Living With Passion In 2011

This last Sunday I preached about...

How You and I Can Live With Passion In 2011?

I mentioned 7 areas from the life of Stephen...

1. Putting My Life In God’s Hands

Have you ever wondered what the most important thing in life is? I have, and one day someone asked Jesus this question, He responded by saying…

Jesus replied: " `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” Matthew 22:37 (NIV)

Coming from Jesus, this kinda seems like a no brainer, of course your supposed to love God. That’s something you would think that the bible would have to say. But to love him with all our heart, soul, and mind? Some people might respond, “Come on God, I love Jesus and all, but number to make him #1 seems a bit extreme don’t it. Besides I have a lot of other important things going on in my life right now. I am busy with my career, or I’m working on my relationships.

Let’s take a look at the life of Stephen read Act 6:1-7…

Acts 6:1-7 (NIV)
“In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.

Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.”

“Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom…They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit…” Acts 6:3&5b (NIV)

2. Accepting God’s Call On My Life

“Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)--Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.”
Acts 6:8-10 (NIV)

3. Serving God In Times of Opposition

“Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God."
So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses, who testified, "This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us." All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.” Acts 6:11-15 (NIV)

4. Seeking Truth Over Tradition

In Acts 7:1 the high priest asked him, “Are these charges true?”

From 7:2-34 the point of the speech is not obvious at all; we are simply given an account of the history of Israel
In Verse…
• 5…He speaks of Abraham’s promised descendents
• 6…How Israel would be taken as slave for 400 years
• v.8…How Gods promise would be fulfilled in his son
• v. 20…Moses is born
• v. 36…Moses leads them out of Egypt
• v. 40…disobedient and worship golden calf
• v. 45-47 reminds them of David and Soloman
• reminds them of their history

The result is found in Acts 7:51 (NIV)

"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Acts 7:51 (NIV)

Jesus said…"Why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God? Matthew 15:3 (NLT)

5. Increasing My Obedience Level

“Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him-- you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it."
Acts 7:52-53 (NIV)

“If people love me, they will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Those who do not love me do not obey my teaching.” John 14:23-24 (NCV)

6. Obeying God’s Lead

“When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." Acts 7:54-56 (NIV)

7. Never Doubting God’s Love.

You and I never have to doubt God’s love. If we do all we have to do is look at the cross. No matter what we face we can always trust God.

"At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:57-60 (NIV)

“Jesus said to the disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.’” Matthew 16:24 (NLT)

We can learn a lot from the life of Stephen...so let me ask you, will you live a life of passion in 2011?