The Story is not over UNTIL GOD RECEIVES the GLORY!
“When they had driven him out of the city,
(The Acts of the Apostles 7: 58-60 NASB)
they began stoning him;
and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.”
[This Saul—the persecutor of the early church,
This Saul—who would become a believer,
This Saul—who was also named Paul,
This same man—who became apostle Paul,
This same Paul—would write the Pauline letters comprising over half of the entire New Testament]
“They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said,
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”
Then falling on his knees,
he cried out with a loud voice,
“Lord, do not hold this sin against them!”
Having said this, he fell asleep.”
One day, on the day Jesus returns, there will be no solitary place NOR will there be a single person who will remain blind to the GLORY of ALMIGHTY GOD! As we wait for that day to arrive, the day Jesus will return for those who believe & trust & place their faith in HIM, we will face persecution, opposition, and trying times as we walk, led by His Holy Spirit. It is a promise of God, but we are also promised, that if we remain in HIM, then HE will abide in us.
JESUS IS OUR EMMANUEL!
The death of the first deacon, Stephen, is a remarkable reminder of this truth—
GOD IS AT WORK IN THIS WORLD!
- Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit (verse 55).
- Stephen saw the glory of God (verse 56)
- Stephen even clearly gazed into heaven (while he remained alive) and saw Jesus, “the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (verse 56)
- Stephen’s faith enraged those surrounding him, so they became intent to kill him (verses 57-58)
- Stephen knew he was soon to go home & Stephen knew the lost surrounding him, throwing rocks at him did not fully understand their sin of unbelief.
- Stephen’s last request, his last prayer, was an intercessory prayer for those surrounding him, throwing rocks at him, attempting to kill him (verse 60).
- Stephen was miraculously given sleep, given peace, while violence raged all around him (verse 60).
The story (of the world) is not over UNTIL GOD RECEIVES the GLORY!
May we who believe in, who place our trust in HIM—remember always—
GOD CAN BRING GOOD FROM ANY SITUATION!
If we have read the Bible, then we have heard of a man named Saul. Not long ago, a man said to me: “I just don’t believe in the Pauline letters.” This man, who said these words to me, was not speaking the truth, for the historical record of the Bible recounts how a man named Saul—
- Accepted the truth of Jesus.
- Believed in what Jesus did on the cross and in the tomb. &
- Confessed Jesus one day long ago.
This Jewish man, Saul, did this while on his journey to Damascus, intent to persecute the church, the believers, even more.
GOD INTENDED ANOTHER OUTCOME!
May we who believe in, who place our trust in HIM—remember always—
GOD CAN USE EVEN PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH TO FURTHER THE SPREAD OF HIS GOSPEL!
“But the Lord said to him,
(The Acts of the Apostles 9: 15-16 NASB)
[the Lord spoke directly to a man named Ananias,
a believer sent to help Saul in his blindness]
“Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine,
to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
- We long for a world—where hate does not rule.
- We long for a universe—where peace exists.
- We long for a workplace—where our colleagues know Jesus as their Savior.
- We long for a home—where all of our children become believers in Jesus.
- We long for a community—where our neighbors have accepted Jesus as their Lord.
We pray for this.
We testify & witness because of this longing.
We will not give up the work our Father has given to us.
The Great Commission spoken to & given by the Son of God to His disciples was spoken—
- Before Jesus died on the cross,
- Before Jesus was buried in the tomb
- Before God raised Jesus to new life &
- Before Jesus ascended back to heaven.
One day, sooner rather than later, JESUS WILL RETURN TO EARTH, TO RAPTURE HIS CHURCH.
On that day Jesus returns—
- There will be no solitary place. NOR
- Will there be a single person who will remain blind
to the GLORY of ALMIGHTY GOD!
The Story is not over UNTIL GOD RECEIVES the GLORY!
May we who believe in, who place our trust in HIM always recall the Promises of our Father found within His Word.
“No longer will you have the sun for light by day,
(The Book of Isaiah 60: 19-20 NASB)
Nor for brightness will the moon give you light;
But you will have the LORD for an everlasting light,
And your God for your glory.
Your sun will no longer set,
Nor will your moon wane;
For you will have the LORD for an everlasting light,
And the days of your mourning will be over.”