Prayer Revival: Acts 7:54-60

Good Evening Pinewood Church!

I’m so glad that you are joining us this evening. I know there are a lot of places you could be right now, but it’s an honor to have you at Pinewood Church.

I love going out on the town. Our family loves going to Eldorado and climbing the mountains. Climbing Mt. Sanitas. Walking down Pearl and eating at Snooze. But there’s nowhere better that I’d rather be than together with you in the local church.

Opener: We don’t pray before the work, prayer is the work.

Last week we looked at what the disciples did immediately following Jesus ascending into Heaven after His resurrection. They did not devise a strategy, work up a business plan, build a budget, or anything else that we would have probably done, instead they devoted themselves to prayer.

We see this all through the book of Acts. This evening we are going to be looking at the story of Stephen and how he responded in a very extreme and difficult situation. We don’t know a lot about Stephen, but what we do know is that he was a man that was relentless in his faith and stayed faithful even to the point of death. Stephen is the first recorded martyr for his faith.

If you have your Bibles turn to Acts 7. We’ll have it on the screen if you don’t have a Bible with you. And if you don’t own a Bible then please let me know and I would be happy to get you a Bible so that you can have one to read when you go home.

I LOVE MY BIBLE

This week as I was studying the book of Acts I was blown away by the stories in the early church. And the power of the Gospel to work miracles in people's lives.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12

With that being said let’s look at Acts 7:54-60.

Passage: Acts 7:54-60

Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 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. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 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. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 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.

Pray: (pause)

Big Idea: Preparing To Work With God Through Prayer (Part 2)

Before we discuss this text I want to look back at a few insights on Stephen’s personal life so that we can have some framework as we discuss the final moments of his life.

Turn with me to Acts 6:3-7

The disciples were increasing in number and a great many people were putting their faith in Jesus. And a group of people called the Hellenists started a complaint against the Hebrews because the widows were being neglected in the distribution. The disciples felt strongly that they were to continue devoting themselves to preaching the word of God and prayer. So they decided to choose 7 men that would oversee this responsibility. Stephen was one of those men.

Insights on Stephen’s Personal Life:

1. Good reputation

2. Full of the Spirit

3. Full of wisdom

4. Full of faith

5. Full of grace

6. Full of power

7. Doing signs and wonders

I’m not going to spend a lot of time unpacking these attributes, but I want us to see that Stephen lived a life that was fully devoted to God. He was a faithful man that walked with God.

I think often times we get it twisted. We want the ministry. We want to serve. We want to stand up for injustice, but we miss the foundation that all of that is built on.

Ministry is what He does out of the overflow of intimacy.

Even Jesus walked away from ministry to pursue intimacy with the Father.

In Mark 1:14 Jesus begins his ministry, but let’s take a look at verse 35.

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

“The Christian life is not you and I living for Jesus, it’s Jesus living in and through us.” - Vance Pitman

Main Points:

I want us to take a look at 3 insights from Stephen’s prayer at the end of his life.

1. Pray amidst the pressure = demonstrates Relationship

   1. When the pressure is applied we see what’s inside. What do I mean by that?
   2. Illust: bucket of water
   3. We like to give God a little. A little prayer, a little bible reading, a little relationships, but when the pressure is on, a little is not going to be enough.
   4. If we want people to see the grace, love, and mercy that Stephen demonstrated we must commit our time, talents, and treasure fully to God.

   5. Pray in the pain = demonstrates Trust

   6. While he is being stoned he is crying out to God.

   7. It’s when you are in pain that you are at your most vulnerable state. These are the moments where your faith is tested.
   8. At the end of the road, at the end of your rope, when you have had all you can take, do you turn to God and trust Him?
   9. Stephen demonstrated a deep level of trust when he turned to God and cried out with his final words.

   10. Pray for your persecutors = demonstrates Mercy

   11. Jesus is our example.

   12. Luke 23:34 “And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
   13. This is much easier said than done.
   14. Mercy definition - compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.
   15. Who do you need to show mercy to even though they have treated you wrongly? Even though they have intentionally hurt you deeply?
   16. Not in your own power, but by the Spirit of God you can show mercy and forgiveness.

Question: When you feel the pressure of the circumstances, when you experience deep pain, when others are persecuting you… how do you respond?

I want us to watch this short video about a good friend of mine that experienced a moment similar to Stephen. I want us to hear how he responded when the pressure was on.

Video:

Let’s pray.