t know it then, but you’re about to have a resurrection. We’re about to have a resurrection service in here today, because Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life, and whoever believes will live." That’s what the psalmist said,

"My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" (Psalm 73:26, NKJV).

You may have been wondering where I was going with this, but I wanted to prepare you for what God is going to do next, because sometimes you’ve got to lay there and let them think they won. Sometimes you’ve got to stop fighting and kicking and just lay there with blood running down your face.

In other words, I’m giving you the pathway to glory. The Lord said,

"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalms 46:10).

Just be still, because God will fight your battles for you. You don’t have to defend yourself because the Bible says,

"The Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory" (Deuteronomy 20:4).

They may have left you for dead, but just because they left you for dead, that doesn’t mean that you’re dead, that doesn’t mean that it’s over. There is a resurrection spirit in this place right now. How many of you believe that?

Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life, and his spirit is in this place, and you may be down, but it isn’t over. You might be broken, hurting, and discouraged, but it isn’t over. They might have cursed at you, scandalized you, and laughed at you, but you can rise up and declare like the prophet Micah:

"Don’t gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light" (Micah 7:8).

Some of you thought it was over, you were feeling like this was it, this was the big one, because everybody is getting in some blows, and you have taken some hits. They wanted you dead, they wanted to drive you over the edge, they wanted to wear you down, but the Lord sent me to tell you,

"No weapon formed against you shall prosper" (Isaiah 54:17, NKJV).

Yes, it hurt, but it won’t prosper. You may have been struck down, but you’re not destroyed. Perplexed, but not in despair. You may have been sitting up all night, your mind is upset, you have been in a turmoil, but the Lord wants you to know that it is not going to work. Nothing they say, nothing they do, nothing they are trying to do, no matter how many rocks they throw, it’s not going to prosper.

It doesn’t matter how hopeless it looks to you, how dead you feel, or how broke you feel, because we live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

And so, you may be lying there in the middle of the night thinking that you’ve had enough, that you’re too tired, you can’t fight another fight, you’ve had too many battles, and you can’t make it through this one, but I am here today to tell you that the devil is a liar. The Bible says, God’s got you surrounded,

"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him" (Psalms 34:7).

In other words, whatever your enemy is throwing at you, it’s not going to work, because the Lord has said,

"No weapon formed against you shall prosper" (Isaiah 54:17, NKJV).

And so, you can lift up your head, confront your haters and smile at them, because you know it’s not going to work, it’s not going to prosper.

Stephen is lying there, his accusers had rushed him, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him, but as he lay there, he looked up and the Bible says he saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55).

Right now, whatever you are going through, there are a few people surrounding you who know how to get a prayer through, a few people who know that it is not over, a few people who have the same mind and same spirit. These are those who will speak over you, declaring the word of God, and saying to you,

"Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you" (Ephesians 5:14).

I know that there are some of you who have been stoned, you have been bruised and broken, you have had the wind knocked out of you, and they left you for dead, either physically or emotionally. Others of you, in some area of your life you have shed some blood, but you’re going to make it, because the Bible says your best days are ahead of you. In other words, God is doing something bigger and better than you could ever imagine. He said,

"The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former" (Haggai 2:9, NKJV).

In other words, your latter-day shall be greater than your former day, and so I want to encourage you to live differently, to live by faith, to live in the Spirit, because we’re coming into our own. We’re getting to the best part, and there is so much more to the story. It’s a bigger story, and I know it’s going to take courage, but I want to challenge you to believe again. Believe the word of God that those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. "They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:31).

As we close, my greatest fear is that there may be some of you that don’t really believe, some of you like the Sanhedrin who are full of knowledge of what God did in the past, but not having an experiential knowledge of who the Holy Spirit is and what he is doing right now. In other words, you may have a religious spirit, the image of righteousness on the outside, but no real spiritual transformation on the inside.

And it worries me, it horrifies me, it scares me to death, that there may be one of you who would hear the word of God and not repent, who would come to church and then go and do whatever you want, because you may stand before Jesus on the last day and he would say, "Depart from me, I never knew you."

And so, I plead with you today as Peter did, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation, repent of your sins, call upon the name of Jesus and be baptized." Don’t harden your hearts, pursue Jesus, give your life to him, and enter into his rest. Do it now because there may not be another chance.

Read past sermons by Pastor John Talcott