Wed.’s Devo - Stephen’s Last Sermon

Read: Acts 7-8
Chapter seven is Stephen’s trial before the Sanhedrin. Stephen took them on a history lesson through their past. Reading it I realize that Abraham went and roamed a land that he was promised that was to be for him and his offspring. He traveled for years before he ever owned a single plot of it for himself. The first and only land he owned there was what he bought to bury Sarah in. It was a cave like the one Jesus was buried in. Abraham was told that his seed would be in bondage in that land for 400 years and then be delivered out. Each of the patriarchs were buried in that piece of land that Abraham bought.
Moses was raised up as their deliverer. He, like Jesus, was born in a day where the leader of the nation was killing Hebrew babies and like Jesus, he was preserved. After 40 years, Moses emmerged to deliver his people. Like Jesus, he was misunderstood and they rejected him. At this time Moses fled but Jesus died on the cross. When Moses came back it had been another 40 years. The people were now given another chance to be delivered. They almost missed that one too. They had a hard time accepting Moses as their deliverer. Moses spoke of Jesus and the deliverer that God would raise up like himself. He told them when he came to listen to him. Jesus was the one who spoke to Moses on the mountain and gave him the law. But the people rejected that law and went after the gods of the other nations. They sinned 40 years until Joshua finally led them into the promised land. Finally David arose who had the heart of God and understood that the tabernacle of God is within us. Solomon didn’t understand this and build God a house called the temple.
Then Stephen looked at them and asked them, “which of the prophets have our fathers not persecuted?” He explained to them that they have now killed the Messiah. That cost Stephen his life. He died seeing the kingdom of God coming and fell at the feet of Saul.
After this, persecution spread like wild-fire and so did the power of the Holy Spirit. People were being saved, delivered and healed and even sorcerers were coming into the kingdom.
Lord, this is our future. Let us be your witnesses to the ends of the earth.