Monday, April 25, 2011

Accomplishing The Intended Purpose

Acts 7:54-8:4

In John 16:8-11, Jesus tells us that part of the Holy Spirit’s job is to point out what is wrong. “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” Many devote most of their effort to preaching against sin, in an effort to produce conviction.

Examining the passage we learn quite a bit. First we learn that sin is transgression of the law, in I John 3:4. “…for sin is the transgression of the law.” The Holy Spirit will definitely convict us of overt sin. Too often we fail to realize that “…for whatsoever is not of faith is sin,” according to Romans 14:23. The Holy spirit causes guilt over these things that many modern churches overlook.

He also reproves the world of righteousness. How can we be condemned for being right? Isaiah 64:4 advises, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;…” What we view as righteousness is only a very poor imitation of the right thing. Human efforts to be righteous completely fail according to Romans 10:3. “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” The Holy Spirit makes us aware of the false righteousness.

Finally, he reproves for a lack of justice. Too often judgment is rendered on the basis of human standards and preferences, or on appearances, rather than on truth. It was this that resulted in their rejection of Christ, because he did not accept their standards.

As the Holy Spirit led him, Stephen described the on going rebellion of Israel against God, and the Holy Spirit produced a sense of guilt, or conviction, probably in all three areas.

“When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.” (Acts 7:54)

When people have the sense of guilt, they can either rebel against it, or confess their guilt and be forgiven. This group chose to rebel and became very angry, literally gnashing their teeth together and trembling with rage.

“But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55-56)

Because he was filled with the Spirit, Stephen was aware of things others could not see. When surrounded by the Syrian army, in II Kings 6, and his servant asked what they should do, Elisha asked the Lord to open his eyes. He saw a far greater host between the Syrians and themselves. Because people are not filled with the Holy Spirit, they do not see what is around us all the time. It results in the boldness Stephen showed.

“Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. ” (Acts 7:57-59)

The Word was preached with the power of the Holy Spirit. It produced tremendous conviction. Nobody repented. It’s totally contrary to what many teach today. After all, Isaiah 55:11 declares, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

The people laid their coats at Saul’s feet while stoning Stephen. It almost seems that Stephen’s death has been wasted and the Holy Spirit has failed.

“And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:60)

Again, we see the lack of concern by Stephen, more concerned that those who killed him be forgiven than that he was dying. The peace and love is clearly the Holy Spirit’s fruit.

“And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.” (Acts 8:1-2)

The anger at Stephen continued and led to persecution of the Church. The church was really saddened by Stephen’s loss, and Saul went along with his death, even becoming involved in actively persecuting Christians himself.

“As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” (Acts 8:3-4)


Fear of persecution caused the Christians to go to other places. The Holy Spirit’s leadership resulted in persecution that forced the church to begin to fulfill the command Jesus gave in Matthew 28:19-20. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

In addition, The Jews were forced to make a decision as to whether to believe in Christ, and a seed was planted in Saul’s heart that would lead to his salvation a few chapters later. God’s word has accomplished what it was sent for, even though no one got saved. How often we think Satan won because we are not walking in the Spirit, and don’t understand that his purpose was not what we thought.

1 comment:

  1. The power of the Holy Spirit still amazes me in that He took a Man like Saul and transformed him into Paul.Now that's Power! And when I see what He has accomplished in my own life, I am also amazed and so grateful to be saved.Also when I see that Stephen was stoned, it has become so real to me after seeing a video of a Muslim woman being stoned.A most painful death. The difference is that Stephen's eyes were fixed on Jesus and the poor woman only had Allah,who never came to her aid.We are truly a blessed and peculiar people.

    ReplyDelete