The Peace Of The Martyr
Sermon by Uriesou T. Brito
Read Acts 7:54-60
A martyr is he whose life-interests are bound up with truth, to whom nothing in the world can afford satisfaction in which truth and reality are not. He cannot separate his consciousness of life and its sweetness from his consciousness of God's light and love in Him, which are dearer than life. This is the feeling in which the martyr lives, in which he is willing to die.
Background
In chapter six we find Stephen doing great wonders and miracles. He was a man full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost and power and had great wisdom, in fact he was so wise that the Libertines, and the Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of the of Cilicia and of Asia disputed with Stephen and were not able to resist the wisdom by which he spake. And so Stephen is performing all these miracles and great wonders and exalting the name of Christ by them and the elders and scribes get together like busybodies and try to accuse him of blaspheming Moses and God. By the way that sounds likes some of you here today. You get together just to falsely accuse your neighbor and ruin his reputation by using malicious utterance. I really hope the Holy Spirit gets a hold of you today.
So they catch him and bring him to the council and set false witnesses. I mean they are doing everything they can to get Stephen executed. And that's what the world will try to do to you today Christian. They are going to try to falsely accuse you. They are going to try to destroy your ministry. But I say to you be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
And so they bring him to the council and the high priest asks that what's happening Stephen? Are you blaspheming the Holy Ghost? Are you? I don't think they were ready for what was coming ahead. I mean Stephen starts preaching at them. His review of history is more than an affirmation of his faith. It is a bold and courageous confrontation of his accusers. Look at verse 51, I love that verse: " Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. And that brings us to our text today.
Let's look at three things briefly today.
A) His Preview of Glory
B) His Prayer
C) His Passing
His Preview Of Glory
Vs. 55-56 - In all probability Stephen died on Calvary. It was the ordinary place of execution and there in all probability on the very ground where Christ cross was fixed, His first martyr saw the heavens opened and Christ standing on the right hand of God. Stephen saw Jesus " standing by God's right hand. Why standing? Perhaps because in Jewish courts a person giving testimony stood before the tribunal. As Stephen stood before God, speaking for Stephen. In a few moments Stephen who died with a prayer for his murders on his lips was in the presence of the Lord.
It matters little what men man say or do to us. What counts is what Christ says about us before the father's throne.
Let me read to you a little story about a man named Thomas Hauker who lived in England in the 16th century. He was caught and in the next day he is to be burnt at the stake.
“ Thomas,” his friend lowered his voice so as not to be heard by the guard. “ I have to ask you this favor. I need to know if what the others say about the grace of God is true. Tomorrow, when they burn you at the stake, if the pain is tolerable and your mind is still at peace, lift your hands above your head. Do it rightly before you die. Thomas, I have to know.”
Thomas Hauker whispered to his friend, “I will.”
The next morning, Hauker was bound to the stake and the fire was lit. The fire burned a long time, but Hauker remained motionless. His skin was burnt to a crisp and his fingers were gone. Everyone watching supposed he was dead. Suddenly, miraculously, Hauker lifted his hands, still on fire, over his head. He reached them up to the living God, and then, with great rejoicing, clapped them together three times.
The people there broke into shouts of praise and applause. Hauker’s friend had his answer.
There is the Preview Of Glory. Second of all we have His Prayer.
His Prayer
V.59. Literally: And were stoning Stephen as he was invoking and saying, Lord Jesus, give welcome unto my spirit.
v.60 - And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Do you realize that Stephen was praying for those who were killing him? Stephen prayed for his enemies. He said: Lay not this sin to their charge. Have you ever prayed for someone you don't like. Someone that has hurt you? Yeah, I know some of you don't even pray for your friends, how is it expected that you pray for your enemies? Some things in life are going to have to change. Some things in your Christian life is going to have to change. Your prayer life is going to have to change.
Suggestion about prayer. Get a prayer partner and find a time to pray together. I trust you will find that a blessing and who knows some day you will even pray for your enemies. I don't expect none of us to be like Stephen, but I do expect for us to strive to be like him.
His Passing
V.60
The physical fact remains, but all the misery of it, the essential bitterness and the poison of it is turned into as we read in verse 60 " he fell asleep." As a tired child on its mother's lap, as weary man after long toil.
As the poet says " Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and taken thy wages."
Are you committing the keeping of your soul to Him now, by true faith, so that living you may have Him with you, and dying, a vision of His presence bending down to help and to save, and when you are dead, a life of rest united with the intensest activity. To sleep in Jesus is to awake in His likeness, and to be satisfied.
And today suffering for our convictions we come to know the deeper fellowship of the Spirit of Jesus.
It is suffering for our convictions. Suffering for the truth of the gospel. Taking a stand for Jesus on campus, home, or wherever you are so that we may know Him and the power of His resurrection.
That our prayer may be that in life or death Oh Lord abide with me.
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Let us pray.