When Jesus Stands Up For You [Part 2]

Pastor author and Bible teacher Alan writing the first Christian martyrdom Stephen a prayed Lord Jesus and the son of God, the son of man, the risen Lord Jesus Markham unto the prayer said my name is Alan Wright another message of good news that will help you see your life in a whole new light. I'm Daniel Britton excited for you to hear the teaching today. In the series unlimited is presented at renewal the church in North Carolina. If you're not able to stay with the entire program, make sure you know how to get our special resource right now can be yours for your donation this month to Alan Wright strings as you listen to today's message go deeper as we send you today's special offer.

Contact us at pastoralan.org Pastor Alan.org or call 877-544-4860 that's 877-544-4860. More on this later in the program right now. Let's get started with today's teaching here is Alan Wright that's why we give money to crisis control is why we help to dig wells and allow idiots why is why is a pastor. During this time of such racial on certainties and unrest and I want to learn and grow separate Monday have been meeting with about 40 pastors, mainly white passes learning from African-American pastor friends learning so we can grow in every Tuesday about four other paths alignment meeting with the sheriff of Forsyth County to learn how can we be of help.

That is to say that right from the beginning.

You see it in the Christian church we care about about justice in the world, and I noticed that the apostle when the apostle said, we are not have time to pray and preach if were always serving the tables. What they didn't say was weird to spiritual for the serving of tables. That's not what they're saying then a sale. We need to find some more practically minded people to do the serving, no they're just saying that our primary call is to pray and to preach and so we need some other people to serve, but what they got people to serve.

They got people that were full of the spirit people full of wisdom and they are one of them was Steve there are two words in the New Testament for the word crown. There is the word DI demo which means a royal crown.

We we transliterate that into our where a diadem is a crown and then there's the web stuff. IStefan oh's victors crown. That's Stephen's name Stefan oh's. His name means the victors crown is letting us know that this is a story about real victory. So these first deacons were full of the Holy Spirit and after this wise decision to appoint these godly servants are two wonderful things that happened back six or seven tells us the first, the word of God continue to increase in the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, a great number of the priests there about 18,000 priests that served in the temple in that day and many of them became obedient to make many on start coming to Jesus and the second wonderful thing was of Stephen himself. The text says in verse eight was full of grace and power, and was doing great wonders and signs among the people. So Stephen was already full. The spirit they laid hands upon him, and then all of these miracles began to take place through Stephen's life and the church is just growing growing growing in the growth of the church in the grace of God at work arouse hatred in the religious aristocracy. Here's what happened in acts chapter 6, verse 13. They religious leaders set up false witnesses who said this man never ceases to speak words against his holy by speaking of the temple and the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us. While the fear of the loss of control that they had to say was causing them to be afraid basically is the fear of loss leads to the ungodly use of controlling behaviors.

It could be as subtle as giving someone the silent treatment or it could be is horrible as physical abuse but by whatever means when we try to control others is because we are afraid of being out of control. In other words, we are afraid of losing something our insecurities because our resentments and our resentments cause us to send against others, but Luke adds this. While these lies are being spoken against Stephen the crowd see something remarkable. Verse 15 and gazing at him all who sat in the Council saw that his face like the face of an angel. I saw it while all these insults are being hurled against Stephen and his face seemed to be glowing.

Must've been something like what happened to Moses when he was with God, and his face literally glowed and what happens in his Stephen stands up and gives a long speech in chapter 7, which we had time to go over we don't.

But in this long speech.

He recalls the story of Abraham and Joseph and Moses, and he speaks of Joshua going into the promised land and about this mobile tabernacle attempted they carried before they ever had. The temple and how David wants to wanted to build the temple but it was Solomon David, son who built the temple. He tells this whole thing in and in chapter 7 and then Stephen's speech becomes very hard for the people to hear it. Verse 48. Yet the most high does not dwell in houses made by hands as the prophet says heaven is my throne on earth is my footstool. What kind of house we built for me, says the Lord of what is a place of my rest did not my hand make all these things at this point he's referencing the temple. He's quoting the Scripture that says the Mossad doesn't dwell in a physical temple. They had accused him of preaching against Moses's law and against the temple and here Stephen is making it clear the Lord's presence is not limited to a physical temple, and this infuriates them and they were remembering how Jesus had said destroy this temple, and I'll raise up in three days and then with remarkable candor. This seems a direct answer to the disciples prayer for boldness. He then turns it acts seven verse 51 you stiffnecked people uncircumcised in the heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute and they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the righteous one whom you now betrayed and murdered, you will receive the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it what he saying is you're accusing me of speaking against the law against the law, but you're the one who never kept the law he saying to the religious leaders and the religious leaders are enraged by this, Stephen's speech, but what happened next is what made them want to kill him. Verse 54 now when they heard these things and they were enraged and they ground their teeth and that he full of the Holy Spirit days in the heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus. He saw Jesus, the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. It was here at this moment but wanted to kill him because he was affirming the he saw Jesus alive. Lord of the universe, full of grace and power, he was affirming the resurrection and the Lordship of Jesus, and they suddenly wanted to kill Dudley Hall. My spiritual father taught me years ago that there really were two primary demonic forces there were already about always battling against Jesus the spirit of rebellion which says there is no right or wrong, I'll make my own decision about what's right and wrong and then the other that he faced everywhere went the spirit of religion is religious leaders. The ones that felt that there is a right and wrong and we're the ones are right that there's a right and wrong and were more righteous than everyone else and that spirit that smug prideful spirit of things I'm better than someone else will rely more righteous than them that has no real understanding of the grace of God that spirit hates the grace of God and therefore hates Jesus and hated Stephen and that's why they that's why they wanted to kill them. Verse 57 we pick up reading. They cried out with a loud voice, and they stopped the ears. I didn't want to hear it and they rushed together at him and then they cast them out of the city and Stoneham and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul and as they were stoning Stephen he called out, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit is Alan Wright will have more teaching moment from today's important series at Arlington ready for a new year and this is thing here as you start planning on dreaming for integrating here right ministries has produced a beautiful, inspiring love calendar with each month not only depicts the Montana heart starting image that also includes especially The blessing for the month, and after having Alan explains in his new book, the power to grant, which releases February 2 is available from Amazon for peeler now blessing faith vision the left then told them to be fruitful and multiply, blessing, gazing the reward for your productivity needs the fuel for the 2021 blessing while calendar gives you space to write down all your important appointments and make plans for a wonderful new year. And most importantly, each time you see the beautiful image for them on your heart will be strengthened empowering this year. Don't just organize your life for the 2021 blessing calendar is our gift to you. When you make a donation is not right ministries. Contact us today and start your year out right by the power of blessing, six 877-544-4860 877-544-4861 come to our website pastor and got a work today's teaching now you once again is Alan as they were stoning Stephen he called out, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. I don't want to be too too graphic here, but there were established guidelines for stoning someone if there had been a proper trial and he had been condemned to execution by stoning.

There was a protocol for how it would take place, they would take the convict and put them into a ravine that was about 12 maybe 10 feet wide and first is a sense of the only mercy and the horrible execution as they would roll a huge boulder down. That would essentially crush the person or render him unconscious and then witnesses would take off their heavy outer garments to free themselves up to throw stones and they will begin to throw stones. After the victim was already unconscious must know what happened here. This was a lynch lynching mob rule.

Religious leaders didn't stop it. There was no mercy, so they just took off their outer garments. They laid it at the feet of a man named Saul that his begin throwing rocks jagged rock Jagged rock torturing him, crushing him, causing him to bleed her 10 in the middle of dying slow and painful gruesome death and a miracle happens this beautiful man Stephen who had only loved people who had been serving the tables to care for the widows who have been used by God for the healing of other people. This beautiful man is slowly dying at the hands of evil people.

But here's what we read in verse 60 and falling to his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, Lord, do not hold this sin against them.

And when you said this, he fell asleep Stephen as Jesus had on the cross, praying for the Lord to forgive the people who were murdering him. How was it possible. This was not Stephen who is just trying to be a positive thinker in a difficult situation doesn't work that way and I know you you you can't be you can be slowly killed by execution. In this manner and just save yourself.

Let me just go back and think what would Jesus have done what he probably would've forgiven them all. You remember that so I was them.

Try hard to forgive them. It doesn't work it doesn't work to do it that way you can muster this up. You can find this down in your natural being. Your mind can't make sense of it. It won't happen that way.

So how did he forgive your sorry for verse 56 is the key, he said, behold, I see the heavens open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. He said I see Jesus to most of us have been taught that it's important to take a stand for Jesus and our ways in which it is important to take a stand for Jesus. We been told that we need to stand up for what we believe we been told we need to stand up for own rights and there's a measure of truth in all of that, but the exhortation does stand strong never makes a strong what makes a strong what makes a strong is to see the risen Lord Jesus, look, he said, behold, I think he was later and I look can't everybody see Jesus and I could not and they did not look I could not their spiritually blind. This wasn't Stephen saying that he wasn't saying if I will be faithful than soon. I'll get to be with Jesus. So I'm going to endure this execution. No, this was Jesus Jesus Stephen saying hi CM right now you not say I one day will get to be with him or soon and in soon and very soon I'll be with me saying I'm with him. Now I see him now. Look, everybody I see Jesus he same because I see him I can be faithful is not saying if I'm faithful that I see him. The Scriptures and the creeds have all taught us that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God back from the time that David and his Psalms prophesied of the Lord will say to my Lord, sit at my right hand and confirmed all the way into the New Testament Scriptures that the Jesus is seated at the right hand.

I think part of the importance of that is that being seated as a symbol of being finished when when if you see me suddenly sit down it means I'm finished with this message and I'm not quite there yet. If you see someone do a great work a great job in and then they they sit down is because I'm finished working on that Jesus was the great high priest, the writer of Hebrews that and unlike the priests of old, who had to stand day after day after day to continue their ministry and offer many more sacrifices. Jesus offered one sacrifice himself for all time. They sat down in the work is finished to tell of style.

He said on the cross.

It is finished. There's nothing else needs to be added to the finished work of Christ in order for us to be safe if you're not a Christian today you can accept them simply because of what he's done through simple childlike faith accepting the grace of God.

There's nothing else for you that's not Jesus plus anything else. It is finished. As Jesus's work is done on the cross and so we sat down on this day he stood, Stephen saw him stay is you wondering why you know it could be that part of the reason he stood. We stand as a sign of honor.way when you hear musical performance and you like it you you clap if you really like that you stand up and clap a standing ovation to go to a concert you like it so much he wanted to keep going.

You just keep on standing.

Maybe I'll give you another song. It's an honor to have someone stand for you and the Lord of the universe was standing for Steve. I think some maybe maybe he stood because Jesus knew this is exact same thing that happened to him and it was all being replicated. It was being is being expressed right there in Stephen he stood up, maybe that was it. Maybe it was because Jesus is the advocate the word for advocate his advocacy for us is really a legal term is like a lawyer for us.

He's our mediator and a lawyer stands up for you. How do you play lawyer stands up says not guilty when someone stands up for you. There are go-between there an intermediary. Maybe you've had a big brother who just stands up for you sometime. Maybe that's why he stood up or maybe the reason that Jesus stood up that day is because in the first Christian martyrdom, Stephen prayed a prayed Lord Jesus and the son of God, the Son of Man, the risen Lord Jesus hearkened unto the prayer he said my name's been called upon any soda.

He stood up to hearken to a prayer may be.

It was one of most important prayers ever prayed in the New Testament. It certainly was a miracle to pray Lord Jesus. Do not hold this sin against them in might have been that it was a most important prayer in the New Testament because of acts eight verse one and Saul approved of his execution. Saul of Tarsus, Pharisee of Pharisees was there watching. He didn't throw a stone, but he gave his consent.

His silence was violence.

He watched it all happen and we read shortly after this, in acts chapter 9 verse three that as Saul went on his way he approached Damascus the greatest persecutor of the early church. Saul, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him and falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me and he said who are you, Lord, and he said I'm Jesus who you are persecuting.

When Stephen prayed, Lord Jesus. Do not hold this against them.

He was praying in part for Saul.

I wonder if Stephen's eyes as he was nearing the end caught the eyes of Saul when he prayed, do not hold it against them, forgive them, he might've been thinking of the Pharisee and in his mercy, Jesus answered the prayer and he came and made Saul his own and redeemed him first. Saul was blinded L for three days in Damascus, but as soon as the scales came off. We read in verse 20 immediately proclaim Jesus in the synagogue saying he is the son of God by many different measures you could say that apart from Jesus Christ, the apostle Paul is a most influential man whose ever left. He was used by God to change the whole world. You cannot forgive out of your own natural abilities. We can't, we can like Corrie 10 boom extend a hand but the forgiving is released by the power the Holy Spirit and a vision of the risen Lord Jesus Christ, the power of the gospel in our lives is released by a vision of Jesus. He stands for you to, you may not have the same kind of opening of heaven is envisioned that Stephen did, but you can see Jesus everyday. You can see them. You can see them in the word.

You can see him in life you can see him in Providence.

You can see them in his move in your life. Jesus is alive and he loves you and he came to forgive you so that you could have the freedom of forgiving others.

It's the power of the gospel is the power of grace, forgiveness is an exotic from heaven available every believer that Alan Wright today when Jesus stands for you. It's in our series unlimited and Pascarella joins us here in just a few moments with her parting goodness thought for the day.

Stick with us at Arlington ready for a new here at this is thing here as you start planning on dreaming for integrating year three when I write ministries has produced a beautiful, inspiring love calendar with you in mind each month not only depicts the Montana heart stirring image that also includes especially The blessing for the month, and after having Pastor Alan explains in his new book, the power to grant, which releases February is available from Amazon for peeler now blessing based faith vision of the left then told them to be fruitful and multiply. Blessing isn't the reward for your productivity needs for fuel for the 2021 blessing while calendar gives you space to write down all your important appointments and make plans for a wonderful new year. And most importantly, each time you see the beautiful image for them on your heart will be strengthened by the empowering. Pastor Alan this year.

Don't just organize your life for the 2021 calendar is our gift to you. When you make a donation is not to write ministries. Contact us today and start your year out right at the power of blessing. Call us at 877-544-4860 877-544-4861 come to our website Pastor our and got work to be with Pastor Alan for her parting good news thought of the day and I run by the Balearic. I am love. I can risk living you because the one who knows me best loves me most. I think you probably take and put forgive and they are right. I was given and so I can I can risk forgiving you we forgive because we been forgiven and when you're Christian you understand forgiveness is costly. We are forgiven by God because there he just said no that matter. After all, know the ultimate cost the ultimate debt was paid. This cost of the life. When you forgive there's a cost but there's so much gain because your own heart and then be you don't forgive the willpower you by focusing on Jesus's own forgiveness for standing up for you so you can forget today's good news message is a listener supported production. Allen like ministries