“Encounter With the Risen Christ” John 20:11-23 “A Faithful Servant” Acts 7:51-60

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23

I. The Rebuke by Stephen

“You stiff-necked and 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 foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers,” Acts 7:51-52

I. The Rebuke by Stephen 1.Their lives were external

I. The Rebuke by Stephen 1.Their lives were external 2.They lived in resistance to the Holy Spirit

I. The Rebuke by Stephen 1.Their lives were external 2.They lived in resistance to the Holy Spirit “You always resist the Holy Spirit…” Acts 7:51b

I. The Rebuke by Stephen 3.They followed the example of their fathers

I. The Rebuke by Stephen 3.They followed the example of their fathers “as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers,” Acts 7:51c-52

I. The Rebuke by Stephen “Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. In fact, you bear witness that you approved the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs. Therefore the wisdom of God also said ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them will kill and persecute,’

I. The Rebuke by Stephen “that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.” Luke 11:47-51

I. The Rebuke by Stephen “who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.” Acts 7:53

II. The Rejection of the Sanhedrin

“When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.” Acts 7:54

III.The Rejoicing of Stephen

“But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Acts 7:55-56

IV.The Response of the Sanhedrin

“Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord;” Acts 7:57

V. The Reaction of Stephen

“And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:59-60

VI. The Reality for Our Lives

1.Stephen sought to please God not man

VI. The Reality for Our Lives 1.Stephen sought to please God not man “He who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully.” Jeremiah 23:28b

VI. The Reality for Our Lives 2.Stephen revealed the power of self- deception and exposed the ugliness of hypocrisy

VI. The Reality for Our Lives 2.Stephen revealed the power of self- deception and exposed the ugliness of hypocrisy “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9

VI. The Reality for Our Lives 3.Change is challenging … especially when it affects our cherished beliefs and customs

VI. The Reality for Our Lives 3.Change is challenging … especially when it affects our cherished beliefs and customs 4.Stephen reminds me of the frailty of life and what is really worth living for

VI. The Reality for Our Lives 3.Change is challenging … especially when it affects our cherished beliefs and customs 4.Stephen reminds me of the frailty of life and what is really worth living for 5.Stephen reminds us of the power of faithfulness to God