They knew there was neglect, that is why they brought it up. That’s why they told everybody what they had to do in the church, and that is why they got these men in the church to help them out. What a blessing!
We are talking about Stephen’s time to shine.
Now our story focuses—and this is not a parable, it is a true story—our story focuses on Stephen now.
“And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people” (Acts 6:8).
Father, I need clarity of thought and liberty of speech. I need Your touch, as always. Pray that the hearers are full of Your Spirit. And God, that we can communicate the message as intended. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Point number 1 is that the presence of God always—always—stirs of the spirit of jealousy in others that don’t have it and scares the others that do not know it.
Now, religious people talk the talk, but can not compete with those people that have God’s approval. They never can.
“And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake” (Acts 6:8-10).
When you are full of the Holy Ghost, doing what He wants you to do, and His anointing is on you, I mean, you stir up the devils of hell. You really do. Because all of a sudden there is a comparison that people can make. Well, how come you say this, this and this and you are a part of this but you ain’t got this. See the difference. That’s why you can talk to Catholics and other self-professed Christians and others, and you know what they will say, “You can’t know, unless you die first.”
“Oh, I beg to differ, I can know. I have perfect confidence that I know where I am going when I die. I’ve got Scripture to back that up—sorry you don’t—mister so-called ‘Christian.”
They don’t like that. The voice of truth they try to snuff out, because of tradition and their religious beliefs. BAD! So, what are you saying? Well, it was time for Stephen to shine. God is going to confront them, like he always does.
Now, the presence of God always stirs of the spirit of jealousy in amongst those that don’t have it and scares the others who don’t know it.
Point number 2 is there is a price to pay for serving God.
“Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us” (Acts 6:11-14).
Man! Imagine that! Jesus told us . . . what did He tell us? If they hated Him they would hate you also.
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18).
“Then they suborned men, which said . . .” – Suborned, what do you mean? They bribed them.
Now, the presence of God is not cheap. It costs. It costs us our body, and spirit (which is His). Now that is surrender that pleases Him is our all on the altar. See, we are a willful sacrifice. Being full of God shows up on our countenance. I mean, we can not help it. Everyone knows we have something that they don’t have. Look at the next verse . . .
“And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15).
You know you have little kids running around, you can read them like a book. If you are parents, you know your kids. They think you are like God at that stage, because how in the world do they know? You happen to come in at just the right time when they are too quiet and you bust them. You know, all the stuff. You can see it on their face. And a lot of times, that’s exactly what we say, “Man, it’s written all over your face!” And believe me, people know when you’ve been with God. You don’t have to be smiling and giddy all the time, people just know. Your countenance just changes.
So, there is a price to pay in serving God.
Point number 3, Stephen knew God’s Word.
I mean he was a man full of faith. And we know that ‘faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.’ And he begins to expound in the next chapter . . . on the historical actions of God with Israel.
“And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran” (Acts 7:2).
What are you saying? He’s starting with Abraham. Why? Well, because the Jews say that ‘we have Abraham as our father.’ God knows what they are thinking, He’s starting with that.
And for sake of time we are not going to read all those verses. Some of you may even complain about how long this one is going to be.
What he proves is, with their Scriptures, the unwillingness of Israel to follow God. Remember, he is condemned for blaspheming, for trying to change temple worship, for trying to override the Scriptures? He is using the Scriptures! Like they should be used. Israel’s leaders, he said, killed the prophets that God sent to help them in their deliverance. Now think about yourself for a minute. Isn’t it true that we hurt the ones who loves us the most? We allow our friends and peers to come first, and ignore the warnings of our parents. It’s bred in, almost. We don’t stop and think, well, my goodness, I should go to somebody that’s been married and had kids—no, we ask these young punks—these gals that ain’t never been married for their advice. And man, they will surely give it. Fools leading fools.
And here you have Israel. The experienced all the miracles of God. The problem is they never listened to Him about separation. They started acting, and worshipping, just like the heathen. And God brings judgment. And before that He sent His prophets as deliverers for them. And what did they do? They killed them.
So, he’s lining up this history that they know very well. They can’t argue the history, I’m telling you.
Point number 4, Stephen applies his history lesson.
What do you mean? There’s a point to a message—just like there is a point to this message.
It’s amazing how these teachers say, “When you preach you shouldn’t call anybody names. You shouldn’t do this, and you shouldn’t do that.”