Intro: Last week we learned about the character of a Godly man. We learned about Stephen. Stephen was the first martyr for Christ and what an example to follow!
Stephen was not only the first martyr for Christ, but many Scholars and preachers also credit him with being the first Christian apologist.
No an Apologist is not one who apologizes for their faith.
Instead an apologist is one who defends the faith.
Listen to Peter’s words,
1 Peter 3.15 “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”
Apologetics is the study of the defense of the faith.
The English word comes from the Greek word apologia, which means a speech in defense of something.
Stephen was ready to give a defense of himself and his faith because of his close relationship to God through Christ and his being full of, faith, God’s Holy Spirit, Grace and Power.
Jude 3 “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.”
So why did Stephen have to give a defense?
I. Council’s Accusation
A) Rejection of God’s revelation in Jesus Christ
1) They could not deal with Stephen’s Godly wisdom
Remember that they could not stand up to Stephen’s Godly wisdom. So instead of discussion they made accusation.
2) They would not deal with the Savior
a) Death b) Burial c) Resurrection d) Ascension
Too many today do not deal with the Lord Jesus Christ. They will not ask how can I Glorify Him in my life, How can I serve Him in my life, How can I give my life for Him?
Instead we have a generation of people looking to the God of heaven as a magical genie that will give us whatever we want whenever we want!!!
God is not to be at our beck and call we are to be at His.
And Stephen was!
B) Revealed in the response to Stephen
(Better than Judging Amy, Judge Judy or others)
1) How do you plead?
6.14 “for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.”
-- Here’s the skinny, Here’s (young people) the 411.
7.1 “The high priest said, “Are these things so?”
2) Stephen says I plead the blood.
II. Stephen’s Resolution (defense)
A) Respect for council members
Acts 7.2 “Hear me, brethren and fathers!”
If you want someone to hear your defense show him or her respect.
Could it be Stephen had heard Peters words, gentleness and reverence?
B) Reverence for God
1) God of Glory
2) God’s covenant work with Stephens ancestors
Stephen did not blaspheme God He saw God in control of his life and the life of Israel.
C) Regard for the patriarchs
1) Abraham
2) Joseph a clear picture of Jesus
a) Rejected
b) Placed in the ground
c) Sold into slavery
d) Lifted up by God to a place of favor and
3) Moses a type of messiah (respected Moses rejected Messiah)
7.35, 37 Moses predicted Messiah would come, 39
Joseph, Moses types of Christ rejected in some way.
4) Joshua
5) David
6) Solomon
What else can we learn from his Old Testament summary?
God cannot be contained by a temple built with human hands.
BBC “Isaiah had warned the people that buildings are not what really count with God but rather moral and spiritual condition of men’s lives” (Isaiah 66.1, 2)
Moses told to take of his shoes because he was walking on Holy ground. This was not in Jerusalem, not inside the temple. So we see that whenever you are in the presence of the Lord God Almighty you are on Holy ground.
Acts 7.48-50 Read
Their ancestors had rejected God’s Saviors and were sentenced to exile and punishment
Truth
When you reject Christ as the council of the Sanhedrin did you are sentenced not to 40 years of exile and punishment but to eternal punishment and exile from God forever.
7) Stephen resolved in their own history to show through the many clear pictures of Christ to come that Jesus was indeed Messiah.
Dr John MacArthur “ [Stephens] purpose was to show that Christ and the Christian faith which He preached were the perfect fulfillment of the Old Testament.”
Read Acts 7.51-53 We are to confront the world with their sin in love. To let someone die in their sin because you would not confront them is not love. Look at Stephen’s example!
8) Reaction of the council
a) Cut to the quick (convicted of sin)
b) Gnashing their teeth (
Stephen’s response was filled with scripture and applied the principles found in scripture.
We too will be like Stephen if we truly believe that “all scripture is inspired by God and is useful for Teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness”, we can apply the principles of the bible to any situation in our lives
The Bible applies to Spiritual matters
The Bible applies to Physical matters
The Bible applies to Emotional matters
The Bible applies to Psycological matters.
Has it been a while since you heard from God, since you learned in Sunday school, or had something revealed to you in Morning worship? My answer what did you bring?
Did you bring with you the Holy Spirit who will illuminate (shine a light on) and reveal to you God’s word.
If you remember the Parable of the Sower, there are four types of soil, the path, stony, thorny, fertile.
The path, birds came and ate the seed. Not understanding, Matt 13.19 those that hear the word but don’t understand have the seed of the word stolen from them.
The stony ground will keep the word from taking root and starve it out of your life, not listening on Sunday morning, not having a quiet time, not studying your bible.
The Thorny ground will strangle God’s word out of you life. It can take root but the things of this life and thief of this life will come in and steal it from you.
The fertile ground will allow the word to take root and be fertilized by the spirit allowing it to become a permanent part of you life.
Could it be like the Sanhedrin you are hard-hearted and stiff-necked?
In the Bible we find answers for faith, fear, friends, family, and foes.
Learning as Stephen did the Life and Love of Christ.
III. Stephen’s Execution
Agitation of Council at preaching of Stephen led to his execution .
A) Stephen’s status (most important status level you could ever have)
1) Heaven Born
Can’t even see the Kingdom of Heaven unless born again John 3
2) Heaven Bound
Stephen was born from above (born again) and stood for his faith. In response Jesus stood up in heaven and prayed for, defended, and finally welcomed him home to heaven.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the solemn watchword hear;
If while ye sleep He suffers, away with shame and fear;
Where’er ye meet with evil, within you or without,
Charge for the God of battles, and put the foe to rout.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the trumpet call obey;
Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day.
Ye that are brave now serve Him against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the Gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, each soldier to his post,
Close up the broken column, and shout through all the host:
Make good the loss so heavy, in those that still remain,
And prove to all around you that death itself is gain.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle, the next the victor’s song.
To those who vanquish evil a crown of life shall be;
They with the King of Glory shall reign eternally
The Bible cries out to us stand up stand up for Jesus!!
To prove that death is gain as Stephen did. You ask why should I stand up?
Let me give you Jesus’ words.
Matthew 10.32-33
“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”
B) Christ standing
Question: Mark 16.19, Acts 2.33-34, 5.30-31, 7.55-56, Ephesians 1.18-21, Colossians 3.1 didn’t Jesus go to heaven and sit at God’s right hand. Yes!
Think about this the place of the judge is to sit, but the place of the helper, combatant, or advocate is to stand in our defense!!!
Daniel 7.9 Daniel is here speaking about his vision of the ancient of days.
“I kept looking until thrones were set up, and the ancient of Days took His seat.” It goes on to say the court sat and the books were opened.
Revelation 20.11-12
“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.
And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.”
When God the Son, Jesus Christ takes his seat He takes his seat to Judge. The bema seat the reward seat. The Great white throne the punishment seat.
When He stands he stands to defend, and welcome.
1) Christ intercedes for Stephen
2) Christ defends Stephen
3) Christ welcomes Stephen
He got to hear from the lips of Jesus “Well done good and faithful servant.” I’ll take the rewards
Principles to Learn: We should all be defenders of the faith
We can all face death with the hope of Christ
Those who reject Jesus reject God and only punishment can follow
Applications to Live: Study the Bible to understand and openly defend and tell others about God’s plan for all people as Stephen did.
Allow God to give you chances to talk openly about your faith in Jesus
Conclusion:
Dr John MacArthur “To reach the world effectively with the gospel, believers must be able to defend their faith.”
An observation. Who was Stephen? Dr Luke shows us the first martyr for Christ was not a paid pastor, he was not an apostle, Stephen was a layman. Stephen was deacon, a servant. Stephen was the first Christian to give his life for Jesus Christ.
As Dr W.A Criswell put it he defended his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and signed it with his own blood.
Oh how great a church can be when by the side of the Pastor stands Godly men and women who witness the faith that is a living truth in their life.
Today let’s deal with Jesus.
What have you done with His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension
Are you like the Sanhedrin cut to the heart, convicted of your sin?
How will you respond?
Will you take you stand for Jesus Christ?
Or will you simply continue to gnash you teeth at Him?
