THE TRIAL AND STONING OF STEPHEN...was, Coram Deo

"One must wonder as the crowd seethes under its own indictment: Will no one come to Stephen’s defense? Is there no one who will make a statement on his behalf against these charges? If the Sanhedrin thought Stephen stood alone in their courtroom, what happens next proves them to be dead wrong. Verse 55:

Acts 7:55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

We now know why Stephen’s face has been shining like Moses’ did on Mount Sinai. Stephen was not alone. This is no mere vision. At the end of his defense Stephen sees the exalted Christ standing at the right hand of God. Standing? Has not Peter already stated in Acts that Christ is seated? Christ is standing because it is the Advocate who stands in defense of the accused. Stephen has already referred to this advocate as The Righteous One, a designation that denotes Christ’s role as a mediator on behalf of His people before the Father. Stephen saw what John the Apostle wrote about when he said “we have an advocate, Jesus Christ, the Righteous. Stephen has been confessing Christ to the Sanhedrin. Now Christ confesses the preacher full of grace and power who had been doing signs and wonders among the people." -by Chad Bressen of "The Vossed World"

Read the biblical account
Acts 7:1 ¶ The high priest said, “Are these things so?”

Acts 7:2 ¶ And he said, “Hear me, brethren and fathers! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, Acts 7:3 and said to him, ‘LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR RELATIVES, AND COME INTO THE LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU.’ Acts 7:4 “Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living. Acts 7:5 “But He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground, and yet, even when he had no child, He promised that HE WOULD GIVE IT TO HIM AS A POSSESSION, AND TO HIS DESCENDANTS AFTER HIM. Acts 7:6 “But God spoke to this effect, that his DESCENDANTS WOULD BE ALIENS IN A FOREIGN LAND, AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ENSLAVED AND MISTREATED FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS. Acts 7:7 “‘AND WHATEVER NATION TO WHICH THEY WILL BE IN BONDAGE I MYSELF WILL JUDGE,’ said God, ‘AND AFTER THAT THEY WILL COME OUT AND SERVE ME IN THIS PLACE.’ Acts 7:8 “And He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

Acts 7:9 ¶ “The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him, Acts 7:10 and rescued him from all his afflictions, and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his household.

Acts 7:11 ¶ “Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction with it, and our fathers could find no food. Acts 7:12 “But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time. Acts 7:13 “On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family was disclosed to Pharaoh. Acts 7:14 “Then Joseph sent word and invited Jacob his father and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five persons in all. Acts 7:15 “And Jacob went down to Egypt and there he and our fathers died. Acts 7:16 “From there they were removed to Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

Acts 7:17 ¶ “But as the time of the promise was approaching which God had assured to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, Acts 7:18 until THERE AROSE ANOTHER KING OVER EGYPT WHO KNEW NOTHING ABOUT JOSEPH. Acts 7:19 “It was he who took shrewd advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive. Acts 7:20 “It was at this time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God, and he was nurtured three months in his father’s home. Acts 7:21 “And after he had been set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and nurtured him as her own son. Acts 7:22 “Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds. Acts 7:23 “But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel. Acts 7:24 “And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian. Acts 7:25 “And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him, but they did not understand. Acts 7:26 “On the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren, why do you injure one another?’ Acts 7:27 “But the one who was injuring his neighbor pushed him away, saying, ‘WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND JUDGE OVER US? Acts 7:28 ‘YOU DO NOT MEAN TO KILL ME AS YOU KILLED THE EGYPTIAN YESTERDAY, DO YOU?’ Acts 7:29 “At this remark, MOSES FLED AND BECAME AN ALIEN IN THE LAND OF MIDIAN, where he became the father of two sons.

Acts 7:30 ¶ “After forty years had passed, AN ANGEL APPEARED TO HIM IN THE WILDERNESS OF MOUNT Sinai, IN THE FLAME OF A BURNING THORN BUSH. Acts 7:31 “When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the Lord: Acts 7:32 ‘I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC AND JACOB.’ Moses shook with fear and would not venture to look. Acts 7:33 “BUT THE LORD SAID TO HIM, ‘TAKE OFF THE SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET, FOR THE PLACE ON WHICH YOU ARE STANDING IS HOLY GROUND. Acts 7:34 ‘I HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN THE OPPRESSION OF MY PEOPLE IN EGYPT AND HAVE HEARD THEIR GROANS, AND I HAVE COME DOWN TO RESCUE THEM; COME NOW, AND I WILL SEND YOU TO EGYPT.’

Acts 7:35 ¶ “This Moses whom they disowned, saying, ‘WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND A JUDGE?’ is the one whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the help of the angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush. Acts 7:36 “This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. Acts 7:37 “This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN.’ Acts 7:38 “This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you. Acts 7:39 “Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, Acts 7:40 SAYING TO AARON, ‘MAKE FOR US GODS WHO WILL GO BEFORE US; FOR THIS MOSES WHO LED US OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT—we do not know what happened to him.’ Acts 7:41 “At that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. Acts 7:42 “But God turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets,

‘IT WAS NOT TO ME THAT YOU OFFERED VICTIMS AND SACRIFICES FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS, WAS IT, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL?
Acts 7:43 ‘YOU ALSO TOOK ALONG THE TABERNACLE OF MOLOCH AND THE STAR OF THE GOD ROMPHA, THE IMAGES WHICH YOU MADE TO WORSHIP. I ALSO WILL REMOVE YOU BEYOND BABYLON.’

Acts 7:44 ¶ “Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen. Acts 7:45 “And having received it in their turn, our fathers brought it in with Joshua upon dispossessing the nations whom God drove out before our fathers, until the time of David. Acts 7:46 “David found favor in God’s sight, and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. Acts 7:47 “But it was Solomon who built a house for Him. Acts 7:48 “However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says:

Acts 7:49 ‘HEAVEN IS MY THRONE,
AND EARTH IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF MY FEET;
WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME?’ says the Lord,
‘OR WHAT PLACE IS THERE FOR MY REPOSE?
Acts 7:50 ‘WAS IT NOT MY HAND WHICH MADE ALL THESE THINGS?’

Acts 7:51 ¶ “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. 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; Acts 7:53 you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.”

Acts 7:54 ¶ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. Acts 7:55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; Acts 7:56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Acts 7:57 But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. Acts 7:58 When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. Acts 7:59 They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Acts 7:60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep. (NASB Update)

"PERSONAL OFFENSE" TRUMPS FREEDOM OF SPEECH & RELIGION IN CANADA...speaking the truth of God's Word is now hate speech and breaks the law

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself,

if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received

from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

-Acts 20:24

Are you as shocked by this as I am?  I truly hope so. Over the years, I have toured through every major city and several smaller towns in Canada. I like Canada.  I appreciate greatly the Canadian people and have always found them respectful, honest and hungry for the gospel. But Canada is in serious trouble ladies and gentlemen. It is going through a profound political meltdown concerning basic human rights, freedoms, and dignities; and in specific, how it is treating people of the Christian faith and their convictions on cultural values.  We are witnessing before our very eyes something I thought we would never see take place in Canada and that my friend Alan Kurschner has coined: "the criminalizing of Christianity." The low ebb is the turn of the tide; and Canada desperately needs spiritual revival, renewal and reformation.  The question remains, is the church in Canada prepared and ready to plow up the fallow ground and have the courage and biblical tenacity to seek the Lord for a great awakening? May we all pray to that end...

Freedom of speech and freedom of religion are becoming extinct in Canada these days. The current "rule of law" in Canada comes down to simply this: the right not to be offended by someone else's words now trumps the right of freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Did you hear that? Someone's individual right of "being offended" by someone else's words, now trumps the very freedom of speech and freedom of religion that gives us the right to be potentially "offended." And this intensifies dramatically if it is so in fact through the channels of faith the offense comes. Take for example Pastor Stephen Boissoin who was recently fined $7,000 by a Human Rights Commission in Canada because he publicly stated (very charitably mind you) the Scriptures disapproval of homosexuality (Rom. 1:18ff).

This is touching our shores here as well with the recent conversation of resurrecting The Fairness Doctrine. Liberalism is on the march throughout North America; and never mind you that when they speak out very vial things against say, Christianity and its faithful voices, it is not considered "hate speech" at all. But let Christians speak passionately, biblically, compassionately and kindly about the sin of homosexuality while showing respect to homosexuals in that conversation (1 Peter 3:15-16) - they cry foul. Truth is always the best defense against libel, slander, defamation of character, etc.. But, simply "being offended" is now the higher law that governs even the truth the speech itself when that speech is deemed offensive by the sandy logic of political correctness. And don't be fooled beloved, this could be the state of things here in the US too.

Quoting from The Declaration of Independence:

"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."

Those who have the ability to engender change, have the responsibility to engender change. IOW, we cannot turn a blind eye and deaf ear to this situation. We must act; and do so biblically for God's glory and for the good of our neighbor.

How should Christians deal with this issue?

Biblically: we always should obey God rather than man if government is commanding us to do something God prohibits; or is prohibiting us from doing something God commands (Acts 4; 1 Peter 2:13-17; 1 Cor. 9:16; Eph. 6:19-21). Should pastors be muzzled from preaching the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27) even if portions of it step on the politically correct toes of others? No! Should Christians cower under the pressure of incarceration or severe fines from honoring the Lord and His Word concerning issues of culture measured by what the Word of God clearly defines as reprobate? No! We should always speak the truth in love beloved; but speak the truth we must (Jude 3; 2 Tim. 4:1-2; Eph. 4:13-16). The gospel cannot be compromised for political expediency or to pacify personal timidity (2 Tim. 1:6-18).

Please watch the following six videos (I know, but they are brief) in a very helpful and riveting interview by Canadian talk show host Michael Coren; and publisher, journalist, lawyer Ezra Levant about this situation. Pray for boldness for the believers in Canada to speak with courage, love, and biblically to this situation. Pray for Pastor Boissoin for continued strength and provision for him and his family to fight the good fight of the faith. Pray for the members of the Canadian government and in specific the 14 HRC's scattered throughout its nation, for justice and rightness to return in their rulings, and if any of them do not know the Lord Jesus Christ unto salvation, that the God in His sovereign electing love would draw them to Jesus, give them the faith and grace to believe, through the regenerating ministry of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4-7). Pray also for Christians in media, like blogger Tim Challies, to stand up against the injustices of these Human Rights Commissions when the Christian faith is being compromised head on, with no thought of self or station in life.

A few closing words of encouragement:

"So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” -Acts 4:18-20

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. -Acts 5:27-33

The Cross Waves Higher Than the Flag,
Steve
2 Cor. 4:5-7

PS - Blogger Carla Rolfe has written a brief, yet excellent, post on this as well today. Make sure to check it out.