THE HEAVENLY VISION

Sermon Notes, May 25, 2014

Rev. Dan White

Rev. White’s sermon was titled “The Heavenly Vision,” and was based on Acts 6:8-15 and Acts 7:54-60, the story of Stephen.  Rev. Dan mentioned others who had had a heavenly vision, among them John, on the Isle of Patmos, and Saul of Tarsus on his way to Damascus to arrest Christians, but he wanted to speak of Stephen’s heavenly vision.

In chapter 6, there was a church conflict: the Greek Jews were complaining to the Hebrew Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.  So the apostles chose seven men who were full of the Holy Spirit to take over this responsibility, allowing the apostles to give their attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word.  Stephen was one of the seven.  Stephen got the job of feeding the widows.  (He worked in the soup kitchen.) and he did a little preaching as well.  He was not a pew-sitter.

Verses 8-15 tell about Stephen’s ministry of grace and power, with wondrous signs and miracles.  There was opposition from the leaders of the synagogue, who stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law.  They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin.  Stephen preached to them, reviewing history and quoting scripture. 

Chapter 7, verses 54-60, tell about what Stephen saw as he was being stoned.  “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Saul was there, holding the coats of those who were stoning him.   Then Stephen prayed, asking the Lord Jesus to receive his spirit, and not to hold his stoning against the people.

Stephen and Saul did not work together.  Saul had already done the paperwork to get rid of Christians, but Saul saw the way Stephen gave his life.

Who would you give your life for?  Your husband, your wife, your children?  Jesus gave His life for you.  He wants us to give our lives for His kingdom.  No matter what your job is, you can be a witness for Him.  Love people—open doors, help with groceries; little things you might think are not important, God can use to draw people to Himself.  When one of God’s people is hurt, the rest can come to the rescue.  (Just as the fingers of his other hand came to the rescue of the thumb he smashed when trying to drive a new beam into place when he was repairing a roof.)  You can do something.