ACTS 7 - TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH

 

ACTS 7

Contains the longest speech recorded in the book of Acts. His martyrdom made him the first Christian to die for Jesus.

When Stephen stands before the Sanhedrin council when he was falsely accused of speaking against Moses, the law and the Temple (v6:13-14) He didn’t defend himself, instead he recounted the history of Israel in a spirit filled way, showing how Israelites resisted God’s message from the very start.

In his speech he showed them:

-          God’s presence is everywhere, never confined in the temple – He works with people who trust Him. v 2-8

-          That as they rejected Joseph – their savior in famine, they also rejected Jesus who saved them spiritually. V 9-16

-          That God’s chosen leaders were rejected by them, even Moses who delivered them from slavery – they still turned to idols. V27

-          That their stubbornness leads them to rejecting God’s truth even when the truth is right in front of us. V51-53

 

As Stephen was being dragged and stoned, he had a vision of Jesus welcoming him home. And Stephen gave his Spirit to the Lord and forgave them all.

 

These dying words of Stephen, can be paralleled to Jesus’ last words on the cross “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing?”

Indeed, Stephen became the kernel of wheat – his death sparked the church’s expansion – his persecution scattered all the believers and spread the gospel far beyond Jerusalem.

God can turn tragedy to triumph and testing to testimony if WE FACE THEM WITH FAITH and when we respond with grace under pressure.

Let us pray:

Lord, when we face trials and pain, persecution and doubts, remind us to respond with grace and strong faith. Transform our testing into testimony of your power. Like Stephen help us fix our gaze unto You alone. May all our suffering become a story of Your victory in our life. Amen.