Job 3-4; Acts 7:44-60

A Pastor was visiting a family when their son burst into the house:

“You should have seen me KILL that RAT!!! First I HIT him with a SHOVEL – then, I KICKED him against the WALL! Then I STOMPED and STOMPED and STOMPED –”

The mother frantically pointed to the visiting pastor. Finally seeing him, the boy concluded – “And then the LORD called the poor thing HOME!”

I’m like that kid. When I get into trouble – my FIRST instinct is to try and TALK my way out of it. Not so with STEPHEN. He’s hauled into court by false accusers, and with the judges looking to kill him for his faith in Jesus, Stephen doesn’t try to get out of it. With his LIFE on the line, Stephen boldly confronts them:

“You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it.”

 

They didn’t thank Stephen for his honesty. They took him out and STONED him (for those of you from SoCal – that means they killed him with rocks). Stephen is just as bold WHILE they’re killing him:

 

“While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep.”

 

WOW. The Holy Spirit makes you bold. Fearless. Calm.  

It’s like King David said, “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

Stephen didn’t try to get out of trouble. He didn’t need to – because GOD was with him.

Same goes for you. When you walk by God’s Spirit, you won’t be frantically looking for ways out of trouble. You won’t have to.

HE will be with you, too.

Have a GREAT Monday!

Tags: Acts, Bayside Church Woodland, Bayside Woodland, Bible Study, Job