Angel Face

Read: Acts 6:8-7:60

“Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking…But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him.” (v.6:8,10, 7:57)

Never underestimate how people will respond when their “being right” is challenged. It is never about the idea itself as much as it is about the deep sense of purpose and meaning that it is attached to it. As humans, we must have purpose and meaning… it is how God has designed us to function. As a result, being wrong cuts someone to the core. Although ideas are matters of the “head” what we really are clashing with are matters of the “gut”… or matters of the “heart”. To disagree with a person’s “core beliefs” is to challenge their very existence. Why do you think people are so willing to respond with violence when there is a disagreement? People actually feel threatened at a very personal level when they come face to face with something that tells them they are wrong. It calls into question their very reason for living!

We need not look far to see examples of this RIGHT NOW. We have political parties on both sides engaged in an all out war. It would be foolish to think this was driven purely by fiscal policies, taxation, legislation, or ideas about healthcare. All of those things are involved for sure, but what drives us to violence and all out attacks on one another is the way those things are tied to our purpose in life. The void of purpose in a person's life will be filled by something, otherwise they will take their own life or will themselves to die. There are plenty of fashion brands, sports teams, alumni associations, gadget companies, politicians, and the like that are more than happy to take advantage of this truth. (This is how you end up with a shirtless man in a pair of horns in the capital… or a band of looters smashing storefronts!) The real problem is that NONE OF THOSE THINGS ARE FIT TO FILL THIS ROLE… NONE OF THEM CAN TRULY GIVE LASTING MEANING AND PURPOSE.

The message of Christ - His “Gospel” - is at its core the one true declaration and fit message of purpose and meaning. This is what motivates Stephen, and this is what offends the “Freedmen, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia.” (v.6:9) There is nothing more powerful - or potentially threatening - than a man or woman on a mission and with a purpose. Stephen’s being “of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom” had been affirmed by the community. (v.6:3) He was empowered and unleashed to serve the community as a response to the concerns the Hellenist had brought to the disciples. (cf. 6:1-2) Now filled with the Spirit and with purpose, Stephen is ministering with undeniable power and authority - affirming exactly what Gamaliel had said previously: “if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” (v. 5:38) The empty wisdom of the world cannot stand up against the true wisdom and power of God born out in his people: "But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.” (v.6:10) Those offended would rather lie about Stephen and have him killed than admit they were wrong… than come face to face with the fact that they were living lives devoted and motivated by something that had no truth or power to give them true meaning and purpose. And Stephen- well he would rather BE killed than forfeit the truth of Christ and abandon his ultimate meaning and purpose in life. This is why he does not shrink back when accused, nor does he avoid speaking the truth that he knew would be offensive to his accusers. ONCE YOU COME FACE TO FACE WITH THE TRUTH - THE TRUE POWER OF CHRIST… THE EXPANDING WORK OF THE KINGDOM - YOU CAN NO LONGER REMAIN “NEUTRAL”. It will reveal you for who you truly are… and either DRAW YOU TOWARDS CHRIST or elicit violent, gutch-retching rejection. Sooner or later this time of decision will come.

“And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.” (v.6:15) What a weird sentence to describe Stephen in this moment. He has been literally transformed by the Lord. He is “glowing” his face is like an angel. Angels are messengers for God (among other things). Stephen was clearly a messenger from God. Everyone knew it. The crazy thing is… they still proceeded to persecute him. People can observe that you are working on behalf of God… and still reject you! In the midst of this rejection, Stephen is becoming closer and closer to the Lord. In the end, it will cost him his earthly life!

What are we living for? Truly? What is it that gives us meaning and purpose in this life? What are the “ideas” that make us so angry… and WHY do they anger us the way that they do? Can we handle being told we are wrong? Once the Lord anchors our “hearts” and “guts” in him… we can wrestle these other questions to the ground. God is working in us to make us “of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom”. When our meaning and purpose is anchored in Christ, then we will truly “shine” with “angel faces” in this world! (v.6:15) This is when we will also be “full of the Holy Spirit, gaz(ing) into heaven and (see) the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And (say), “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (v.7:55) How could we face the craziness of this world? How else could we endure persecution? How else could be FORGIVE. Look at Stephen’s final words before he dies: ““Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (v. 7:60) May we live more like Stephen and his example in 2021. May we shed any “alliance” or “association” (cf. such as being from “those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen”) that would put us in opposition to the TRUTH of what the Lord is proclaiming through us in this world. Love you guys. -JDP