First, on account of Christ, we are all called to
service. Let me read from just before our epistle text. Now
in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a
complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their
widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the
twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is
not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve
tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men
of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will
appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer
and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased
the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and
of the Holy Spirit
This is how we meet this Stephen, this is the first time he shows up.
And what is he? Oh, a man full of faith, a man who has the Holy
Spirit. What clearer sign is there that the events of Christmas have
impacted Stephen than this? Christ Jesus comes down and takes on
human flesh, and what do we see? Stephen now filled with faith and
the Holy Spirit. This is the result of Christmas and Christ’s
life, that Stephen knows who God is, that Stephen believes in the
Salvation won for Him by Christ Jesus, and that the Holy Spirit now
dwells in him.
On
account of this, Stephen is called into service. Stephen is asked,
“for the good of your fellow believers in Christ, please do this.
See that everyone is cared for fairly and kindly.” The faith that
Stephen has is put into action. Faith isn’t just some dead
possession, it’s not something that we keep on a bookshelf and dust
off every now and then. It is true life, it is love - and life and
love with God always involves action. Think of it this way. I’m
sure many of the kids here this morning got new toys yesterday, and
well, probably quite a few of us adults got new toys as well. So,
are these toys just kept in the box, oh, look, I have a toy, how
nice? No, they are played with, they are used. That’s the way it
is with faith and love. We aren’t supposed to just keep them
wrapped up, but rather we are to exercise our faith and love in the
service of others. Which is easier said than done, isn’t it? We
humans are the masters of the excuse, of dodging and shifting
responsibility. When it comes to service of others, all too often
our gut instinct is to avoid, to grumble, to wonder why someone else
isn’t doing this, isn’t helping out, why am I the one stuck with
this. There are times when our faith is an inconvenience to our
schedule, and we’d rather just stick it in the closet with that
gift our aunt gave us 7 years ago rather than actually use it. This
is the temptation we are to avoid and beat down. As Christians we
must remember that we are always going to be called into service,
called to show love to our neighbor, to reflect back the love that we
have received from Christ onto our neighbor. This is something that
Stephen does, and it is something which we ought to emulate.
Stephen
also demonstrates another aspect of the Christian life. On account
of Christ Jesus, we are called to Confess. In our text today we see
Stephen getting in trouble because he speaks plainly and clearly the
Word of God. Stephen has been preaching and performing miracles, but
the powers that be are upset, and so he is taken before the Jewish
rulers and called to account. And what does Stephen do? Does he
start playing the great game of cover my backside? Oh, this is all a
misunderstanding, there’s no big deal, just let me go. Things are
getting a little tense, a little hot in here, I had better stop what
I’m doing, drop it, and just roll away? No, that’s not what
Stephen does. We skip most of what Luke records for us in Acts 7,
but we get the end of it. Stephen preaches, Stephen rips back and
calls a spade and spade, giving them a good double barrel blast of
the law. And they kill him for it. They drag Stephen out, they pick
up rocks, and beat him to death.
So,
was Stephen foolish? Was he unwise? No. Stephen was full of faith
and the Holy Spirit. As Christians, as those who know who God is,
who have tasted His Salvation, we are called to proclaim, to speak
out the truth of God. Now, by this I’m not telling you all to get
your sandwich boards and stand out on on Court Street in Kankakee and
start screaming at passer-bys in cars. But when you are questioned,
when you are asked, “Who is this Jesus”, when one comes and
denies your Lord, your duty is to confess Christ, whatever the
consequences.
If
that isn’t a tough row to hoe I don’t know what is. Few things
are more scary, more terrifying than speaking. Think in your own
life apart from religion specifically. How many of you have things
that you would like to tell someone but are afraid to? Someone is
doing something wrong that hurts them, but. . . you just can’t say
it, because you might upset them. Someone could use some advice, you
have a recommendation. . .but what if they take it the wrong way.
All too often we don’t speak when we ought to. Instead of showing
love and care and service, instead of helping out, we say nothing.
Or worse than saying nothing, we talk and complain about how things
are and gossip to anyone and everyone except the person we ought to
talk to. We have that fear of someone becoming upset with us, and
that fear runs and rules our lives, not the love that we have from
Christ.
Fear
of speaking comes in even with good things. Who here hasn’t felt
their knees turn to jelly when you want to say something sweet and
romantic to someone? I’d wager that there are some guys here who
have been married quite a while who still ho and hum before they work
up the courage to tell their wives that they love them. Why then,
should we be surprised when we have to confront fear when speaking
the most wonderful words ever, speaking of Christ Jesus our Lord?
Being bold in your faith can be hard, it can be frightening. There
can and will be negative consequences in this life. If you doubt
that, look at the prophets, look at the Apostles, look at Stephen,
look at the cross itself. Nonetheless we are called to Confess, to
speak boldly about Christ and Him Crucified when the opportunity
presents itself.
So
how? So far this morning we have talked about many demands, much
law. I, a poor miserable sinner, am called to service which I
grumble about and do not do, I am called to confess Christ, and man,
there are times where I just back down and run away. What now?
Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the
Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit! What now is this. We remember
that the Christian faith is not primarily about what we do, but
rather it revolves around what Christ Jesus has done for you. Dear
friends, the Christ child does not remain idle, Jesus doesn’t just
keep a low profile. Rather, He grows and suffers and dies and rises
again. Why? So that He might call you to His side, that He might
send His Holy Spirit to call you by the Gospel and Enlighten you by
His gifts. At any and all times, we are to look to this, to remember
this fact. That God Himself calls us to be with Him. This is what
Stephen sees as he lie dying, as the life is pounded out of him.
Christ Jesus His Lord calling to Him, giving more and more
forgiveness, bringing more and more Salvation. Which is why Stephen
thinks to cry out “Lord, do not hold this
sin against them.”
Of course, because He sees Jesus, Jesus who is all about
forgiveness. When Stephen sees
Him, Jesus isn't up in heaven playing canasta with the prophets, He
there ruling at the Right Hand of God, dispensing forgiveness,
calling His servant Home.
God
constantly calls us as well. We are called by His Word to hear again
and receive again the forgiveness of our sin. He calls us to the
Altar, to His Supper, to receive His Body and Blood for the
strengthening of our faith. When we are burdened, when we see our
lack, which is great indeed, we are called to look at Christ and see
His love and Salvation, which is beyond anything else in the world.
By His Word God constantly strengthens us and refreshes us when the
world batters us down. Here in His house He gives us the gifts we
need so that we can go out into the world and live the lives of
service, the lives of confession that He calls us to. Here Christ
Jesus fills us again with faith by forgiveness, by preaching, by His
supper, so that we are kept strong and firm, so that we are picked up
whenever we stumble. Here in His House, we are gathered by Christ,
just like a mother hen gathers her chicks, and under His protective
wings we receive all that we need to grow in faith towards Him and in
fervent love towards one another. Here in His house the Christ Child
is at work for us, forgiving us and leading us.
And
so, dear friends, on this December night, we see who God is, who this
Babe of Bethlehem is. He is the God who calls us to service, the God
who calls us to confess him, but more than that, Jesus is the God who
constantly calls us to be with Him, to come to Him, and to receive
His blessings. God grant that in this coming year, we receive His
blessings and forgiveness often and richly, so that we would be
stirred up to works of love on earth, even until Christ Jesus our
Lord in mercy and love calls us unto life everlasting. In the Name
of Christ Jesus, our Newborn King. + Amen
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