[This is part of a series of sermons on the topic of "One Another". To access previous messages, please click here.]
Last week we introduced some very famous challenges in scripture. Many we would never want to envision for ourselves. I believe, though, that we do undergo the same level of testing. Depending upon our response these tests can be either a great blessing, or a horrid experience that we bemoan. We will discuss more about that when we begin our series titled, “God Tries His Children” in February.
The last ‘one another’ command we studied looked at how we can seek God’s glory and honor with one another. There are many that look at others in the pew and wonder how they can do __________. We all have our frustrations, challenges and idiosyncratic activities. How can we expect to accept all those things that grate on us like sand paper? That is the whole point. Without God’s longsuffering love, we will never get through a single day without running to the end of our rope on some issue.
In John 5:44 we considered the fact that there is no glory in worldly honor. Our whole purpose in life is to glorify God (1 Cor 6:20; 11:7). If we are focused upon His glory, we can easily move to glorifying Him with one another. Instead of seeking the things of self, or the glory of man, we ask Christ to manifest Himself in us.
We talked about the spiritual aspect of God’s glory. God is spirit. We glory in spirit because we worship in spirit and in truth. These facts of faith are the things that we relish most. We will be in Heaven in spirit and in body. If we neglect the spiritual aspect in one another, we absent ourselves from His presence; we do not glorify God.
Finally, we considered glory in faithlessness and determined there is none. Peter saw only the things of the world after walking with the Messiah throughout His entire earthly ministry. Peter saw great miracles. Peter saw the Father glory in the Son. Peter saw the mount of transfiguration. Peter saw and experienced things we believers will never see in this lifetime. Still, through all this, Peter lacked faith until Christ arose from the dead. He denied Jesus. He denied being a disciple of Jesus. He denied being ‘one of them.’ We can only seek God’s honor and glory with one another if we identify with Him and a specific body of believers that stay steadfast in Him. We have to decide; do we continue to stand alone for our own glory, or do we submit to a body of believers and help them glorify God?
Today we consider doing right by one another. These three messages, having to do with glorifying God with one another, doing right by one another, and litigation between one another, are tied together in many ways. As we study through these messages, we struggle with what God would have us do. As with the other ‘one another’ commands, we are called to give up our personal desires (John 15:13). We are faced once again with a very stark reality that it is not about the individual, though God deals with us individually. It is about the body of Christ. Christianity is about a bride, in the body of Christ, that will be wed to the Groom of Grooms. Timeless truths are not born individually, but through God who is Himself three persons in one.
We often miss the littlest things. One of those little things is given to us in a picture of who God is, and how we should operate in our faith. If God is perfect, if the Trinity is perfect, then God sees a need for three persons to operate as God in His kingdom. How can we run off on a personal individual trail when God Himself says it takes at least three!
Ladies and gentlemen, man is so imperfect, I submit we need many more than three to help us. Today we look at the testimony of a man that scripture records was “full of faith and of the Holy Ghost.” Scripture also says he was “full of faith and power.” Stephen was a wonderfully gifted and blessed man of God.
Please turn to Acts chapter six. We will look at a verse in chapter seven, but we will review from chapter six to understand what is happening in our target verse. When we consider Stephen’s sermon, many look at it purely as a condemnation to the religious rulers of the day and their ignorance of the Messiah. It certainly is that. However, the sermon is not only about the Messiah and the scripture’s testimony of Him from Abraham through Solomon. Stephen convicts these people of their own personal sin, and pays for it with his life.
There are many people in our nation, and even in our little hamlet in Lander, that would think doing right by someone is a matter of caring for their perceived needs. Though care can take on a variety of forms (visits in rest homes, food, counseling, free medication, paying that outrageous utility bill) it is still a matter of care.
Some folks have taken this to an extreme and turned care back upon itself to make it dependency. We find the developing welfare state in our nation a great example of that. Another example is the permissive attitude in child rearing where parents today are too interested in pacifying the child instead of encouraging them to face adversity and excel.
Some folks naturally care for others and are wonderful in positions that have direct personnel involvement. Retirement homes where nurses and other helpers care for the elderly is one such a circumstance. Professional waiters, waitresses, butlers and nannies are other examples. No one would argue that any of these positions could be properly filled by people just out to get a paycheck. Those caring for the elderly certainly have to have a heart for them. People who provide free counseling and legal assistance should be dedicated to giving the best advice possible. Doctors and nurses in free clinics give what they can with what they have.
Doing right by others may take on a more dour tone though. There is a line in our Declaration of Independence that explains this attitude:
“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.”
This line in our Declaration sealed the fate of the colonies. They were going to war against England. Doing right by others takes on a very ominous future when faced with this type of absolutism, this intolerance, this non-conformity. This is the foundation of our nation. That people are free; free to do right and determine by law what is right for them. They are not free individually, although individual freedom spawns naturally from a free society. We fought England as a society. We fought England as Americans! We fought, not just for individual freedom, though that is inherent in achieving it. We fought for national freedom from tyranny. In order to do the right thing, establish freedom and throw off totalitarian government, we had to commit treason. The people of America did not do this person to person though. No – that is the mistake in much of our political movements today. They drive too much to the individual. We did the right thing for our nation. We fought for the freedom of America. We fought for the freedom of Charleston, Philadelphia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Yorktown.
Doing the right thing can give great pleasure to the doer. It can also be an extremely dangerous decision. If you look at doing right by others in a broad sense, you will find more frequently than not that those who do make these decisions and participate in these activities are quite natural at it. Doing right is something that they are compelled to do.
In much the same way, Stephen was compelled to preach Christ to the unbelievers who would eventually stone him for these truths. Stephen was doing great things for God among the people. He was selected among seven men to help the destitute, the infirm, the elderly and the sick. The pastors were dedicated to studying, preaching and teaching the word. Their time with God in prayer and in the word was too important for them to break away and “serve tables.” Steven’s heart, among others, was soft, gentle and loving.
This group of believers was in North Africa near Libya because that is where we would find the Libertines in Stephen’s day. Some of the people belonged to the synagogue of the Liberties where Jews and Proselytes from various countries had come to bring offerings and attend the feast of Pentecost. These were foreign Jews who seem to have their own, rather dedicated synagogue where they traditionally worshiped. When we search through history, we find that the Liberties are a people of Libertina, not the synagogue. That is why we find scripture describing this as “Synagogue of the Liberties.”
Like many who treat outsiders with disdain, the Liberties did not appreciate Stephen coming into their town, telling them they were not the chosen of God, that they did not know God. Stephen, passionate and compelled to preach the truth, did so without hesitation. Stephen did the right thing in the face of great adversity. Stephen spoke to them from the Spirit and they could not withstand the wisdom given him. Stephen put their traditions to the test of scripture and they were found wanting.
This passage is Stephen’s sermon to the Cyrenians and Alexandrians, the scribes and elders in the council. This is where we come in. Stephen is speaking truth, and being vilified for it. Yet, the scripture says in Acts 6:15, that Stephen’s face was like that of an angel. The entire council recognized this, and at least one high priest, had the courage to ask Stephen if the things he was saying were true. This was the opening for which Stephen was waiting.
First, Stephen tells them of Abraham and Mesopotamia, where Abraham was faithful to leave there and leave his family and to go into a place heretofore unknown to him. Every believer should recognize this. We are commanded to leave all things and people in the world behind and follow Christ. Stephen goes on to describe the promise given to Abraham and the blessing of Isaac to fulfill the promise.
Stephen talks of Joseph and his plight where he was being faithful among his brethren, yet was sold into slavery. Joseph trusted God through all these trials and saved his family and all of Israel as second in command of Egypt. The next Israelite forefather and leader is the focus of our verse today – Moses. After Joseph died, Egypt became afraid of the number of Israelites therefore they enslaved them and dealt wickedly and viciously with them. After 400 years of captivity, Moses was born. He was taken into the house of Pharaoh and given all the Egyptian’s wisdom. At 40 years old, he learns of his true heritage and determines to meet his own people. This is where we begin.
I. Moses intervenes in the flesh
When Moses struck down the Egyptian, he wanted to do what was right. However, he knew that what he was doing was wrong. In Exodus 2:12 the passage clearly states,
“And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that [there was] no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.”
Moses clearly understood he was doing wrong. Moses murdered this Egyptian. He first looked to see if anyone was looking so he would not get caught. Then he hid the body knowing full well that he had wrongly taken a life. This is a case where Moses thinks that the end justifies the means. That is one of the largest untruths in the world today. The end never justifies the means. You cannot take the position that “anything goes” as long as the end result is a good one. Who is to judge what is good and what is bad?
In doing the right thing though (interceding on behalf of the Jewish slave), he brought upon himself the full force of the world, which sees people by race, skin color, heritage, sex and creed. Moses defended a fellow Jew. An Egyptian was beating the man just because he was a slave. Slave or not, it was wrong for the Egyptian to abuse and oppress someone simply because of his race or social status. This is the same action that our nation took when a conservative republican president Abraham Lincoln fought to free the slaves of the democratically dominated south. The difference was that Moses did it for a race; Lincoln did it because freedom is one of our God-given inalienable rights.
Our focus today rests in verse 26 where Moses confronts his fellow Israelites the day after the altercation. Moses expects them to be excited that someone is sticking up for them. Instead, he receives rebellion, rejection and hatred. Often rebellion leads to more rebellion. As much as the Israelites hated slavery and being under bondage of Egypt, they hated even more the pain and suffering they saw in their future if anyone made waves; and Moses made waves.
Like Moses, the Israelites were not looking at things with God in mind at all. Neither Moses nor the Israelites looked at Yahweh to deliver them. Moses intervened as a Jew and they saw him only as a Jewish man. As a Jew, Moses had no special power. He had no special position in Egypt. Moses was just a fellow slave. As Israel frequently did (a picture of our daily forgetfulness) they forgot about God’s promise to deliver them. Moses certainly did not see himself as their deliverer.
When Moses intervened the next day, all those around him viewed him as an Egyptian pet Hebrew slave, nothing more. Because of Moses’ action, the Israelites would be punished. They were cared for in their captivity even if the work was hard. They were even given meat once and a while and if they did their work. They were not beaten as severely when they did not stir up any trouble. Life was not so bad after all.
There is also an assumption made by Moses that whatever action he takes will be rewarded in some way. After attacking an Egyptian, Moses seems to think it gains him credibility with his Jewish brethren. Whether he expected to lead them at this point or just gain their appreciation is unknown.
The problem with all of these attitudes is that they focus upon the things of the world. There is nothing of faith in Moses’ attempt to intervene either with the Egyptian or when breaking up the argument with the two Jews. We know from his later encounter at the burning bush that Moses did not even know who Yahweh was, let alone who he might be in God’s plan. In any instance, appealing to a worldly side of things is not normally an effective way to gain followership. If it does work, there is always a requirement for tangible proof of the position. If credibility is earned in a worldly action, it takes worldly actions to maintain the relationship. Using our experiences to say, “I’ve been there” is one thing. Using them to say you want to be a part of their group, or to lead a group is wholly another.
Sharing a testimony of experience and showing how God delivers is refreshing. Sharing in the debauchery and then trying to say we may be above the fray or in some way detached from it will never work. We should never think that sin will justify us even before man. Credibility is earned by being different. Being contemporary just places you among the crowd.
II. Stephen intervenes in spirit
Moses thought that his efforts would be the beginning of freedom for the slaves (Acts 7:25). He thought this because of his position in the house of Pharaoh. Stephen is dependent upon someone else in his intervention. He is part of a spiritual existence alien to Moses, the Israelites and the Libertines.
Moses faced men who were angry over his actions. Stephen faced men angry over his words. Moses tried to reconcile the two men during a quarrel. He did so in the flesh, and was repaid with an answer from worldly Israelites in a worldly setting. They were spiteful in their challenge, “will you strike us down like you did the Egyptian?”
Stephen is trying to reconcile the challenges he faces with the council in Liberties by sharing the truth of the Messiah. He shares scripture with them, tells them of the great God we have, and even tells them what God told them in the wilderness, that they still lack faith. The Libertines were not afraid of Stephen; they did not even challenge him. They were white hot with anger, and in their flesh, sought to kill Stephen.
Moses takes action in the flesh. We noted above that Moses’ actions were based on physical altercation, but primarily they were actions taken with no spiritual desire, result or consideration. God and His desires were absent from Moses’ mind, heart and soul.
Moses argued from a position weakened by sin. Stephen argued from a position of great strength full of the Holy Spirit. Moses grieved at the spectacle of his fellow Israelites arguing about a murdered Egyptian, when Egyptians had killed so many Israelites. Egypt takes legal action against Moses as well as the arguments he receives from the Israelites. Not knowing God or His promises of deliverance, Moses did what unbelievers do. He took matters into his own hands.
Steven is in the same position in many ways. However, instead of taking matters into his own hands, Stephen makes an appeal to the souls of men through the Holy Spirit and permits men to choose for themselves whether they want a worldly existence or a spiritual existence. The religious leaders resent Stephen’s testimony. They are in the wrong. He is content in God; they are not. They do not know Him. The Libertine’s spirits are scorched with hate and tradition, worldliness and frustration. Stephen knew what God wanted him to do and he spoke of God’s promises to the people of Israel.
Moses appeals to these men as brethren, as Jews, as those devoted to the same religion. Stephen’s action is based on God’s testimony and promises in His word. Where Moses uses his worldly position and physical strength to force an issue, Stephen simply tells the council about God in the scriptures. Stephen has no social status, no physical prowess, nothing special at all to the world. All Stephen has is the things that all unbelievers lack, salvation in Christ, the Holy Spirit of God, and the promise of eternal life with Him.
Stephen takes action in the spirit. Stephen looked up and saw God’s glory in Heaven as the Holy Spirit filled him and he saw Jesus standing next to the Father. Regardless the circumstance, Stephen’s actions were born from a spiritual connection with God in Heaven while Moses’ actions were born purely of anger and hate. Though Moses survived his encounter and Stephen did not, one could easily argue that Steven fared far better.
How can we do right by one another? What does this passage teach us about virtue and character? If we learn anything from our passage, we quickly understand that operating in the flesh has dire consequences. It will do nothing for anyone. It will result in pain and suffering for both yourself, and those you want to help. All the efforts taken in the flesh were detrimental. Someone is going to be hurt. Whether it is the individual taking action or the individuals affected by the action cannot normally be determined. In fact, many times, both are injured in some way. The rightness or wrongness of the action is irrelevant.
Believers live spiritually in a physical world. We are supposed to operate from the spirit but our operations are effectual in a physical existence. To do right by one another we activate our lives spiritually and encourage one another spiritually, but our care and assistance is normally manifest physically. We suffer the effects of this dichotomy in our every day life because of our status as sojourners in a land of sin.
Believers are spiritual beings in a physical world. When we try to live physically, we cut off our life support. To do right, we must concentrate on the spiritual and let the physical actions we take develop from that part of our life. We are sojourners in this land because we do not walk the same paths as the worldly. We are not supposed to anyway. To do right by one another it must come from a spiritual drive, a connection with the Holy Spirit of God. We must seek His face and desire His Son’s influence in all our lives, and the lives of all those we encounter.
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