ACTS 6:15 (8-15) Stephen - Owned by God!

SERIES: Acts #12
TOPIC: Consecration; Witness

TITLE: STEPHEN - Owned By God
TEXT: ACTS 6:15 (8-15)

And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.

[D. L. MOODY] Said …

“The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in and by the man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him.” [Desiring Life]

However, he was in error … the world has seen Enoch, Joseph, Joshua, Daniel, and John the Baptizer; all pre-Ascension.

But now Stephen, post-Ascension and sold out to God; he signed his pink slip over to God; he wanted nothing but God’s presence and pleasure.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What in this passage confirms that Stephen was wholly owned by God?
CONCISE OUTLINE:

I. HIS GIFTS CONFIRM IT
II. HIS ENEMIES CONFIRM IT
III. HIS HEART CONFIRMS IT
IV. HIS HONOR CONFIRMS IT

TRUTH CLAIM/CONTEXT: Much like the Church today, the people of Israel hungered to personally experience God (8 in 10 Americans admit to such a hunger).

In spite of intense persecution by both civil and religious authorities, the new church prospered at every turn.

They were growing in numbers, in knowledge, and in the fear of the Lord and they were learning how to faithfully respond to threats … externally and internally!

One man, Stephen, first deacon and first martyr (i.e., witness), caught the attention of influential religious zealots, why? Because he was “full of faith and power” and “performing great wonders and signs among the people.” [v. 8]

Stephen followed closely in the footsteps of his Master and Savior; proclaiming the coming Kingdom to all with ears to hear. But their attention wasn’t healthy … again, why?

Because the zealots felt threatened and “they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was preaching.” [v. 10] You see, God owned Stephen … lock, stock, and barrel.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What in this passage confirms that Stephen was wholly owned by God?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:

I. HIS GIFTS CONFIRM IT

Among them were – Spirit and wisdom [3]; faith and Holy Spirit [5]; grace and power with signs and wonders [8]; and evangelical eloquence [10]

These are all (charisma) gifts and effects (energẽma) of the Holy Spirit …

“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”

1 Corinthians 12:11 [1-11]

“For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.”

John 3:34

II. HIS ENEMIES CONFIRM IT

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master.

“If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.”

Matthew 10:24-26

Stephen’s (and Christ’s) enemies began with argumentation [9,10]; failing, they incited a fabrication [11]; failing, they move to provocation [12]; then, to ensure the desired result they employed …

– Abduction [12]
– Falsification [13]
– Then Misrepresentation! [13-14]

Two things were operative on this day:

1. the Light of Truth walked in the shadow of Mount Moriah in Jerusalem
2. the fight to darken that Truth skulked in the shadows of evil, fearing the Light
   

“There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to [do] evil, A false witness who ut-ters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.”

Proverbs 6:16-18

Notice Stephan confounded his persecutors with wisdom and Scripture.

They failed both intellectually and spiritually … so they abused the Law to justify stoning him.

Historically, if a powerful movement’s followers appear to turn from the movement’s teachings, to adopt the teachings of another, these leaders are confronted with three choices:

– turn with them
– turn from them
– or turn upon them

III. HIS HEART CONFIRMS IT

Jesus said,

“… store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:20-21

Can there be any question about what is stored up in Stephen’s heart?

IV. HIS HONOR CONFIRMS IT

Stephen highly honored God in his last moments. [7:1-53]

God highly honor him by gifting him more abundantly than others.

This was done that his mirror of righteousness might reflect God’s Shechinah glory.

It was not Stephen’s flesh which glowed as an angel, it was the righteousness of God being reflected in him and from him.

APPLICATION: Bottom-line -

In the egocentric and humanistic courts of fallen man, with man's version of truth, the calm but confident spirit of a man owned by “this Nazarene, Jesus” [6:14] will trump a thousand tanks and a multitude of defense attorneys.

I believe, to some degree, we’ve allowed Moses’ veil to again slip down before our eyes.

I believe we are not truly owned by the Father! Have we accepted Jesus as Savior? Yes! But not Lord! He owns us but we've held back the owner's slip.

In view of our claims, unbelievers say they are unimpressed

“You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ … written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. [vv. 2-4]

We are not adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter [law] kills, but the Spirit gives life. [vv. 5-6]

But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how will the ministry of the Spirit [life] fail to be even more with glory? For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it. For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory. [vv. 7-11]

Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. [vv. 12-16]

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. [vv. 17-18]

2 Corinthians 3:1-18

CHALLENGE: Our job is to understand the spiritual mechanics of this martyr (i.e., “witness”) Stephen … and be inspired by him.

God owns us ...

“For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

1 Corinthians 6:20

And ...

“You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.”

1 Corinthians 7:23

Plus ...

“... false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.”

2 Peter 2:1

And for those in leadership … church leaders didn't purchase the sheep; the were paid for by the Lord's shed blood ... we don't own you.

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

Acts 20:28

God owns us all!

The church must once again find ways to let the world know our homes (i.e., “hearts”) have a new Owner.

Acts, Christianity, Expository, Homiletics,
Outlines, Preaching, Sermons, Stephen

1 CORINTHIANS: Full Sermons

The following are links to full sermons; preached at FBC La Verne California, and San Carlos Community Church (SCCC) in San Carlos, Mexico ...

1:1-17

HOW HAS CHRIST SENT US? - What did and did not God send us to do?

1:18, 22-23

THAT FOOLISH CROSS - The Power and Wisdom of God!

1 Corinthians, Expository, Homiletics, Outlines, Preaching, Sermons

1 CORINTHIANS 1:17 How to make the Cross meaningless!

TOPIC: Easter (series); Cross, Gospel, Word, Works
TITLE: How has God sent us?

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What did and did not the Lord send Paul to do?

TRUTH/CONTEXT: Easter is a time to remind ourselves that what matters is Christ … not us. In the passage before us, Paul is speaking to the Corinthians about the Christian focus because he knows he is about to confront them concerning their individual and corporate behavior.

Paul chooses his words carefully in order not to take away from his ministry to them but he wastes no time getting to the Cross (before the first chapter ends).

Consider that Paul says, "Christ did not send me to" (do certain things) ... implying the Lord did send him to do other things. What things?

First let's be clear about what he wasn't to do and then look at what he was to do!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What did and did not the Lord send Paul to do?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:

I. HE DIDN’T SEND PAUL TO DRAW ATTENTION TO PAUL!

A. He didn't send him to do righteous works ... "Christ did not send me to baptize"
B. He didn't send him to proclaim spiritual truths with clever words/speech ... "not in cleverness of speech"
C. Such things make "void" (i.e., make meaningless) the cross of Christ

II. HE SENT PAUL TO DRAW ATTENTION TO HIS WORDS, AND HIS CROSS!

A. He did send him that Jesus’ works would be full of meaning (ant. "void") …

[WOUNDED] I'm told that during World War I the Prince of Wales (I believe Edward who later abdicated his throne) visited 36 severely wounded men in a London hospital. The Prince shook hands with the men. As preparations were made to leave, the Prince indicated he’d only seen 30 men. "Where are the other six?"

Although he was informed the others were severe cases, he insisted he see the others. The others were soon seen. "But there are only five, where's the last?" asked the Prince. Although the Prince was told that the grotesqueness of the man's appearance would be unbearable, the Prince insisted on seeing him. They took him to the man's bedside.

The Prince stood silent for a long moment, then moved to the man and stooped to kiss him! With emotion breaking in his voice, the Prince of Wales was heard to say, Wounded for me. Wounded for me."

"Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD [i.e., power] been revealed? For He grew up before [the Father] like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed." [Isaiah 53:1-5].

B. And not made void [without meaning]!
C. That Jesus' words would be heard

1. Though foolishness to some ...
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, [1 Corinthians 1:18a]
2. It is powerful to others ... but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. [1 Corinthians 1:18b]

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: We now know that both the cross and the Good News are "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" [Romans 1:16].

And we know it is totally unrelated to man's works of righteousness ...

But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. [Galatians 5:11]

For ...

Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. (i.e., embarrassed) [Galatians 6:12]

So if we want to look good, then we must imitate Paul ...

But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.* [Galatians 6:14-15]

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. [2 Corinthians 5:17]

When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. [Col. 2:13-14]

We have the very bad habit of getting in the way of this Good News … talking about what we think and what we know and how we interpret and understand it and what we're doing or what we've done! All of this is fine but not what Christ sent us to do.

[VICTOR] A Commander-In-Chief may defeat all his enemies on the battlefield yet be unable to defeat his critics at home [Lincoln, Grant, Wilson, FDR, and Dubya].

He may be able to control the men under him and yet be unable to control himself [Jefferson, Kennedy, and Clinton]. He may be a victorious leader in the estimation of men, yet defeated in the estimation of God [numerous recent Christian leaders].

And he may congratulate himself that no one has been able to stand up against him, yet he will go down at last before man's final enemy, death [Stalin, Mao, Ho Chi Min, Castro, etc,].

Thus, all men's victories are partial in this life. Even the victory over sin and evil that the regenerated believer has in Christ is at best incomplete. Only one Man has ever conquered sin and death completely and defeated all His enemies.

And faith in Him is the victory. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying,

"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." [Matthew 28:18-20]

Our works and our words are offered within His authority and He has "all authority." Where do we hear Jesus saying, "Go therefore and cleverly trick them into buying what you’re selling nor are we to impress them with fancy footwork. We are to simply "go", "make", "baptize", and "teach" without worry or fear.

And as I reminded you last week, "Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, so send I you.'" [John 20:21]

Understand, if we do what Paul says not to do, but rather do what we want to do or what seems right to us in our own eyes, we make the Cross of Christ and the Good News meaningless or void ... the opposite of meaningless is meaningful or full of meaning; that is what Paul is telling the Corinthians and you and I today ... that's what we’re to be doing.

This message is not about you or me ... it’s about Him, the One who was on the Cross but no longer, the One who was in the grave but no longer, the One who was in the clutches of death and hell but could not be kept, the One who was in the flesh but is no longer, and in this world but not of this world. How would you like to leave church today knowing that you have been making and will continue to make the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross and the Good news meaningless? You can.

"Wounded for Me, O glory to God, wounded for me!"

1 Corinthians, Cross, Easter, Expository, Homiletics,
Outlines, Preaching, Sermons

1 CORINTHIANS - Seed Archive

3:13

... each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.

TOPIC: Discipleship [Sanctification]
TITLE: UNFIRED CLAY - What it means to be a Christian!

TRUTH CLAIM/CONTEXT: What a privilege to even be considered worthy to pass through the fire, to be provided works that need testing! Likewise, what a privilege to be placed on the Potter's wheel and be molded by the Master's hand!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What does being a Christian mean?

I. It Means We've Chosen (versus being forced)! [Acts 26:28]
II. It Means We've Changed (the old is new)! [Acts 11:26]
III. It Means We're Challenged (to glorify our God)! [1 Peter 4:15,16]

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: Why are Christians so proud of their denominational affiliations, of their family tree or father's name? Our Savior's name is Jesus! We ought to be more proud of our affiliation with Him and with our Father in heaven's name.

Rebirth involves a conscious choice of acceptance, a certain and consequentialchange in one's life, and no promise of vital life with out challenge.

10:1-13

TOPIC: Testimony

TITLE: STANDING LEST WE FALL - An Example to Follow!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What seven examples in the wilderness did the Israelites leave for us to follow?

I. Not to crave evil things! [6b]
II. Not to submit to idols! [7a]
III. Not to act immorally! [8a]
IV. Not to provoke the Lord! [9a]
V. Not to grumble! [10a]
VI. Not to be proud in you own eyes! [12]
VII. Not to think you suffer alone! [13a]

10:1-14

TOPIC: Walk (The Christian), Hypocrisy
TITLE: NOW YOU SEE ME, NOW YOU DON’T!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How Is Life in Corinth seen in this passage?

I. The Life Presented Outwardly!
II. The Life Revealed Inwardly!
III. The Life Ignored Spiritually!

Christians seem to be awfully naive; believing like the Hebrews ... during the days of Ezekiel and Jeremiah ... that God does not see what they are doing or know what they are thinking. (added 2/22/06)


11:11-29

TOPIC: Lord's Supper [Communion; Eucharist]
TITLE: Testimonial Proclamation!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What three questions need to be answered before we come to the Lord's Table?

I. Why do we partake in the Lord's Supper?

A. To recognize His presence!
B.To remember His absence!
C. To proclaim His resurrection!

II. What is the Lord's Supper?

A. It is a cooperative (aspect of sharing)!
B. It is a concert (aspect of unity)!
C. It is a companionship (aspect of participation)!

III. Who may share in the Lord's Supper?

A. Disciples only! (only kind present)
B. Baptized only! (ditto)
C. Worthy only! (ditto)

15:12

TITLE: HOW DO SOME SAY?

Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What consequences accrue if Christ doesn't rise from the dead?

I. Our Preaching Is In Vain! (v.14)
II. Our Faith Is In Vain! (v.14)
III. Our Faith Is Worthless! (v.17)
IV. We Are False Witnesses! (v.15)
V. We Are Still In Our Sins! (v.17)
VI. Our Dead have Perished! (vv.15,18)
VII. We Are To Be Pitied! (v.19)

APPLICATION: But now Christ has been raised ... ! [15:20-22]

(Rev. 2/22/06)

Bible, 1 Corinthians, Homiletics, Preaching, Outlines, Religion, Sermons