Paul Vs Stephen (About The Resurrection Of Jesus)

First, I am praying that at the end of this sermon,

1. We would have the desire to experience the deepest significance of Jesus’ resurrection in our lives.

2. We will never think of Paul’s story and Easter, the same way again.

[PAUL/SAUL]

• Paul was born, in about the same year or a little later after Jesus was born.

• Born as Saul, in Tarsus in Cilicia, (which is now in Turkey), he is a Jew, a Roman Citizen, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews.

• Paul has a powerful mind.

o At the age of 13, he had mastered,

? Jewish history

? The poetry of the Psalms

? Majestic literature of the Prophets.

o He knows rhetoric which is making an effective argument.

o He virtually outshines his age group and is considered the best Jew and the best Pharisee of his generation. (Galatians 1:13-14)

• He left Jerusalem in his early 20’s to master a trade (which is tent-making)

• He returned when he was 30 and spent his days pursuing his career and grooming himself for heaven.

Paul was grooming himself for heaven.

Imagine in a temple court in Jerusalem, wherein the Law is read aloud and explained by elders and anyone they invite, including Paul.

When Paul steps in the temple court,

• He wears the arrogance of a man whose background, training, and giftings, make him feel very important.

• He believes he deserves, respectful greetings and a high position in the synagogue.

• He is sure he deserves God’s favour. He would have prayed, “God, I thank Thee I am not like other men, judgemental, opportunist, extortionist, scammers, sinners. I fast twice a week; I say the daily prayers in exact progression, I never fail to carry out cleansing rituals, I give tithes without fail.”

The truth is that most of us encounter a modern-day Pharisee, who is busy pointing out others' faults, to elevate him/herself.

[STEPHEN]

Now there was this disciple named Stephen.

• Stephen and Paul were probably much the same age.

• Like Paul, he is a quick thinker, has a powerful mind, and likes to engage in public controversies.

• He was 1 of the 7 men, chosen by the disciples, known to be full of Spirit & wisdom.

• He spent much of his time on social concerns helping in the daily distribution of food for the widows. (Read Acts 6:1-7).

Men respected Paul yet feared him; they respected Stephen and loved him.

[Paul vs Stephen 1]

The credentials of these two gentlemen are outstanding. Paul and Stephen took the game to a very high level.

Put their credentials side-by-side, who do you think has the edge?

Paul may have a longer resume, but if we look at Stephens's resume, under the character reference portion, likely it says – “The Holy Spirit.”

Do you know that Paul and his friends could not win an argument against Stephen?

And theologian once said that Stephen was Paul before Saul became Paul.

[Resurrection]

Stephen carries a powerful force that no one in this world can stand against which is the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.

The resurrection is not just a display of the biggest miracle of all. It also unlocks a supernatural power that is made available to us.

By believing in Jesus’ resurrection, like Stephen, we can be carriers of that power too.

Romans 8:11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

[The Power of the Holy Spirit]

When the Holy Spirit lives in you,

• You are constantly transformed to be the best version of yourself.

• You are in the best position to win battles in life.

• You will have the power to cancel the works of the devil such as sickness, disease, lies, and others.

• You will have the power to get rid of sin, and things Satan brought into your life such as addiction, depression, guilt, sickness, strongholds, and others.

Without the Holy Spirit make life work on your own.

But with the Holy Spirit, it is not just you doing life. The Holy Spirit will carry out things, through the work that you are doing.

The Holy Spirit never enters a man and lets him live like the world. – A. W. Tozer.

[Paul vs Stephen 2 – Face Off]

When Stephen preached, he always turned the Scriptures in the direction of Jesus as the Messiah. Stephen is sure Jesus has risen. Members of the Synagogue began to argue with Stephen.

Acts 6: 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.