We began a conversation three weeks ago about what gives us meaning in this life and I suggested that the question is actually a mute point for those who call themselves Christian because if we believe that Christ came, died and rose again then we must also live out this reality. To live out this belief we are call to become a witness for Christ. An impossible role without the acceptance of the Holy Spirit, the power of God offered by the Holy Spirit for the single intent of glorifying the Lord.
This week will continue the lesson by continuing with the heart of God through the scriptures. Before we dive in, I’d like to help us all with a definition of a word which just so happens to be the title of this week’s message – Confess. My wife gave me this huge new dictionary with the words original definitions from the 1800’s because so many words have lost their meaning.
Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines “confess” as: to own, avow or acknowledge; publicly declaring a belief in and adherence to, to admit or assent to in words; to approve or attest to.
A witness confesses. Their entire life acknowledges what they believe in, assent to or approve of. This is becoming more difficult in our sound bite culture, we often judge others on a single quote; you tube video; or even a reaction to a horrible event. We see this same issue in our understanding of God and his Word. We don’t want to take the time to fully understand a person and their life because many would rather think the worst of others. It may be one of the reasons we’re so surprised with the scriptures. They constantly tell of a God who wants the best for us and His willingness to use average individuals to confess a larger message of hope.
Last week, we left the apostles after they had been flogged but demonstrating real hope. They were rejoicing about their ability to suffer for the sake of the Gospel. We will skip over much of Act’s chapter 6 and 7. In this section of scripture, I encourage you to read about the first outreach/mission vs. congregational care technique debate, the selection of seven deacons to do widow and orphan care as well as Stephen’s preaching before the Sanhedrin - a preaching which he ends up convicting the entire Sanhedrin of being at the least complicit in Jesus death, if not complicit. At one point in the sermon, he calls the assembly of leaders, “stiff necked” – a reference to unruly calf or heifer. Now that’s some preaching. Call the congregation a bunch of stubborn cows. Tell them they are in denial. Tell them they need to repent. They are not happy with him. Let’s jump into the scripture:
54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.
Why could the Sanhedrin stone Stephen but not Jesus? The charge against Jesus was insurrectionist – terrorist against Rome. The issue here was a religious one. They could kill someone by stoning for a religious crime.
Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Saul who would be Paul stood by watching. The event must have been very character forming for him. Can you imagine seeing another human being stoned to death for nothing more than religious speech? I wince at pictures and videos of others persecution imagine being there. If you have ever ushered someone into the next live it is holy ground and ultimately, unforgettable. The story of the light and the train.
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
I remember reading a story from a number of years ago about six year old Matthew Huffman. He was the son of a missionary in Salvador, Brazil. One morning he began to complain of fever. His temperature went up; he began to lose his eyesight. His mother and father put him in a car and raced him to hospital. During the drive, the boy was laying down with his head in his mother’s lap. However, he kept fidgeting. He kept raising his hand in the air. Finally after like the umpteenth time, his mother asked him, “What are you reaching for Matthew?” “I’m reaching for Jesus hand,” he answered. And with those words he closed his and slid into a comma from which he would never awaken. He died to days later, a victim of bacterial meningitis.
– Angels Were Silent (Max Lucado)
60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
I am so taken aback by this first statement. In my pain, I rarely think of others never the less, Stephen begins praying for others. “…do not hold this sin against them.” Really?! How does one do that? The truth is we can’t. It’s a lie of the devil and my flesh to think I will have the strength to be fully present enough to live a life for others more than for myself. The fact is we do not have the where withal or power apart from our acceptance of the Holy Spirit, the understanding of His power afterward and our actions for the glorify of the one from whom our lives confess. I hope my last words will be as memorable.
8 And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. 4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
The world had just changed dramatically for the Christians. The public action of stoning began two movements. The first movement was practice of persecution in the hopes of ridding themselves of this offshoot of Judaism. The new Christians had taken it too far some would say. The structures in place had had enough. A cleansing had to take place. This movement in turn would spurn a second. The martyrdom of Stephen created enough unrest that the message of the gospel would then be transported to other places and cultures. Out of fear for ones own well-being and the inevitable scorn, the act of living as Christ would along with strategically sharing one’s life and faith the world never be the same. A dividing line had been drawn.
It’s a dividing line that still exists today. I believe in this country and community our largest tool for sharing the gospel has been thwarted by our willingness to so assimilate into the culture we don’t look like any different or welcome the challenge of criticism or debate for what we believe. We’d prefer to live anonymously. Unfortunately, this only confesses our love of comfort, lack of dedication for and purpose in Christian belief as well as our own lack of trust in God. Will we love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength as well as loving our neighbor as ourselves? Or are these great Sunday words which evaporate as we exit the church doors? Only you can answer it.
Let’s pray:
Father, give us the courage of Stephen, the Connection of Michael and power of your Spirit to go from this place confessing your love for all we encounter until we gather again. Amen!
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