FRIDAY 30 April 2021 “Stephen”

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Good morning my “Walking with Jesus” friends,

Have you discovered that if you trust Jesus to be your Savior, and pursue an authentic, growing relationship with Jesus in which you learn more and more about HIM and His truths, and you make yourself more and more available to Jesus, for HIM to engage you in what HE is doing here in our world, your life becomes both fulfilling and challenging? Fulfilling because you will find you are becoming who God designed you to be and aligning your life with the purposes God designed you for! Challenging, because like a salmon swimming upstream, you will be more and more living counter culture, no matter where you live in our world! That is not only challenging, it can be outright painful, as you will be opposed by those who want you to ‘fit in’ with popular culture and opinion. Are you experiencing any of that right now?

As we continue to follow the events after the Easter death, resurrection, multiple appearances and ascension of Jesus back to heaven, we come to Acts 6:7 and this statement: “So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of [Jewish] priests became obedient to the faith.” The momentum of this ‘spiritual movement’ sweeping through Jerusalem continues to increase, even drawing Jewish priests who served at the Temple, and are trusting Jesus Christ to be their Savior and devoting themselves to understand His teachings.

Again I draw your attention to the word ‘disciples’. This is a word which means committed follower, student, apprentice. These are not simply casual believers. They aren’t even very interested believers in Jesus. These are people of some passion, who are making it a priority to learn all they can about Jesus, and grow their relationship with Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. These are people experiencing significant change in their worldview, their priorities, their values, their relationships and their thinking. These people are thinking with ‘the mind of Jesus’ (1 Corinthians 2) as the Holy Spirit does His transformative holy work in their lives.

The changes in these people were obvious, undeniable and authentic. They both naturally attracted other people to consider Jesus and follow Him, as well as repulsed some people who wanted nothing to do with Jesus. It’s the same today, for you and me isn’t it my friends? If you are a true ‘disciple’ of Jesus, you both attract those who have an interest in Jesus and you repel those who have a disdain for God’s truth and God’s holiness. I wonder how you are finding these realities at work in your life, wherever you live in our world?

Acts 6 introduces us to a man named Stephen. As you see in verse 5 he was one of the 7 men selected by the criteria: “Full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom” to respond to the practical needs and challenges facing this rapidly growing ‘spiritual movement’, especially the needs of the widows. There is a time gap between Acts 6:7 & 8, although we don’t really know how long. Days, weeks, perhaps months? Luke writes: “Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Opposition arose…” Sad isn’t it? As we look around our world today, this is happening. God empowered people, followers of Jesus, are doing a great many very good things to help our world, yet they are opposed by those who welcome their good deeds, but reject Jesus and want nothing to do with Jesus. It’s a profound spiritual battle isn’t it? I wonder how you see this battle raging in your city, in your society. How is it affecting you?

I invite you to read or listen to the audio Bible version of Acts 6:7-7:60. It’s the account of how the opposition to Stephen brought him into direct confrontation with the Sanhedrin, those 72 religious leaders who had great power and authority in Jerusalem. Jesus had appeared before them and been sentenced to death. The apostles had appeared before them and been flogged. Now Stephen appears before them and as you will see ends up being dragged out of the city and stoned to death! The Sanhedrin’s tolerance for this “Jesus spiritual movement” was rapidly shrinking. Their opposition to anyone perceived to be advancing this movement was intensifying.

Stephen’s speech to the Sanhedrin is a remarkable review of God’s work with His people through Jewish history, and a very clear accusation of their rejection of God’s Son Jesus and His Messianic mission of Redemption. While they agreed, of course, with Stephen’s recounting of their wonderful, God blessed history, they rejected any notion that Jesus was the Son of God, or that God had sent Jesus to earth on some mission of providing salvation for people through faith in Jesus and what Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection. Stephen’s summary statement was this: “You stiff-necked people…you are just like your ancestors. You always resist the Holy Spirit. Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. and now you have betrayed and murdered HIM!” (Acts 7:51,52) It’s a very dangerous thing when leaders, those people who are supposed to guide the people in what is right, actually become the ones who oppose what is right and create inroads into society for that which is wrong and will tear God honoring society apart. Do you see that happening where you live in our world? That was Stephen’s challenge to these leaders.

I think it’s very important we look at the response of these leaders, for it may well happen where you live in the very near future, if it is not already happening! “When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look’, Stephen said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ At this they covered their ears and yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at Stephen, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him…” (Acts 7:54-58)

Stephen had spoken truth, only truth, God’s truth. Their response was an emotional meltdown to the point of gnashing their teeth. When Stephen claimed God was giving him a glimpse into heaven, do you see what they did? First, they covered their ears! Do you see anyone in your world who is covering their ears, refusing to hear God’s truth? Is it happening in education or health care or politics or even in the courts in your country? A refusal to hear God’s truth is a very significant step into the abyss of despair, for God is the originator of ALL truth. When we reject God’s truth, everything collapses because without unchanging, absolute truth, any opinion, no matter how ridiculous, must be given credibility as possibly true. Now watch that…is that happening in your society?

Second, they yelled at the top of their voices. Refusing to hear truth is one thing, filling your mind and heart with NOISE so you cannot hear God’s voice, you can’t recognize God’s truth, is another significant downward step into the abyss. Is that happening where you live? Social media, non-stop talk radio & tv, podcasts of every kind… is it all NOISE drowning out wisdom, truth, logic, common sense and most of all, God’s voice?

Thirdly, they rushed at Stephen, grabbed him, dragged him out of the city and began to throw stones and rocks at him, eventually crushing his skull and killing him! How far is your part of the world TODAY from this type of reaction to followers of Jesus Christ who are trying to live and proclaim God’s truth in schools, in courtrooms, in politics, on social media, even in personal conversation with people? I’m sure you see as societies in our world reject God’s truth and embrace alternative lifestyles, redefine truth, reject any standards of holiness… those societies are rapidly descending into the great abyss of social dysfunction and collapse. Now I invite you to pause for a moment and deeply reflect on these truths in your city, your society. What can you predict life will be like for YOU where you live in 5 or 10 years if the decline into the abyss of social dysfunction and social collapse continues unabated?

May I ask, as you consider what Stephen said that he saw, as they were stoning him, what do you think it was? A hallucination? A vision? Or is it possible God allowed Stephen to actually have a clear glimpse into heaven and may I call it, God’s throne room? Heb. 1:3, Romans 8:34 both tell us when Jesus ascended into heaven He SAT DOWN at the right hand of God. But here Stephen sees Jesus ‘the Son of Man STANDING at the right hand of God.” What do you think that may mean?

We know God is always watching what is happening here on earth. (Ps. 33:13-15,18; Ps. 14:2 etc.) Could it be this event was so significant Jesus stood up from His seated place of authority and intercession and gave Stephen the ability/privilege to see into heaven, so Stephen would know that Jesus was watching closely, fully aware and giving Stephen strength in this moment of torture, while awaiting Stephen’s soon arrival in heaven, at death? Was it also so Stephen could say what he said, and thereby give great hope and encouragement to all, then and since, then who would suffer for their refusal to reject the Name of Jesus?

Notice in closing today, the last words Stephen spoke as he died: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Do not hold this sin against them.” (Acts 7:59,60) Amazing, isn’t it, how similar those words are to the words that Jesus spoke from the cross, just as He entrusted His spirit to His Father? (Luke 23:34, 46) So, what words come to your mind as you watch or hear of the persecution and torture of Jesus followers today around the world?

My “Walking with Jesus” friends, if you are a true follower of Jesus, I urge you to consider this: What Stephen experienced in his rejection and his murder, may be in your future or mine, as our world increasingly refuses to hear God’s truth, insists on filling all minds with lies and wickedness, and with more and more intentionality, seeks to silence all voice who speak of Jesus or call us to God’s truth. Now think about that. . . and I encourage you to talk with Jesus, right now, and LISTEN to what He wants to say to you!

Today’s Scripture is Acts 6:7-7:60.

Choose below to read or listen.

Acts 7

Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.

Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.

Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)

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