WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.560 Good morning, my name is Adam Wingrove. I am one of the three Trinity students based at Christchurch. 00:00:09.980 --> 00:00:13.519 It is really great to be with you this morning, virtually anyway. 00:00:14.140 --> 00:00:20.440 We're continuing the sermon series from the book, The Church Unleashed, focusing today, 00:00:21.080 --> 00:00:28.519 Unleashed as a people of sacrifice. Today we remember and pay our respect to those who have 00:00:28.519 --> 00:00:35.179 fought in the war and the innocent lives who were caught up in the battles. Shall we pray? 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:42.179 Heavenly Father, we just give you thanks for those who are listening right now, who are watching. 00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:50.760 We give thanks, although we are in our separate homes watching, that we are connected together 00:00:50.760 --> 00:00:57.480 as the body of Christ. Father, we give thanks for those who have gone before us 00:00:57.479 --> 00:01:05.299 and sacrificed their lives in wars and battles in past and recent years. 00:01:06.060 --> 00:01:07.959 May we always remember them. 00:01:09.599 --> 00:01:15.699 And Father, now today, may we be a people who will be called by name 00:01:15.699 --> 00:01:20.079 to live as a living sacrifice for you. 00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:22.760 In Jesus' name. Amen. 00:01:25.759 --> 00:01:35.060 Just to set the scene, Stephen had been accused of speaking against the temple in Acts 6, verse 13. 00:01:35.799 --> 00:01:43.959 Although Stephen had recognised the importance of the temple, he knew that it was not more important than God. 00:01:43.959 --> 00:01:52.719 God is not limited. He lives not only in a house of worship, but also in those who are open to receive him. 00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:55.359 He lives in you and me. 00:01:56.500 --> 00:01:59.219 Stephen went on to call them stubborn people. 00:01:59.539 --> 00:02:03.739 You heathen! Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? 00:02:03.739 --> 00:02:09.359 He goes on to say, name one prophet your ancestors didn't kill. 00:02:10.079 --> 00:02:14.500 You disobeyed God's law. You crucified the Messiah. 00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:20.359 Bringing us on to today's reading in verse 54, 00:02:20.919 --> 00:02:26.439 the Jewish leaders, the Sanhedrin, were infuriated at Stephen for rebuking them. 00:02:26.439 --> 00:02:33.300 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed up into heaven and saw the glory of God 00:02:33.300 --> 00:02:36.520 and saw Jesus standing at God's right hand. 00:02:37.680 --> 00:02:47.759 Jesus said he would be standing on the right hand of God to the Sanhedrin back in Luke 20, verses 9 to 19. 00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:54.560 Stephen, seeing this prophecy unfold before him, angered the Jewish leaders even more. 00:02:54.560 --> 00:03:01.479 They put their hands over their ears and condemned him to death by stoning. 00:03:02.840 --> 00:03:09.120 Soon as Stephen's life was near end, not knowing who was in the audience watching, 00:03:09.719 --> 00:03:13.840 he said, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:20.939 He fell to his knees shouting, Lord, don't charge them with this sin. 00:03:21.900 --> 00:03:22.860 And then he died. 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:27.719 Now, there was one who was in the audience. 00:03:28.379 --> 00:03:36.819 He was used to executions of Christians, as it was his primary job to find the believers and put them to death. 00:03:37.860 --> 00:03:39.920 Yet this particular scene was different. 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:46.599 This capturing scene, which was unfolding before him, had such a profound impact, 00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:52.519 it would have been a lasting impact on the conversion from Saul to Paul, 00:03:53.519 --> 00:03:58.359 who would soon be the greatest missionary our church has known. 00:03:58.360 --> 00:04:06.080 After Stephen's death, persecution began that day sweeping the whole of Jerusalem. 00:04:06.080 --> 00:04:13.980 Such an act of selflessness from Stephen had such a significant knock-on effect that the church expanded. 00:04:13.979 --> 00:04:24.019 You and I also know another act of selflessness, the sacrifice generations before us had paid with their lives. 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:30.579 Fighting for peace by defeating evil in our wars and battles. 00:04:30.579 --> 00:04:33.759 And may we always remember them. 00:04:34.399 --> 00:04:39.579 And now for us, here now in lockdown, 00:04:39.579 --> 00:04:45.419 how can we sacrifice something so that we can bless others? 00:04:45.420 --> 00:04:51.520 It means we give something up, which might be a little bit uncomfortable for us. 00:04:52.740 --> 00:04:56.199 Maybe it would be that you spend some time with a lonely neighbor. 00:04:57.040 --> 00:05:00.060 It could be that you share a Christian book with someone. 00:05:00.780 --> 00:05:06.000 You could buy a gift for someone who is not expecting it. 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:14.720 The purpose is because we are called to live a sacrificial life, which is worship to God. 00:05:15.660 --> 00:05:19.639 Stephen demonstrated this quite clearly in this passage. 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:29.019 So as Christians, as fellow believers, how can we love our neighbors and those who are in need of this love, 00:05:29.139 --> 00:05:30.600 especially during lockdown? 00:05:30.600 --> 00:05:38.240 As I end, I pray you will be inspired by the Holy Spirit, 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:45.320 how you can be inspired to sacrifice something to bless others. 00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:47.920 Amen.