Of all the weapons of mass destruction that have ever been available in the world, words are the most powerful. Of all the forces that shape and change cultures and societies, words are the most powerful. “The tongue has the power of life and death,” says the Proverbs. James warning us of the dangers of the tongue says, “It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison, and it is set on fire by hell.”
But there is a word from heaven that has power to reverse all the evil in the world. It is God’s word. When John describes the way God initiated the destruction of the works of the devil he says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” And when God wanted to preserve the light of truth that gives us new birth into eternal life, he did so by having men record it in words. The word of God is living and active, sharper than any double edged sword, dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. The Word of God – the sword of the Spirit, handled by Christians who are filled and guided by the Holy Spirit – has the power to change the world. But not without a fight.
Words carry ideas. When the ideas of God and the ideas of Satan clash, Satan shows his fangs and there is warfare. The thing about Jesus that drew out the greatest violence and enmity among the religious leaders was not what he did, but what he said… His words. The Scribes and Pharisees were constantly confronting Jesus, hoping to catch him in his words.
We all understand the power of words to some degree. Just listen to the politicians today. Just a sentence in the wrong direction can cost a man the position of president. We can be tough on people because of what they say. But when was the last time you heard a preacher say things that made you so mad you wanted to kill him?
In Acts 7 we have the only sermon recorded by Steven. At the end of this sermon, Steven will be killed. Not for anything he did, but simply because of his words. It is the longest sermon recorded in the book of Acts, and it is the only one recorded where the speaker was immediately killed after it was given. Actually, Paul has a defense speech in Acts 22 that would have resulted in his death, were it not that he was in the protection of Roman authorities. Earlier, in chapter 14 while at Lystra, Paul was stoned after preaching Christ there but the executioners didn’t finish the job. They thought they had killed him, but they were wrong.
This is not unusual in the Bible. All through the scriptures there are prophets and preachers and confessing Christians that have been met with persecution for their efforts. I had a friend, John Crevack, in Vermont who preached at the Church of Christ in Brattleboro. John used to write editorials exposing the dangers of homosexuality and their movement. That was back in the late 1980’s. He actually received death threats in the mail at times, and had visitors come into the services who shouted at him and the church calling them names. He eventually left the church there when several of the members who wanted peace there told him to stop. We like peace don’t we. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, said, "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for in the same way their fathers used to treat the false prophets. Luke 6:26 Jesus pronounced the blessings of God on those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. Matt. 5:11 "Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me.
12 "Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The Christian faith is not a faith of the most popular ideas and politically correct words. Our faith makes us loyal to the truth of God, the saving work of Jesus Christ, and our responsibility to submit to his Lordship without compromise. Paul describes it well when he says that the message of the gospel is to those who are perishing the smell of death, but to those who are being saved it is the smell of life. 2 Cor. 2:15-17.
Lets look at Steven here. To see the whole picture we need to go back to chapter 6:8. Read Acts 6:8-15
We see that Steven has become entangled with a bunch of opponents. They can’t seem to win the arguments so they round up some false witnesses and take him to court.
Look at 6:10. They could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. The power of God’s wisdom and the Spirit made his words powerful. His opponents get so mad they set up false witnesses to charge him with blasphemy against the temple and the customs of Moses. Why? They actually think Steven is dangerous!
The High priest hears the accusations against Steven and asks, “Are these things true?” Steven is on trial standing in the same court and before many of the same people that condemned Jesus. This court has already made it clear that they will not stand for anyone preaching the name of Jesus. But this may be the first time for them to hear an extended defense placing Jesus squarely in the history of all the other leadership sent from God to them, but that Israel had rejected. Steven’s conclusion will have them seething with anger.
The charges against Steven center on what he says about the temple and Moses. Steven addresses both of these accusations in his speech: First, he reminds them that God was with his people long before they ever had a temple. He discusses Abraham, the patriarchs, Joseph, and Moses. The temple does not limit God, but it can, in fact, limit the people’s view of God. The temple allowed them to isolate where God’s presence is so that they could be distant from him when they were away from his house. Steven says that the house God instructed Moses to build traveled with them.
The point is clear: God’s people are not to be church building or temple focused. We serve a God without an office at the church building. Our God resides in the hearts of his people, wherever we go.
Second, Steven says that Israel rejected God’s leadership through Moses. In verses 23-44 He sites how they rejected Moses before God called him through the burning bush. That was when Moses killed the Egyptian thinking they would see God’s hand redeeming them through him, and yet they pushed him aside and said to him, “Who made you ruler and judge over us?” Steven says that God later called this very Moses whom they had rejected to go back and deliver Israel; thus God made him ruler and judge! This same Moses said, “God will raise up a prophet like me from among your brothers.” Then Steven says things about Moses that show his likeness with Jesus. But Steven says our fathers thrust Moses aside again and went after idols when they made the golden calf. They preferred rejoicing in the works of their own hands, so God turned them over to worshipping idols.
The point for us? Guess who God has made ruler and judge over us? Jesus! Reject Jesus and you lose everything. Follow his leadership and glory is waiting!
Third, Steven points out that the temple was not build until Solomon’s day. When it was built it was David’s idea, and God never asked for it in the first place. In fact, God doesn’t dwell in houses made by hands. He quotes Isaiah 66:1-2
49 "’Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting-place be?
50 Has not my hand made all these things?’
Then Steven lowers the boom: 51 "You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.
52 "Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become;
53 you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it."
Suddenly the shoe is on the other foot. Steven puts them on equal par with those that made the golden calf and rejected Moses… not a very complimentary thing to say. Also, this is the third time they have been accused of putting Jesus to death. First by Peter and John, next by all the apostles, and here by Steven.
But Steven doesn’t get to finish his speech. His accusers are so angry they completely lose control. The gospel begins with recognition of our guilt and sin, but it doesn’t end there. These Jewish religious leaders never gave Steven a chance to finish the message. 55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;
56 and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
57 But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears, and they rushed upon him with one impulse.
58 And when they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him, and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 And they went on stoning Stephen as he called upon the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"
60 And falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" And having said this, he fell asleep.
Here dies the first martyr for Christ. He looks up to see Jesus standing, ready to receive him into glory! Lord, let me die in faithful service like Steven! I’m sure being stoned to death is painful, but it doesn’t last long. Just imagine the welcome into heaven he received! I’ve seen a few deaths. There are a lot worse ways to go. And listen to Steven’s heart. As they are killing him he prays for Jesus to receive his spirit and for the Lord not to hold this sin against them! Wow! Powerful words.
Steven’s death was not in vain. The church in Jerusalem was about to become like a dandelion in the wind. Persecution will scatter the church all over the place, and where ever they go, the word of God will go with them.
