A Prophet Shall the Lord Your God Raise Up Unto You -- Him Shall Ye Hear - Part 1127

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us -- looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God .. for consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin." (Hebrews 12:1-4)

Stephen, full of faith and power did great wonders and miracles among the people, and yet he was simply a table servant -- in the eyes of man. Indeed, Stephen was one of the disciples called by Jesus' chosen twelve -- a man of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, appointed over this business of serving tables. (Acts 6:1-5)

The reason for looking out seven men of honest report (of which Stephen was one) was to ensure that the apostles could give themselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the Word. (Acts 6:4)

"Whom they set before the apostles, and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them and the Word of God increased, and the number of disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen full of faith and power did great wonders and miracles among the people ... and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake." (Acts 6:6-10)

So false witnesses were set up so that Stephen could be brought before the council with trumped charges. "This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us." (Acts 6:14)

When the high priest asked Stephen, "Are these things so?" note Stephen's response. He referred them to the old covenant, speaking of the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness. He spoke of Abraham and how the God of glory appeared to him when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Char-ran.

"And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not [so much as] to set his foot on: yet He promised that He would give it to him for a possession and to his seed after him, when [as yet] he had no child. And God spake on this wise, "That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and intreat [them] evil four hundred years. "And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage, will I judge," saith God, "and after that shall they come forth and serve Me in this place." (Acts 7:1-7; Genesis  12:1; Acts 22:1; Genesis 15:14; Exodus 14:13-31; Exodus 3:12)

Stephen explained how He gave him the covenant of circumcision, how the patriarchs moved with envy sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions. Note here that God gave him "favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house." (Acts 7:10)

Stephen then speaks of Moses and how he wondered at the sight of an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. And as he drew near to behold it, and trembled when he heard the voice of the Lord come unto him saying, "I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." This same Moses whom they refused, saying, "Who made thee a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush, he brought them out, after that he had showed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness forty years.

"This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, "A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me, Him shall ye hear." (Acts 7:37; Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Matthew 17:5)

Stephen said, "Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen ... which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David -- who found favour before God and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob but Solomon built him an house." (Acts 7:44-47)

"Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands, as saith the prophet, "Heaven [is] my throne and earth [is] My footstool; what house will ye build Me?" saith the Lord, "or what is the place of My rest? Hath not My hand made all these things?" (Acts 7:49-50)

Then came the punchline. Stephen said, "Ye stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resit the Holy Ghost as your fathers, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers; who have received the law by the disposition of angels; and have not kept." (Acts 7:51-53)

"And Moses took the book of the covenant and read in the audience of the people and they said, "All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient." (Exodus 24:7) And Moses took the blood and sprinkled on the people and said, "Behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words." (Exodus 24:8)

But the people did not want to hear these things, being cut to the heart and thus, gnashed on him with teeth. But Stephen being full of the Holy Ghost looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and the son of man standing on the right hand of God, calling upon and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." (Acts 7:54-60)

Stephen reminded them of the old covenant scriptures that those in the temple should have already known. The temple priests who were responsible to teach the people of God's promises to them, and yet got angry when told of the very scriptures they purported to know. But instead -- much like many leaders in today's modern religious culture -- there are those ministers, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers who don't want to hear the good news gospel of Jesus the Christ. If they did, they would remain steadfast in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42)

And yes, that means that every new believer in Jesus by faith would be baptized in the precious name of Jesus, like the first 3,000 believers were on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:37-42)

"Then Peter [standing with the eleven] said unto them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38)

But that would make everyone equal in the body of Christ -- each and every one of  us saved by His love and mercy and Jesus as the Head of the Church -- no longer pursuing God's favour as they did in the old covenant, but eternally thankful for His abundant grace that covers one and all who believe in Jesus by faith. Those believers within the body of Christ who come to Jesus "with singleness of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people." (Acts 3:46)

Therefore, don't be led astray by those who diligently seek to keep us under old covenant teachings. Rather like Stephen, understand that the precious blood that ushered in the new testament was via the blood shed on the cross of Calvary. The blood shed by the King of kings and Lord of lords, so that we might experience His wonderful grace. Our Lord God and Saviour. Jesus -- whom is both Lord and Christ.

And in this current dispensation of grace? JESUS -- the ONLY name under heaven whereby men must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

Reach out to Jesus today. Ask Jesus to be Lord in your life today. Seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness through His Word and discover how much the same God who created man and woman in the beginning loved us enough to become our Saviour.

Let him that hath ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.