WEBVTT 00:00:00.380 --> 00:00:03.859 Thanks so much Simon. Morning folks, it's great to see you, great to have you with us. 00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:09.880 Let me invite you to have that passage open in front of you. We're going to be in Acts 6, 7 and 8 today. 00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:15.660 A big passage, but it's one I think that will challenge us and encourage us greatly in our walk with Jesus Christ. 00:00:15.740 --> 00:00:22.980 So have it open in front of you. And as we begin, let me tell you about a conversation I had in my six-year-old a few days back, a few weeks ago. 00:00:22.980 --> 00:00:28.679 We're watching the TV and she says, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, who is that man? 00:00:30.140 --> 00:00:33.960 And I said, well, that's the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. 00:00:34.840 --> 00:00:37.600 Ah, she says, and where does he live? 00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:44.120 And I said, well, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom lives in the capital city of the United Kingdom. 00:00:44.120 --> 00:00:50.859 And he kind of lives and works in one of the kind of most affluent and influential places in the city. 00:00:50.859 --> 00:00:52.460 That's where he lives. Oh, right. 00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:56.100 So a few days later, we're watching television again. 00:00:56.460 --> 00:01:01.859 We do do other things in our house, but we're watching television and having a very similar conversation. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:05.039 She says, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, who is that lady on the screen? 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:06.780 I'm sure you can guess where this one's going, right? 00:01:07.539 --> 00:01:08.760 Who's that lady on the screen? 00:01:08.859 --> 00:01:12.920 Well, that is, she is the First Minister of Scotland. 00:01:13.539 --> 00:01:16.079 Ah, and where does she live? 00:01:16.079 --> 00:01:22.700 And I kind of thought, well, at this point, I'll try and kind of harvest the knowledge seed that I'd planted in her head a few days before. 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:30.299 And I said to her, well, if the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom lives in the capital city in London, one of the most important bits, 00:01:30.420 --> 00:01:34.099 where do you think the First Minister of Scotland might live and work? 00:01:35.219 --> 00:01:36.599 And she kind of paused on it for a minute. 00:01:36.700 --> 00:01:41.200 She thought, and then straight away she says, Edinburgh Castle. 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:45.980 And I joked for a minute, I thought, that's quite cute and funny. 00:01:46.040 --> 00:01:50.560 And I thought about it, and I thought, the logic there is impeccable, is it not? 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:52.920 She should live in Edinburgh Castle. 00:01:53.020 --> 00:01:56.799 So, Nicola, if you're watching this manifesto, when you come for the next one, there it is. 00:01:56.879 --> 00:01:59.480 Butte House, Old News, Edinburgh Castle. 00:01:59.620 --> 00:02:03.600 But what this passage invites us to do is to channel our inner six-year-old. 00:02:04.379 --> 00:02:04.560 Okay? 00:02:05.260 --> 00:02:06.540 Here's the question of this passage. 00:02:06.700 --> 00:02:08.939 Where does the God of the Bible live? 00:02:09.879 --> 00:02:11.080 Where does he live? 00:02:12.199 --> 00:02:18.539 If you'd have asked the Jews of this day, in this passage, they would have pointed straight at the temple. 00:02:19.179 --> 00:02:20.060 It's where God lives. 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:21.259 Okay? 00:02:21.319 --> 00:02:24.780 The building that dominates the skyline in Jerusalem. 00:02:25.060 --> 00:02:31.319 The building that the whole moral and physical life of Jerusalem kind of revolves around. 00:02:31.319 --> 00:02:36.439 And the building which gives the Jews in this day, gives them their whole identity. 00:02:37.959 --> 00:02:38.139 Okay? 00:02:38.139 --> 00:02:44.399 And that identity has led to a mindset. 00:02:45.119 --> 00:02:50.079 That if the peoples of the world want to meet this God, they come here. 00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:58.620 That if the peoples of the world want to know this God, then they become one of us by becoming obedient to the law. 00:02:58.620 --> 00:03:06.620 And all the extra traditions and customs that we've set up around it to help us think that we're keeping it. 00:03:06.620 --> 00:03:12.000 So in their minds, they think to themselves that they have got a monopoly on the God of the Bible. 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:20.140 And that this whole setup with the temple and the law has what it's been about all along. 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:23.599 In other words, this is where the journey ends. 00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:26.099 Now think about it for a minute. 00:03:26.280 --> 00:03:26.379 Okay? 00:03:26.460 --> 00:03:28.620 When was the last time you were on a train? 00:03:29.960 --> 00:03:30.659 Just picture it in your mind. 00:03:30.740 --> 00:03:31.599 Last time you were on a train. 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:33.280 Okay? 00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:35.500 The first thing you hear when you get on a train is what? 00:03:37.479 --> 00:03:38.919 This train terminates at. 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:39.500 Isn't it? 00:03:40.539 --> 00:03:42.500 This train terminates at. 00:03:43.299 --> 00:03:46.780 In other words, this is where the journey ends. 00:03:46.859 --> 00:03:49.740 Remember at school, we always used to get the train back from school. 00:03:49.939 --> 00:03:50.740 I was growing up. 00:03:51.139 --> 00:03:51.939 That was always in our minds. 00:03:51.939 --> 00:03:53.180 Make sure you get on the right train. 00:03:53.419 --> 00:03:53.479 Right? 00:03:53.539 --> 00:03:55.520 We're always saying to ourselves, don't get on the Balak train. 00:03:55.639 --> 00:03:56.599 Don't get on the Balak train. 00:03:56.719 --> 00:03:57.479 Don't get on the Balak train. 00:03:57.520 --> 00:04:03.759 If you look on the map where Balak is from central Glasgow, you'll understand why you had to not get on the Balak train. 00:04:04.099 --> 00:04:04.300 Okay? 00:04:04.419 --> 00:04:05.599 You would end up at Loch Lomond. 00:04:06.099 --> 00:04:06.699 Lovely place. 00:04:06.780 --> 00:04:08.219 But you didn't want to end up there as a teenager. 00:04:09.479 --> 00:04:10.840 You've got to know where the journey ends. 00:04:11.159 --> 00:04:11.379 Right? 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:12.560 And that's what they think. 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:17.740 In terms of the unfolding plan of God, the story of the Bible, 00:04:17.740 --> 00:04:28.220 Because we are God's people, in God's place, living according to God's ways, we have reached the end of the line. 00:04:29.340 --> 00:04:30.120 This is it. 00:04:30.180 --> 00:04:31.019 This is where we're at. 00:04:31.900 --> 00:04:38.100 I think it was Tom Wright, New Testament historian, talks about at this point how Israel have surrounded themselves with mirrors. 00:04:39.300 --> 00:04:39.500 Okay? 00:04:39.579 --> 00:04:40.420 Think about that image. 00:04:41.220 --> 00:04:42.220 Looking at themselves. 00:04:43.220 --> 00:04:43.980 Looking at themselves. 00:04:43.980 --> 00:04:53.939 And that's why they're absolutely livid at what the apostles and the early disciples, and particularly this guy called Stephen, 00:04:54.540 --> 00:04:57.040 what they are saying and what they represent. 00:04:58.220 --> 00:04:58.420 Okay? 00:04:59.420 --> 00:05:03.460 Because if you'd have asked them where God lives, they wouldn't be pointing at the temple. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:08.980 They are talking about the crucified, the risen, and the ascended Jesus. 00:05:08.980 --> 00:05:09.540 Jesus. 00:05:09.900 --> 00:05:19.040 And they're speaking about him as the very one who fulfills everything that the temple and the law were all about. 00:05:19.420 --> 00:05:27.520 Jesus of Nazareth, the one that they thought they'd got rid of, continues to speak through his people. 00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:31.160 And this Jesus has turned everything on its head. 00:05:31.379 --> 00:05:34.439 Let me just say at this point, that's what he does. 00:05:34.439 --> 00:05:35.439 Okay? 00:05:37.019 --> 00:05:42.300 And just in case you're thinking of nodding off at this point, asking yourselves, honestly, I couldn't care less where God lives. 00:05:43.459 --> 00:05:49.060 Let me just encourage you to see that these people have a way of understanding the world. 00:05:49.779 --> 00:05:52.560 And you too have a way of understanding the world. 00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:53.560 Right? 00:05:53.639 --> 00:05:54.459 We all do. 00:05:54.540 --> 00:05:57.839 I think our culture tries to tempt us to think that we're all neutral. 00:05:58.279 --> 00:05:58.459 Right? 00:05:58.579 --> 00:05:59.519 No, not at all. 00:05:59.680 --> 00:06:01.720 Everyone has a way of understanding the world. 00:06:01.720 --> 00:06:06.680 You might not have a world that evolves around the temple and the law. 00:06:06.780 --> 00:06:08.720 But let me just say it might be your job. 00:06:09.080 --> 00:06:10.200 It might be your home. 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:11.640 It might be your holidays. 00:06:11.760 --> 00:06:12.700 It might be your family. 00:06:12.860 --> 00:06:14.300 It might be your relationship status. 00:06:14.440 --> 00:06:15.720 It might be your sexuality. 00:06:16.240 --> 00:06:18.840 The things that your world orbits around. 00:06:19.100 --> 00:06:20.220 Jesus challenges it. 00:06:22.020 --> 00:06:25.120 I mean, nobody comes to meet Christ. 00:06:25.660 --> 00:06:27.440 Meet Jesus as we encounter him in the scripture. 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:33.180 Nobody comes to him and thinks to themselves, at last I've found somebody who thinks and acts just like me. 00:06:37.300 --> 00:06:38.519 No, make no mistake. 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:42.100 The message of Christianity to Jesus, it is come as you are. 00:06:42.220 --> 00:06:44.639 Probably more accurate to say come despite of who you are. 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:45.540 Come as you are. 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:47.120 To Christ. 00:06:47.220 --> 00:06:54.240 Are you not so thankful that it's not like you're putting your house on right move? 00:06:54.519 --> 00:06:55.459 People come around to see it. 00:06:55.459 --> 00:06:57.000 You tidy it up before they come in. 00:06:57.099 --> 00:07:00.099 Are you not so thankful that Jesus, the deal is not like that? 00:07:00.359 --> 00:07:01.539 It's not how grace works. 00:07:02.039 --> 00:07:03.519 It is come as you are. 00:07:04.379 --> 00:07:07.159 Nothing in my hand to bring simply to the cross I claim. 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:08.079 Come as you are. 00:07:08.439 --> 00:07:12.399 But make no mistake that Jesus does not leave us as we are. 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:18.139 He challenges the very core of our identity. 00:07:18.299 --> 00:07:21.479 The things that we look to for purpose and satisfaction. 00:07:21.719 --> 00:07:26.899 And the way the Bible describes it is it's as if we are trying to build an Ikea flat pack furniture. 00:07:27.019 --> 00:07:28.679 We're trying to do it blindfolded. 00:07:29.419 --> 00:07:36.979 And by God's grace, Jesus comes along and says, let me take the blindfold off you and let me show you the instruction manual. 00:07:36.980 --> 00:07:39.400 And by the way, I wrote it. 00:07:40.300 --> 00:07:41.240 I love you enough. 00:07:41.300 --> 00:07:42.420 I want you to know it. 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:47.439 See, Luke records this episode. 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:48.819 He focuses in verse 8. 00:07:48.900 --> 00:07:52.560 We've got our Bibles there on Stephen. 00:07:53.160 --> 00:07:53.900 Do you see this guy? 00:07:54.200 --> 00:07:54.700 Come with me. 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:55.720 Verse 8, Stephen. 00:07:56.400 --> 00:07:57.780 Do you remember we met him last week? 00:07:58.900 --> 00:07:59.480 Do you remember him? 00:07:59.560 --> 00:08:00.920 Verse 5 of chapter 6. 00:08:00.980 --> 00:08:01.980 Just a little bit back. 00:08:02.680 --> 00:08:04.220 He's a man full of faith. 00:08:04.280 --> 00:08:05.780 This is how he's presented to us. 00:08:05.840 --> 00:08:12.140 Who's been set aside to care for the widows in Jerusalem. 00:08:13.060 --> 00:08:18.439 Okay, so this guy walks around constantly with a dish towel around his waist. 00:08:18.540 --> 00:08:23.040 I spent a bit of my week this week trying to renew my home insurance on the phone to Admiral. 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:27.120 The first question the customer service team asks you, how can we help you today? 00:08:27.180 --> 00:08:27.840 I thought it was really nice. 00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:28.840 How can we help you today? 00:08:28.939 --> 00:08:30.840 Then it suddenly occurred to me, that's their job. 00:08:30.839 --> 00:08:31.779 Right? 00:08:31.859 --> 00:08:32.879 Couldn't care less about me. 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:36.120 But with this guy, it's not his job. 00:08:37.139 --> 00:08:38.120 It's his life. 00:08:39.339 --> 00:08:39.879 Isn't it? 00:08:40.439 --> 00:08:41.639 It's what Jesus has done. 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:44.279 And let me just ask you, who does he remind you of here? 00:08:45.539 --> 00:08:45.899 Jesus. 00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:54.360 And as he's serving and doing miracles, God, I take it just authenticating him in the eyes of the watching world. 00:08:54.459 --> 00:08:57.439 Do you see how he's described as a man full of grace and power? 00:08:57.440 --> 00:09:05.280 However, when the Jews start arguing with him, do you see verse 10, that they cannot withstand the wisdom with which he spoke? 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:07.020 Again, who does he remind you of? 00:09:07.019 --> 00:09:16.039 We're going to see this over and over again in this passage as this man, Stephen, is described to us. 00:09:16.340 --> 00:09:17.639 Who does he remind us of? 00:09:17.659 --> 00:09:23.159 And I think that's maybe the one way Acts has challenged me, Persis, we've been going through it. 00:09:23.159 --> 00:09:28.559 To ask ourselves, who do we exhibit to the world? 00:09:28.719 --> 00:09:30.100 Who do we model to the world? 00:09:30.659 --> 00:09:30.759 Right? 00:09:30.819 --> 00:09:34.279 Does the world look at us and do they see Christ? 00:09:35.399 --> 00:09:35.980 It's true, isn't it? 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:40.100 The Christianity, way before it's a box that you tick, it is a life that you own. 00:09:40.199 --> 00:09:45.139 Do people in our world see us and do they see something of Jesus? 00:09:45.139 --> 00:09:55.259 That's why you flick on a few chapters here, when the gospel gets to Antioch, the nickname that the locals give the disciples is Christians. 00:09:55.679 --> 00:09:57.360 Christian just means little Christ. 00:09:57.460 --> 00:09:58.580 It's what they see in them. 00:09:58.860 --> 00:10:00.000 You're like a little Jesus. 00:10:02.059 --> 00:10:03.419 That's the challenge, isn't it, friends? 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:05.360 Do people see that in us? 00:10:05.419 --> 00:10:11.200 Do your work colleagues see it in how you conduct yourself in that business meeting, in that team meeting, 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:15.000 when the pressure's on, when you're up against the deadline, everyone else is losing their cool? 00:10:15.899 --> 00:10:17.580 But you're remaining patient and gracious. 00:10:19.639 --> 00:10:20.080 Right? 00:10:20.220 --> 00:10:28.340 Students, when everyone else is flaunting their new found freedoms, is your life marked by self-control and love? 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:32.639 I find it even in the school setting, taking the kids to school, speaking to the other parents, 00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:36.240 it's so easy just to slip into complaining about stuff. 00:10:37.559 --> 00:10:37.699 Right? 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:40.580 Do people see Christ in us? 00:10:40.580 --> 00:10:42.939 You know, it's the words of Robert Murray McShane, 00:10:42.940 --> 00:10:48.200 it's not so much great talents that God blesses as great likeness to Christ. 00:10:49.520 --> 00:10:50.900 And that's Stephen to a T. 00:10:52.740 --> 00:10:56.780 Verse 9, the group who meet in the synagogue begin, verse 12 onwards. 00:10:57.760 --> 00:10:59.720 They're kind of stirring up the false witnesses. 00:11:00.060 --> 00:11:02.380 They confront him and they seize him. 00:11:02.440 --> 00:11:05.060 Again, who does Stephen remind you of? 00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:06.120 What do they say? 00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:11.740 This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the Lord. 00:11:11.799 --> 00:11:16.179 You see, the very two things that they get their whole identity from. 00:11:17.220 --> 00:11:18.740 That's what Jesus is challenging. 00:11:18.899 --> 00:11:20.279 That's what the apostles are challenging. 00:11:21.960 --> 00:11:24.700 And notice the fascinating detail at verse 15. 00:11:24.700 --> 00:11:36.340 Okay, all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. 00:11:36.640 --> 00:11:37.120 Fascinating. 00:11:38.100 --> 00:11:45.060 Okay, because the only person in the Old Testament who has that kind of language used of them is Moses. 00:11:46.640 --> 00:11:50.560 Moses, who we read, spoke face to face with God. 00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:55.699 And when he comes out of the tent of meeting, the people have to cover their eyes. 00:11:56.059 --> 00:12:00.319 Moses has to put a veil over his face because it is that glorious. 00:12:00.439 --> 00:12:01.639 His face is shining. 00:12:01.799 --> 00:12:03.479 And that's not a throwaway detail here. 00:12:03.619 --> 00:12:07.819 When Luke is telling us about Stephen's face shining and people could see it. 00:12:07.859 --> 00:12:08.799 He's been with God. 00:12:13.619 --> 00:12:15.359 And the high priest, what does he say? 00:12:15.419 --> 00:12:16.379 Are these charges true? 00:12:16.379 --> 00:12:21.059 And Stephen responds by giving him not a yes or no answer. 00:12:22.039 --> 00:12:23.939 Okay, it's a kind of a closed question, isn't it? 00:12:24.019 --> 00:12:25.039 But no, no, it doesn't. 00:12:25.539 --> 00:12:27.279 It doesn't answer it like a closed question. 00:12:27.419 --> 00:12:32.220 He responds by giving them the longest sermon in the book of Acts. 00:12:33.159 --> 00:12:37.019 Probably fair to say they get more than they bargained for. 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:40.100 Okay, we don't have time to go through every single detail. 00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:44.000 But let me implore you to read it in your own time. 00:12:44.059 --> 00:12:44.700 It's fascinating. 00:12:44.700 --> 00:12:49.379 But maybe let me try and give us the headline so that we can see the details as we go through them. 00:12:49.520 --> 00:12:49.680 Okay. 00:12:49.860 --> 00:12:56.360 The essence of what he's saying is that the temple and the law, remember the train, this is not where the journey ends. 00:12:58.660 --> 00:13:06.960 How could the, think about it, how could the creator of the heavens and the earth be boxed to one place? 00:13:08.300 --> 00:13:11.040 Okay, like some kind of Aladdin style genie in a bottle. 00:13:11.160 --> 00:13:13.860 How could that be true of the creator of all things? 00:13:14.820 --> 00:13:15.899 Located to one place. 00:13:16.220 --> 00:13:20.300 How could the intention of God's heart be limited to just one people? 00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:25.200 How could the creator of every single human being whose image is stamped on them? 00:13:25.379 --> 00:13:27.820 How could he care about only one set of people? 00:13:27.820 --> 00:13:45.600 You see, what they recognize here, the heart of the promise that God made to Abraham is a multi-ethnic reconciled people who display God's glory to the world and who will be God's agent of grace wherever God puts them. 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:56.600 And so in doing, Stephen is saying that the death and the resurrection of Christ, the train is moving on towards its glorious heavenly destination. 00:13:57.300 --> 00:14:03.240 And to help them see it, he just makes four really quick stops that have come previously on the train journey. 00:14:03.700 --> 00:14:03.820 Okay. 00:14:04.060 --> 00:14:04.680 Track with me. 00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:05.980 We'll see these really quickly. 00:14:06.440 --> 00:14:08.320 Do you see how he starts with Abraham? 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:08.960 Abraham. 00:14:09.460 --> 00:14:10.820 Verse 2 of chapter 7. 00:14:11.060 --> 00:14:12.680 Stephen knows his Old Testament. 00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:14.060 He knows the story. 00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:14.680 Okay. 00:14:14.700 --> 00:14:21.540 I think it's a great example for us of the importance of knowing the story because we can understand our place in the story. 00:14:22.020 --> 00:14:24.720 He starts with this pagan man, Abraham. 00:14:25.060 --> 00:14:25.600 Who he is. 00:14:25.680 --> 00:14:26.180 He's a nobody. 00:14:26.179 --> 00:14:31.319 God plucks him from nowhere and he says, and follow with me, verse 3 of chapter 7. 00:14:32.779 --> 00:14:38.479 God says, leave your country and your people and go to the land that I will show you. 00:14:39.379 --> 00:14:50.279 So Abraham, his life is marked walking by, not by sight, but by faith, verse 5, in the promise of God. 00:14:50.279 --> 00:14:56.179 That's why he's always held up as an example of what it means to be justified by faith alone. 00:14:56.539 --> 00:14:59.899 Here he is walking by faith in the promise of God. 00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:04.559 So long before there was a holy place, there was a holy people. 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:11.139 A people who knew and who were walking in and trusting and loving the promises of God. 00:15:12.439 --> 00:15:16.000 You see, this God has never been constrained to one place. 00:15:16.059 --> 00:15:17.259 He's always on the move. 00:15:17.339 --> 00:15:18.659 You cannot box him in. 00:15:18.659 --> 00:15:22.839 The purposes of his heart are too big and too glorious. 00:15:24.839 --> 00:15:29.199 And then as the train moves on, Stephen moves from Abraham, verse 9, to Joseph. 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:31.039 We're going through this really quick, okay? 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:32.779 So we can kind of see the big picture. 00:15:33.299 --> 00:15:34.000 Moves to Joseph. 00:15:34.139 --> 00:15:38.559 And the thing to see about Joseph is that God was with him. 00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:40.699 Do you see that there in the text, verse 9? 00:15:42.079 --> 00:15:43.100 God was with him. 00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:45.399 Even in Egypt, he was with him. 00:15:45.399 --> 00:15:47.879 In fact, we get the word Egypt. 00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:51.879 If you count it, I think it's eight times in these verses that come after it. 00:15:51.939 --> 00:15:53.039 Egypt, Egypt, Egypt. 00:15:53.579 --> 00:15:54.879 Egypt, Egypt, Egypt. 00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:56.100 Egypt, Egypt. 00:15:57.439 --> 00:16:01.259 Even in Egypt, God was with Joseph. 00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:05.019 God was sovereign over the details of Joseph's life. 00:16:05.799 --> 00:16:09.519 Remember, right at the end of Joseph's story, end of the book of Genesis, what did he say? 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:14.620 You meant it for harm, talking to his brothers, but God meant it for good. 00:16:15.079 --> 00:16:19.039 God is sovereign over the details of Joseph's life. 00:16:19.319 --> 00:16:22.419 God is sovereign over the life of Egypt. 00:16:23.419 --> 00:16:26.220 We're not even in the land yet, but God is with his people. 00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:31.399 At verse 20, he moves from Joseph to Moses. 00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:42.840 And I think Moses probably, if you look at it there, gets the most airtime, because Stephen's specifically accused of speaking against Moses. 00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:43.840 Right? 00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:49.879 And Stephen kind of traces Moses' life there in the kind of 40-year sections. 00:16:49.879 --> 00:17:01.500 And verse 33, and I think this is the key thing to see, is that Moses could be said to be standing on holy ground as he encountered God at the burning bush, do you remember? 00:17:03.019 --> 00:17:09.140 He could be said to be standing on holy ground in God's presence again, even away out in the desert of Mount Sinai. 00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:13.859 Again, God not restricted to being in one place. 00:17:13.859 --> 00:17:22.679 And even Moses, verse 37, who these Pharisees love and who are pinning their hopes on and who are saying to the world, we are obeying the law. 00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:24.979 Stephen's pointing out, no, you're not. 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:30.939 You're not obeying what Moses said, because Moses, verse 37, talked about the greater prophet who God would raise up. 00:17:33.459 --> 00:17:42.099 And yet the tragedy is, verse 39, that they were unwilling to obey him as God's leader. 00:17:42.099 --> 00:17:46.319 And in their hearts, they turned back to Egypt. 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:48.759 Right? 00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:52.779 Rose-tinted spectacles about what life as slaves was like. 00:17:52.959 --> 00:17:57.759 In their hearts, they turned back to Egypt and to their old ways of thinking and to their old gods. 00:17:59.459 --> 00:18:02.919 And then lastly, he moves to David and Solomon, verse 45. 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:10.859 David, who, once they were in the land, had it in his heart to build God a home. 00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:16.019 But it was Solomon who was the one who eventually built the temple. 00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:16.359 Right? 00:18:16.419 --> 00:18:21.699 But even Solomon, as he builds it, and you get this in his prayer in 1 Kings 8, which says, 00:18:22.399 --> 00:18:27.339 Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house which I have built. 00:18:27.859 --> 00:18:30.240 How could this God live in this place? 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:35.420 This God has never been constrained to one place. 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:37.039 This God is always in the move. 00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:39.120 This God cannot be boxed in. 00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:44.120 This God is not limited to our understanding of who he is and what he can do. 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:46.880 The loving intentions of his heart are too big. 00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:54.319 And verse 51, by rejecting Jesus, Stephen is saying that they are just like their forefathers. 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:57.659 You see in this lookalike competition, Stephen looks like Jesus. 00:18:58.059 --> 00:19:01.460 He's saying here, you look just like your forefathers. 00:19:01.559 --> 00:19:02.179 What did they do? 00:19:02.259 --> 00:19:08.700 They killed every single prophet, every single messenger that God sent you, them, to turn back and repent. 00:19:11.939 --> 00:19:13.559 And you've done it again with Jesus. 00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:14.639 And how did they react? 00:19:14.819 --> 00:19:18.319 Verse 54, they're incensed. 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:20.799 Just livid. 00:19:21.879 --> 00:19:26.500 Because they are challenging the very way that they are living. 00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:31.759 And so they drag him out of the city and they kill him. 00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:36.579 Again, who does Stephen remind you of? 00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:41.899 And notice just two profound details here. 00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:44.439 And I recognize we've gone through that so quickly. 00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:46.519 But just let me pick up two profound details. 00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:49.779 Just before he died, you see verse 55. 00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:54.720 Stephen gazes into heaven. 00:19:55.900 --> 00:19:57.460 Okay, and what does he see? 00:19:58.480 --> 00:19:59.500 Who does he see? 00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:03.139 He sees Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:05.099 And watch the phrase that comes just before it. 00:20:05.139 --> 00:20:06.000 What else does he see? 00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:07.660 The glory of God. 00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:09.680 He looks at Jesus. 00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:11.759 He sees the glory of God. 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.960 He's not looking at the temple. 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:17.640 He's looking at the risen and ascended Christ who's reigning in heaven. 00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:19.500 And he sees the glory of God. 00:20:19.579 --> 00:20:21.039 That is hugely significant. 00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:26.819 And notice in the text as well that Jesus is, what is he doing? 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:27.420 This is beautiful. 00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:29.240 And I hope this encourages your soul today. 00:20:29.380 --> 00:20:30.140 What is he doing? 00:20:31.400 --> 00:20:32.200 He's standing. 00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:38.059 It's almost at this point as if Jesus stands. 00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:41.620 Not just to welcome Stephen home. 00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:47.140 But he stands as if to say, I identify with my servant. 00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:49.740 He is mine. 00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:51.960 You kill him. 00:20:52.059 --> 00:20:52.500 That's fine. 00:20:52.580 --> 00:20:54.340 He's coming to my presence. 00:20:57.840 --> 00:20:59.620 Friends, I hope that encourages us. 00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:00.959 This is who Jesus is. 00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:03.039 And breathe that in today. 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:12.000 Maybe particularly if you're going through a hard time as you continue to witness and speak for Jesus wherever he has put you today. 00:21:13.199 --> 00:21:13.479 Right? 00:21:13.559 --> 00:21:15.839 In the lecture hall, you're speaking about him. 00:21:16.259 --> 00:21:20.459 And you're taking, you might not be killed, but you're taking many hits for him. 00:21:21.159 --> 00:21:21.559 Right? 00:21:21.639 --> 00:21:22.439 You're at school. 00:21:22.599 --> 00:21:23.919 You're standing up for Christ. 00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:26.219 Again, taking many hits for him. 00:21:26.220 --> 00:21:29.920 You're loving a friend at the minute and it seems to be going nowhere. 00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:31.400 Am I wasting my time? 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:35.079 Again, it's taking many hits for him. 00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:41.200 See that this Jesus stands with us, friends, when we stand for him and we feel the rejection of a world. 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:43.180 Jesus stands. 00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:45.000 This is who he is. 00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:51.860 This is who Jesus is for us in those moments. 00:21:51.859 --> 00:21:55.059 And you see Stephen's parting words. 00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:58.159 Do not hold this sin against them. 00:21:58.759 --> 00:22:01.279 Again, who does he remind you of? 00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:04.619 And notice verse 58. 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:08.859 Who's holding the coats of those who stone Stephen? 00:22:10.139 --> 00:22:11.699 It's a man named Saul. 00:22:13.179 --> 00:22:13.399 Right? 00:22:13.459 --> 00:22:16.619 Who at this point in the story is all about killing Christians. 00:22:16.619 --> 00:22:26.039 Because as a cream of the crop Pharisee, what they are saying, it grates so much against everything that he's built his life upon. 00:22:29.139 --> 00:22:35.799 But you flick over a few chapters and this is the very man who Jesus stops in his tracks on the road to Damascus and says, 00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:40.359 Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? 00:22:41.379 --> 00:22:42.939 Saul wasn't persecuting Jesus. 00:22:43.979 --> 00:22:45.419 Saul was persecuting his people. 00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:50.700 But again, just see how much the risen Jesus identifies with his people. 00:22:51.820 --> 00:22:55.060 It's also encouraging for us today to keep on speaking for him. 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:57.400 The one in heaven is for us. 00:22:58.620 --> 00:23:01.580 The answer is not to look to our circumstances or how we feel it. 00:23:01.600 --> 00:23:04.680 The answer is to look to a strong Christ. 00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:13.580 And it's incredible because this God specializes in taking the people who we thought had no chance of coming to know him and using them in his service. 00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:21.799 I mean, you flick over a few chapters and Saul is taking the news of Jesus to countless people across Asia Minor and even into Europe. 00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:31.680 And what's likely the case, as historians reckon, is that Paul could not get the words and could not get the example of Stephen out his head. 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:33.960 So he's going about his business. 00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:35.299 He's persecuting Christians. 00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:37.240 All the while Stephen is in there. 00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:38.240 Right? 00:23:38.320 --> 00:23:39.180 He's like the washing. 00:23:39.820 --> 00:23:44.740 He's like the clothes in the washing machine of Paul's head going round and round and round and round. 00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:47.299 Cannot get him and his words out his head. 00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:54.919 And it's almost as if God uses that exact example to convert him. 00:23:56.359 --> 00:24:01.099 And I take it that's why we should find that again enormously strengthening. 00:24:01.619 --> 00:24:09.940 Because it tells us that, friends, if you and I live the cross-shaped life, as we, like Stephen, remind the world of Jesus, 00:24:09.940 --> 00:24:16.940 that's why we should find that again and that's why we should find that again and that's why we should find that again. 00:24:17.940 --> 00:24:18.380 Okay? 00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:21.200 And it might be sometime after the event. 00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:24.539 You know, I was speaking to my friend Paul this week. 00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:29.740 He was telling me about a friend of his who received a letter in the post one day. 00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:35.220 And it was from a friend that he knew during his university days some 15 or 20 years before. 00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:35.779 Right? 00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:41.279 So his friend opens the letter and it simply says, and it's from another of his friends, and it says, 00:24:41.380 --> 00:24:41.819 Do you know what? 00:24:41.860 --> 00:24:46.480 When I was going through a really dark time at uni, you were kind to me. 00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:48.980 This is 15 or 20 years after the event. 00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:50.600 I remember that you were kind to me. 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:53.740 And in that moment, you shared your faith with me. 00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:58.600 And I'm just writing to let you know that many years later, do you know what? 00:24:58.620 --> 00:25:01.360 I was going through another really dark time in my life. 00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:04.240 And who you were in that moment came back to me. 00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:08.539 And I just want you to know, and I remember just 15 or 20 years after the event, 00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:13.799 I want you to know that in that tough time, I remembered who you were, I remembered what you said. 00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:19.680 I went to the local church at the bottom of my street, and I gave my life to Jesus as I heard about who he was. 00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:23.539 And I'm just writing to let you know that you were part of the journey. 00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:32.319 Friends, let us never underestimate the remarkable power of a simple life of godliness. 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:44.460 You know, maybe you're discouraged today in your witness, thinking, am I wasting my time in the lecture hall, in the hospital, in the home, wherever you are? 00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:46.419 Am I wasting my time witnessing? 00:25:46.700 --> 00:25:49.700 This passage tells us that we're not. 00:25:50.379 --> 00:25:52.879 That God can use these things, right? 00:25:52.919 --> 00:25:57.419 Have you ever thought, here's what I was challenged about, have you ever thought to yourself, that person, do you know what? 00:25:57.420 --> 00:25:58.900 God could never save them. 00:26:00.039 --> 00:26:06.480 Have you ever thought to yourself, never in a million years, when I think about that place, could I ever see a church planted there? 00:26:06.820 --> 00:26:12.000 Let this be an encouragement to us, that we should be thinking and praying for these people and these places. 00:26:12.100 --> 00:26:14.519 This is why we love the work of 20 schemes so much. 00:26:15.060 --> 00:26:19.220 Parts of our country that we thought, never in a million years could we think about a church being planted there. 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:20.220 And boom, it's happening. 00:26:20.360 --> 00:26:21.120 Isn't that not incredible? 00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:25.920 You see how easy it is, friends, to box God in. 00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:27.839 He couldn't possibly do that. 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:29.200 Couldn't possibly do that. 00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:30.420 Couldn't possibly reach there. 00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:32.700 Think again, this passage tells us. 00:26:35.140 --> 00:26:36.620 Verse 1 of chapter 8. 00:26:36.619 --> 00:26:41.559 And make no mistake that Stephen's story, friends, is encouraging as it is to us. 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:42.819 It's a brutal one for him. 00:26:43.319 --> 00:26:49.399 And we do well to remember that for countless people around the world, brothers and sisters, they will get stoned for their faith. 00:26:50.239 --> 00:26:50.439 Okay? 00:26:50.859 --> 00:26:53.419 But look what happens at verse 1 of chapter 8. 00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:59.979 On that day, a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem. 00:26:59.979 --> 00:27:05.779 And all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 00:27:07.379 --> 00:27:09.179 What's going to happen after this point? 00:27:10.939 --> 00:27:13.399 Well, do you know what I'm seeing everywhere at the minute in our fields? 00:27:14.459 --> 00:27:15.959 I'm seeing dandelions. 00:27:16.979 --> 00:27:18.500 Picture a dandelion in your head. 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:21.679 See her other little girl, Grace? 00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:23.839 Loves dandelions, right? 00:27:23.859 --> 00:27:24.979 She calls them blowy things. 00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:26.199 That's what she calls them, right? 00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:31.159 So we're walking to school every day and she's tons of them in the graveyard on our walk to school. 00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:33.199 She's picking up the dandelions. 00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:35.199 She's blowing them and she's killing them, right? 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:37.380 And she's doing it again and again and again and again. 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:39.240 Rips it up, blows it, throws it away. 00:27:39.400 --> 00:27:39.740 Rips it up. 00:27:40.360 --> 00:27:43.980 Seriously feel like I'm walking down the street with some kind of dandelion assassin, right? 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:44.559 She's doing this. 00:27:44.600 --> 00:27:45.559 She's throwing them away. 00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:50.960 But what happens, if you think about it with a dandelion, when you kill it? 00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:52.259 Kill it. 00:27:52.779 --> 00:27:53.400 Blow it. 00:27:54.120 --> 00:27:55.220 And it scatters. 00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:56.180 What happens? 00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:57.360 Spreads. 00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:59.419 And it pollinates. 00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:00.539 Doesn't it? 00:28:01.639 --> 00:28:05.879 You see, that's exactly what's happening here. 00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:09.639 A great persecution broke out, but the Christians were what? 00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:10.179 Scattered. 00:28:10.299 --> 00:28:12.199 What do you think they did is they got scattered. 00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:16.079 Chapter 8, verse 4, Luke tells us, 00:28:16.179 --> 00:28:19.819 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:21.979 See it, dandelion? 00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:23.979 Kill, blow, scattered. 00:28:24.579 --> 00:28:25.740 That's what these guys are doing. 00:28:26.700 --> 00:28:29.579 Have you ever thought about the fact that we'll scatter from here when we go today? 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:34.259 That we're going to scatter to different homes in different parts of the city. 00:28:34.660 --> 00:28:37.860 Tomorrow we're going to go, I'm sure, to different places to work. 00:28:38.839 --> 00:28:40.579 Involved in different circles of friends. 00:28:40.660 --> 00:28:42.680 Have you ever thought about the fact that we're scattered as well? 00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:44.319 It's a different scattering to the one here. 00:28:44.779 --> 00:28:45.660 But we are scattered. 00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:49.120 You see, the challenge, friends, is as we scatter, 00:28:49.120 --> 00:28:51.519 is to go and preach the word wherever we go. 00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:55.240 Where does the God of the Bible live? 00:28:55.579 --> 00:28:56.379 Where does he live? 00:28:57.779 --> 00:29:02.339 As he lives in the hearts of all those who respond to the word 00:29:02.339 --> 00:29:05.740 and put their faith in his son, Jesus Christ, 00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:09.799 as the Holy Spirit takes up residence in the hearts of God's people. 00:29:09.980 --> 00:29:15.579 All those who, like Abraham, live by faith and not by sight. 00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:16.740 Let me encourage you today. 00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:19.480 Listen, we watched something on our news screens last night. 00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:20.639 We watched that football game. 00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:23.480 How short life can be taken from us. 00:29:24.220 --> 00:29:26.640 And if you haven't made that decision today to trust Jesus, 00:29:26.800 --> 00:29:28.340 today is the day. 00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:30.460 Friends, life is short. 00:29:30.540 --> 00:29:33.520 Did you see all the stuff on social media last night about that man's life? 00:29:34.060 --> 00:29:36.660 Everybody recognizing how short life is, 00:29:36.700 --> 00:29:38.140 how it can be taken away from us. 00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:42.200 On a world stage, it can be taken from us anytime. 00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:45.180 Today is the day to put your trust in Jesus Christ. 00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:46.960 Where does God live? 00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:52.180 He lives in the hearts of all those who give their life to this man, Jesus Christ. 00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:54.200 And just as we close, let me tell you this story. 00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:56.539 Let me tell you about Andy, who was here last week. 00:29:57.940 --> 00:30:02.200 Many of you know his grandpa, Derek, who ministered in Edinburgh for years down at Charlotte Chapel. 00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:04.720 And Derek died during the first lockdown. 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:10.339 And I'll never forget what Andy tweeted was the lasting impression of his granddad. 00:30:10.779 --> 00:30:10.940 Right? 00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:14.059 He said, every time I used to go and visit my granddad, 00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:17.339 it was as if Jesus was sitting next to him on the sofa. 00:30:18.460 --> 00:30:19.460 What a description. 00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:22.819 It was as if Jesus was sitting next to him on the sofa. 00:30:22.819 --> 00:30:26.740 And the reality, friends, is where does God live? 00:30:27.200 --> 00:30:31.539 He lives in the hearts of all those who had put their faith in Jesus Christ. 00:30:31.639 --> 00:30:33.700 This God is not limited to one place. 00:30:34.299 --> 00:30:37.559 This God is for all those who had put their faith in Jesus Christ. 00:30:37.619 --> 00:30:39.859 You can do that today, not by traveling to Jerusalem. 00:30:40.079 --> 00:30:43.960 You can do that today by trusting him as you read about him here. 00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:46.059 Isn't this God glorious? 00:30:46.059 --> 00:30:49.319 I hope you're encouraged this morning as we see who he is, 00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:55.259 that man's worst, the world's best attempts to stamp out the gospel, 00:30:55.379 --> 00:30:57.960 do you see how they only play into God's best? 00:30:58.859 --> 00:31:00.179 This is who he is today. 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:02.019 So let's pray. 00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:05.460 And why don't we just pause for a second, 00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:07.659 just before we close our service and we go from here. 00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:11.319 Let's just be still before our God today. 00:31:11.399 --> 00:31:13.299 And let's remember who he is. 00:31:13.919 --> 00:31:15.039 And then I'll close in prayer. 00:31:16.059 --> 00:31:22.659 Paul would write this later on in the book of Colossians. 00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:26.440 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles 00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:29.240 the glorious riches of this mystery, 00:31:29.679 --> 00:31:34.419 which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 00:31:36.619 --> 00:31:40.759 We thank you so much, Heavenly Father, for who you are today. 00:31:42.119 --> 00:31:44.079 Thank you so much for Jesus 00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:48.199 and for the grace which we have found in him. 00:31:48.919 --> 00:31:52.779 So, Lord, I pray today that you would be moving amongst us here 00:31:52.779 --> 00:31:54.259 who are physically in the building, 00:31:54.399 --> 00:31:56.359 all those who are watching this live, 00:31:56.419 --> 00:31:59.419 or maybe who would watch it in the days and the weeks to come, 00:31:59.480 --> 00:32:01.599 that you would be ministering amongst us, Lord. 00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:04.599 For those who are doubting, would you be at work? 00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:06.359 For those who are struggling, 00:32:06.359 --> 00:32:07.799 for those who are doubting, 00:32:07.919 --> 00:32:13.799 for those who are feeling the pressure of living a cross-shaped life for Jesus in this world. 00:32:14.899 --> 00:32:16.039 Father, would you be with us? 00:32:16.099 --> 00:32:20.879 Would you strengthen us with the knowledge of who your son is today? 00:32:22.139 --> 00:32:23.859 And we commit ourselves to you, Father, 00:32:24.399 --> 00:32:28.779 in Jesus' worthy and in his precious and in his strong name we pray. 00:32:28.779 --> 00:32:29.539 Amen. 00:32:29.539 --> 00:32:29.700 Amen.