I think I can put this right down here. All right. Like Pastor Randolph said, my name is Joey Pruitt. I'm from Lafayette, Indiana. I attend Berean Baptist Church in Lafayette. And through Berean Baptist Church, I was introduced to Camp Assurance, which is where Aaron knows me and where I grew up going to camp and hearing about the Bible. I heard about the Bible at my church, of course, but camp just really worked in my life. Maybe I'd come home and I wasn't living for the Lord, and camp was just a reminder as I grew up that God is real and that his word is serious. I just really appreciate camp and what it's done. I also go to Maranatha. I plan to go into ministry. I'm not a pastor. I don't know where the Lord wants me yet. If He wants me to be a pastor, then I'll do that. I'll obey him. But right now, I just want to put myself into the education of ministry so that I'm prepared for whatever the Lord wants me to do. And so at Maranatha right now, I'm just working on finishing the Associated Ministry and Lord willing, after that, I'll continue into youth ministries. My plan is to work with the youth. But the Lord might have a different plan for me. And so, and that's completely fine. And so on the way to some of these goals, I'm given an opportunity to practice and hopefully gain abilities. And so I appreciate Pastor Randolph just allowing me to come in and practice. I might not be as good as him or as long as him, but I do appreciate you guys. allowing me to come and speak and practice this and get better. So thank you. So today I'm going to be preaching about something that really helped me this summer at camp and something that I need to learn because as I go into the ministry, something that everybody should know is that I'm not perfect and that this is something I'm growing into. So if you guys As I'm speaking, just understand that this is something that I need to apply to my life. Today I'm going to be talking about Stephen in Acts chapter 6 and 7. We're going to start in Acts chapter 6, but I'm going to focus a lot on chapter 7. Turn in your Bibles to Acts chapter 6. we're gonna talk about who was Steven and What's so important about his story? We started the summer and the reason I'm preaching about this is is because act six and seven was just a big reminder for me throughout the summer about how I should be having about my attitude and Also a rebuke for about how I how I should respond so but So let's continue. So who was Stephen? What was so important about his story? So I'm going to start and I'm going to read just verses one through seven. Okay. So, and in those days, when the number of disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration and there were 12 called the multitude of disciples unto them, and said, it is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Wherefore brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. And that the same pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith, and the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochris, and Nechior, and Timon, and Ammon, and Parmenas, and Nicholas, a proselyte of Antioch, whom they set before the apostles. And when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased, and the number of disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly. And a great company of priests were obedient to the faith. So let's get some context. We can see in the culture of that time that many men died due to all sorts of natural causes. The culture didn't have the same health care system that we do today. In the first church, which is what we're talking about, we're talking about the first church that the apostles are creating, well, that God is creating through the apostles. And they're ministering to these people. And in this culture, there's a lot of widows because men are dying. Men die due to sickness or disease or starvation or war. And so there's a lot of widows in the church. And so the apostles basically are asking the church, look out among you and see if there is anyone faithful enough or a good report to take care of these people. Okay. And Stephen was one of those people. Okay. Um, so the church was, um, so the church there was, was in concern for the many widows who had no husbands to care for them. Um, So let's go on to learn some more details about who Stephen is, okay? So I'm gonna continue to read a little bit more in Acts 6, okay? I'm gonna start reading verse 8. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of Libertines, and Caesareans, and Alexandrians, and of them, Caesarea, and Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom in the spirit which he spake. Then they suborned men which said, we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, against God. And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes and came upon and caught him and brought him to the council and set up false witnesses which said, This man ceases not to speak blasphemous words against the holy place and the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy customs Which Moses delivered us and all that sat in the council looking steadfastly on him saw his face as It had been the face of an angel. Okay, so I'm gonna talk about this so We can see in this passage that Stephen is a man of faith He's he has power he's he well he is the His power is from the Holy Spirit. He's able to even perform miracles. And he is, um, and what's he doing? He's going into, um, the synagogues and he is meeting with these, these Jewish people. And as we know, um, the church did not have the completed word of God yet. And so because of that, Stephen was able to have some of these gifts of the spirit. Okay. Um, So Stephen also, what we need to understand about Stephen is Stephen was evangelistic. Stephen cared about the Jewish culture, the Jewish people. And he went into the synagogues and debated with them. He conversated with them. And because of that, the Jewish people did not have a lot to say back to him. And we can see that a little bit here because, let me read. And the people stirred up false witnesses up against Stephen. And so Stephen came into the synagogues with the gospel, with what just had happened prior, just a year beforehand with the death of Christ. Stephen is confronting the Jewish people in the synagogues with this message. He's he's witnessing he's evangelizing to the Jewish people and what are they doing? They don't have an answer. And so what they're doing is they're starting to Rise up against him. They're trying to create false witnesses because like it says in Verse 15 that he had the face of an angel that Stephen was innocent and so before I continue something that We can look out here real quick. Is that We should be like Stephen. We should be completely innocent. In our own lives, we should be obeying God. We should be walking with God and making ourselves pure, walking in the light so that we are innocent, so that when we are in a confrontational situation, we're able to respond the right way. We're able to People are able to look at us and see that we we are innocent Okay, and the only thing they can do is falsely accuse us and and that's and that's what's happening here with Steven okay, so We also see in verses 9 through 7 Steven, I'm sorry and the Jews struggled with a lot of these things so So we're going to talk about the character Stephen, okay? He was an evangelist. He was an important figure in the church. He was faithful. And he cared for the widows in the church. Okay. So this is, this is the picture of Stephen in Acts chapter six is that he's caring for the people in the church, uh, specifically widows. He's evangelistic and he is brave. He's, he's courageous. And he, he's making himself out to be a figure that is for Christ, making himself out to be, uh, to, uh, be used by God. Okay. So, um, but I also want to continue to talk about the character of Steven. So let's, let's look at another angle of the character, Steven and Acts chapter seven. So just maybe turn a page or look at the other side of your page. So being falsely accused, um, The Jews took Stephen to the council, which we also know as the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was a group of Jewish leaders that in a way is like a legal court, but using scripture rather than the Roman law. And so the Sanhedrin, Sanhedrin was pretty scary to get pulled in front of. If you weren't, um, if you, if you were frowned upon by the Jewish culture, because they could kill you. And so the, but this is what he's called in front of and being falsely accused, uh, the Jews took Stephen to the council. And so let's look at first one and the high priest. So he's standing in front of the council and the high priest and says, are these things so? And so the false witnesses that are accusing him of blasphemy, which are accusing him of saying things that are not true, okay? Basically, they're accusing him of saying bad things about Moses and Abraham. And Moses and Abraham is the bedrock of the Jewish story. And so, it's like attacking their very culture. But he didn't do that. And so, the high priest is like, Stephen, are these things actually so? Are these things true? And so, if you're me, and you're falsely accused of something, then you probably would respond erratically. I've been falsely accused of things in the past. My parents are here, my brothers might say something. And I respond, they would probably remember me just, I never did that. But here's the thing, Steven didn't do that here. Because the high priest has given him the chance, he's like, listen, here's your chance to defend yourself right now, D. Is this true? And Stephen, in the chance to defend himself, let's see what Stephen does. And so, being falsely accused, let's talk about here, sorry, one second. Let's actually look at this passage. So, instead of even defending himself when the high priest asked him if the accusations are true, in verse one, Stephen responds by giving him the history of their father Abraham and how God told Abraham to leave to a new land that he would show him, okay? And how God promised Abraham that he would make his children how he would travel to a new land and how he would Be enslaved how these children would be enslaved and how God would make a new covenant with his people Okay, so this this is what these verses are saying and verses Three and four You know I'll read some of that that it's a there's a lot to read here I don't know if I have enough time But I'll try to sum it up for you guys And he said unto him get thee out of that country from the kindred and from their fathers And from the kindred and come into a land which I shall show thee then came out of of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt with Charon and from thence, then his father was dead and removed him from his land with wherein he now dwells. So he's going through a bit of their history and then he continues and he continues in how God promised Abraham and how he would make his children travel to another land and and as Stephen goes on in verse 9 talking about how Joseph was sold into slavery and how Joseph and Saved his brothers who sold him and how his brother and how his father And how he saved his father and brothers from starvation sorry if I stutter or get mixed in my my words, but Stephen is basically going through the history and saying, starting with Abraham and starting with Moses and going to Joseph and saying, you know, even Joseph was sold into slavery and he's going through all this history. He's not even defending himself. He's basically just working himself up to a point. So the Jews are probably confused. He's like, why are you even talking about our history right now? We're asking you, if the accusations are true. Okay, so Stephen continues a little bit more, given their history in verse 20, by telling them how Moses was saved by Pharaoh's daughter, and how he grew, and how he led out Israel out of captivity. And then in verse 40 and 41, Stephen goes on a bit more to talk about how even after Moses freed Israel, the Jews still again worshiped false gods and made idols. And so Stephen, is Stephen's in front of the council, the Sanhedrin is going through the Jewish history. It's like your fathers over and over and over again, God has led them out of captivity, has made covenants with them, has promised them things, has been faithful, and ultimately what they end up doing is worshiping idols and demons, okay? And false gods. And Stephen is showing the Jews that, that Israel has not been keeping their side of faithfulness, and God has been faithful, okay? So basically, Stephen's saying your fathers decided to worship demons and idols instead of God. So Stephen does rebuke the Jews in verses 51 through 53, and I'll read that real quick. He says, ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost, as your fathers did. So do ye, which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted. And they have slain them, which should therefore before of the coming of the just one, of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers. who have received the law by disposition of angels and have not kept it. So, Stephen does rebuke these people. And so we can see that he does have a moment where he speaks his mind a little bit. But here's the thing, is it's based off of scripture. Okay, so if we think about ourselves, We, if we're put in this place like Stephen, we do have a moment where we're, we do have, God does allow us to rebuke people, to speak up for truth, but we must not do it based off of our feelings and our emotions and our anger. We must do it based off the scripture. We must do it based off of what God has said. And that's what he's done. Cause he's walked through this entire story and he said, guys, This is what scripture has been saying. And so if we do rebuke, We can't do it based off of just, we're upset. And this is something that I need to learn, and I didn't, and there's been situations where I haven't responded the right way, even recently, where I haven't responded the right way in situations. And so this passage, it hits me because I need to learn Um, I need to use scripture. I need to, um, when I respond, I need to do it the right way, but I'm, I'm going to continue a little bit. So, um, we can see that. Then as we know and go on to read in verses 54 through 60 Stephen's message was not only was not received well and the Sanhedrin sadly had Stephen stoned and killed. Okay, so So Stephen What Stephen did in response, okay is He He was falsely accused, he was brought in, and Stephen is giving them the entire history, and Stephen just wants to show them Christ, okay? And so what Stephen is saying, they're offended by it. And so they take him out and they stoned him, okay? But we're not done with Stephen's response. Because as Stephen's being stoned, I'm gonna read verses 54 through 60. And when they heard these things, they were cut to their heart, or like convicted, okay? And they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God and said, behold, I see the heavens open and the son of man standing on the right hand of God. And 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. And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he said this, he fell asleep. Okay, so before I talk about Stephen's response, I would talk about mine. If I was falsely accused and I was stoned, I don't know if If I was, the thought of rocks hitting my bones and my skin, and that sounds scary pain. I'm not trying to be morbid, guys, but I'm trying to bring realism into this. If I'm in the midst of suffering physically, I don't know how I would respond. That's scary because In the midst of suffering like that, you know, we don't, us as humans, we don't know how to handle physical suffering and death. But Stephen responded by loving them. I would hope that I would do the same thing. But in my flesh, or in our flesh as humans, we also see another side of us. And that's what Paul talks about in Romans 7, that we can easily curse people that hurt us. And we can easily hurt people that hurt, or want to hurt people that hurt us. And I see that in myself. And that's something that Scripture's saying right here, Stephen didn't do. And what does Scripture say? Okay, that he looked up to heaven, he saw Jesus. And so, if I want to be close to God, if I want to see my Lord, I need to be responding the right way. And us as believers, this is something that has really convicted me this summer as, You know, camp can be fun, it's a blast, but as a counselor, you're in this heat, and you're dealing with junior campers that only know how to play video games sometimes. And things can be stressful, and you're thinking about yourself, and it's like, it's not about me. And I need to be bleeding out Christ when I'm cut, whether that be physically or at camp mentally when I'm stressed out. And sometimes I haven't bled out Christ. And when I look back on those moments where I haven't bled out Christ, it makes me think that, man, I really need to get my relationship with God more in touch. Because if I'm not bleeding out Christ, then it means that there's something else in me that's not Him. So that's just something that the Lord's working on me this summer, that it's not about me and that it's okay if Things aren't okay all the time because he has a plan for it. And maybe if I have to suffer and other people watch my reaction, my reaction might point people to Christ. And Stephen cried out when he was being hit by rocks that God would save the very people stoning him. I'm not perfect at this, but so what I'm saying is going home today, maybe we need to be like Stephen and just bleed Christ. So yeah. Before I end, I'm just going to pray for us. Heavenly Father, thank you for your word. Thank you for fact that it changes us. It's a sword. It cuts us and it shows us that we can't be perfect, that we can't amount to your standard, but your word does help us. It does show us what we do need to do. And help us to walk in the light, Lord. Help us to have fellowship with you. Help us to, when we're cut, bleed the way Stephen did. Help me to do that. In Jesus' name, Amen.