Great Joy

Q: What does the Bible say about Stephen's death?

Stephen's death is portrayed as a significant event that catalyzed the spread of the Gospel despite great persecution. The death of Stephen, as described in Acts 7, is not just a tragic incident but a pivotal moment in the early church. Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly proclaimed the Gospel to the Jewish leaders, which ultimately led to his martyrdom. His death is described in a way that highlights the complete rejection of the message he preached by the very people who were supposed to receive it. Furthermore, Acts 8:1 shows that Saul consented to his death, signifying the deep animosity towards the church at that time, yet it led to a greater spread of the Gospel as the scattered disciples preached everywhere they went, demonstrating God's sovereign use of even evil actions for His divine purposes.

Q: How do we know God can use evil for good?

God's sovereignty enables Him to turn evil actions into good outcomes for His church. The story of Stephen's martyrdom exemplifies how God can bring good from evil situations. Acts 8:4 states that the persecution of the church led to the scattering of believers who, rather than retreating in fear, boldly preached the Gospel wherever they went. This illustrates God's sovereignty in using the intended harm of Saul and the persecution faced by the early church to fulfill His overarching purpose of spreading the Gospel. Romans 8:28 reminds us that 'all things work together for good to them that love God,' confirming that while evil acts occur, God is able to work through them for His glory and the benefit of His people.

Q: Why is prayer important in the context of persecution?

Prayer is crucial as it invokes God's mercy and trust during times of suffering. In the context of persecution, prayer holds great significance as it aligns the hearts of believers with God's will and invokes His mercy. Stephen's prayer for his persecutors, 'Lord, lay not this sin to their charge' (Acts 7:60), exemplifies the kind of love and grace we are called to demonstrate, even towards those who harm us. The importance of communal prayer is further emphasized in the message, where it is highlighted as a demonstration of love among believers. The early church relied on prayer to seek God's intervention and strength; thus, it becomes a powerful means for Christians to express their dependence on God and to seek His aid in navigating through trials.

Q: How does the story of Saul's conversion reflect God's grace?

Saul's dramatic conversion illustrates God's ability to transform even the fiercest enemies into His servants. Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus, as recorded in Acts 9, serves as a powerful testament to God's grace. Initially depicted as a vehement persecutor of Christians, Saul was suddenly confronted by the risen Christ, reflecting the sovereign grace of God that is not dependent on our actions but purely on His will. The immediate change in Saul following this encounter, where he became Paul, the Apostle, showcases God's ability to redeem and use someone with a troubled past for His glory. This transformation serves as an encouragement that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace, reminding believers that our past does not dictate our future in Christ, and that God's purposes can encompass even the most unexpected individuals.

Q: What does it mean to preach the word of God?

Preaching the word means proclaiming the truths found in scripture with clarity and power. To preach the word of God is to faithfully proclaim the truth contained in the Scriptures, as demonstrated by Philip in Acts 8:5 when he preached Christ in Samaria. This involves not only sharing information but applying the living word to the hearts of listeners with the expectation of transformation through the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 4:12 describes the word of God as 'quick and powerful,' suggesting that when it is preached with authority, it penetrates the soul and brings about conviction and change. It is thus vital for preachers to convey the message in a way that faithfully represents God's character, purposes, and the truths of the Gospel, ensuring that they are not merely human opinions, but divine revelations meant for spiritual nourishment.

Let's turn together to Acts chapter 8. Acts chapter 8. Acts chapter 8. Let's begin reading in verse 1. Acts 8 verse 1, and Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time, there was a great persecution against the church, which was at Jerusalem.

They are all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house and hailing men and women, committed them to prison. Therefore, they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits crying with loud voice came out of many that were possessed with them, and many taken with palsies and that were lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city."

I want to consider these first eight verses this morning. I want to give you a little bit of the backstory as to how the church got in this position, and specifically the story of Stephen and Saul. It said Saul was consenting, he was happy about the death of Stephen. So we're going to turn to a lot of scriptures to look at this backstory, but they're all right around here, all right around Acts 8. So let's turn to Acts 6, Acts chapter 6.

Acts chapter 6, verse 1. Acts 6 verse 1, and in those days when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. So back in these days, there was an appointed official to watch over all of the widows and make sure that they had food and clothes and that all their needs were met. So they're looking for who's going to do this job. Look in verse 5, Acts 6 verse 5.

The saying pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen for this job, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicholas, a proselyte of Antioch, whom they set before the apostles, and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people." So we're introduced to Stephen. Now, what does it say about Stephen?

It says he was full of the Holy Ghost and full of the Spirit. He was full of faith. He was full of power. He was of an honest report. Now, this is somebody the Lord's with in a powerful way. Anybody that's going to be full of the Holy Ghost, full of faith, that is somebody that the Lord is with. This is one of the Lord's people.

Now, turn to Acts 7 and look in verse 51. Acts 7, verse 51, Stephen here is speaking to the Jews. He's speaking to the Jews. Acts 7.51, he stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost. As your fathers did, so do ye. And a lot of Acts 7 is Stephen speaking this way to the Jews. He's speaking harshly to the Jews. But he's speaking accurately to the Jews. It said he was full of the Holy Ghost. The Lord's with this man. So when he rebukes the Jews, he's right to rebuke the Jews. Now let's look down in verse 54, Acts 7, 54. This is the reaction from the Jews to what Stephen's saying.

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God, Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens open and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God. And they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. So they murder Stephen. They stone him to death. A great crime. A great crime. One of the Lord's people was murdered. And that's all we read of Stephen.

He's introduced to us in Acts 6, and by the end of Acts 7, he's been stoned to death by the Jews. It says in Acts 8 verse 1, and Saul was consenting unto his death. He was happy about the death of Stephen. So who is Saul? It said back in chapter 7, and they cast him out of the city and stoned him, and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet whose name was Saul. Saul was part of this stoning. He was part of this murder.

Look in Acts chapter 9 verse 1. Acts chapter 9 verse 1. And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest." Now, this sounds like the complete opposite of Stephen. He's threatening people. We already read in Acts 8, he's making havoc in the church. He's stoned Stephen to death. This is somebody that hates the Lord. This is somebody that is an enemy of God and an enemy of God's people.

But our Lord had great purpose in Saul and great purpose in Stephen. And the Lord is going to save Saul in Acts chapter 9. Let's keep reading. Acts 9 verse 2. and desired of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he, Saul, journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven." Now God Give Saul light, light from heaven, God-given light. And we must be given light to see who our Lord is. We cannot see him with our current eyes. We must be given light with our sinful eyes. We must be given God-given light to see who our Lord is. And I love how it says suddenly. Suddenly, there was a light from heaven.

Saul was not looking for that light. He was not improving himself to be able to see the light. He did not accept the light to come. Suddenly, light. And that is so our experience. We never looked for the Lord's mercy. We didn't take one step towards the Lord. Suddenly, the light was turned on. And we were able to see who he was, suddenly. heard the same gospel my whole life, and then suddenly there was light. And I wasn't looking for that light. That light was just graciously shown.

This is so my experience what happened with Saul. I hope it's yours too. It says in verse four, And he fell to the earth and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Now what's the first thing he did when he was given light? He fell to the earth. He hit the dirt. He bowed.

And that is what will happen. When the Lord gives you light to see who he is, you will bow. When you see who he is and high, as holy, as lifted up as he is, and you look back on yourself, and it's in the light of who he is that we see who we are, you will bow to the Lord. It's not an option. It will happen.

Verse five, and he said, And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. The question the Lord gave them to ask was, who art thou, Lord? And that is the question, isn't it? That is the question of the gospel. Who is the Lord, and what has he done? I know you guys hear that when you hear your pastor preach. You hear who the Lord is, and then you come back again to hear it again. Because that's always the question. That question can't be answered enough. Who art thou Lord? And he said, I am Jesus. He answered that. And when he gives the question for us to ask, who art thou, Lord? When he gives us the light and brings us to a place to ask that question, he will answer that question. I am Jesus.

Verse six, and he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what will thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. Trembling and astonished at the same time, at the same things. I love those two things together. trembling at the awesomeness of our Lord and the majesty of our God, trembling at God being God. It is above our comprehension and it leads to, for me, it leads to trembling. Trembling that I might be found outside of Him, trembling that I might be found in my own sins, but astonished at the same things, astonished at Him being God and astonished at the sovereignty of God and His control of all things. and astonished that he would shine the light and that he would show me who he is when I was never looking for it, when he just suddenly shined it. Astonished.

Now turn to Acts 13. Acts 13. Let's look at verse 9. Acts 13, verse 9. Acts 13, verse 9, then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him. Now, through that shining of the light and through the Lord saving Saul, he at this time changes Saul's name to Paul and converts him to Paul, and that's the Apostle Paul. The Lord used him to write 13 books in the Bible and to preach his gospel and power and truth in the scripture.

And someone might say, could he do that for somebody like Saul? Well, he absolutely can. His mercy knows no boundaries. His love knows no boundaries. And that's such a comfort to know the Lord's people know he has to be able to save people like Saul. But there's no hope for me. We're all Saul in our nature, but thankfully the Lord is gracious to Saul at this time. He saves him and he uses Paul in great ways, in great power in the scripture.

And I want to remember what Stephen prayed. What did Stephen pray in his dying words? He said, and he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had heard this, he fell asleep. And the Lord answered that prayer. And he gave heed to that prayer that Stephen said. Now, the Lord could have saved Paul without that prayer. But he gave Stephen that prayer, and he heard that prayer, and he acted on that prayer. In light of that prayer, let's turn to Luke 23. Luke 23. Luke 23. And look at verse 33. Luke 23, 33.

And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they parted his arraignment. and cast lots.

Stephen's prayer is such a beautiful picture of our Lord's prayer for us. Forgive them for they know not what they do. And that prayer was answered for the Lord's people. He did forgive that prayer. He heard that. The father heard the prayer of the son that day. What a blessing that he heard that prayer. What a blessing that the son said it. And what a blessing that the father heard it.

Now in regards to prayer, when we pray, for each other, and we pray for our brothers and sisters and our loved ones that our Lord would save these people. We pray for our children that the Lord would save them. When we have brethren that are going through difficult things, we pray for them. That is not to be taken lightly. There is nothing more we can do for each other than pray for each other. We cannot save. I can't save anybody. I can't save my children. All I can do is ask the Lord to save them. And when you pray for somebody and when someone's praying for you, they can't show their love any greater than to pray for you.

Do that with reverence and so thankful that our brethren pray for each other. It's such a blessing to have brethren that pray for each other. And the Lord gave great heed and attention to prayer in the scriptures. That is all the more reason that we need to be praying for each other at all times. Let's turn back to Acts 8. Let's turn back to our text. Acts 8. Acts 8, verse 1. Acts 8, verse 1.

And Saul was consenting unto his death. He was happy about the death of Stephen. And at that time, there was a great persecution against the church, which was at Jerusalem. And they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. They were very sorrowful about the death of Stephen. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, hailing men and women, committed them to prison. So Stephen's just been stoned to death, and there's great persecution against the church.

And the church is all scattered abroad, they're not together. Saul is going into homes and throwing innocent men and women into prison. This is a very chaotic and scary time. It said he made havoc of the church. Havoc describes it well. This is havoc. Things are completely off the rails. This is not how people would think that the Lord would cause things to be. Verse 4, therefore, What was the result? What was the purpose in it all? What was the purpose in Stephen? What was the purpose in the havoc?

Therefore, they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word. As a result of the persecution of the church and in the trial that they were going through, the Lord used it for the good of his word. Now, what is it to preach the word? It is to first and foremost preach what is in the word of God.

We are not interested in man's opinions. We are not interested in the commentaries on this. We are looking to the Word to know what to believe. Our pastor has said, we don't look to the Word to support what we believe. We look to it to find out what to believe. We are looking to this Word, the Word of God. That's what it is to preach the Word. It's to preach what is in the Bible. God has preserved this Word. This is the inspired Word of God. Now turn to Hebrews 4 with me for a second, Hebrews 4. Hebrews chapter 4. Hebrews chapter 4 and look at verse 12. Hebrews 4 verse 12.

For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. It is quick, it is powerful, and it is sharp.

Now that is when the Lord sends his word. It says it can pierce the soul and spirit. The Lord said about his word, When it goes out of my mouth, it will not return unto me void, but it will accomplish that thing whereto I send it. When he sends it, it is not going to return unto him void. It is going to pierce the soul of his people. We will hear. We will hear. When God gives us the grace to hear, when he sends his word, not when a man speaks the word, but when God sends the word in power, we will hear. It is sharp. It is powerful. It is quick. It is sent by God.

To preach the word is to preach the living word. John 1-1 said, in the beginning was the word, capital W, a name for our Lord Jesus Christ, the word, the living word, the reigning word, the ever-present word. And you cannot separate God from God's word. If you love the Lord, you love his word. If you love his word, you love the Lord. Let's turn back to Acts 5, or Acts 8, sorry, Acts chapter 8, verse 5. Acts 8 verse 5, then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them. So we read of the preaching of the word, now we read of the preaching of Christ.

Again, two things that cannot be separated. To preach Christ is to preach the word. To preach the word is to preach Christ. They will never be separated. Now, what is it to preach Christ? So Saul, right after the Lord saved Saul, he preached Christ. It tells us very plainly what it is to preach Christ. Turn to, look over in chapter 9, verse 20, Acts 9, verse 20. Acts 9, verse 20, right after the Lord saved Paul.

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues that he is the son of God. It is to preach that Jesus Christ is the son of God. It is to preach that he is everything that he said he is in his word and that he reveals himself to be. It is to preach that this word, everything that happened in it, everything that the Lord came to this earth and did, that it actually did happen.

This book starts, Genesis 1.1, in the beginning, God. That is what it is to preach Christ. In the beginning, God. Present day, God. Through eternity, God. God reigns over all things.

That's what it is to preach God. And it is especially, especially to preach who God said he is in his word. We're very blessed to have the Lord reveal himself in his word and tell us exactly who he is to where we don't have to wonder. You're not going to go wrong with who God said he is in his word. I mean, that's solid ground. That can be believed.

Here's what the Lord said about himself. John 14, verse 6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. He said, I am the way. the way that God can be just and justify the ungodly, the narrow way that it talks about in Matthew, the way to spiritual and eternal life in Christ, through Christ, that is the way that we might be found in him is through what our Lord did. It said, I am the truth, and I so want to know the truth, and I do not want to be wrong and naive and misled in the gospel.

Now, there are a lot of things in life that it's good to be naive about, I think. I'm naive about a lot, but not this. This is too important. This is our eternal salvation and the eternal salvation of our loved ones. And he said, I am the truth. Now what he says can be believed. It can be leaned on. It can be relied on is what he says. He said, I am the truth. Lean on that and rely on that. That's solid ground. That's the ground that you can trust. He said, I am the life, spiritual life. Spiritual life is found in our Lord. It is him himself. God is our life. Before a just and holy God, we cannot come in our own life. We must have the life of a great substitute.

Acts 8, verse 6. Acts chapter 8, verse 6. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did, with one accord they gave heed. It is such a blessing to be in one accord with people.

It's so rare in this world to really be in one accord. We are all so different. We've got different backgrounds and demeanors and experiences, and we're so different. But the Lord's people are in accord on one thing, and it is the one thing needful. And that's a blessing, that gives assurance. I love hearing my brethren speak highly of the Lord and speak of the grace that the Lord has shown them. It's an encouragement to be in one accord. It's a pleasure to be in one accord with you guys on our Lord. I might not know you, but we're in one accord on the one thing needful. That gives comfort. They gave heat. It said with one accord, they gave heat.

Now that's what it's talking about in Hebrews 4. when they gave heed. That means it was made near to them. And that's what it said in Hebrews 4, that it cuts through to the soul. Now, Philip spoke the words this day, but the Lord blessed the words. He sent the words, and it was made near this day. It didn't just bounce off. It didn't go in one ear and out the other. They gave heed because the Lord sent his word in power this day to these people through Philip, on purpose, according to His eternal purpose.

They gave heed, hearing the gospel He preached and seeing the miracles which He did that the Lord gave Him the ability to do. Verse seven, for unclean spirits crying with loud voice came out of many that were possessed with them, and many taken with palsies and that were lame were healed. These represent the sickness of our sin, lame, the inability to come to our Lord, unclean with our sins on us before a holy and just God. We cannot have that, possessed with an old and evil nature, and our Lord is called the Great Physician. And he healed these people because he sent his word this day. He saved his people this day.

Verse 8, and there was great joy in that city. There is joy in this gospel. There is true joy. We have no reason not to be a joyful people. And I say that with an understanding that things happen and it takes our joy away in this life. I think I heard Henry say that one small cloud can completely take away the light and take away our joy. It happens so easily. But I remind you, we have the one thing we need.

We have our Lord. We have eternal life in Him. There is reason for joy in that. There's reason for great joy in that. Now, this story, it shows how God brings good out of evil. And it shows God's eternal purpose and his high and holy ways and thoughts in all that he does.

Now what happened to Stephen was evil. There is no question about that. This is one of the Lord's people whom he sent and he was murdered. And it was evil what Saul was doing. To be throwing men and women into prison and to be Have all those people scattered abroad, the Lord's people scattered abroad? What evil was going on at this time?

But you see in this story the Lord's purpose in all of that. He gave Stephen that prayer, and he answered that prayer, and he saved one of his people through it, and Saul converted him to Paul. And you see the purpose in what was happening in that church. He sent Philip. And he gave Philip the words to say to those people, and he preached the word, and the Lord sent it and made it near to his people that day, and he saved them through it. That was his purpose in all this, was to send that. And the result was great joy. So all that stuff that the Lord caused to happen, the result of it was great joy for his people.

Our Lord is purposeful in all things and our Lord is in control of all things and I can assure you that Stephen did not see the purpose this day. And I can assure you those people that were being thrown into prison did not see the purpose. We do not always see the purpose in what the Lord's doing.

There's trials that we get to the other side of and we see what the purpose was. And there's other trials that we get to the end of and it's just like, why? Why did that have to happen? And I don't understand it. I don't understand why the Lord's people should have to suffer. All things work together for the good of the Lord's people and the glory of God. And there are many times I do not see it. I don't see why it's good and I don't see why God is in it.

But it is his purpose. And we must remember that it is his. It is not ours. It is not always going to make sense to us. But these things make sense to God. And I cannot imagine not knowing that with the trials of this life and the trials that my loved ones go through. that he understands and he sees it from the high point of view, not the point of view on this earth, but a high point of view. And I hope that that will give us comfort. I hope that we can leave here and just for a little while have some comfort in knowing that all things do work together for the good of us and for the glory of God and that he is ever purposeful in everything that he causes to happen. All right.

Great Joy

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about Stephen's death?

How do we know God can use evil for good?

Why is prayer important in the context of persecution?

How does the story of Saul's conversion reflect God's grace?

What does it mean to preach the word of God?

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Great Joy

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about Stephen's death?

How do we know God can use evil for good?

Why is prayer important in the context of persecution?

How does the story of Saul's conversion reflect God's grace?

What does it mean to preach the word of God?

Sermon Transcript

Comments

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