Acts Of The Apostles (10 Of 39)

They chose seven outstanding men. However, one of those men stands out head and shoulders above the rest. His name was Stephen.

Most of chapters six and seven deal with Stephen, this man of God, who was so greatly used by God.

Have you ever wondered why they singled Stephen out. The church elected seven deacons. Why would they single out this one?

I believe I know why. The devil knew that Stephen was the real big threat to his kingdom.

I trust we will learn from him, as we take a closer look at this great man of God!

I. HE WAS A SPECIAL MAN OF GOD

Look at Acts 6: 8-10. We read, “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.”

Look at-

A. HIS ABILITIES

In all areas of life, you have some people who are common, and some who are special.

Illus: In the field of athletics, for example, we see those who make it to the Olympics. We know these people are special in their field. Crowds of people are stirred and moved to excitement by their talents.

These are special athletes! These special people thrill us and inspire us.

Also, in the spiritual realm, there are those who thrill us and inspire us. Stephen was one of those.

He, of course, was not the only one.

Illus: When Adoniram Judson graduated from college and seminary, he received a call from a fashionable church in Boston, to become its assistant pastor. Everyone congratulated him. His mother and sister rejoiced that he could live at home with them, and still do his life's work. But Judson refused the offer saying, “My work is not here,” He said, “God is calling me beyond the seas. To stay here, even to serve God in His ministry, I feel would be only partial obedience, and I could not be happy in that.”

Although it was a great struggle, he left his mother and sister, to follow the heavenly call. Not many people remember the fashionable church in Boston, but Judson's churches in Burma had fifty thousand converts, and the influence of his consecrated life, is still felt around the world. --Forward

Yes, God has always had some men and women that He could use, who were not just carbon copy Christians.

During the days of the early church, Stephen was one that was special.

B. THEIR INABILITY

Those who were not Christians, considered Stephen as a man who must be stopped. They evidently tried to discredit his teachings, but verse 10 says, “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.”

WHAT KIND OF A MAN WAS HE?

II. HE WAS A SENSIBLE MAN OF GOD

Stephen was being accused of some very serious charges.

If you want to know if a man is sensible, the time to evaluate him is when he is under enemy fire.

Look how he faced this gang of evil men.

A. THE GANG

Look at verses 11-15. We read, “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. And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.”

Have you notice that the devil's crowd always seems to run in gangs?

We often read about the gangs in our big cities. The members of these gangs do great evil. Have you ever wondered why they do things as a gang?

It is because of the strength in numbers.

Illus: One boy might not dare fight another boy, especially if he is a little bigger. But if he gets a gang on his side, all of a sudden he has courage.

Evil people are more comfortable when they have many other evil people with them. Their strength is in their numbers.

It takes a brave soul to stand alone. Yet the Bible tells of many who stood alone, even when they were greatly outnumbered.

Illus: In 1 Kings 18, we read of King Ahab, at Elijah's request, sending for all the children of Israel, and gathering all the prophets of Baal together on mount Carmel. Elijah challenged, "How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. " In verse 22 we read that four hundred fifty prophets of Baal were there to oppose Elijah's one God. But, this great man of God did not back down. In fact, he challenged them to a contest between his God and theirs.