Jump Start # 1155

Acts 7:52 “Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.”

Our verse today are the indicting words spoken by Stephen that led the mob to rush him and kill him. They did exactly as he said. They did exactly what their fathers had done. Not only had they killed Jesus, they were now killing Stephen. Hebrews tells us that the prophets of old “were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated” (11:37).

There are several lessons here that we need to explore.

First, these prophets and spokesmen for God did not encourage this conduct. They did not have a “martyr complex.” They did not have a death wish. Some act that way. Some think being destitute is a sign of righteousness. They miss the point. Paul learned the secret of living in prosperity. These prophets suffered because that was the response and reaction to what they were saying. It wasn’t a choice. It wasn’t a “vow of poverty.” It wasn’t a sign of spirituality. It happened.

Second, God allowed it to happen. God’s spokesmen were ill-treated. That carried over to the apostles. They weren’t viewed as heroes. Paul told the Corinthians, “To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed and are roughly treated, and are homeless” (4:11). He adds, “we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things” (4:13). God didn’t shelter the apostles. He didn’t make it that they lived as modern rock-stars. They didn’t live in fine hotels. They weren’t escorted in limos. They didn’t have adorning fans falling at their feet. Just the opposite. And God allowed it. The prophets and apostles were messengers and tools of God. The emphasis was upon the message, not the messengers. Jeremiah was thrown in a pit of mud. James, the apostle, was executed. John the Baptist was beheaded. When their work was finished, so were they. The mistreatment of the prophets was not an indication of God’s displeasure nor perceived as punishment. They were glad to suffer because Jesus had suffered. In our verse today, Stephen asks, “Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?” The implied answer was ALL of them. They mistreated all of them.

Third, these prophets and apostles were killed by their own people. It wasn’t foreign armies that came and killed them. It wasn’t pagans that killed them. Nearly all were killed by people who were supposed to be followers of God. Their own brethren killed them. It was these people who had God’s law and God’s promises. It was these people that God had blessed. He led them out of Egypt and gave them deliverers. He was with them and protected them. Yet these same people, turned their backs on God and turned violent against God’s prophets. They didn’t like the message of the prophets. They didn’t want to hear what God was saying. Instead of changing, they silenced the messenger. They thought that would do away with it. It didn’t. God sent more and more prophets, until He finally sent His Son. This one they also killed. The very people who ought to embraced the prophets, were the ones who killed them.

Fourth, God’s prophets stayed the course. They remained true and spoke what God wanted. Ill-treated and rejected, they continued on with God. They did not look to themselves nor their own comfort, but to the glory of the Lord. They became true servants of the Most High.

Finally, two lessons for us. How do we treat messengers today who say things we do not like? This is not about someone teaching falsely. This is about someone challenging us to change, repent, or move closer to God. There are some topics that people do not like to hear, especially from a younger preacher. Far too many older, rough brethren get in the face of a young man who is trying his best to preach the will of God. Stubborn hearts will attack the messenger rather than look within themselves. Mean spirited brethren will get rid of the young preacher rather than get rid of the pride in their hearts. Shame on us when we do that. We are not much different than the crowd Stephen was speaking to. We ought to be holding up the hands of these young men who are courageous and fearless in preaching God’s eternal word. We ought to respect them and thank them for helping us see ourselves and showing us how to be right with God. Far too many young preachers quit because of the abuse from their own brethren. They come home at night, defeated, dejected and fearful of how they are going to survive financially, while arrogant and indifferent brethren take pride in “setting another one straight.” These young men are pouring their hearts into what they love. They become so discouraged because no one seems to want to hear the truth. There will be some reckoning at judgment for all these things. How do you respond when your toes have been stepped on? Are we “killing the prophets” today by running them off? Have we fallen into wanting teachers who tickle our ears and we have not even recognized that?

More importantly, how do we treat the message today? When the preacher shows us the wonderful value of worship, does it lead us to attending more, or are we set in our ways? When we are taught how to forgive, do we continue to hold grudges and refuse to forgive? How we treat the messenger is a reflection of how we treat the message. They killed Stephen because they killed the words he spoke. They hated him because they hated his message. God’s word is living. It causes and demands a response from us. It comforts us. It motivates us. It challenges us. It makes us look within. It causes us to come to our senses. It is there that we face changing our ways or getting rid of the message. This is the cause for some to stop attending. They don’t like what they hear. What they hear is truth, but they don’t want it nor like it. What is said is leading them to change and they like where they are at. So, they stop coming. So, they find a softer message at another church. So, they justify remaining in rebellion to God by saying, “That’s your interpretation. Mine’s different.” So the message is killed. The messenger is abused. And the crowd remains unchanged.

Is that us? Is that you? Is that me?

Which of the prophets did your fathers not kill? Stephen knew. God knew.

Roger