An Extra-Ordinary Life & Finish

Acts 6:1-7 (ESV) 1 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, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Introduction:

• The Extraordinary Life Of Stephen
• Today lets study the extraordinary life of ordinary man
• Most of us do not feel like there is anything too extraordinary aboutourselves.
• Thankfully God is in the business of using ordinary people to live extra-ordinary lives.
• Each of us are ordinary men and women doing our best, by the power of theHoly Spirit, to live for God each day.

1. Chosen to serve.

Acts 6:
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.
5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,

1.1.1. Stephen was an ordinary disciple living for God.

1.1.2. Full of faith & the Holy Spirit.
1.1.3. “Pick out from among you”
1.1.4. Known by the people.

1.1.5. Leaders need to be known by the people.

1.1.6. Yet chosen by God to do mighty works upon this earth. 1.2. God has chosen.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NKJV) 26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.

1.2.1. Not an Apostle or Pastor or Prophet but chosen to serve.
1.2.2. (Olive Tree Enhanced Strong’s Dictionary) God choosing whom he judged fit to receive his favours and separated from the rest of mankind to be peculiarly his own and to be attended continually by his gracious oversight

1.2.3. Full of faith and wisdom.

1.2.4. Producing A fruitful Life.

1.3. Stephen’s first responsibility was over food distribution – he was a soup kitchen manager.

Luke 16:10 (NKJV) He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

1.3.1. Do not despise the day of small beginnings.
1.4. Stephen was going to be a history maker………… but had he known what kind of history he was going to make…. would he have thought again on that day they laid hands on him.

1.4.1. His blood would be the first to be shed to pave the way for the innumerable martyrs to follow.

2. Lived an extra-ordinary life.

Acts 6: 8 (ESV) And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

Acts 6:10 (NKJV) And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

Acts 6:15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Acts 7:54-56 (NKJV) 54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being 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 said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

2.1. What does an extra-ordinary life look like?
2.1.1. An extraordinary life is a life that has a little extra than the ordinary. 2.1.2. Extra-ordinary = beyond what is usual, ordinary, regular, or established:
2.1.3. extraordinary costs.
2.1.4. Extraordinary in effort.
2.1.5. Extra ordinary in faithfulness.
2.1.6. Extra-ordinary in character,
2.1.7. Extra-ordinary in conviction.
2.1.8. God’s people respect you.
2.1.9. God’s people speak highly of your reputation, even if they do not agree with you.
2.1.10. Let’s do a self check… and ask your self the question “what kind of fruit is my life bearing”

2.2. The extraordinary life of Steven…
2.2.1. full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,

2.2.2. A life filled with grace.

“And Stephen, full of grace”

James 4:6 (ESV) But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

2.2.2.1. The longer we walk with Christ the more we recognize the working of His grace operates in our life.

2.2.3. Performed extraordinary signs and wonders.

“Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among the people”

2.2.4.Operated with extraordinary wisdom.

“10 And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake.”

2.2.5. Spoke with extraordinary boldness.
2.2.6. Acts 7:1Then the high priest said, “Are these things so?” 2 And he said, “Brethren and fathers, listen:

3. Stephen’s extraordinary finish

Acts 7:1-2 (NKJV) 1 Then the high priest said, “Are these things so?” 2 And he said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,

3.1. The sermon that got him killed.

3.1.1. “Are these things so”?

3.1.2. It had to cross through Stephen’s mind what this meant…

3.1.3. But he had to see this sermon through.
3.2. How you finish is more important than how you start.

Luke 14:28 (NKJV) For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—

3.2.1. Count the cost.

3.2.2. At what point tin the preaching of this message to Stephen full realize that to continue was going to get him killed.

3.2.3. Steven’s stand that day in the face of death was a catalyst for the explosion on the local church.

3.3. How is an extra-ordinary life measured:
3.3.1. An extraordinary life is measured not at the starting line but at the finish line.

2 Timothy 4:7 (ESV) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

3.3.2. An extra-ordinary life is not measured by if you come in first place but that you finish the race.

Mark 10:31 (ESV) But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

3.3.2.1. Many runners take off like a sprinter in a race that long.

3.3.2.2. To finish the race and to finish strong.
3.3.3. An extra-ordinary life is measured by the impact it has upon this earth beyond the life time of a person is on this earth.
3.3.4. Requires long term patience to slowly see it come to past.

Hebrews 6:11-12 (ESV) 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

3.3.4.1. It is seeing something that is not yet, being done.

3.4.An extra – ordinary finish requires resolve.

3.4.1. Stephen did not back down in the face of possible death.
3.4.2. Resolve = to come to a definite or earnest decision about; determine (to do something): I have resolved that I shall live to the full. To purpose in one’s heart.
3.4.3. Set our face as a flint.
3.4.4. Stephen preached the gospel until the very end. We run with the intent to finish.
3.5. An extraordinary finish requires a display of prayer and forgiveness.

Acts 7: 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice,“Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

3.5.1. Understand now that you will be done wrong to.
3.5.2. It appears that all who set their face as a flint and resolve to live for God in this world will be done wrong to.
3.5.3. The question is how will you handle it when it happens to you?

3.5.3.1. Will it be an opportunity to get offended at the person and feel justified for your offense.

3.5.3.2. Will you respond by getting upset with God and feeling like it is His fault.

3.5.3.3. Or will it be an opportunity to display extra-ordinary, enological forgiveness to the person or people who have done you wrong.

4. Stephen’s prayer for Saul

Acts 7:56-60 (NKJV) 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

4.1. What an audience Stephen served in ministry.
4.1.1. Those who needed to be fed.
4.1.2. Unto those who needed to be healed.
4.1.3. Then he was brought before the Pharisees those who needed to hear.
4.1.4. And lastly the one who needed prayer to be forgiven.

4.2. Why did Saul need to be there that day:
4.2.1. This was Saul’s firs witness to the Gospel. A man willing to give his life for it.
4.2.2. What a profound impact this must have had upon Saul.

4.2.3. So much so that from hat moment on Saul made it his life’s goal to exterminate all those of the sect.

4.2.4. Spurgeon – If Saul had not been there, Stephen would not have prayed for him; but Augustine says, in a sentence which is always quoted in every Commentary on the Acts that I have seem, “If Stephen had not prayed, Paul had never preached.” But Stephen’s prayer, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge,” was such a comprehensive plea for his murderers that I can well conceive of his fixing his tearful gaze upon that young man named Saul, and in his thoughts including him, in that petition, and beseeching the Lord not to lay it to his charge; and the Lord did not lay it to his charge, “because,” said he, “I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”I believe it was a good thing for Saul to be there, and I have sometimes thought, when I have heard a man swear in the street, “That is an awful thing; but if he had not done it, I should probably not have prayed for him.” I always make it a rule to pray for a man when I hear him swear, so, in that way, God may bring good out of evil. Take care, all of you who love the Lord, whenever you hear or see anybody doing that which is wrong, always to pray, for this is the way we are to be “the salt of the earth.” The salt is always to be put where the putridity begins.

4.3. There are rewards for strong finishers

2 Timothy 4:7 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

4.3.1. In sporting competition you do not get rewarded for almost finishing.

4.3.2. The rewards come to those who finish.

4.3.3. The greatest reward is to know that God was pleased with our life…

4.3.4. Jesus rose to His feet to applaud Steven.