How to die well 2: Lessons from the first Christian Martyr
Text Acts 7:54-60 Time 07 09 08 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church
John Calvin once said “We may positively state that nobody has made any progress in the school of Christ, unless he cheerfully looks forward towards the day of his death, and towards the day of the final resurrection.”
Negatively the notoriously wicked Cesar Borgia said near the end of his life "I have provided, in the course of my life, for everything except death; and now, alas! I am to die, although entirely unprepared!"
We began to look last week at this question of how to die well. I want us to explore it a little further this week. Death will come to us all. We can defy gravity but not the grave! We must always be ready. As J C Ryle once said “Nothing in the whole history of a man is so important as his end”.
We mentioned last week the medieval Ars moriendi or 'Craft of dying'. It consists of six chapters
1. The first explains that dying has a good side, and serves to console the dying man that death is not something to be afraid of.
2. The second outlines the five temptations that beset a dying man, and how to avoid them. These are lack of faith, despair, impatience, spiritual pride and avarice (greed).
3. The third lists the seven questions to ask a dying man, along with consolation available to him through the redemptive powers of Christ's love.
4. The fourth expresses the need to imitate Christ's life.
5. The fifth addresses the friends and family, outlining the general rules of behaviour at the deathbed.
6. The sixth includes appropriate prayers to be said for a dying man.
Books like that can be a help to us but we are best to go to the Bible itself for help on how to die well. Psalm 37:37 says Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace. In that spirit we looked last week at the case of the dying thief. This week I want us to consider Stephen the first Christian martyr. Stephen, you may know, was an early Jewish believer who belonged to the church in Jerusalem. Early on there was a dispute over the distribution of food to the widows and it was decided to appoint 7 deacons to deal with it. In the list given in Acts 6:5 the first of these and the one who is singled out for comment is Stephen. In Chapter 6 Luke goes on to explain (6:8) how Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people and how a dispute arose with the Jews leading eventually to the Jews (6:11) secretly persuading some men to say, We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God. Stephen is then seized and dragged before the Sanhedrin or Ruling Council where he stands falsely accused. He then gives the wonderful sermon that takes up most of Chapter 7. 7:54 When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. They then drag him outside the city to stone him. He suffers a vicious and violent and undeserved death. He is the first in a long line of Christian martyrs, a line that continues to this day. It is a possibility for every believer, although it is more likely for some than for others.
It is a good question to ask ourselves whether we are willing to be martyred? Another good question is – If being a Christian was against the law – would there be enough evidence to convict you?
Stephen's death was an unusual one in many ways but I want us to consider it this morning as an example for us of how to die well, whether we die as martyrs or not.
1. Have a right relationship with the triune God
As you know God is a Trinity. Cf Shorter Catechism “There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.” Here in Acts 7 there is a reference to all three persons of the trinity.
See 55 - 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.
It is a reminder of how we ought to know the doctrine and how we ought to be in a right relationship with all three.
1. Be filled with the Spirit
It was typical of Stephen to be filled with the Spirit as we learn back in 6:5 Stephen was a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. It should be a habit with all of us who are believers. Pray daily to be filled with the Spirit. The command in Ephesians 5:18 is Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. There can be some confusion over this. Every Christian has the Holy Spirit. They have all been baptised in the Spirit. Nevertheless the extent to which we are under the Spirit's control can vary and so we must seek to be filled with the Spirit. This does not involve seeking an experience but seeking to be controlled entirely by the Spirit. It is the complete opposite of being drunk. If you take too much alcohol into your blood stream it leads to acts of debauchery. If you are full of the Spirit on the other hand it will lead to acts of holiness. The parallel verse in Colossians 3:16 speaks about letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly – being controlled then by the Word of God. We should seek to be filled with the Spirit at all times but it will be necessary when we face the last enemy – death! Death is the real test.
Down in the west end, as you know, there are many shows and plays. Those who put them on are concerned about what the critics say regarding their shows. On the first night the critics come and decide whether a play is good or bad. It can't be easy to face your critics. There are critics not just for plays and shows but for books, restaurants, hotels, schools, etc. What the critics don't write about is how well people die. There are obituaries but no critiques of the actual dying. But your death and mine will be watched – and there will be critics and the critic who counts most is God himself. What will he think? It's no wonder that death can be a fearful thing. What is the answer to such fears. The answer is that the believer needs to be gripped not by fear but by the Spirit as he is filed with his good influence. There is strength and help for every believer in the Spirit.
What a tremendous comfort here. None of us needs to face death alone. The Spirit will bring you through if you look to him. Do you have the Spirit? No? Seek him in Christ. Yes? Seek to be filled with the Spirit daily.
2. Contemplate the glory of God
Down in the west end, as you know, there are many shows and plays. Those who put them on are concerned about what the critics say regarding their shows. On the first night the critics come and decide whether a play is good or bad. It can't be easy to face your critics. There are critics not just for plays and shows but for books, restaurants, hotels, schools, etc. What the critics don't write about is how well people die. There are obituaries but no critiques of the actual dying. But your death and mine will be watched – and there will be critics and the critic who counts most is God himself. What will he think? It's no wonder that death can be a fearful thing. What is the answer to such fears. The answer is that the believer needs to be gripped not by fear but by the Spirit as he is filed with his good influence. There is strength and help for every believer in the Spirit.
What a tremendous comfort here. None of us needs to face death alone. The Spirit will bring you through if you look to him. Do you have the Spirit? No? Seek him in Christ. Yes? Seek to be filled with the Spirit daily.
2. Contemplate the glory of God
Stephen looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God. This was a spiritual revelation to a spiritual man no doubt but in a similar way we are to look to heaven at death. If we do we will see the glory of God. It is difficult to describe exactly what Stephen saw here but if we look to God in faith we will see something similar.
How often do you think of heaven? We ought to think of it more than we do. Do you love to learn of the glory of the place? Do you long to be there? If you ask the average person do they want to go to heaven they will say “yes” but strangely they seem to have little interest in it. If I know I'm going somewhere I like to get an idea of what it's going to be like – I get hold of the maps and the guide books. Some people are so earthly minded they will never be of any heavenly use.
In Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress Part 2 they are shown in the House of the Interpreter
How often do you think of heaven? We ought to think of it more than we do. Do you love to learn of the glory of the place? Do you long to be there? If you ask the average person do they want to go to heaven they will say “yes” but strangely they seem to have little interest in it. If I know I'm going somewhere I like to get an idea of what it's going to be like – I get hold of the maps and the guide books. Some people are so earthly minded they will never be of any heavenly use.
In Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress Part 2 they are shown in the House of the Interpreter
“a room where was a man that could look no way but downwards, with a muck-rake in his hand. There stood also one over his head with a celestial crown in his hand, and proffered him that crown for his muck-rake; but the man did neither look up nor regard, but raked to himself the straws, the small sticks, and dust of the floor.” Don't be like that foolish man.
3. See Jesus at God's right hand
3. See Jesus at God's right hand
What particularly moved Stephen was the sight of the Lord Jesus. 56 Look, he said, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. He not only believed but he saw Jesus not only risen and ascended but there at God's right hand ruling. As Jesus told his disciples he has gone to heaven to prepare a place for them. And now Stephen sees him – not as usually described, sitting but standing ready to welcome him into heaven. The only hope that any of us have of entering into heaven is through Jesus. Are you trusting in him? Are you looking to him? That is the only way to be saved, the only way to know victory in death. Jesus will you help you then, when you die, if you will trust in him now in life.
2. Commit everything to God
Stephen's vision clearly prepared him for his death. His accusers were so enraged with him that they felt there was no time for the due process of law. They simply dragged him off and had him stoned. Despite their rage Stephen remains calm throughout it all. He is calm and composed – serene. It is strikingly impressive. It is no wonder that it had the impact on Saul of Tarsus that it did, leading eventually to his conversion. How could Stephen maintain his composure in the face of death? In a word – Stephen simply committed it all to God. He is a model for us.
1. Commit your soul to God
He says Lord Jesus receive my Spirit. Death is the separation of the body and the invisible part of you, your soul or spirit. Stephen realises what is about to happen. They are going to kill his body which will remain here on earth. As for his soul – that is going to soar to heaven and so he commits it to God. In life he had committed himself to God and now at death he does the same thing. He does not pray 'Let me die' as the prophets Jonah and Elijah once did in very low moments. We are not to seek death but when it comes we are to follow the example of Stephen who is following the example of Christ and commit our souls to God. Now and at death, this is how we must proceed.
2. Commit those you leave behind to God
2. Commit those you leave behind to God
In Stephen's case those nearest to him at death were those who were actually killing him. Here he echoes Luke 23:34 (Father forgive them, etc) when he prays Lord, do not hold this sin against them. His great longing at death was not for vengeance on his enemies but that they might also know the Lord. It must be a great relief at death to be able to die with a forgiving spirit. It is likely only if we cultivate that spirit throughout our lives. Do you have a forgiving spirit? When you have been forgiven by God it is possible to have such a spirit.
3. Commit yourself to God
3. Commit yourself to God
Finally, we read how Stephen fell asleep. This phrase points to the perfect peace and calm he knew even in the midst of that very violent scene. How did he get that sense of calm? He had a right relationship to God and he had committed it all to him. Whether your death is violent or calm, sudden or by degrees, can you face it confidently? You can by the grace of God. Follow Stephen's example.
