Heaven Opened
Acts • Sermon • Submitted
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· 3 viewsStephen preached a sermon that ended costing him his life. The leaders of Isreal refused to admidt they had made a mistake in killing Jesus. In order to silence the sermon, they put an end to his life. In the midst of being killed Stephen was closer to God than ever. He had a vision of Jesus as he was dying.
Notes
Transcript
Continuing Sermon
series in Acts.
Last week.
7 deacons chosen.
Today,
next sermon
amazing ministry
of deacons.
Sermon Today,
How to have peace.
Many Christian
claim to have peace.
but do not.
Kids say
I’m so full.
But I have room
for ice cream.
Christians double speak.
I’m full of peace.
Hardship comes.
Constant complaining.
Learn lesson
from Stephen.
Stephen
Stephen
Acts 6:8–10 (ESV)
And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called),
--
and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
Stephen
great leader
signs and wonders
Debate
Debate
Greek Jews
debating with him.
But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
Have you ever
been in a debate
other person
way over head?
They could not
argue with truth..
Debate
not God’s method.
It is said,
you may win a debate.
but you won’t win a friend,
or a convert.
Lies
Lies
When they realized
they could not argue
they chose a
different route.
Acts 6:11–14 (ESV)
Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people and
--
the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak
--
words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”
Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy
I meet people… say -
I’m not religious
Why?
Wickedness done
in name of religion...
Some truth to that.
The story is told of a zoo that was noted for their great collection of different animals. One day the gorilla died, and to keep up the appearance of a full range of animals, the zookeeper hired a man to wear a gorilla suit and fill in for the dead animal. It was his first day on the job, and the man didn’t know how to act like a gorilla very well. As he tried to move convincingly, he got too close to the wall of the enclosure and tripped and fell into the lion exhibit. He began to scream, convinced his life was over…until the lion spoke to him: “Be quiet, or you’re going to get us both fired!”
Look what they do..
stir up people
create reason for arrest
brought before council
false witnesses
against
Temple
law
Moses
Religious leaders?
resort to falsehood?
willing to murder?
kill innocent?
Final Persecution
Final Persecution
This is Satanic Delusion.
kinda like last days.
And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.
Religious people
forcing worship.
or death.
Nothing new.
Satan seeks
kill
steal
destroy
By any means
lie and deception.
pretend truth.
Stephen is
interrogated
accused
lies
Shining Like an Angel
Shining Like an Angel
He is calm...
And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Fill with holy radiance!
Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered.
The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled.
As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd.
A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner.
The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace?
A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power.
A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil.
Berit Kjos, A Wardrobe from the King, pp. 45-46.
Peace is NOT,
they absence of problems.
Peace IS
Contentment and thankfulness
in harmony or trouble.
Stephen’s face of peace
while in trial
with liars.
For some
cause more anger!
Finally allowed to speak
long sermon
history of Israel
God’s leading.
Abraham
Isaac
Jacob
12 Tribes
Moses
David
Solomon
Cutting Rebuke
Cutting Rebuke
After 50 verses
Stephen get to point:
Acts 7:51–53 (ESV)
“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they
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killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”
Stephen’s Point
History of Israel.
lots of mistakes
bad leaders
rejected prophets
Shouldn’t think
we are right
because we are leaders.
educated people.
Throughout history
leaders made mistakes.
educated people wrong.
Make decisions
word of God.
Heavens Opened
Heavens Opened
Story Continues:
Acts 7:54–56 (ESV)
Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed
--
into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
What different experiences.
Murderers
angry
enraged
out of control
The abused one.
at peace
calm
ready for anything.
Here is a lesson
Stephen was closest
to God in his death.
We tend to think.
God only wants good.
If bad happens
we went against God.
No clearly
God’s will for
Stephen to die.
Powerful idea
God is with him.
close to him.
strengthening him.
Through the hard times.
Closest moment
of his life
was in his death.
Fiery Furnace
Second Chance
“We are not careful”
4 men
Son of man.
Closest to death
Closest to God.
Lesson
don’t fear trails.
they may come
through will of God.
Use trials
chance to grow
in the Lord.
La La La. I’m not Listening.
La La La. I’m not Listening.
Acts 7:57–58 (ESV)
But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they
--
cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Childish thing.
La La La
I’m not Listening
Act like mad men
demon possessed.
Saul,
organizer of death.
ring leader.
Always amazes me...
Jesus saw him,
and thought,
Great Disciple!
God uses us all.
broken as we are.
And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Christlike man
Christlike death.
Same words of Jesus
receive me spirit.
forgive them.
Who says that?
while being murdered?
after lies.
after treachery.
please forgive them???
The one with
infinite peace.
In 1555, Dr. Nicholas Ridley was sentenced to be burned at the stake in England because of his witness for Christ. On the night before Ridley’s execution, his brother offered to remain with him in the prison chamber to be of assistance and comfort. Nicholas Ridley declined the offer saying, “I intend (God willing) to go to bed, and sleep as quietly tonight, as ever I did.” Because he knew the peace of God, he could rest in the strength of the everlasting arms of his Lord to meet his need.
Most of us will never face a trial of our faith that is quite that severe, yet all of us go through difficult times. During those times, we have the opportunity to fix our minds on God and receive His peace.
True peace
trust in God.
in the face
worst possible results.
Muffin
Isaiah 26:3–4 (ESV)
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
As Stephen is murdered.
prays for their forgiveness.
Only the words
someone transformed
by God’s love.
I hope to experience
this love.
Lesson
forgiveness
resentment
peace
Persecution
Persecution
This was beginning
Acts 8:1–3 (ESV)
And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria,
--
except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
Started great persecution.
Christians
run for their lives
All Things Work Together For Good
All Things Work Together For Good
Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
God amazing.
Use persecution
for his good.
Appeal
Appeal
Trust God
He’ll be with you.
Good / bad.
Life / death.
Joy / sorrow.
Allow His leading.
With complete trust
comes peace.