Have you ever been forced to stand alone? This can happen in the home. You get saved but there is no one else in the home that is saved and they do not accept Jesus Christ and your new-found life. You are the one light in the midst of the darkness. Your friend may not want to know you anymore.

Stephen is a deacon who is filled with the Holy Spirit and is forced to stand alone. He is the first Christian martyr.

1 – The arrest of Stephen (6:8-15)

They engage him in a hot debate. (vs. 8) The courage and wisdom of Stephen shines through. He uses the sword of the Word of God to cut to pieces their arguments. He is full of faith and power. The Spirit of God had taken full control of Stephen’s life. Faith puts all in God’s hand. We are to step out by faith and give all into God’s hand. You do not get more of the Spirit; the Spirit gets more of you! Are you in control or is God?

• The critics of Stephen (vs. 9). They come out of the woodwork. They could not defeat him in debate so they make-up charges. They accuse him of saying things against Moses and the Temple. If the Devil can’t dig it up he will make it up. You will be falsely accused when you seek to serve God.
• The courage of Stephen (vs. 10). They were not able to resist the wisdom and power by which he spoke. He got this wisdom from the fullness of the Holy Spirit. See Luke 21:15. The Spirit of God is operating in the life of Stephen. The Spirit of God wants to be resident and president in the life of a believer. Don’t be afraid to stand alone for God! We are not to keep our faith a secret. The spirit-filled Christian will not be alone as God is with him or her.
• The countenance of Stephen (15). His face looked like the face of an angel. There was a heavenly glow on his face. There was a man called Paul who saw the glow of Deacon Stephen’s face. When you stand alone, you never know who is watching you. If you spend time with God, he will put a glow on your face. You will remind people of Jesus.

2 – The address of Stephen (7:1-53)

Stephen gives an overview of the history of the Jews. He talks about Abraham (vs. 1-8), Joseph (vs. 9-16), Moses (vs. 17-41), the Prophets (vs. 42-44), David (vs. 45) and Solomon (vs. 46-50). They have rejected the Holy Spirit from the past until know. Now they have rejected Jesus. When are they going to stop resisting the Holy Spirit?

3 – The attack on Stephen (7:54-60)

This is a scene right out of hell. (vs. 54) They are so angry that they are gnashing their teeth. We are sometimes scared to stand alone for Christ because of the hatred that some people will have for Jesus Christ. We have got to take a stand. Stephen looks up into heaven and sees the glory of Jesus. (vs. 55).

Stephen has his eyes on Jesus. Can you keep your eye on the Lord when you are being hit by the stones of criticism? Stephen sees Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He is standing rather than sitting. Jesus is our lawyer. When someone attacks his client, the lawyer gets to his feet to defend the client. Jesus is defending Stephen! When it is time to welcome Stephen home, Jesus is up on his feet. Stephen’s view of Jesus was not blocked by what was going on. He had his eyes on Jesus.

They cried out with a loud voice and stopped up their ears. They ran at him as a crowd. They take him out of the city and stone him. As he is being stoned he says similar words to those uttered by Jesus. They lay down their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul. Stephen’s death was not in vain. The conscience of Saul is pricked. You never know why God is doing something. Don’t be afraid to stand alone.

Categories: Acts