Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• God does not look at the outward appearance
• Yet our face shows our emotions
• We have Stephen's face (v15)
• His face was like an angel
• Example of Moses - whose face who shone like an angel
• His opposition sees something in this face
• The faces of Stephen's opposition
• Bitterness and hatred
• They had murderous hearts
• The bible says what we speak reveals our heart
• To a certain extent our faces reveal what is in our heart
• Example of Nehemiah
• We can't often hide our emotions
• Fruits of the Holy Spirit vs the works of evil
• Overview:
• Looking at Stephen: God's grace to a man

God's grace to a man

Consider Stephen:

• Chosen by men (v5)
• A man full of faith and the Holy Spirit
• Evidently all had this qualification but Stephen was singled out
• He had more faith and a greater measure of the Holy Spirit
• This was by God's grace
• Full of faith/the Holy Spirit
• It means to trust God fully
• Not to trust in our own devices
• He probably wasn't perfect - but he trusted God in a great way
• Example of Joshua and Caleb
• It means to trust God in situations that seem impossible
• His first task was to wait tables
• So the apostles were not distracted from the ministry of the word
• He had a relief task
• He needed the wisdom of God in his service
• He was faithful in this service
• He had a servant heart
• He was full of grace (faith)
• To those who didn't deserve it
• He was full of power
• He was given the gift of preforming miracles
• We are not like Stephen
• He was not an apostle - yet worked miracles
• Example of Philip (who also performed miracles) - Acts 8:6
• These men were given greater gifts - of preaching and teaching, even of miracles (to authenticate the gospel)
• Was he a deacon?
• Surely it is the beginning of the division of elders and deacons
• He was first a deacon, but then became a preacher
• Just like Philip
• He did not fit into a box - God called him to further ministry
• We must be open to God giving us greater gifts
• We must first be willing to be a servant
• He comes into conflict with others as he is preaching the word of God - v9
• People of the Synagogue of the Freedmen
• Explanation
• Not Jewish Jews
• They were trying to stamp out the word of God
• Yet they could not resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke
• He had been studying under the apostles
• God had instructed and gifted him tremendous wisdom
• Isa 54:17, Jer 1:19
• God is with His people
• Example of Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego

The heart of the hostile

• The Bible says the wicked are like the restless sea
• We see that here – v11-14
• These men are cowards
• They induce others to do their dirty work for them
• They cite false blasphemy
• The work of the devil
• These men think they are doing the will of God yet they are doing the works of the devil
• What a contrast between Stephen and these men
• They accuse Stephen of being against Moses
• They have misinterpreted and twisted things
• They accuse him of being against the law
• They seek to malign Jesus' name also
• Behind of all this is the devil
• We know that our battle is not against flesh and blood but principalities and powers
• Today we face must opposition
• Example of politician
• There is a stirring up of others against the church
• We need not fear for God stands with His people

God's presence in the midst of persecution

• Stephen's face was like an angel
• He preached the gospel
• The people were cut to the heart and gnashed their teeth
• Stephen was able to see Jesus
• This was something supernatural
• Some people may say 'what was the point of that?'
• Saul was present - this had an effect on him
• Persecution and his death was used for the expansion of the gospel
• This gives great comfort to the persecuted church
• Example of David Brainard
• God gave Stephen great grace when he needed it
• We may not face the same trials, but we need grace
• The Bible says the Lord is at hand
• We are told to pray
• May we know God's grace when the burdens grow greater