When God Stands

 

World Changers Series – Stephen

 

Notes     Clutch Student Ministries   Pastor Jordan Biel      Rock of Grace        10.19.2005

 

Text: Acts 7:55 -56  But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God,

and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man

standing at the right hand of God." NIV

 

Acts 7:51-60  55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God,

and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man

standing at the right hand of God, they dragged him out of the city& began to stone him.

 

Like all other world-changers,

1. Stephen was Desperate

 

Stephen pressed on with the message of Christ despite the persecution, he wouldn’t give up! 

He was desperate to preach the gospel to a dying world! 

 

2. Stephen was Deliberate

 

You have to be deliberate to have a reputation! 

 

Prov 22:1 “Choose a good reputation over great riches, for being held in high esteem

is better than having silver or gold.”  NLT

 

What’s your reputation?   No really, write it out.  What would people say about you?

On Your Notes

 

_(Name)__________________,_(Reputation)__________________________________”

 

Acts 6:8-10 “Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people.

 … None of them was able to stand against the wisdom and Spirit by which Stephen spoke.”  NLT

 

The Holy Spirit is here to give us wisdom: what to say, how to say it, when to say it.  

 

“God is not obligated to finish what He didn’t author.”

 

3. Stephen was Disciplined

 

Acts 6:11 -15  15 At this point everyone in the council stared at Stephen because his face became as bright

as an angel's.”  NLT

 

1. The presence of God changes your appearance!

     

2. This glowing was (I believe) a sign of God’s approval. 

Every world-changers pays a price- usually and extreme price to make a difference

Is what you’re living for worth dying for?