In The End We Will Win

What makes the NCAA Basketball tournament so special is those moments when the game is close at the end and one team wins because they refused to give up.   Even when they might have been underdogs according to the experts or they trailed on the scoreboard in the closing minutes and looked like they would lose the game, we exult in their keeping the faith and winning in the end.   Stephen, in Acts 6:7-15, spoke boldly about his faith, even in the face of opposition and slander from learned and powerful Jewish leaders.   He refused to back down and was empowered by the Holy Spirit to prevail in his defense of his faith.  I pray that even in tough and trying circumstances, you would hold on to your faith and know that in the end we will win!   Amen

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia —who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” (Acts 6:7-11) Luke records that as the word of God spread, there was a rapid increase in the numbers of people who became disciples of Christ.  And among them were a large number of those who had been Jewish priests.  Stephen, one of the 7 who had been ordained by the apostles to be a deacon (see Acts 6:1-6), drew the attention and opposition from certain members of a particular Synagogue, who began to debate with him.  Stephen was described by Luke in chapter 6 as being full of faith, power, grace and the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit provided Stephen with wisdom such that those Synagogue members were unable to prevail in these debates.  So they began to plot to defeat Stephen through slander, persuading some people to spread the falsehood that he had blasphemed against Moses and God. 

So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”  (Acts 6:12-14) These members of the Synagogue of Freedmen used the falsehoods about Stephen to stir up unrest among Jewish people including leaders (elders and teachers of the law).  As a result, Stephen was seized and brought before the Sanhedrin (ruling council of prominent Jews).  As was the case with Jesus, those who accused Stephen falsely produced false witness to testify against him.  In addition to accusing him of blaspheming (speaking irreverently) against Moses and God, the false witnesses added accusations that Stephen had blasphemed against the temple and against the law of Moses.  

All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.  (Acts 6:15) As Stephen stood before the Sanhedrin, every member of that ruling body saw that his face projected that he was at peace and was not anxious about being brought before them with false witness.  This again spoke to Stephen being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, and the knowledge that he had spoken the truth about Jesus.

Even in the face of withering opposition, Stephen held onto his faith. Through the power, wisdom and grace of God through the Holy Spirit, Stephen was able to defend his faith in Jesus against Jewish elders and experts in the law of Moses.  Then he was able to stand before the Sanhedrin, the powerful Jewish ruling council, in a state of peace.  The same peace that Paul tells us that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).  In this country and this world, so many people are perpetrating evil because they are afraid that they will lose.  But as followers of Christ, we can live our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit, becoming more like Jesus and less like the world.  Like Stephen, we can hold on to our faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit, even in the face of adversity, trial and tribulation.   Because our faith is rooted in the hope of the resurrected Jesus, our Lord and savior.  In Jesus we have the assurance that no matter what may come, if we keep the faith…. In the end, we will win!

Blessings,  Rev. Glenn