WALKING THE HARD ROAD!
Acts 6-8
INTRODUCTION:
Have you ever found yourself asking, “Why is following Jesus so hard sometimes?”
Maybe you thought that saying “yes” to God would make the road smoother—but instead, it seems like life got harder. The opposition increased. Relationships got strained. Opportunities dried up. And now you’re wondering, “Is this what faithfulness looks like?”
The truth is, faith doesn’t always take the easy path. Sometimes, obedience leads us right into difficulty. And if you’ve ever felt like doing the right thing actually made things worse before they got better—you’re not alone. You’re in good company. You’re walking the same road as Stephen.
In Acts chapters 6 through 8, we meet a man who walked that hard road with courage and conviction. Stephen was chosen to serve, empowered to minister, and bold in proclaiming the truth. Stephen wasn’t a pastor or an apostle—he was a servant. A man chosen to distribute food and care for the overlooked. But because he was full of the Holy Spirit, his influence grew, and so did the opposition.But rather than applause, he received accusations. Rather than safety, he was met with stones. His story is gripping—not just because of how it ends—but because of what it reveals: that God’s glory often shines brightest in our darkest trials.
And yet, the story doesn’t end with his death. In fact, his faithful witness becomes a spark that ignites a gospel wildfire.
So today, if you find yourself on a hard road—misunderstood, rejected, weary, or discouraged—Stephen’s story has something to say to you. Because sometimes, the hard road is the holy road. And when we walk it with God, we walk it with purpose.
Let’s turn to Acts 6 and begin this journey together.
TRANSITION:
Throughout the Book of Acts, one thing becomes clear: following Jesus doesn’t exempt us from hardship—it often guarantees it. The early church was marked by both explosive growth and intense opposition. And while we are removed by centuries and culture, the call to faithfulness in the face of adversity is still very real.
Here in America, the “hard road” might look like social rejection, career limitations, or being labeled intolerant. But across the globe, believers are walking through prison doors, facing threats, and even laying down their lives for Christ. We must not ignore their witness—or the deeper call within our own hearts.
Acts 6–8 introduces us to Stephen, a man of godly character and Spirit-filled courage, whose life and death show us what it means to walk the hard road for Jesus.
So, what can Stephen’s story teach us today? When God calls us to the hard road—whether through suffering, loss, rejection, or obedience in difficulty—how do we walk it well?
Let’s look at three essential commitments we learn from Stephen and the believers in Acts 6–8:
MESSAGE:
1. Stay Full of the Right Things
“Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.” – Acts 6:8
Before Stephen was dragged into court or brought before the angry crowd, Scripture tells us what kind of man he was: full. Not full of resentment, fear, or pride—but full of grace, faith, power, wisdom, and the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:3–8). What he was filled with became the fuel that carried him through conflict and persecution.
This is where the hard road begins—not with the conflict itself, but with what’s inside us before the pressure comes. Because when the pressure is on, we don’t rise to the occasion—we default to the level of our formation.
Stephen had spent time with Jesus. He had cultivated a Spirit-filled life. So when the attacks came, his heart didn’t lash out. Instead, it radiated peace, conviction, and even compassion.
The greatest defense against external pressure is internal fullness.
If we’re not filled with God’s Spirit, we’ll be filled with something else—bitterness, fear, anxiety, self-preservation.
Application:
What are you full of today? Are you feeding your soul in the quiet moments so that you’ll have strength in the loud ones? Are you filled with the presence of God, or just full of opinions, stress, and empty noise?
But Stephen didn’t just live full—he spoke with boldness. And that boldness didn’t come from charisma or personality; it came from a deep conviction that truth is worth proclaiming—even when it costs everything.
2. Speak Boldly—Even When It Costs You
“You stiff-necked people! … You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!” – Acts 7:51
Stephen was brought before the Sanhedrin under false charges. But instead of defending himself, he preached Christ. He walked his accusers through Israel’s entire history—showing how their ancestors rejected God’s messengers over and over again. And then he connected the dots: You did it too. You crucified the Righteous One.
Those are not the words of someone trying to win favor. They’re the words of someone trying to tell the truth—no matter the outcome.
Stephen could have softened his words. He could have tried to save his reputation—or even his life. But he chose to speak what the Spirit gave him to say.
There will be moments in your life when silence feels safer—but obedience requires boldness.
God doesn’t call us to be reckless, but He does call us to be courageous.
Stephen’s boldness cost him everything. But it also brought him a vision of heaven. Acts 7:55 tells us he looked up and saw Jesus—not seated, as He’s usually described—but standing at the right hand of God. As if Jesus Himself stood to honor the one who refused to shrink back.
Application:
Is God asking you to speak? Maybe not in a courtroom, but in a conversation. A workplace. A relationship. Are you willing to risk comfort for obedience? When the moment comes, trust that the Spirit who filled Stephen will fill you too.
Of course, speaking boldly doesn’t always change people’s minds. In Stephen’s case, it enraged them. He was dragged outside the city and stoned. But even in death, he teaches us one more truth that every believer must hold onto when walking the hard road
3. Surrender the Outcome to God
“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.’” – Acts 7:59–60
Stephen’s final words mirror the words of Christ. He commits his spirit to Jesus, and he forgives those who are taking his life. That’s the fruit of someone who surrendered the outcome a long time ago.
Stephen didn’t know what his faithfulness would produce. He didn’t live to see the fruit. But we know the rest of the story. His death ignited persecution that scattered the church—and scattered seeds of revival. Acts 8:4 says the scattered believers preached the word wherever they went.
And standing in the crowd, overseeing Stephen’s execution, was a young man named Saul. The very man who would soon be knocked to the ground by the glory of Christ and become Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles.
When you surrender your outcome to God, He turns your faithfulness into a legacy.
Your sacrifice might feel unnoticed—but in God’s hands, it’s never wasted.
Application:
Maybe you’re walking through something right now and you can’t see what good is coming from it. Don’t give up. Don’t despair. Don’t assume that silence means God isn’t working. What looks like a tomb may actually be planting ground for something greater.
Stephen’s story isn’t just a memorial of suffering—it’s a model of Spirit-empowered living. A call to courage. A challenge to trust. And a reminder that the hard road is often the holy one.
Conclusion:
So let me ask you again: Are you walking a hard road today?
Maybe it’s not martyrdom—but it’s still painful. Maybe it’s rejection, misunderstanding, or the loneliness of obedience. The weight of doing what’s right when it would be easier to walk away.
Friend, don’t give up. Stephen’s story shows us that God sees. Jesus stands. And the road you’re on, if it’s marked by faithfulness, will always lead you closer to Him.
Be filled with the right things.
Speak boldly when He prompts you.
Surrender the outcome to the One who sees the end from the beginning.
Because when we walk the hard road with Jesus, we never walk it alone. And our obedience—no matter the cost—will never be in vain.
Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for the witness of Stephen—a man of courage, filled with Your Spirit, faithful to the end. Help us to walk the hard road well. Give us hearts that are full of Your presence, lips that speak Your truth, and lives that surrender every outcome to Your will. For those who are weary, strengthen them. For those who are discouraged, comfort them. And for all of us, keep our eyes on You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.