Acts Of The Apostles: Worth Dying For

Story: Isn’t it so easy to get caught up in the urgent over the important? Does anyone else struggle with this?

We get so focused on the tasks at hand, the emails that we wake up to, the to do list for the week, or the people or circumstances in our lives that cause so much anxiety and frustration. We get fixated on the urgent and oftentimes completely overlook the important. We become reactive instead of proactive.

Personal Story: I’m pretty aggressive with how much I enjoy cleanliness. I want a clean car, clean office, clean backpack, and clean house. This is a problem for me for many reasons… one mainly being that I have 5 tazmanian devils that don’t share that same value as me living in my house.

It’s pretty easy for me to get frustrated and angry at how much of a mess they create. While I’m running around all day cleaning up, they are growing up. While I’m focused on the jacket and shoes in the middle of the floor, they are learning to say new words, creating new passions, and discovering new hobbies.

Ryan wants to learn the bass guitar. He has asked me almost every day if I could give him lessons. But the urgent has taken priority over the important. Too often the problem isn’t that we don’t care, it’s that we haven’t taken the time to prioritize what’s really important and work backwards.

What in your life is priority? I want to give you a simple question to help navigate how we prioritize our lives. This is not meant to be depressing in nature, but more inspiring in what type of legacy that we want to leave.

Big Idea: If it’s not worthy to die for, is it worthy to live for?

Title: Worth Dying For

Passage: Acts 6-7

Pray:

Main Points: Stephen was…

1. A servant over food distribution (Acts 6:1-7)
   1. In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. 2 The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 This proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit… 7 So the word of God spread, the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly in number, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.
   2. A call to serve
      1. Stephen was a manager of food distribution to the poor... “Then the word of God spread.” (*V7)
      2. Don’t minimize your title. Don’t reduce your calling. Don’t belittle a servant role. Stephens position was given with a high level of honor and resulted in a worldwide movement. His life and death was the catalytic event that fulfilled Acts 1:8
      3. If serving is beneath you then leadership is beyond you
      4. A title does not elevate your status, it simply affirms your calling and willingness to serve faithfully
2. Controlled by the Spirit (Acts 6:8-10)
   1. Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from some members of the Freedmen’s Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, and they began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.
   2. Emphasis on “fullness”
      1. The word “full of” means that he was “to be controlled by”
      2. In the text we see that Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:3, 10), full of faith (Acts 6:5), and full of power (Acts 6:8).
      3. Question: What are you controlled by? Or another way to say it is what are you full of?
      4. Would it be said of you that you are full of your Spirit, faith, and power? Or are you full of yourself?
   3. Signs & wonders in the lunchroom
      1. People were getting healed and Word of God spread
      2. Many believe that only the apostles were credited with the ability to perform signs and wonders. But we see in the life of Stephen that God can choose anyone He empowers through His Spirit to perform signs and wonders for His glory and the advancement of His Kingdom.
      3. You don’t need a title to perform the supernatural! In Jesus name and through the power of the Holy Spirit you are empowered!
   4. Deep conviction is very convincing - V10
      1. A problem today is that many people don’t have core convictions.
      2. A standard is what you are trying to live for, a conviction is what you are willing to die for.
      3. There’s something powerful when someone stands up for their convictions against all opposition.
3. Falsely accused (Acts 6:11-15)
   1. Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; so they came, seized him, and took him to the Sanhedrin. 13 They also presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the law. 14 For we heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” 15 And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
   2. The Sanhedrin
      1. The Sanhedrin used LIES to condemn Stephen for RELIGIOUS TRADITION SAKE! This is the result of fleshly control, pride, and a hunger for power.
      2. This was NOT a display of seeking spiritual truth and reliance on God’s guidance.
      3. This enraged mob not only lied and created false witnesses, but they also murdered Stephen illegally by Roman law.
      4. Surely the members of the Sanhedrin would recall Moses’ shining face in Exodus 34:29-30. It was as if God was saying “He’s not against Moses! He is like Moses - he is my faithful servant.”
4. Responded with a bold message (Acts 7:1-53)
   1. “Are these things true?” the high priest asked. 2 “Brothers and fathers,” he replied, “listen…”
   2. The high priest
      1. This high priest was probably Caiaphas, the same man who had earlier questioned and condemned Jesus (John 18:24)
      2. Stephen is quite familiar with how this could turn out and yet he doesn’t back down or shy away from speaking the truth.
   3. Shrink back or stand firm
      1. Stephen didn’t shrink back in fear, he stood firm in faith
      2. Stephen didn’t go on the defense, he goes on the offense, taking the opportunity to point people to Jesus.
      3. Question: How do you respond when you face opposition?
      4. Question: Are you self empowered or are you Spirit filled?
      5. Let’s be a people that stands firm in the face of humiliation, opposition, and persecution. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can stand firm in every circumstance.
   4. Stephen knew the Word
      1. You will never outgrow your knowledge of the Word. I’ve heard many people say “I want to grow”, “I’m not hearing from God”, “I’m feeling stuck”, etc… Maybe it’s because we’re not committed to reading, studying and meditating on the Word of God?!
      2. Stephen did not serve in his own effort, but out of the overflow of what God was already doing in his life through the Word.
   5. Sermon Outline: They resisted the Law, persecuted the prophets, and rejected the Savior Jesus Christ
      1. Stephen, full of the power of the Holy Spirit, called out their hypocrisy, lawlessness, and arrogance.
   6. Stephen was a humble servant and faithful messenger before he was a forgiving martyr
      1. Are you saying “Yes God, I would die for you!”, yet you are too busy to serve? Too busy to share the Gospel?
      2. Illust: Like some of your friends. I would rol
      3. Let’s first respond with obedience in the small things before we respond with confidence in the big things.
      4. Let’s first be faithful in the small things before we expect God to lead us to the big things.
5. Faithful to the end (Acts 7:54-60)
   1. When they heard these things, they were enraged and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 He said, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 They yelled at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him. 58 They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning Stephen, he called out: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And after saying this, he died.
   2. Stephen looked up
      1. In the midst of Stephens persecution, what does he do? He looks up.
      2. Question: Where do you look? In? Out? Over? Back?
      3. “I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” - Psalms 121:1-2
      4. Illust: I’ve been accused of being a little bit of a workaholic. It’s my personal bent to first assume that I can work my way out of any situation. Unfortunately that is simply not true, it’s not efficient, and it’s not biblical.
   3. Jesus stood up
      1. This is the only instance where Jesus is standing up at the right hand of the Father. (Psalms 110:1, Mark 16:19)
      2. “Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins. 12 But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.” - Hebrews 10:11-12

      3. 3 possible reasons why Jesus stood up:

         1. He could have been bearing witness of Stephen. In the Sanhedrin, when someone would bear witness they would stand up. And since nobody was bearing witness on the good of Jesus, Jesus stands up and says “Everything this man is saying is true!”
         2. He could have been giving Stephen a standing ovation. The first recorded martyr for the Christian faith. “Stephen you lived for the eternal, welcome home my son.”

         3. He could have been standing because this is Stephens coronation ceremony. The bible talks about 5 different crowns that can be received in heaven. In a coronation ceremony someone kneels down and a crown is placed on their head. Stephen was living life not for this world, but for Jesus Christ the King. And as Stephen is being stoned to death and he goes to his knees, Jesus stands up and says “I got a crown, it’s the crown of life! Well done by good and faithful servant!” 4. There are two words in the NT for crown. The first is “diadema”, which is a royal crown that you can inherit. Then there is “stephanos”, which is a crown that comes when you earn it. Stephens name actually means “Crown”. 5. “Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” - Revelations 2:10 6. Question: How many of you want to live a life, where at the end of your life Jesus stands up and says “well done, my son, well done my daughter.” And we take the crown and lay it back at Jesus feet. He who is worthy of all our worship and rewards!

            4. Who is Saul? - V58
               1. Saul was standing by in full approval of this stoning of Stephen. Saul would later become Paul, a radical missionary for the Gospel who wrote ¾’s of the New Testament.
               2. Demonstrating a powerful example that NOBODY is impossible for God to reach and change.
               3. Can God save Kanye… C’mon!
            5. A Living Sacrifice
               1. You may not be called to die a physical death for the sake of the Gospel, but we are all called to be a living sacrifice
               2. “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.” - Romans 12:1
               3. Your sacrifice is your worship
               4. Some of you might say “I just want to come and worship.” Meaning, I want the experience without the sacrifice.

         4. If you are exploring the faith, then that’s completely understandable, if you are a follower of Jesus then that just doesn’t make sense. 5. True worship is when we lay down our lives for the sake of the mission of God. I want to show up early, I want to stay late, I want to give the gifts that I have, I want to fund the advancement of the Kingdom, I want to offer my all in this thing, and I want to worship with my life!!!

            6. Grace & Truth
               1. Stephen stood firm on truth, and at the same time demonstrated immeasurable grace
               2. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
               3. Stephens final words sound a lot like Jesus right?
               4. Stephen died like Jesus died because he lived like Jesus lived.

Closing: If it’s not worthy to die for, is it worthy to live for?

What are you currently living for? Career, status, dream job, dream house, money, health, the mountains, PR’s, happiness…

Question: What would you be willing to die for?

1. The people you love

   1. “No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.” - John 15:13
   2. The very thing you would be willing to die for, should be the very thing you are faithfully living for today!

   3. A cause of eternal magnitude

   4. “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” - Philippians 1:21

   5. Let’s not live our life for the urgent, but for what’s most important.
   6. When what you live for & what you would die for come together, that’s where you find your purpose.

The length of our life does not determine the impact of our legacy.

Story: Craig Geesaman

• Faithful to family & friends
• Served as a faithful minister for 38 years
• Gave his life for the cause of Christ
• Left a legacy that will change the world

How are people going to describe your life and legacy?

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