Tag: Stephen

The Message is Too Important to Stop

nofearlindaLeave a comment

After Stephen was stoned for professing faith in Jesus, Saul (later Paul) increased the persecution of the Christians. Saul wanted them eliminated and out of circulation where they could not tell others about their god. Scripture tells us of his intensity in Acts 8:3 “ But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.” Why would God allow this mistreatment of believers? In this case, we can see an immediate spreading of the good news of Jesus to Samaria, a place where Jews did not go because of their hatred of the Samaritans. Persecution forced them to leave Jerusalem and they went to Samaria to get away from Saul. As a result many in Samaria came to know Jesus and were filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:4 describes it this way: “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.” They were not stopped by the persecution but redirected by God.

As a result many came to know Jesus. Acts 8:5-8 “Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.”

There are valuable lessons in these first 8 verses of Acts 8. They cause us to examine how we act in the face of opposition. Do we give up? Accept defeat? Or do we look for another way to serve? Scripture tells us they mourned deeply for Stephen and were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria, vs 1,2. I am sure they were frightened and hurting but nothing is said about giving up. They pressed on- why? They knew that the message they had, the good news of Christ, was life changing and opened the door/way to forgiveness of sins. The message was too good, too important to stop.

By being open to God’s leading and moving out of Jerusalem, many came to know Jesus. It provided the apostles with a greater way to fulfill Jesus’ commission given in Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus wants us to share the joy with others. Look for His guidance and move beyond the obstacles Satan tries to throw in your pathway. The news is good and worthy of spreading! Jesus Saves.

Linda

Do You Hear Yourselves? What Are You Thinking?

nofearlindaLeave a comment

Acts Chapters 6 and 7 focuses on the story of Stephen, a prominent leader in the Jerusalem church. Scripture describes him as “full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.“ The opposition arose against Stephen from within and from foreign influences and they decided to bring him up on charges of wanting to destroy the Temple and change the customs of Moses. In Chapter 7, Stephen gives his eloquent response to their charges. Actually, it is one of my favorites as Stephen gives a short concise review of the Israelites journey with God. He goes from Abraham, to Isaac and Jacob, to the selling of Joseph into slavery, Pharoah’s treatment of Joseph and God’s favor upon the family of Joseph. Later, he includes the 400 years in captivity in Egypt, Moses’ killing of an Egyptian and fleeing to Midian, God appearing the Moses in the Burning Bush and commissioning him to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt. He tells about the 40 years in the wilderness, conquest of Canaan, David as king then Solomon and his building of the temple. In Acts 7: 51-53 Stephen turns to the leaders and accuses them of persecuting the prophets and rejecting and killing the Righteous One. “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” It was a valid complaint as they were calling themselves righteous and holy because they kept the ‘law’ but were actually hypocrites. Stephen’s forthright accusations were too much for the leaders and they called for him to be stoned.

As Stephen was being stoned, scripture gives us a glimpse of this scene, 54-56 “ Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed 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, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Scripture also records the presence of the Saul, later to be Paul the Apostle. Stephen’s words undoubtedly had an effect upon Saul. “7:59-8:1 “And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 8 And Saul approved of his execution.”

Why does this story of the stoning of Stephen have such an effect on me? The accusations were false and he was innocent. No one likes to see the innocent punished. Stephen was learned and delivered his impassioned plea with eloquence and logical reasoning and yet he was rejected. One must always be aware and cautious of not responding to a ‘mobs’ mentality’ or just going along with the crowd. Jesus calls us to think and be wise and discerning. We are to test false teacher against the Word of God. We can never know how much of an impact Stephen’s testimony and death had upon Saul. I’m sure he remembered Stephen’s word and the look upon his face as he look upon God in heaven.

I encourage you to read these chapters again for yourself. Stephen’s words speak to us today.

Linda