Sermon notes from Sunday 7 May 2017
Acts 7 verses 54 - chapter 8 verse 8
I was listening to a programme and a lot of it was dedicated to a young man who spent some 32 hours on a surf board. It was thinking about fears he had, what was going on all around him, could see no hope whatsoever. It was a life defining moment. Things that happen to us that mean life could never be the same again. That young man`s mind will go back to that day drifting along in the sea with no hope until he saw the helicopter in the skies. Or think of the young racing driver who was in an ordinary race at 120 miles per hour coming around the track when all of a sudden there was a stationary car. He lived to tell the tale but lost both his legs. These are life changing moments. Life defining moments. We have also a life changing moment for the young man called Saul who later became Paul of the apostles. It was not only a life defining moment for him but for the church of Jesus Christ. A changing of the course for the church. Chapter 8 verse 1 there was great persecution caused by Saul. A religious zealot who had been brought up in the Jewish religious faith. There came a moment when that all began to change. It happened as he stood and watched Stephen being stoned to death. Saul guarded the clothes of them that stoned Stephen. Look at Acts chapter 22 verses 19 and 20. Not only was Saul standing by but he was watching. "I kept the raiment of them that slew him." Standing in this religious crowd, they had quizzed Stephen, tried to get him to recant of all he believed in then lifted the stones to stone him. If we could lift our eyes away from the scene we would see Saul standing on the opposite side watching all that was going on. Here was a man being stoned to death at his request. There was something there that left a mark on Saul`s life. Have you ever had a life changing moment experience? Look at the experience Saul had.
Saul witnessed the cause for which Stephen was stoned. This religious zealot cannot see the gospel of saving grace. Something had to happen. For us when we come under the teaching of the gospel the Holy Spirit had to come and take that veil off our faces, lift it up so that we might see. Don`t think that just because you are saved you are any better than anyone else. A life defining moment happened. Have you ever really thought about that moment when your last breath is about to be taken where will your soul be in eternity? Saul witnessed something definite and real. He signed the consenting note for Stephen`s death. In Acts 6 we are introduced to this man Stephen. A conflict had arose in the church. The Grecians felt they were being left out. When did this happen? "when the number of the disciples was multiplied." When we see God working in a situation we also see the devil rising in opposition. He starts the murmuring among the church members. What was the answer to it? We find men like Stephen stepping forward. Verse 3 the apostles speaking to the laymen of the church. They are described as "of honest report". In other words they had a good name in society. They were "full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom." They wanted to appoint some over this business. Ordinary men with special qualifications to sort out this murmuring in the church. They had a longing desire for the things of God. It is only when this desire is evident that we can know the working of the Holy Ghost within us. Paul commended Priscilla and Aquilla - why - because when times were difficult for Paul these two would have laid down their lives for him. We are talking here about real commitment, ready to die for the cause of Jesus Christ. That is the sort of thing the unsaved are looking for. Men and women prepared to see us not just taking up a pew on a Sunday morning but prepared to do something for the Lord in the rest of the week. Paul referred to Mary and said "she bestowed much labour on us." Not everyone is called to preach but that should not exclude us from whatever task God would have us to do. The local fellowship is not just about the evangelist or the Sunday School teachers but the body of Christ working together to see men and women saved. In verse 2 the apostles have gathered together as a fellowship but now there is a division, a dispute has arisen. They realised they couldn`t do their own work and try to sort out this division too. They would have to leave the study of God`s word and prayer. They were not being big headed but they could see what was happening. The enemy, the devil was involved in this. The devil was trying to take away the word of God from their midst. The apostles were asking them to choose out men full of the Holy Ghost, dedicated and consecrated to the Lord. Are you and I today like that? Here was a man ready to die for Christ. As Saul of Tarsus watched this stoning he could see the same thing. Agabus took Paul`s girdle and wrapped it around both his hands. He then said that the person who wore this girdle would be bound, fettered, chained and imprisoned all because of the gospel. The church turned to Paul and told him not to go down to Jerusalem because of this. Paul said he was prepared to die for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Saul witnessed the calmness in Stephen`s suffering. Stephen had a calmness in his approach to settling the dispute in the church. That calmness only comes from the Spirit of God. In chapter 6 verse 8 he was standing firm even at the point of death. God was using him so very well that even the devil took notice of him. The devil stirred up religious momentum that he had him arrested and stoned to death. Think of Nehemiah in the Old Testament. The word came to him that Jerusalem had been torn down and the people were not attending the place of worship. God`s word came to Nehemiah that he wanted him to do the work but Nehemiah pleaded with God that he was not able. He was only a cupbearer in the king`s palace, how could he do such a job. When God is in something, when he separates us we can do it with his help. When Nehemiah went down the enemies were grieved. They saw a man who cared for the welfare of the people. What a wonderful testimony. Not out to make a name for himself or to become rich. He left a great job in the palace serving the king, no doubt had a great wage and prospects but he left it all to go and serve the Lord. He went and undertook the job God called him to. Here is Stephen, when the enemy was in the church telling lies and stories, when they tried him and could not find anything to accuse him of. Chapter 6 verse 10 they were able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke. They were clever, asking him great theological questions but Stephen`s face shone like an angel. The God who could make the calmness on his soul at the point of his death is the same God we have today. You are afraid because there is something you have to decide today, let God take control and charge.
Saul witnessed the confession Stephen made - Acts 16 verse 15. He was faithful to the end. He started well, ran well and finished well. Here he was being stoned and it was at that point that he looked up into the heavens and saw the glory of God. He could see the Lord Jesus standing waiting on him. What a great vision he had. Imagine if that was our vision on the day we die. Now contrast it with the sinners death. Not saved, not born again of the Spirit of God, what do they see? Not the glory of the Lord. Before them is only darkness, a lost sinners hell for eternity. A life defining moment is what you can have today if you come to Christ, trust him as Saviour and Lord. There were men and women years ago burned at the stake for their faith. Men like Martin Luther who led the great Reformation. They died to give us liberty. We should never give up that freedom to worship, to give out the tract on the streets so that men and women might be saved.
Saul witnessed a great challenge. Did he leave this scene in bitterness? Knowing the last breath was about to leave his body? No, he said "Lord lay not this sin against their charge." A young man of grace and compassion. Could we pray for those who would hurt us as this young man prayed? This was a life changing moment for Saul of Tarsus. He would never forget about that moment in the future. I trust God has brought you to a place where you will never ever forget because he wants to do something in your life from here on. The pastor will never do it nor the evangelist, nor coming Sunday by Sunday - only the Lord can do it for you this very moment.
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