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C:\LESSON\KINGDOM\STEPHEN1.DOC 20.10.91 THY KINGDOM COME PART 5 STEPHEN PART 1 Acts 6:1 to 5 read --- Stephen is the coming of age of the early Church -- The disciples have been sitting in the Temple and going along with it -- Now Stephen comes along and there begins a break with the disciples and the Temple -- and this then begins to fulfil everything that Jesus began to tell them to do -- It is amazing how up until this time -- the Church had completely closed its ears to what Jesus had told them -- and were involved in the things that they were not to be involved in --- Jesus had said very plainly -- not only that the Gentiles would come -- but that they were in the power of the resurrection -- In those 40 days of teaching from Jesus -- his final words which were the Great Commission -- Said -- go into all the world and preach this Good News --- He said -- First of all go to Jerusalem and wait there until you receive power from on high -- then go to all nations and proclaim the forgiveness that is for them -- In Matthew it says -- All authority is given unto me -- therefore you go and teach all nations -- and make disciples of them --- STEPHEN PART 1 This was the final commission of Jesus -- after receiving -- power go from Jerusalem to all nations and teach them to observe all that I have told you --- This seems to be very simple -- But they stay in Jerusalem and there form a community- and this community is taken far beyond its necessity -- They start to permanently settle there -- Its immediate necessity -- yes -- You have people here who have come from every part of the Roman empire -- and on the Day of Pentecost -- they receive Jesus - Lord - Messiah --- They only have enough money and provisions to last for the duration of the feast -- and yet they want to know more of the faith they have received --- When the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts -- by the Holy Spirit -- it is natural to make the poverty of my brother my own responsibility -- but in so doing they go far beyond being practical -- They take all that they own -- and lay it at the feet of the apostles -- this really is not good thinking -- If I give everything that I have -- then who feeds me --- The result of this foolishness in Jerusalem -- caused the saints there to be the beggers of the New Testament -- From then on Jerusalem never had a cent -- and offerings were forever being taken up for them --- STEPHEN PART 1 Worse than this -- they settled down there -- and there developed trouble between the Greek speaking Jews -- and the Jews that spoke Aramaic --- There were two kinds of Jews in the Roman empire --- The one that has been spoken of in the Gospels - are the Jerusalem Jews -- with these you can include the Galileans --- With these Jews there were two things upper-most in their minds -- they were -- that we live in the Promised land and we have the Temple and this Temple is the centre of our worship this is the place of our covenant God And there they would continually go --- In the captivities of the Old Testament -- the Jews had been scattered all over the world -- first of all as prisoners -- and from there they were simulated into society -- They built what had never been built before -- and it was called a synagogue --- In the synagogue there was no sacrifice -- for it was only in the Temple that they could take place -- Out from this -- they turned to study the Old Testament law -- and prophets in much more detail -- Before they had done this -- they believed that the presence of God was only in the Temple -- Now they come to realise that God lives everywhere -- STEPHEN PART 1 So these Jews of the dispersion -- or the Jews of the captivity -- in their synagogues -- centred on the things that the Jews in Jerusalem could not understand --- They were -- a study of the Law of God a love of scripture and a realisation of the invisible presence of God That he is there wherever I may be -- and he sanctifies that place to me You have Jerusalem Jews -- who are narrow-minded Saying -- This is the land -- This is the Temple -- And here is the presence of God -- Then you have the dispersion Jews -- who are basically the Greek speaking Jews -- and they found God wherever they were --- Also if you lived in Jerusalem -- the only people to speak to are the Jews of Jerusalem -- and you will pat each other on the back saying -- We are the top dog --- Now it is no good you going out to live in another country -- where they speak Greek -- and then having to go and wash yourself every time you touched a Gentile -- which they did in Jerusalem --- If you a Jew touched a Gentile -- you would go and have a bath -- because you had touched a filthy Gentile -- STEPHEN PART 1 No you cannot do that out there in the world -- for you are surrounded by Gentiles -- You have to live with them -- You have to realise that God just could be interested in more than just you -- Whereas in Jerusalem -- the Jew saw only himself -- he hardly knew anyone else existed --- From this you can see two kinds of thinking -- The only time it came together in an uneasy truce -- was at the Feast of -- Passover -- Pentecost -- and Tabernacles -- when the dispersions sent representatives to Jerusalem -- Now many of these dispersion Jews -- on the Day of Pentecost were saved -- and now it is the Jerusalem Jews that are looking after them -- This is when trouble begins --- It is communal living -- communal food -- and it appears that the Jerusalem Jews favour the Jerusalem Jews - when it comes to the giving out of food -- From this there is a break down in the living together-- The Greek Jews are saying -- We are not getting an equal amount -- This is what always happens -- when people come together like this -- when it is not God's will -- Jesus had said -- Go into all the world and proclaim this Gospel to all people -- and make disciples of all nations -- STEPHEN PART 1 And what are they doing -- but arguing over food --- Here they are serving food -- when they should be scattered in all directions -- They are just making a little nest here in Jerusalem -- running to and from the Temple --- They had this wrong view of the Temple -- now that they had seen Jesus the Messiah and he had been with them and teaching them for forty days -- it just some how didn't get across to them -- that the temple that building there in Jerusalem was finished -- and that now the temple is within them --- But still they got more and more excited over that temple building in Jerusalem-- It is as if everything in their ancient background was saying temple temple --- They sure were getting temple temple -- but it was the temple not in Jerusalem -- but the temple in the Holy Spirit which was within them --- Peter is a fisherman -- and denied Jesus three times -- and he cursed and swore -- He did not just learn this -- he knew how to do this back in Galilee -- Peter was an Orthodox Jew -- who could come and go with ease --- Now that he has come into the Spirit -- it has stirred ancient memories -- and now he is attending the Temple at every hour of prayer --- He is becoming the most devout Jew -- with James-John - and the others along with him -- STEPHEN PART 1 They have missed the whole point of the Great Commission Here is the finished work of Jesus -- and he has said -- destroy this Temple and I will build another one -- They seemed to have forgotten it all -- And here they are sitting in Jerusalem -- getting deeper and deeper into old Temple worship -- and feeding a group of people food -- instead of going to the ends of the earth --- However -- within the problem they had a bit of sense -- you can be wrong and still have a bit of sense -- They said -- It is not right for us who are responsible for the teaching -- to become involved in feeding people food -- They said -- Let us appoint men who are full of wisdom -- full of God's Spirit -- to make sure that the whole work here in Jerusalem does not split -- and then disappear over a piece of bread --- Out from this Stephen becomes one of them that was chosen --- It is interesting to note that all that were chosen were Greek speaking Jews -- they were making sure that the Greeks were satisfied --- And the scripture says -- The apostles then gave themselves to the Word of God and prayer -- STEPHEN PART 1 Gave themselves -- in the Greek -- means -- They gave themselves without a vocation -- to wait on the Word of God -- and to do so with prayer --- In leadership position you have Stephen -- a man of the dispersion -- It is the first time a man had been led into any kind of leadership -- who does not think like a Jerusalem Jew --- It can be understood -- why up to this time the Sanhedrin council -- had not given them any real trouble - There had been no organised persecution -- In the council there had been an influence from the Pharisees - towards the disciples -- The Pharisees were thinking -- surely not all these men can be wrong -- they at least believe in the resurrection-- this was not necessarily meaning the resurrection of Jesus -- The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection -- but the Pharisees did --- The Pharisees says -- These disciples -- these Jews -- Attend the hour of prayer -- they cannot be all that bad --- So within the Sanhedrin council there is this division While they had been doing their thing in the Temple there comes forth one who is much more conversed in scripture -- this is Stephen -- a dispersion Jew -- STEPHEN PART 1 he has been studying the scriptures --- One of the first Jews of the dispersion -- that makes it known how he feels -- was Ezra -- And he wrote Psalm 119 -- and it tells you what was the great joy he had in the Word of God -- And also he wrote Psalm 1 -- And he says there -- The man that meditates in the Word day and night -- shall be prosperous in all that he does -- This is a Jewish expression -- He has not got the Temple He has not got the rituals He only has it once a year if he is fortunate He looks to the scripture -- and senses God's presence where ever he finds himself -- and here Stephen is finding this also --- He is filled with the Holy Spirit -- and he begins to rise above his fellow deacons -- For the scripture says -- Great miracles -- signs and wonders were done by Stephen -- Here is a man -- when he begins to speak -- He speaks with the authority of the Old Testament scripture -- He speaks with the insight that the Holy Spirit gives -- He is attended by -- signs -- and wonders -- and miracles -- and he has a logical understanding of what Jesus has accomplished -- and he can prove it from the Old Testament -- and he begins to speak --- STEPHEN PART 1 In Jerusalem you have the temple -- and also many synagogues --- also there were synagogues throughout all the Roman empire -- If you were a dispersion Jew in Jerusalem -- you would look for the synagogue that spoke to you in the context of your background --- Let us say -- I am a dispersion Jew in Jerusalem -- so I would look for a synagogue that spoke -- and thought Australian English -- this is the synagogue that I would attend --- There was one synagogue in Jerusalem that was called -- the synagogue of the freed man -- and it took in all the areas of the Roman empire of the dispersions -- and it was there that Stephen began to attend -- You cannot have 5000 plus disciples in Jerusalem -- without just about every family there knowing something first hand -- about this new movement -- that is centred around Jesus the Messiah -- So Stephen did not have to beg an opportunity -- to have a debate -- for it was already made --- In this synagogue there were Pharisees -- and one of them was named Saul -- and he came from Tarsus -- which was a city of the dispersion -- he had sat under Gamaliel -- who was one of the leading Pharisees --- This made Saul a very learned fellow -- and he thinks he knows what he is talking about --- Now into this synagogue comes Stephen -- with the only qualifications that we know of -- he is filled with the Holy Spirit -- and that when he prayed for people - signs -- and wonders -- and miracles took place STEPHEN PART 1 Saul did not see things in the same light as did Stephen -- and they started to discuss their differences -- until they became public issues --- What was it that Stephen was saying -- that started this great difference ---- You will notice in verse 11 -- They accuse Stephen of speaking against Moses and God -- Saying -- he is blaspheming against God -- You will notice in verse 13 and 14 -- That they accuse him of speaking against the Holy Place -- and the Law -- Saying -- this Jesus is going to change the customs - They have distorted his words -- they were men who were false witnesses -- We know that Stephen did not exactly say this -- he was not actually speaking against Moses and the Law and the Temple and the Holy Place and against God and about the change of customs What they were doing was slightly twisting his words -- In one sense he was saying this -- but not in the negative --- What was Stephen really saying -- about Moses -- All the works of Moses are from Genesis to Deuteronomy Stephen was saying -- That the death of Jesus Christ has fulfilled all that Moses gave -- STEHPEN PART 1 As far as the sacrifices go -- There will be no more covering over of sin -- for Jesus has taken it completely away --- To Stephen this was nothing new -- for he was well acquainted with the Old Testament -- Jeremiah had spoken of this day --- Saying -- And in that day -- your sins and your iniquities will be remembered no more -- They knew that every time they sprinkled the blood -- it did not take away sin -- it was just one more year that They said -- God I owe you -- and one day someone will come and pay for this sin -- but until then it is covered over --- Jeremiah said -- The day is coming when it will not be covered over -- it will be taken away -- gone -- finished forever -- Stephen knew this -- He also knew that -- Ezekiel said -- I will give you a bath on the inside -- I will wash you with clean water -- and put my Spirit in you --- It seems that Peter -- John -- and the others going up to the Temple religiously had forgotten this -- It was as if it had gone over their heads -- because why keep going up to the Temple -- for there is no need to anymore -- This would be when Stephen would be accused of speaking against the Temple -- STEPHEN PART 1 He understood that the glory of God would not be confined to the Temple made with hands -- but would be upon all the people of Mount Zion -- where men would live -- and move in the glory of God -- Stephen realises that Jesus has made it real -- you do not need the Temple -- and the priesthood anymore -- For the death of Jesus and his resurrection and his ascension taken it to its logical conclusion -- is that we do not need the Temple anymore -- It has served its purpose -- and now it has come to its fulfilment -- in a Temple in the Holy Spirit -- a Temple that is founded upon the finished work of Jesus -- Also they said that Stephen said -- This Jesus would change the customs --- Yes -- there would be no more of this going to Jerusalem for feasts -- this is finished -- there is no more need for it -- In fact it would be blasphemy to do it -- because now Christ is our Passover lamb -- he has fulfilled everything that Passover ever was --- We do not need Pentecost and more -- because he has given the Holy Spirit -- and man is now joined to God -- and the Law of God is now written in his heart -- We do not need the Day of Atonement anymore -- because Christ has made the final atonement -- sin is done away with -- and we do not have to remember it ever again -- STEPHEN PART 1 His blood has been shed once -- and for all -- so we do not have to make any more sacrifices -- We do not need Tabernacles -- that day of great rejoicing -- for the Holy Spirit has come -- and we now live in the Kingdom of everlasting joy --- This is sure going to change their customs -- It is threatening to every priest -- for he will be out of a job -- When you think about it -- it is quite easy to twist Stephen's words around to mean something other than what he had said --- Stephen saw a new Israel -- and it included Gentiles He saw a new Temple and it was in the Holy Spirit He saw it was no longer struggling to keep the Law but by living in the Holy Spirit I think that Stephen has been greatly underestimated in the Church -- In one sense I put Stephen higher than Paul -- When Saul became converted -- he never forgot the wisdom of Stephen -- But we will look at this next week --- AMEN.