Standing For Jesus

Opening: Standing for Jesus will cost you something. And Beloved, you MUST stand for Jesus if you’re saved. Our Lord Jesus made that plain. He said:

Matthew 10:33 (ESV) whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

To deny Jesus is to lose the key to Heaven. To deny Jesus is to lose the blessing of His Presence when tried. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, the life. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME” (John 14:6). Peter denied Jesus three times (Matthew 26:70ff) when pressed by the crowd, but afterward “wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75). Peter repented, and lived out his life standing up for Jesus. Peter was eventually crucified, giving his life for Jesus.

**Beloved, if you’re saved, your faith may hiccup. BUT you will not deny Jesus and keep on denying Him no matter how hard pressed!**

Polycarp, a disciple of the Apostle John was a Pastor in Smyrna. Roman authorities arrested him for preaching the Gospel of Christ, preaching that Jesus alone was Lord. When brought to trial, Polycarp was told to take an oath to Caesar, revile Christ, and he would be freed. Polycarp told the court:

““86 years have I have served him, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”

Tied to a stake naked and set on fire, the executioner tired of waiting for the fire to burn his body. So he stabbed Polycarp to death. After his death, Christians celebrated to day he died as his “birthday”. They did not mourn him, but rejoiced. Polycarp finished well.

The Proof Of Your Salvation Is Your Response When Pressed. Look At Stephen’s Faith

Mark 8:34 (KJV) Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Salvation is a gift from God. But once you are saved, you MUST follow Jesus. You MUST stand for Jesus. What does it look like to follow Jesus? Let’s look at the example that a young man named Stephen gave us. Turn with me in your Bibles to:

Acts 6:8-10 (KJV) And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. 9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

Do you love Jesus – or YOURSELF?

Stephen is a believer who loves the Lord Jesus. When trouble reared its head at the widow’s tables of the early Church, the Apostles (who were the Pastors) told the Church to “choose men who are honorable, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3). The Church didn’t hesitate. The first man chosen to wait on the widows was Stephen.

Acts 6:8 (KJV) And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

Why was Stephen so effective in His walk? The Bible says he was “full of faith and power”. Stephen wasn’t full of HIMSELF. He was full of faith. He loved Jesus. He loved the Kingdom of God. He loved the Church.

Stephen vs Judas Iscariot: Compare Stephen to the Apostle Judas Iscariot. Judas was filled with greed. He loved money. Judas was filled with himself. He was focused on his wants and needs. Eventually, Satan entered Judas (Luke 22:3), and did the unthinkable – he betrayed Jesus with a kiss.

Beloved, we’re like cups, cups with choice. We can choose to allow the wrong to fill us, or we can submit to God and allow God to fill us. We are saved by faith, but we control what’s in the cup. As Paul told Timothy,

2 Timothy 2:19-21 (KJV) … the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

Those who are of the House of Christ (Hebrews 3:6) are to let God fill their cup. The secret to power with God is SURRENDER to God. The Bible says “Without FAITH, it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6).

The Apostle said, “I DIE DAILY” (1 Corinthians 15:31). Stephen died daily. He realized that “my life is not my own, I am bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 16:20). Stephen lived for Jesus. Stephen loved Jesus.

Religion Hates When You Live For Jesus

Acts 6:9 (KJV) Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing (syzēteō) with Stephen.

When Jesus did great works on this earth, it wasn’t long before the Pharisees and Sadducees rose up against Him. Religion hates Jesus.

Who’s Who: The Jewish Libertines were former slaves who came to Jerusalem and formed their own Synagogue or Church. The Cyrenians were Greek speaking Jews. The Alexandrians were Jews from Alexandria, Egypt, and were creators of the Greek Translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint. These three groups of Jews formed their own Synagogue or Church in Jerusalem. They were very conservative, very Pharisee in their beliefs.

And they did not believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah.

Word Study: These people “DISPUTED” with Stephen. This is the Greek syzēteō, which means “to examine in minute detail, to put under a theological microscope”. The Pharisees did the exact same thing with Jesus (see Mark 8:11; 9:14).

Acts 6:10 And they were not able to resist the WISDOM and the SPIRIT by which he spake.

Though they attacked Stephen from all sides, they couldn’t win. Why? Because “Greater is HE THAT IS IN YOU, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).Stephen spoke in the power of God from the WISDOM of God. The Bible says that “wisdom comes from God” (Proverbs 2:6; James 1:5).

Stephen was not working from his opinion, but from what the Word of God said. Stephen was not powered by his desires, but by the Holy Spirit of God.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (KJV) … Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness

When the devil and his crew get their claws into religion, if they lose a debate, they will always resort to lies for Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44). These religious unbelievers couldn’t stand up to Stephen, for Stephen was standing with Jesus. So what do they do?

Acts 6:11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

Word Study: The word translated “SUBORNED” is the Greek hypoballō. It means “to instruct privately, to coach and bribe someone to give false testimony”. The unsaved religious crowd cares little for God and His Word, though they claim to love both it and Him. The ninth Commandment specifically states, “you SHALL NOT bear FALSE WITNESS against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). We are told in Proverbs 6:16-19 that “God hates a false witness who speaks lies”. When our Lord Jesus was on trial before the Sanhedrin we are told “the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none” (Matthew 26:59-63). They now do the same thing to Stephen. The worst sort of person is a religious unbeliever!

Acts 6:12-13 And they stirred up (sygkineō, agitated, incited to riot) the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him (synarpazō, seized by force so as to carry away), and brought him to the council, 13 And set up (histēmi, put in place with conspiracy) false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:

Preach! They incited the people. Like the network news does today, Satan did back then. Twist someone’s word. Tell lies loudly. Shout at people. Get the people incensed. If we can’t prove this Stephen is a liar, let’s smear his character, and make him out to be a blasphemer. Let’s say Stephen hates the Church and the Word of God. When I was cast out of my first Church for bringing black children to Church, the Church leaders called every Church in that area and painted me as a disruptor, a troublemaker. If you stand for Jesus, expect this kind of thing – especially from the religious unsaved. These are not strangers to the Temple, Gentiles doing this to Stephen. These are Church going leaders, Temple movers and shakers. They are lost, but wolves in sheep clothing(Matthew 7:15; 10:16).

Falsely Accused, beaten up, dragged to Jewish court, all alone in a crowd of irritated, lying religious people, Stephen must have been a nervous wreck. Right? Wrong! We read:

Acts 6:15 And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

They claimed he was a devil, that he blasphemed God’s Word – but Stephen kept his eyes on the Lord. False witnesses have smeared his character. They have told lies about Jesus. But Stephen kept his eyes on the Light of God. This is what the Bible tells us to do:

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV) let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Illustrate: The powerful prophet Elisha asked his mentor, Elijah, “please let a DOUBLE PORTION of your Spirit come on me” (2 Kings 2:9). Elijah told him, “Keep your eyes on me as I go to God”. When Elisha kept his eyes on Elijah as he went up by whirlwind into Heaven, he caught the mantle or cloak that Elijah tossed down to him. He had power because he kept his eyes on Elijah. Stephen did the same thing with Jesus. He kept his eyes on Jesus – and Jesus threw the Mantle of God, the Holy Spirit down on him.

The High Priest gives Stephen an opportunity to speak. Stephen doesn’t defend Himself, nor does he immediately correct the lies they have told about Jesus.

A Vessel Of Honor Speaks Jesus

The religious unbelievers have twisted Scripture, and violated God’s Law by seeking out false witnesses. But Stephen goes straight to the Bible. I don’t have time to go through all that Stephen spoke – it’s rather lengthy. In Acts 7:2 Stephen starts with the called of Abraham. God gave Abraham the Promised Land, and the Covenant of Circumcision. Stephen talks about the birth of Isaac, and of Jacob and the twelve tribes of Israel. Stephen talks about the rise of Joseph, and the growth of Israel in Egypt. He continues with Israel becoming enslaved in Egypt, and how God raised up Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt. Stephen talked about God’s calling of Moses at the burning bush, and how God used Moses to lead Israel to Mount Sinai. I want to touch on

Acts 7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.

Israel continually rejected Moses, making golden calves and false gods. But Moses spoke of a Messiah Who would come, Someone Who would replace him when he died. God gave Israel His love, and a land, a Law, and a Temple. And yet Israel continued to reject God’s grace.

Giving the history of Israel, and how good God had been with Israel though they often moved into idolatry, Stephen now speaks the truth. God is faithful, but religious Israel is faithless.

If you’re going to stand up for Jesus, you have to speak the truth. Stephen doesn’t temper what he has to say.

Acts 7:51-53 Ye STIFFNECKED and UNCIRCUMCISED in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

The men that Stephen is standing before have not acted honorably. God promised the Messiah in the Garden. God promised the Messiah to Abraham. God promised the Messiah to Isaac. God promised the Messiah to Jacob. God raised up Israel as a nation. God saved Israel from Egypt. God brought Israel to the Mountain of God, and gave them the Law. God used Israel to write the Scriptures. Though Israel was faithless, God was faithful. God preserved Israel, because Messiah must come through Israel.

Then when Messiah came, Israel through its Temple leaders betrayed and murdered the Promised JUST ONE, the Messiah.

Stephen doesn’t sugar coat it. Stephen isn’t nice about it. He is speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). A lie will not bring repentance. A lie will not lead to salvation. These people are drinking the poisoned Kool Aid in Jonestown. These people are like the Ten Spies who incited the people of Israel to stay out of the Promised Land. These people are not righteous, but colorful but poisonous “broods of vipers” (Matthew 3:7). They are Satan’s children dressed up in Church clothes, with titles like “Elder” and “Priest”. Stephen tells them the truth. They are …

Acts 7:51 … STIFFNECKED and UNCIRCUMCISED in heart and ears,

STIFFNECKED is what God called the Israelites that would not follow Him (Exodus 32:9; 33:3; Deuteronomy 9:6). Why did God call Israel STIFFNECKED? They were lifted up with pride. They would not bow down to God. They thought they made the rules. They thought they were better than others. They refused to repent or change. They were focused on themselves and their pleasure, rather than God’s glory. And though often chastised of God, they would not admit wrong.

Stiffnecked people have a lot of drama. Something’s always going on in their lives, and something’s always wrong. They’re in trouble, but the trouble is none of their making. Drama kings and queens make things miserable for everyone. We lose the Promised Land because Drama kings and queens cry over the giants instead of glorifying God.

Stiffnecked people are always in conflict. They have problems with everybody all the time. They hop from Church to Church, never examining their lives, but use their conflicts to seek control of their environment. They may say they don’t like conflict, but there’s always conflict around them because they have created that pattern of behavior.

Stiffnecked people are complainers and blamers. They don’t take accountability for their actions. Nothing is their fault. They are perpetual victims, but never victors. If you have a goal in life, complaining and blaming keeps you from achieving your goals. Why? Because it’s this person’s fault, that person’s fault … but never YOUR fault. This person does not go into the Promised Land – then blames God for withholding the land.

Stephen also called them “UNCIRCUMCISED in heart and ears”. They had the outward marking as God’s people. Their foreskin was removed, just as God decreed (Genesis 17:14). They did the OUTWARD, but the INWARD they refused.

Their hearts were not TENDER toward God. Their ears were not TUNED to God’s Word.

Again, this was Scripture. God said in

Jeremiah 6:10 (KJV) To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.

Jeremiah 9:26 (KJV) all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.

The Righteous Would Have Responded To Rebuke. The Religious Will Not

Stephen used the Scripture. He spoke the truth in love. What was the result? These people were instrumental in killing Jesus, Who is God incarnate. They can’t kill God again – so they shame and seek to kill Stephen. Chewing on him like rabid dogs rather than repenting with the mouth (Romans 10:9). What does Stephen do?

He finishes well.

Acts 7:54-56 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

The Word of God circumcised their hearts (they were “cut to the heart”) but rather than repent they attacked Stephen. Stephen didn’t notice. You see,

Stephen wasn’t full of himself. He was full of faith. He was full of the Holy Spirit. He was fully committed to glorifying the Lord Who saved him.

Stephen didn’t feel their teeth on his flesh. He didn’t feel the stones as they beat him to death. Stephen looked up. What did he see? Jesus told us following His resurrection:

Luke 22:69 (KJV) Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

Jesus sits at the right hand of God the Father, “making intercession for us” (Romans 8:34; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 12:2). But as Stephen looks into Heaven, Jesus is standing on God’s right hand. Our Lord stood up, and gave Stephen a standing ovation. He lived for Christ, and he finished well.

How about you? Will you finish well? Oh Beloved, the strength of your faith and obedience to Christ proves your salvation. As Stephen died, he

“called upon God, saying,
Lord Jesus, receive my spirit”
(Acts 7:59)

May God draw us all away from surface nominal Christianity, into a supernatural daily walk with Him through His Word. May God the Holy Spirit take His Word deep into your hearts. Amen.