Acts, Part 3 - 7:51-60 06-26-11

Sermon 6-26-11 Acts 7:51-60 hh

The nature of the series - A serial

Last week we found
Gamalials advice, peter’s shadow falling

51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” 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. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 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.

Today we are in chapters 5-8
Here are the take aways

Take away one – gamalials speech persuades the sanhedren
5:40-41
40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

We are worthy of suffering

Persecution of Christians around the world – get info
A little bit more than not being able to put the nativity up in govt buildings.
7 churches bombed in Iraq over a weekend in 2009
Christian church bombed in Egypt jan 1 2011- 23 dead
Around the world, pastors killed, people displaced
China it is illegal to be apart of a non approved church

We are worthy of suffering
What would happen to Tv preachers ministry
The prosperity gospel

The real message of the Christian faith always puts god’s purpose before things and our comfort

Take away 2
6:2-4 deacons

2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

The pastors cant do it all
Jeff u need to let others do some of
I don’t know what is going on with 75% of the church

We need you. The church needs you. You need to serve.
We are the happiest when we give of ourselves
The pastor and staff are here to help you for this purpose eph 4 – for the equipping of the saints

Eph 4 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

Take away 3
6:7 priests come to believe
7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

I like this……….
The spirit is speaking to them
They weren’t all a bunch of stuck on themselves, power hungry dudes

Take away 4
7:1-50 speech to Sanhedrin
Wonderful recounting of the jewish faith and ot history until – stiff necks

51- stiff necks and stoning
51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised.

The prophetic voice
When is it good
When will it get you in trouble
When do you fall on your sword
Very difficult for a pastor. Balancing the comofort of your congregation with the need to pursue faithfulness
Comfort the afflicted, afflict the comfortable
Tension and release

Take away 5 – Stephen died for his faith
Are you willing to die for your faith
We who shrink back from the slightest criticism
We complain that we are not being treated fairly
We pray that god will take away the offense

Do we count ourselves worthy of suffering
Are you willing to die for your faith?
What if you could be arrested for coming to church? Owning a bible? Being found in prayer? Gathering with other Christians?

If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you
Not some guilt laden thing
Not are you annoying enough people
Not are you going door to door

Gal 5 -22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.

Prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness

If everyone supported the church as you do, would the budget and attendance double or would WCC have to close its doors

If everyone lived and loved as you do, would the kingdom of God be seen all over the earth or would Jesus’ church be erased from the face of the earth?

Uhooo. The preacher is making us feel guilty - - No………

I just want you to get a picture of how serious they were about their faith.
It was not an after thought
It was not an footnote to their life
It was their life. It was their heart and soul.

They took very seriously the simple sayings of jesus

Mt 1039 whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Mt 16 26What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Stay tuned - To be continued – let us pray