MISSION WOODS CHURCH
Sunday, May 3, 2026
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  • Lord I Lift Your Name On High
  • I Give All To You
  • I Surrender All
  • Take My Life And Let It Be
  • How Deep The Father's Love For Us

      • Acts 7:54-56ESV

      • Acts 7:57-59ESV

      • Acts 7:60ESV

  • Isn’t that an inspiring text? I have to admit when I first saw the reading for today I thought, What? Yet the more time I’ve spent with it the more I see this as so important for us to hear today. The text today is both an encouragement and a strong warning as well when we put it into context. So let’s put it into context first.
    We are introduced to Stephen in chapter 6 of the book of Acts. The disciples were growing in number and the Twelve as Luke calls them in reference to the 12 apostles gathered everyone together and shared the need for assistance. They asked the disciples to choose from among themselves seven men of good repute, full o fthe Spirit and of wisdom. This would allow the Twelve to focus on prayer and the ministry of the word. The first mentioned is Stephen and he is described as: Acts 6:5
    Acts 6:5 ESV
    And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, …
    and as we continue, Act 6:8
    Acts 6:8 ESV
    And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.
    And if you read through the remainder of chapter 6, and chapter 7 you see how there’s a group of people that rise up against him and create a false narrative about him and take him to before the council. There, the chief priests asks him if the charges are true and he lays out the history of Israel from the Hebrew Scriptures. He concludes with:
    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 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.”
    They get so angry they gnash their teeth at him - which is like when you get angry and clench your teeth and scream. Stephen then has a beautiful vision. Acts 7:55
    Acts 7:55 ESV
    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.
    This is one of 6 times in the New Testament that all three Names of the Trinity are mentioned, one of 2 in Acts. And he says to those gathered, Acts 7:56
    Acts 7:56 ESV
    And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
    Let’s top right here for a minute: “Son of Man” is used a total of 86 times in the New Testament. 82 times in the Gospels by Jesus referring to himself or in direct reference to Jesus by the authors. And this one time in the book of Acts.
    Why is that important?
    Stephen is identifying Jesus as the Messiah. He is affirming what Jesus said and what Jesus was put to death for, declaring that Jesus was one with God. When Stephen sees Jesus at the right hand of God, and then refers to Him by that Messianic title he is speaking directly against everything the council has tried to and continues to try and say about Jesus.
    Look at their reaction -
    Acts 7:57 ESV
    But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.
    How many today have the same reaction? I can go into just about any class room, coffee shop, whatever and bring up Buddha, or Mohammad, or some New Age philosopher, and we’re having an “intellectual conversation.” But I bring up Jesus and the conversation is often shut down. You can’t talk religion here.
    What is happening? It’s what is happening in our text as well.
    C.S. Lewis was the first to speak about it this way so I’m going to use his argument. Many today will speak of Jesus as a “good teacher.” That is precisely what the rich ruler called Jesus to which Jesus responded, “Why do you call me good?”
    Here’s the problem that people run into if they simply want to call Jesus a “good teacher.” Jesus claimed to be God’s Son, the Messiah, and Holy. Now you’re caught in a dilemma: Either Jesus was speaking the truth and IS the Son of God and Messiah or He wasn’t.
    If Jesus was as He claimed to be the Son of God then we ought to worship Him as such. If He wan’t then we’re left with two options.
    He was liar, bending the truth for his benefit. In which case we cannot reasonably call a false teacher, “good”. But why would someone allow themselves to be sentenced to death - especially one as cruel as a crucifixion - for such a deception? The only reasonable explanation would be he was deluded which would be our second option.
    He was a lunatic. Anyone who has such grand delusions of being a Messiah must be crazy. And if he was crazy then an insane man was sentenced to die for something he couldn’t possibly be held accountable for. Again, we would stand on very shaky ground to refer to one given to such a delusion as a “good teacher.”
    That leaves one, and only one option left - He was who He professed to be. He was who the demons announced Him to be. He was, and is, LORD!
    Screaming and yelling, stopping their ears so they did not hear what they didn’t want to hear, they “rushed him together.” This has now turned into a mob scene. We’re never told if the high council ever does render a sentence. We are told they rushed together at him. They they cast him out of the city and stoned him.
    Acts 7:59 ESV
    And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
    Lord Jesus - again, even in the midst of such harsh persecution Stephen affirms Jesus is Lord. Receive my spirit - echoes Jesus on the cross when he cries out, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
    Acts 7:60 ESV
    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.
    This echoes Jesus on the cross, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
    Folks, its true that if you firmly recognize Jesus as the Messiah, and LORD of your life that you will live your life differently. You will seek to align your life with Christ’s teachings, living holy as He is holy. That doesn’t mean that there won’t be resistance.
    One of the reasons I recognize that so many would want to disprove the existence of God or Jesus as His Son and judge, is they can then argue there will be no judgment. So in there minds if there won’t be a judgment they are free to do whatever they want.
    It is clear Stephen proclaims Jesus to be on the throne with God despite all the resistance. I’m reminded of our journey through the beatitudes, Mt 5:10-12
    Matthew 5:10–12 ESV
    “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
    One last thing to note here. When Stephen sees Jesus, Jesus is not seated at the right hand of God, but standing at the right hand of God. Isaiah 3:13
    Isaiah 3:13 ESV
    The Lord has taken his place to contend; he stands to judge peoples.
    No doubt the Jews rising up against Stephen recognized this reference when he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He stands to judge.
    Are we ready? If we profess to be Christians are we living as if Jesus is simply a “good teacher” with good food for thought, OR are we seeking to live the holy lives Jesus calls us to?
    How do we do that?
    We live as Jesus lived.
    We commit our lives to God.
    We forgive as Jesus forgave. Even in the harshest moments.
    We are called as Christians to truly be divine imagers of God. We are called to share the love and forgiveness of Jesus. We are called to be filled with the Holy Spirit which will both strengthen and empower us for these tasks.
    Our focus makes the difference. This from the Apostle Paul:
    Philippians 4:8 ESV
    Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

    Focus Makes The Difference

    To God be the Glory.

      • Acts 6:5ESV

      • Acts 6:8ESV

      • Acts 7:51–53ESV

      • Acts 7:55ESV

      • Acts 7:56ESV

      • Acts 7:57ESV

      • Acts 7:59ESV

      • Acts 7:60ESV

      • Matthew 5:10–12ESV

      • Isaiah 3:13ESV

      • Philippians 4:8ESV

  • In Remembrance
  • Cares Chorus
  • Doxology
  • You Are My All In All
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MISSION WOODS CHURCH
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http://www.missionwoodschurch.org
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