What Do I Stand For?

Here is where Stephen decided what he STOOD FOR he knew that what they said about him was just lies, and instead of defending himself he took the opportunity preach to them and basically covered the entire Old testament in one sermon and how religion or the law had continually fallen short of what God’s plan was for them. But how all of this pointed to Jesus and God isn’t defined by their temples that he wanted to be first in us because we chose to put him first. If you have time read through Acts 7 today it is well worth reading.

Today I am just going to cover the last part in verse Acts 7:51-59 (NKJV)

51 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 53 who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”

Now lets just stop right there what Stephen just said to the Religious leaders was probably the worst thing that you could say to them. Telling the High priests that they had uncircumcised hearts and ears is basically like saying you don’t follow God’s laws in your heart or listen to them with your ears. Circumcision to a Jew was a big deal, it was a covenant between God and Abraham so telling them that they had uncircumcised anything was saying you aren’t in covenant with God so you are unclean in his eyes, if you don’t know what that is ask your neighbor, or Web MD it after church. So after he basically insulted them he continued in verse

54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

Here is what I think is very important in verse 56 it says that he looks up into heaven, and sees Jesus STANDING at the right hand of God. You see in the bible Jesus is often referred to at the right hand of God but it is always seated. In this case he is STANDING , being who he is he knows what is about to happen and he is STANDING to honor Stephen for what is is doing, for what Stephen is about to go thru. You see Jesus knows what is the hearts of these people he knows that the are about to murder Stephen for what he STOOD for. He allowed Stephen to see into heaven and to see the glory of God before he died to let him know that he was there waiting, that he was not alone. Jesus is STANDING to welcome the first person to die for him into heaven. I think he was was calling over Moses and Elijah and was like look at what Stephen is doing like a proud father watching his son doing something amazing. He probably was like everyone STAND UP and cheer and welcome Stephen into heaven.