October 24, 2004 9:00 a.m.

Tony Yim: Sermon

"Voice of Experience"

Acts 6.8-15; 7.54-60

Your choice of a surgeon, or a dentist, is tied to their experience level.
For instance, there was a woman whose tooth was causing a great deal of suffering. Since her regular dentist was on vacation, she tried ignoring the pain, but it started hurting unbearably.
She called an emergency dental service and they made an appointment with a dentist she had never seen before. To her dismay, the dentist was young-easily thirty years her junior. In fact, she couldn't believe he was old enough to be out of college, let alone have a degree in dentistry. After she had been told what kind of work was required and had been given an anesthetic, she finally said to the man, "You seem very young. How long have you been a dentist? As the dentist approached her with a drill in hand, he gave her a wink, revved his drill, and said, "You mean counting today?" (Steve May, The Story File, pp. 117-118.)
Early in the church's experience there was a person whose understanding of being a disciple was the exact opposite of the first Christian martyr, Stephen. Acts 8.9 introduces him this way: "Now a certain man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great." Simon's followers were loyal to him. Acts 8.10 shows this, "They all gave heed to him, from the least to the greatest saying, ‘This man is that power of God which is called Great.'"
However, when Philip, one of the seven chosen to help the twelve, brought the gospel to Samaria, many among Simon's followers were converted. And in time, Simon himself was baptized, because he was especially impressed with Philip's "signs and great miracles" (Acts 8.13).
When the conversions taking place in Samaria became known, the church acted. "Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them" (Acts 8.14). Peter and John were sent to confer the gift of the Holy Spirit upon the new believers in Samaria.
When this Simon the magician saw Peter's and John's ministry, it blew his mind! He wanted their gifts. Simon went to Peter and John and offered them money, "Give me also this power, that any one on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." (Acts 8.18) Simon wanted to buy into the ministry.
Peter rejected him: "Your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!" (Acts 8.19, 20). Simon mistakenly thought you could buy into the experience of being a disciple of God. Personally experiencing God in your life, calls for giving yourself to him.
Remember that dated film, Jurassic Park. There is a splendid moment in that movie, when internationally known paleontologist Allen Grant, who has devoted his life to the study of dinosaurs, suddenly comes face to face with real live prehistoric creatures. He falls to the ground, dumbstruck. The reason is obvious. It's one thing to piece together an informed but nonetheless imperfect image of dinosaurs by picking through fossils and bones. But to encounter an actual dinosaur! Well, there can be no comparison.
There is no comparison to the Voice of Experience.
Stephen had heard it. When he was brought before the judicial council, he was given a chance to defend himself. Instead, he took the offense. Stephen challenged the concept that God needed a fixed temple built for him. He denounced them: "You stiff-necked people, un-circumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute?" (Acts 7.51) Stephen said because they did the things of their fathers, their actions had led to the betrayal and murder of "the righteous One" (Acts 7.52).
Stephen's speech turned the judicial council into an enraged mob. Stephen fully realized what was about to happen, he saw a vision of heaven with "the Son of man [Jesus] standing at the right hand of God" (Acts 7.56). The mob seized Stephen and dragged him outside Jerusalem. They began stoning him.
Before the stoning of Stephen, at the crucifixion of Jesus, the mob, the chief priests and the scribes mocked Jesus dying on the cross. They said, "He saved others; he cannot save himself' (Mark 15.31). The rabble and the Jewish leadership misunderstood. Jesus didn't save himself, not because he couldn't, but because of who he was, Jesus, the Messiah. He stayed on the cross to save the world, not himself.
Stephen had heard Jesus' voice. "Father, forgive them: and "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit (Luke 23.34, 46). Thus, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" and "Lord, do not hold this sin against them" (Acts 7.59, 60).
Saul who hated Christians was there and heard Stephen pray. "And Saul approved of their killing him." (Acts 8.1) Later, on the road to Damascus, Saul met Jesus and became Paul.
As Saul's life underwent a transformation, others nearer to us in time have experienced the same. I'm uncertain whether you've ever heard of Elizabeth Pelenko? I did years ago at a lecture. Elizabeth was the daughter of a very wealthy Russian family. She was born in the troubled time of the Russian Revolution. It is the tumultuous setting of Boris Pasternak's novel Dr. Zhivago. Elizabeth was passionate. She threw herself in completely with the efforts of the Russian White Army. She was taken captive. Elizabeth cared for the sick and dying prisoners. And even the guards received her care.
Following those days, Elizabeth dropped out of sight. When she next appeared, it was in Paris. She was a nun. In fact, her energy and skills had promoted her to becoming the head of her convent.
World War II was underway and Elizabeth made many changes to the standing rules of the convent to meet the needs of those who came to her for help. Her colleagues warned her to go slow...not to be so head strong. Stop going it alone. But she told them, "I must go my own way."
It had become well known to Elizabeth and others, that the Nazis were practicing genocide. Elizabeth took steps to rescue as many Jews as she could.
Soon her convent was overflowing with Jewish men, women, and children, and everyone knew it. It wasn't long before Elizabeth and the Jews hiding in her convent were all arrested by the Gestapo.
Elizabeth was shipped to the women's holding camp at Ravensbruck. During this time, Elizabeth amazed everyone with her caring for the prisoners. She encouraged all of them to hold on. She prayed for them unceasingly.
In time, Elizabeth caught the attention of the German guards. And they referred to her as that "wonderful Russian nurse." It was clear there was no intention of ever harming Elizabeth.
One day, construction crews were brought into Ravensbruck. The women prisoners were told hot baths and showers were being built for them. But the true nature of these sites became apparent as victims were escorted into them and never seen again.
On this day, a group of women prisoners were lined up and being forced to enter a certain bath house. A young girl, frantic with fear, kept falling and crying as she was pushed closer and closer to the door to death.
Elizabeth heard and saw what the young girl was going through. She went to the young girl and put her arms around her and said, "There, there, stop crying, I'll take your place." Elizabeth Pelenko walked through that door and was never seen again. It was Good Friday, 1945. She saved others, but she could not save herself. She responded to the Voice of Experience.
An old story tells where a wealthy prince threw a great banquet. Each guest had a long spoon tied securely to one arm. The other arm was tied in back of them. A delicious dinner was served on the huge banquet tables. But the guests could not eat, and grumbling and unhappiness filled the hall.
Then one guest realized he could feed the person opposite him. Everyone followed suit, and soon the hall was filled with the sounds of joy and happiness as everyone ate their fill. That's the way it is, often what you can't do for yourself, you can do for others!
Once you hear the Voice of Experience and begin living it, you'll be blessed with overwhelming joy fulfilling John 5.30: "He must increase, but I must decrease." What an experience you'll have becoming more Christlike!