RELIGIOUS, BUT NOT RIGHT!

 Acts 6:8- Acts 7

 Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia was a large, bustling, wealthy city, built on the Cydnus River. The busy harbors brought ships loaded with all sorts of wonderful things from many different countries. The vast highways running east and west brought travelers and merchants to the loud, smelly markets. Markets of every description lined the streets of this important city. Also, people were sold like cattle in these same markets. This magnificent city of Tarsus, with a university, beautiful buildings, and a thriving harbor, was the boyhood home of a man that would write most of the New Testament. The sights and sounds of this amazing city must have left a deep impression on the young man named Saul.

 Tarsus realized the importance of higher education, and it's people were devoted to being well educated. Saul was no different. He studied under the greatest teacher of his day; Gamaliel. Saul was a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee. You see the Pharisees prided themselves on being fair, or righteous. They were determined to do everything exactly "fair, you see?" (Phar I See) They obeyed the law down to the last little dot. Saul was a devoted Pharisee.

 Saul was a Roman citizen by birth, and a devoted Jew by religion. Yet it was Jerusalem, the religious center, not Tarsus, where we catch our first glimpse of this fine, educated young Pharisee. In fact, our first glimpse of him takes place at a scene probably unlike what you might expect. Come with me to Jerusalem.

 The church was growing. Besides the twelve apostles, seven deacons were appointed. These deacons had the responsibility to distribute food and money to the poor. They took care of the business of the church. Stephen was a deacon. He was full of the Holy Ghost and faith. God used Stephen to perform miracles and wonders.

 Not everyone was happy about the wonderful miracles that Stephen did. Some devoted Jewish men from the local synagogue were furious. They argued with Stephen, but Stephen stood firmly that Jesus was the Messiah. They had to admit Stephen spoke wisely. There was just something different about Stephen, but his words didn't fit with their traditions. They couldn't accept Stephen's crazy new ideas. They hated Stephen's beliefs. They couldn't possibly believe that Jesus was the Messiah, so they tried to stop Stephen. They stirred up a mob against him. With the council's approval Stephen was brought before the council to defend himself. Witnesses were told to tell lies on Stephen so he would be convicted by the council.

 "This man is always cursing this holy temple and the law. If I've heard him say it once, I've heard him say it a hundred times that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this temple and change the customs that Moses gave us."

 The council looked from this liar to Stephen. Instead of looking pale with fright or crying for mercy, Stephen's face looked like an angel's. It was time for Stephen to defend himself. What a sermon this little deacon preached. He started with Abraham and moved through their Jewish history that he knew so well. He reminded them of Moses' words, "You won't listen to me, but God will raise up a man that you will listen to his words." He closed his sermon with  "Why do you resist the Holy Ghost as your fathers did?"

 The words Stephen spoke was like a sword cutting through their hearts. They must have known he was right, but they didn't want to change. They didn't want to accept his words, instead they were furious with Stephen. They gritted their teeth at Stephen. They drug him outside the city, where they yanked off their coats and gave them to a young man to hold while they prepared to stone Stephen to death.

 Stephen still full of the Holy Ghost looked up to heaven. God pulled back the curtain for Stephen to look inside. He saw the glory of God and Jesus sitting on God's right hand. Stephen was so excited he had to tell them. "Oh people, I see the heaven's opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."

 They yelled to the top of their lungs and stuck their fingers in their ears like two year olds. Their screams were loud and angry. The dust swirled wildly as they hurled stone after stone at Stephen. Stephen was praying the whole time. Then he knelt and prayed "Lord, don't lay this sin to their charge." When he finished praying he fell asleep.

 Saul was the young man holding the coats of the men stoning Stephen. He wanted to see Stephen stoned. You see, Saul was religious, but not righteous. He knew the law, but not the lawgiver. He thought he fought for God, but He fought against Him. It's not enough to be religious, you must have Jesus in your heart. It's not enough to know about the Bible, you must have Jesus living inside. Jesus is the only way to be saved.