How Will You Finish? (Acts 7: 54-60)
It is not about where you are now or how you started
It is all about how you finish
Remodeling houses, if you start out all hung ho and burn yourself out and you stop remodeling
The house never gets finished and what good did you do
A lot of us starts out when we get saved, we are on fire
We go hard, we witness to people, we invite people to church, we study our bible every day, we talk about Jesus at home
Then somewhere along the line, we get tired, we get burned out
Next thing you know, you only read your bible a few days a week
Stop inviting people to church
Stop talking about Jesus at home
Find ourselves at a complete standstill and just going through the motions
Only thing we are currently doing is showing up for church
What good are we really doing?
It is never a sprint, turtle and the rabbit, marathon runners
When I was a rookie as a police officer - Running lights and sirens
What good are you if you crash out, how can you help anybody
It is always about how you finish
2 Timothy 4: 7 - I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith
We have all grew up hearing this scripture quoted
It is one of my favorite verses in the whole bible
Paul finished well
Let me tell you about a guy named Stephen who also finished well
Stephen was a deacon in the early church at Jerusalem
He was a fireball preacher
He angered several members of various synagogues by his preaching
He angered them b/c he preached the truth, he did not compromise the truth
He was charged with blasphemy
He was the first Christian Martyr
There are no recorded personal weaknesses of Stephen
His fearless preaching provoked his enemies and lead to his death
However, his boldness was a strength and not a flaw
They brought him forth to defend himself about blasphemy
Instead of defending himself, He preached about God
Knowing what would happen if he did this
This guy didn’t have any quit in him
He was fearless, he was relentless, He preached the truth
51-53) Stephen exposed these people
Just like today, they didn’t take to kind to this
54)They were cut to the heart - they got their feelings hurt
They gnashed on Stephen with their teeth like a pack of wild animals
They was biting Stephen
Listen, these are grown men
Lighter fluid, while squirting in on a fire, the fire comes
Same concept here
We all had to deal with our kids when they went through the biting stage but they was 2 or 3 not 18 and above
Do you hear how silly this is
55) Stephen didn’t bite them back, he didn’t curse them, he didn’t even scream at them
Since he was full of the Holy Ghost
He looked up into heaven and saw the glory of God
He seen Jesus standing on the right hand of God
Talk about anyone who slaps you on the right cheek, give them your other one to a whole new level
What stood out to me is he saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God
Look at Colossians 3:1 and Hebrews 10:12
Talks about sitting at the right hand of God
I don’t know about you but that is pretty fascinating to me
Could you imagine, being that bold, knowing what is coming and you just look up and see Jesus standing
I feel as if Jesus was saying job well done my son
What an honor to be able to see what Stephen saw
56) Stephen said he saw the heavens open and the son of man standing on the right hand of God
The right hand of God is used as a symbol of God’s power, his protection, his presence but also his judgment
It is a symbol of high rank and authority
I believe that Jesus fits that bill to a tee
Can you imagine seeing this
I do believe you would be a loss of words
57) they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears
They screamed, put their fingers in their ears and bull rushed Stephen
I picture a bunch of bullies on the playground in the 5th grade
Talk about just a childish act
They put fingers in ears and started yelling
They didn’t want to hear it and then they started screaming
As if they was pumping each other up
This is how the world operates and we don’t even recgonize it
Someone will do something non christian and the world will cheer them on - Look at Juneteenth, the parade, drive through there with Jesus music playing and see what you are met w/
58) They did something that they had no authority to do, put someone to death
They cast him out of the city like he didn’t even belong there
and then they stoned him
The ringleaders of this escapade took off their coats and laid them at Sauls feet
They was basically saying Saul, watch my coat, it restricts my throwing these stones
Stephen didn’t have a fair trial whatsoever
At least with Jesus, they made of some what a show of a trial
Not with Stephen, they are just like people today
They didn’t want no part of the truth
They wanted him gone
Out of sight, out of mind
As long as he wasn’t around, they didn’t have to feel bad
If you wasn’t living like you are supposed to and the preacher showed up to visit
You would turn off the lights and be as quiet as possible
You don’t want no part of it
they was so against Stephen, they stoned this guy and for what?
All he did was preach the truth
59) They started stoning Stephen
They didn’t go for your head and make it a quick death
No, they started with your body and worked their way up
There is a reason they took their coats off
They wanted him to suffer
When they started throwing the stones
Stephen prayed
Lord Jesus, receive my spirit
What an honor, leave this world while praying to our father
I would love when my time comes to go home, I am preaching his word
Talk about an honor, praising his name and going home
That would be absolutely amazing to me
60) Stephen kneeled down and cried out w/ a loud voice
Lord, lay not this sin to their charge
Talk about humble, talk about God all over him
Could you imaging being in the electric chair and as they are fixing to pull the lever, you say lay not this sin to their charge
Luke 23: 34
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Talk about the true meaning of being christ like
Talking the talk and walking the walk
When Stephen said this, he fell asleep
I personally do not believe that Stephen felt the first stone
So in verse 56 when Stephen said he looked up and saw Jesus standing and not sitting at the right hand of God
It was like as if Jesus was giving a standing ovation
Saying Great job Stephen, job well done
So yes, Stephen finished well
My question to you today is how will you finish?
Here is how Stephen done it
John 15:4 - Abide in me and I in you
Stephen was plugged in to God
Think of a refrigerator, doesn’t work unless it is plugged into a power source
God is our power source
If the breaker flips, refrigerator won’t work
We serve a God whose breaker will never flip
He will always be our source of power
Let me ask you
Are you plugged into God today
Has your breaker tripped
Abide in him and he will abide in you
How will you finish? You can get help today if you want it
