YOU NEVER KNOW

You never know who’s watching you—who’s learning from you—who’s testing or assessing you—sometimes from close up—sometimes from afar.  Our life may be much more influential—even to strangers—than we would ever think.

Acts 7:1-3, 39, 51-8:1

Book title—“Acts of the Apostles” or “Acts of Holy Spirit.”  Today, story is not about an apostle—about one called to “wait on tables”—to serve in the daily distribution of food.  Last week—found the qualification was to be “full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.”

Stephen—one of those men.  But he did more than that—he witnessed and confounded the Jews with his testimony—full of the Spirit and godly wisdom.

Arrested—charges that he spoke blasphemy against Moses and Temple.  So in ch. 7, Stephen gives his defense.

First he recounts the history of Israel—how he knew that history—and yet it was a history of God’s people rejecting Him and Moses and losing the Temple due to their disobedience.

Then he told them they were just like their forefathers—rejecting the prophets and killing those who told about the Messiah—and they killed the Messiah who had come.  Sounds much like the sermon of Peter earlier in Acts.

So they stoned him to death.  But notice the attitude and way of his death.  Full of the Holy Spirit—vision of heaven and Jesus the Messiah standing there.  To them—more blasphemy that Jesus would be at God’s right hand.

Notice v. 58—when they stoned him, they took off their outer robes to better throw stones, and they laid their robes at the feet of a man named “Saul.”

How does Stephen die?  As he does so, he prays a similar prayer to the prayer of Jesus when he was being crucified—“Lord do not hold this sin against them.”  And also he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

And in this way, he died.  But notice also ch. 8:1, “And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.” (NIV)

What do we see in this story about Stephen (that applies to us)?

1)      Christians need to be “full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.” 

a.       None of us ever knows what will be asked of us—or what situation we will be in, because of God’s purpose in our lives or His purpose in the world. 

2)      Christians should be ready to share their faith—to tell what Jesus did for them—to give their testimony whenever a good opportunity comes. 

a.       Peter says (1 Peter 3:15),  ^“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” (NIV).  Isn’t this what Stephen did? 

b.      This man knew the history of the Jews—he began where they were—with what they knew and accepted—as he shared about the Messiah. 

3)      There is a connection between being “full of the Holy Spirit and godly wisdom” and “giving a reason for the hope within you” when the opportunity arises.  Sharing Christ is not an act of a person—it is an act of the Holy Spirit through the person. 

4)      The attitude for the Christian is just as important as the words.  The two need to go together.  Stephen could have ranted and raved about how he was being mistreated and killed with trumped up charges.  Instead he died with faith in the Lord—and with compassion for those who were killing him unjustly. 

5)      We never know who’s watching or who will be affected by our words and our attitude as a believer—an attitude of being “full of the Holy Spirit and godly wisdom.” 

a.       Saul—persecutor of Christians—steeped in Jewish faith—trained by top rabbis—star pupil and Jewish evangelist—watching what went on.

b.      How did this experience of seeing this follower of Jesus killed and the faith and compassion he showed enter into Saul’s conversion later on?  Probably greatly! 

c.       God uses our faith—our experiences—our words to witness and grow others in the faith and into the faith.

d.      Saul later would become Paul—the greatest early Christian evangelist, missionary, church planter, apostle to the Gentiles.  When a new Christian, Paul “confounded the Jews” with his knowledge of OT scriptures and used them to show how Jesus was the promised Messiah.

Are you full of the Holy Spirit and godly wisdom?

Are you ready to share the “reason for the hope within you” when opportunities come?

Are your attitudes and actions things that would give a positive witness for the change Christ has made in your life?

Who’s watching you—your words—your life—your faith?  How are you affecting them—for Christ or against Christ?

You never know—you never know who—and you never know when.  But God is always at work around you, to will and work for His good purposes.

And it could even be in the way you die.  But even more, in the way you live.