WEEKLY SUNDAY
SCHOOL LESSON
An international
Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday September 27, 2015
Over 86,000
readers worldwide
larrydalexander.blogspot.com
STEPHEN’S
SPEECH AND MARTYRDOM
(Remembering
GOD’s faithfulness)
(Acts 7)
In Acts chapter 7, verses 2-53,
Stephen delivers the longest recorded speech in the Book of Acts. It was an
Oration that would lead to his death, and caused him to become the first Martyr
in the Christian Church. His speech enraged the Jewish religious leaders, and
caused “hatred’s insanity” to rear its ugly head again, like no other time
since the recent Crucifixion of CHRIST.
Stephen’s long and eloquent speech
refuted the three most basic pillars that a first century Jew revered most.
·
First
of all, he refuted their belief that their land, the “Promised Land”, was the
only land good enough to be deemed holy. He reminds them that GOD’s work often
took place outside of the “Promised Land” (i.e. Mount Sinai; Exodus 3:5). He
also reminded them that, wherever GOD is, it is there, that is considered to be
“Holy Ground” (Acts 7:2-36).
·
Secondly,
Stephen refuted their belief in the superior power of Moses, and his
hand-delivered laws. He points out to them that even Moses foretold of a coming
PROPHET who would be greater than himself, and he told them that, when HE
comes, HE should be the one that they listen to (Deuteronomy 18:15). He also
reminds them how the Israelites even rejected Moses, and embraced idols, just
as they had rejected JESUS, and killed HIM (Acts 7:37-43).
·
And
finally, he refuted their beliefs about the Temple. The Jews saw the Temple as
a symbol of GOD’s past workings with Israel, and the only place by which GOD
could dwell among them in the present. They could not see GOD dwelling among
them in the person of JESUS CHRIST, and neither could they recognize the work
and presence of the HOLY SPIRIT among them. As a result, they had no problem,
not only killing JESUS, but they had no problem killing any of GOD’s many
messengers HE had sent among them over the years, who, were only armed with
GOD’s eternal truth.
And so we see that, Stephen had not
only knocked down “the three greatest pillars of the Jewish Faith”, but he had
also exalted JESUS by proclaiming HIM to be the MESSIAH. And that is why JESUS,
Stephen, all of the Old Testament Prophets, and most of the New Testament
writers and thinkers, had to die.
In the biblical Greek, the word used
for “witness” is the same word from which the word “martyr” is derived in the
English language. That word is “martus” (mar-toos) and it means not just to
witness with words, but, in the biblical sense, it means to witness with the
giving of one’s life for CHRIST, and literally using one’s whole body and life
to deliver GOD’s message to HIS people, and, to the world.
And so, what I said in one of my
earlier commentaries becomes necessary to be repeated here. When we say we are
witnesses for CHRIST, we are really saying that we are ready to die for CHRIST
on a moment’s notice, without giving it a second thought, just as Stephen and
many others have done, since the infancy stages of Christianity. If we are not
ready to do that, then, we are quite literally, “false witnesses” in the
biblical sense. And so, “professed Christians” need to be careful what they say
and do under the watchful eye of GOD.
What we say about our belief in GOD
must be reflected 100% in our actions and behavior in life. Stephen was a “true witness” for
CHRIST, and that is evidenced in his allowing himself to become the first
martyr, after JESUS, for the sake of Christianity. Without a doubt, Stephen was
able to see the theological implications of “Justification by Faith”, and, “the
fulfillment of the Law in JESUS CHRIST”. He also was able to discern that, if
the Gospel was intended for the whole world, Jews and Gentiles, then GOD must
have surely intended for “the Law of Moses” to be a temporary arrangement.
It is the opposition of both the
willing, and, the unwitting components of satan that true Christians must
endure. We know that, for JESUS, the only way back to the glory of Heaven was
through the Cross, and so it is with those of us who follow HIM. With open
eyes, JESUS accepted the circumstances of the Cross, so that, whosoever
believes in HIM will not perish, but rather, will always have and enjoy,
“Everlasting Life”.
For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”.
We, as Christians, need to come to rest in this thought involving Physics,
because it also applies spiritually, especially when we first begin our
Christian walk. The more we act like a Christian in society, the more opposition
satan is going to send our way. We have to make ourselves ready and stay strong
by studying GOD’s word, by prayer, and, by associating and fellowshipping with
other Christians.
We will also receive opposition from our own “sin nature”, as
we fight to win the battle within ourselves between reason and passion. However,
by continuing to fill ourselves with the Word of GOD, by prayer, and by
allowing the HOLY SPIRIT to work within us, soon our Christian walk will move
from being a thing of struggle, to being a thing of peace.
We must pray constantly and earnestly to GOD for wisdom,
strength, and courage in facing the pressures of opposition from the forces of
satan, who is very busy trying to steal, kill, and destroy the lives of GOD’s
people. We must pray also for GOD to grant us the boldness of Stephen in our
application of HIS Word in our everyday life, as we struggle to overcome this
world, just as JESUS did before us. And we must prove to the world, through our
behavior, all along the way, that Christianity really does produce the best men
and women.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
No comments:
Post a Comment