Speak Up Friends.

Acts 7:57            

“ When they cried out with a load voice, stopped their ears and ran at Him with one accord.”

Theme: Courage. Be a Witness Speaking-up!

Deuteronomy 31:6

“ Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

            The high priests were so angry at what Stephen for what he said, they screamed, they plugged their ears, and they all at once ran at him. When I read this I get a comical vision… Ever babysit a three-year-old? The respected high priest were acting very childish… They screamed, they plugged their ears; they ran at Stephen (I half expected them to hold their breath and stomp their feet). Children can be difficult at times, and for some people they are scary, but even though these people were acting as children. They still posted a great threat to Stephen.            

           

Now we have all gone to the grocery store and encountered the parent that is too scared to SPEAK-UP and reedman their kid. All is well until you hit the check out stand with all the candy bars and silly putty… “ Mom I want THIS!”… “No honey…” Wrong answer, the kid screamed, cries, publically humiliates their mom or dad (quite similar to high priests)… and eventually of fear of further embarrassment, the parent gives up and throws the snickers into the shopping cart. That kid learned that if he acts out long enough he will get what he wants. Because the parent didn’t have the courage to SPEAK-UP and express that NO MEANS NO!   

APPLICATION: Stephen wasn’t scared to tell the priest how it is. He verbally reprimanded them in the name of the Lord. He knew the long -term cost of not having the COURAGE to speak the truth, and he knew that it could be the end for him. It’s hard to stand-up for what is right. But things stay wrong and get worse when we don’t. DISCLAIMER: sometimes things get worse before they get better, teaching people the right thing after years of unruliness can be painful. But when we are doing the right thing by the Lord, He will bless you and keep you save. Don't be scared to turn on the light :)