The Stoning of Stephen

The Stoning of Stephen (A Martyr Mindset) Our greatest losses are our greatest gains if we see things from God’s perspective, from His Word. Acts 7. 54 -60 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. The Religious leaders are furious. Religious leaders are not always spiritual leaders. Spiritual leaders do not gnash their teeth. They do not yell at the top of their voices. They do not kill people. Be assured if you are not old and have not yet seen it, over the next 40 years you will see men whom are supposed to be spiritual leaders in the Kingdom of God do some very dark and ugly deeds. So many things were going on here. We see… * The First Martyr The Greek word for witness is martyr (martoos) One who gives his life for the faith. Our lives, our reputation, what people think of us, our “good standing” in their eyes. Being a martyr means we do not count our life as precious but offer it up to the LORD. Being a martyr means that our lives match up to Jesus’, Who gave up everything in obedience to God, the Father. When you share the love of Jesus, witness for Him, and you do not care what people say about you or do to you, you are a martyr. If they kill you, you get a martyr’s crown. (Revelation 2.10) Stephen’s name means “crowned.” Stephen led the way in following Jesus. Jesus predicted this to happen. Matthew 24.9 Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of Me. John 16.1 “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or Me.4 I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning. This could very well be true of our time on earth. I don’t know why we doubt. The more we witness for Christ, ask people what they think of Him, the more His words of instruction and prophecy regarding persecution and being hated for His sake will come about. The seed will produce 30, 60, 100 times what is sown. It seems that the condition of America is in that third type of soil and the plants it produced. Mark 4. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the Word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. * the worries of this life * the deceitfulness of wealth (if I just have enough, if I had security until the day I die, pleasure, travel) * the desires for other things come in The love of the world, money, fortune, fame, relationships A good way to overcome doubt is to have “a martyr mentality.” Esther had this. “If I perish, I perish.” I love it! I am going to do what is right no matter what happens to me. Bonhoffer, Luther, John Knox, Prophets, Jesus Those who have gone on mission trips will experience what Jesus said in Mark 10. 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for Me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. I was shocked when it happened but more shocked over who was saying it. I have not resisted to the shedding of my own blood like Jesus and Stephen and Peter and Paul and those in that 10/40 Window who will die today. Today Voices of the Martyrs Map Website Philippians 1.21 For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. This expresses the idea of that the followers of Christ have a life is entirely dedicated to serving and living according to Grace, teaching that death is not something to be feared but a transition to greater gain. Philippians 2 The mindset of Christ Jesus, your attitude, your mind Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus. * Precious in the Sight of the LORD is the death of His Saints. Psalm 116.15 His first martyr He stood up to welcome home Jesus prayed, I want the ones You have given me Father to be with Me. John 17.24 Father, I want those you have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because you loved Me before the creation of the world. Please note Stephen did not cling to this life. He didn’t protest his own death. He quietly and with deep faith submitted to his own death. He saw into Heaven. * God was working in the Heart of a Head Strong Pharisee,Saul Philippians 3.4 If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. The Apostle Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus) desiring to follow Jesus into his own death. This was after he saw the death of Stephen. We are so tied into this world. We have been made and recreated for another world, for Heaven. The upward mobility has not been good for our faith. Those in developing nations have strong faith. I have been with many many people when they have died. I always am in awe when believers make that transition. John Wesley observed, “God’s people die well.” Now if they are suffering, being sawed in two they will experience pain, but the peace of God surrounds the room. My brother, Mark, died in pain but immediately after his death in his home two deer went running down Riverside Drive, just as stately as you could imagine. One of his favorite songs were, “As The Deer Panteth For The Water.” In that moment he was with Jesus. Many of you have similar stories. Saul of Tarsus seeing Stephen die deeply affected Him. Stephen was seeing beyond this life into eternity. How we need this view as well. We have so much interference here. When I was a kid, before cable television and high def, we had an antenna. We had some ham operators in the neighborhood. We would have static on the TV. The picture would get fuzzy and the sound would be drowned out. Kids today know nothing about that. It is not easy to break through the interference. If we quiet ourselves before the LORD, we can gain that perspective. I tell you one way you will not get it and that is running from one thing to another. Be still no know that I am God. After the prayer meeting on Wednesday, Diddi said to me, “Churches need to pray. So few are.” Wednesday at noon, Thursday at 7:30pm and Saturday at 7am are times of scheduled prayer for us. Come.if you can’t come you can join us online on Wednesdays. Pray. Photo * Intercessory Forgiveness 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. Imitating Jesus “Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing.” O to get to that place in our lives. Not fighting back. Not ignoring them But praying for those who do things against us. Matthew 5. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. The LORD has placed you in an interesting place if you have people who hurt you that you can pray for. You can intercede for their forgiveness before the Father like Jesus and Stephen did. You shall be My martyrs. Have that mindset Let this mindset be in you that was also in Christ Jesus.

The Wedding At Cana of Galilee

The Wedding At Cana of Galilee John 2.1-11 Very early in Jesus’ ministry, three days into it, He, Andrew, John, Peter, Nathaniel, Phillip were invited to a wedding. First Century weddings in Israel... Whole town, not a list of selected people. It was a party for all to celebrate 6 days Feasting Far East still that way I was asked to go to one, being told there would be 4,000 guests. You are getting the picture. The whole village of Cana and families from Nazareth were invited. Cana of Galilee is a small town. Estimates of 300 residents at the time of Christ. First time, second time from the Sea of Galilee on our way to Nazareth. Thanking me for stopping. Very meaningful. Our guide was a young Israeli woman. It was Purim. She took a train back each night to Tel Aviv to party with her friends. She was always in a hurry so she would not miss the train. Cana was a small village. Jesus did His first miracle in an out of the way place, for people who remain nameless. Since Jesus and Mary were there it probably was one of their relatives. There is more, much more, in this account. We see... 1. The Sanctity of Marriage. vs.1-2 Jesus, by being there, showed its sanctity. Second Chapter of John. Second Chapter of Genesis. Early in Creation. Early in Jesus’ Ministry Genesis 2.15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” 18 The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping,  He took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones     and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’     for she was taken out of man.” 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. It is interesting that both Genesis and John open their books with the words... In the beginning... God... the Word Then the second chapter there is a wedding! A marriage. Marriage and the family is the cornerstone of societial order. The home is where discipline is learned. It is interesting to me how even among those far from God they realize this fact. Even when secular pagan godless weddings take place there is still a submission to these words in Scripture. Of course there is  2. The Miracle Unexplainable Emma, 15 years ago... I had a young theologian I worked with a few years ago. Her name is Emma. She was also my granddaughter. When she was  6 years old we watched a movie about Jesus based on the Gospel of Luke. It did not contain this miracle of course. She wanted to see this miracle so I put one with it in it. We walked home that evening and she asked me, "Poppa, how did Jesus turn that water into wine?" I answered, "I don't know Emma. That's part of it being a miracle." And we both wondered about the One Isaiah said would be called Wonderful. Miracles are happening. Several of you have been touched by the LORD in unexplainable ways. Some people cannot see. They are blinded by their stubborn refusal. Or they don’t forgive so they do not know forgiveness. Orphans and starving people/ children are being fed and the Gospel is going out. Photos 3. The Servants Knew.  vs.5-9 v.8-9 the servants knew John knew too- He is the only one of the Gospel writers to record this miracle. His Gospel has been called the Gospel from the Eagle's Eye's view. He was very close to Jesus. In the following few chapters John mentions things, interviews if you will, that Jesus had with Nicodemus in Jerusalem (c.3) and with the woman at the well in Samaria (c.4) that the other Gospel writers omit. John was there on the spot with Jesus. At night when Nicodemus came and in the middle of the heat of the day when the Samaritan woman came to Jacob's well in Sychar. The fact is... The closer to the LORD you get, the more you see the wonders He performs. v.8-9 The eagle’s eye view What I get to see. Please continue to pray. I know God is doing something extraordinary. I am not sure all He has planned but I know that it is good, very good. All we are doing here is continuing in the Word and praying. Pastor Fabian from Kenya called last night. He is pastoring a church that needs a building. They have gotten heavy rains recently. Pray for him and his flock. Each task is dignified when it is done for Jesus. The servants knew... the Banquet Master did not. The secrets of the kingdom... Mark 4.11 The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. -Jesus He spoke this to His disciples. Nicodemus was struggling to understand, seeking... The disciples didn't fully until after Jesus rose from the dead. Then they knew! We are on this side of the Resurrection. We have understanding, insight into the Word of God, the ways He works, His Hand upon us. The servants knew the power of God. The servants knew Jesus could work miracles.  The servants knew Jesus' character. * He was not into making a spectacle of Himself. * He cares about people. * He saves the best until last. Servants of God can look back on a vast array of Divine Moments when God stepped in and worked. I am using this in my life when I come up against things that make no sense or when I am praying and there is no answer coming. Habakkuk struggled in his prayers at one point in his life. The nation was going down the tubes. He had been praying. God had seemingly been silent. In Habakkuk 1.2 "How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but You do not listen?"  Habakkuk found out that God was working even though it did not appear He was. Serving the LORD, wrestling through these issues, shows us God is working all things together for our good, for us because we are the called according to His Purpose. He is at work in your life and the things that concern you today. “O my lord, what are we going to do?” II Kings 6.15 Elisha v.9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew... The highest calling on this earth is to be a servant of God. These servants at the Wedding in Cana of Galilee became that in a moment. Jesus called them, gave them a specific task and they did it. He is calling people to be His servants today. We need to dwell on that for a few moments. God calls us to serve Him. He does wonders. We know it was not us. We give Him the glory. If you looked at this scene in 30 A.D. in Cana of Galilee, Israel you would look at the Banquet Master. That is who was overseeing and directing this wedding feast. He was kind of the Maitre' D of the 1st Century. It is interesting how so often we look at the person in charge. The activity among the servants and Jesus and His Disciples were where things were really happening. That is the way Jesus works! You would not have even heard of that little out of the way place called Cana of Galilee if it were not for Jesus.  He goes where needs are to help. Helen Wilk’s prophecy Rudy Migliore… invited me. After, “I think more was happening at your table than was happening on the dayas!” God often shows up with His servants, quietly. It is still so today. Go to the horrific disaster in Texas, North Carolina, New Mexico to today caused by the flesh floods. You will find relief efforts by Nazarene Compassion Ministries, Samaritan's Purse and The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team with its chaplains among other Christian groups and churches. Go to Bangladesh where Pastor Liton is feeding the orphans and leading them to Jesus. I was questioned this week about children coming to Jesus. I wanted to ask, “What are you doing to help?” I know they were doing nothing. If I did when they said, “Nothing.” Then I like my way better. Photos Go to any natural disaster world wide and it will be the same. Who is still sending food into Haiti, 11 years after the earthquake? Small mission groups like the one Diddi leads that To Haiti With Love merged with. Mission Haiti: Helping Kids Go to the local food pantry and it is run by the church or people from the church. All over the country today people who do not drive were picked up and brought to church by others. All these things manned by people who felt Jesus speak to them about serving. V.5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever He tells you." The Definition of a Servant is Just That! v.5 "Do whatever He tells you." Great advice! Godly counsel! Mary did not know what Jesus would do. She knew if anyone could help He could! Often we do not know what the LORD will tell us to do. Serving the LORD means doing whatever He tells us to do. The  directions Jesus gives us are very simple. "Fill the jars with water." "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." Go here. Go there. Speak to this person. Write this person a note. Jesus' followers follow Him and His Directions. Servants Get To See Things Others Don't. v.9 Special Moments as God works. God could do miracles in the sky. He chooses rather to work through our hands, the hands of His servants. In the most menial tasks like filling water jars He appears and does wonders. We watch Him move. Years ago when we had Thanksgiving Dinners we would see the LORD open hearts.  Each task is dignified when it is done for Jesus. The servants knew... the Banquet Master did not. us. Servants Can Look Back on God's Hand Upon Things. These servants never forgot what happened that day.  They never saw anything like this before! When God works in our lives those moments stand out. In John 14.11 Jesus is giving His Last Will and Testament to His Disciples before He goes to the Garden of Gethsemane to be arrested and the next day be crucified. He is speaking to them about things they have never heard Him say before.  He states, "Believe Me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves." Servants of God can look back on a vast array of Divine Moments when God stepped in and worked. Psalm 100.2 Serve the LORD with gladness... The most content people are those! Filled to overflowing with joy. The Servants Knew The power of Jesus Christ. The compassion of the Savior The joy of obedience Him! Finally a little math... When Jesus works He does the immeasurable or close to it. v.10-11 6 stone water pots/jars Let's say 3 were 20 gallons and 3 were 30. That would have been 150 gallons of wine or 600 bottles! There probably weren't that many people in Cana at the time! This was the first! The worldwould not have room for the books that would have to be written. Acts 1.1-2 All that Jesus began to do He is at work today. The kingdom of God is like a wedding banquet! Abundance, joy, adventure God bless each of you this LORD’s Day! Come and Dine 1. Jesus has a table spread
Where the saints of God are fed,
He invites His chosen people, “Come and dine”;
With His manna He doth feed
And supplies our every need:
Oh, ’tis sweet to sup with Jesus all the time! * * Refrain:
“Come and dine,” the Master calleth, “Come and dine”;
You may feast at Jesus’ table all the time;
He Who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine,
To the hungry calleth now, “Come and dine.” * 2. The disciples came to land,
Thus obeying Christ’s command,
For the Master called unto them, “Come and dine”;
There they found their heart’s desire,
Bread and fish upon the fire;
Thus He satisfies the hungry every time. 3. Soon the Lamb will take His bride
To be ever at His side,
All the host of heaven will assembled be;
Oh, ’twill be a glorious sight,
All the saints in spotless white;
And with Jesus they will feast eternally. Better and Better It keeps getting better and better until we arrive at the best

The Importance of the Word and Prayer

The Importance of the Word and Prayer Acts 6.1-7 BAPTISM IN AUGUST,, We have been seeing how priorities in the Early Church were the Apostles’ s Teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer. II Peter 1. 12 So I will always remind you of these things,even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. Here we see the priority of the Apostles: the ministry of the Word of God and prayer. There is that word, “devoted” again. Constant Stedfast attention Persevere without fainting Show oneself courageous for These are the things that make a church a church. These are the Church’s priorities * The Ministry of the Word. Serving out the Word versus Serving Tables. Shepherds in the church of God are first of all to feed the flock. They are to feed them the Word of God. Paul wrote to Timothy, a young pastor… actually charged him! I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season, rebuke reprove exhort with great patience and careful instruction. II Timothy 4.1-2 Shepherds are to do this publicly and privately… Biblical Preaching/ Teaching and Biblical Counseling… giving Spiritual Direction from the Scriptures. A good example of this is what we are doing here with the Word and the feeding of needy people. Monday Evening and Friday afternoon. Haiti and Bangladesh Photos On Wednesday at noon and Thursday Evening and Saturday Morning we gather to pray. Here on the LORD’s Day we meet for worship and prayer and the Word. I want you guys to be the best fed, best loved flock on the South Shore. There are many fine churches here. I do not mean we are the best or the only ones. The apostles knew. This decision rescued the church from becoming only a feeding program for widows, weak in the Word. * Those who were to serve tables had to have A good reputation Filled with the Holy Spirit Filled with Wisdom Important Spiritual Characteristics They were Greek men. Stephen, one of the seven, was used by God to do miracles signs and wonders. The work of the church is to be led by spiritual men. * The result of this wise decision was The initial problem being solved The Word of God spreading The numbers of disciples increasing greatly A great number of priests believing and becoming obedient to the faith. What the priests saw in the Temple on the Day Jesus died. The 10 inch veil/ woven curtain torn in two from top to bottom. They saw into the Holy of Holies for the first time. This was only for the High Priest, once a year on Yom Kippur. They saw and continued to see God working in ways they never saw before. The witness of Lazarus, Jesus, the Apostles, the lame man. Jesus healed lepers and sent them to the priests as a testimony to them and to get their certificate of cleansing. Notice in this passage once again we are seeing how important the Ministry of the Word and Prayer were to the early church and ought to be to this day. They are to have priority over all else. They are foundational to the church’s existence. They are communicating with the Father and the Father communicating His will to us. Hebrew 4.12 for the Word of God is living and active sharper than any double edged sword; the it penetrates even to the dividing of soul and spirit, joints and marrows. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. God’s Eternal Word. It is alive. It is dynamic. It stands eternal in the heavens. Heaven and Earth will pass away but My words will never pass away, Jesus said. We have confidence in it. We have proved it to be true. George Muller set out to prove there was reality in the things of God. It is true in Bangladesh, Haiti, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, India, Pakistan, Zambia, Myanmar, Kenya and all the nations on the earth. Photos of Pastor Pum Myanmar When Jesus told His followers to into all the world and preach the Gospel and make disciples of all nations He knew the power of God’s Word. Paul wrote to the Romans that he was not ashamed of the Gospel. He was implying, “The Gospel does not let me down.” Wherever it is shared people respond. We are learning more about prayer here. God is answering prayer. We have seen Him move in response to the prayers of His people. * The Importance of Prayer Pastor Johnson and Robert and I were talking this week about the importance of prayer in the church. The prayer meeting shows the spiritual condition of the church. I would add also the response on our Church Facebook Page as well. It is encouraging to me when we post a prayer request or praise to see comments and people affirming they are praying. The bulletin lists prayer requests too. The prayer box where you can place your requests are prayed over. More people are asking for prayer. The Apostles saw this need of feeding the widows as important but they also recognized if they got involved in waiting on tables, serving the food, the danger of not making prayer a priority, not be devoted to it. Satan works to get us away from the Word and Prayer. He will even put good things in front of us to get us away from the greater work. Oswald Chambers wrote that the first things we need to battle in praying is wandering thoughts. I keep a prayer journal. Sometimes I write out prayers in another book. I find myself waking up and praying. Let’s be people of prayer. There are three prayer meetings each week here for us: morning, noon and night. Saturday Morning, Wednesday at noon and Thursday Evening. Wednesdays are live-streamed so if you cannot be here join the 100’s across the country and around the world and pray. Watch the LORD answer. Simple exhortation today: Let’s be people of the Word and Prayer.