“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. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’”
When Stephen stood up for Christ, Christ stood up from His throne in heaven.
“At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.”
“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.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep.” [2]
This scene has been repeated innumerable times in innumerable ways since that day. “The world was not worthy of them.” [3] Heaven rejoices over them: “Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.’” [4]
Christ stood up for Stephen.
[1] Acts 7:55-56
[2] Acts 7:57-60
[3] Hebrews 11:38
[4] Revelation 14:13
The Lord gave Zechariah a vision of Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.
Praise God because the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”
Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”
Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.”
The angel of the Lord said to Joshua, “‘Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day. In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree,’ declares the Lord Almighty.’”
Jesus is the New Testament pronunciation of Joshua. Jesus took our sins, our filth upon Himself, so that He could save us from our sins. Jesus is the Branch of the Lord spoke of by the prophet Isaiah. Jesus is the one who removed the sin of the land in a single day. In Christ, neighbors come together in fellowship. Christ is the Chosen One and Anointed One to save us from Satan’s accusations and filth.
I have attached pictures to further illustrate the work of Christ.
Peter and John just healed a lame man in the Name of Jesus. The number of men who believed in Christ grew to about five thousand. “They [The religious leaders] were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.” [1]
The same guys who executed Jesus (Annas, Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family) began to interrogate Peter and John. [2]
The Holy Spirit filled Peter and he boldly declared in, “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead that this man stands before you healed.” He added, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” [3]
Here’s how the trial ended, “They commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.’ After further threats they let them go.” [4]
After being released, Peter and John went back to their own people and they raised their voices together in prayer to God. They concluded their prayer by saying, “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable Your servants to speak Your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” [5]
“They [those in the prayer meeting] were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” “God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.” [6]
There is One God and One Lord. Who is any government or person that he or she can silence God? God created and sustains the universe. Jesus Christ is Lord of all!
[1] Acts 3:6; 4:3-4
[2] Acts 4:5-6
[3] Acts 4:10, 12
[4] Acts 4:18-21
[5] Acts 4:29-30
[6] Acts 4:31, 33
On the day of Pentecost, Jews from every nation were gathered together in Jerusalem.
The Holy Spirit filled the disciples so that they began to speak in a tongue that people could understand. Peter preached the Gospel to them. When he was done, they asked him, “What shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” [1]
Repent in the original language means to change one’s mind. Repent is what Abraham (the father of the Jewish faith) did. He left Babylon. He forsook the idols that his parents worshiped. Abraham believed God, and God counted his faith as righteousness. [2] True worship of God is to trust Him and act on His Word.
On the day of Pentecost, Peter’s listeners heard God speaking and replied, “What shall we do.” [3] Peter told them to repent and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Be immersed in Christ. Receive the Holy Spirit!
The word for “church” in the original language of the New Testament is ekklesia. It means to be a “called out.” Like Abraham and like Peter’s listeners, turn from false religions and erroneous teachings. Turn towards the true and living God.
The Christian faith is a calling-out from the world by God to inherit Christ and all that He offers us. Christianity is faith in Christ lived-out by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
[1] Acts 2:37
[2] Genesis 15:6
[2] Acts 2:36
An evil king ruled the nation. He ruined the country’s economy and security. He persecuted the faithful servants of the Lord. Does that sound familiar?
What was Elijah's ministry strategy?
Elijah committed himself to the Lord. He trusted in God no matter what the blasphemous fool on the throne said or did. When the Lord told him to confront the king, he did. He confronted the king with God’s Word not his own.
“Then the word of the Lord came to him (Elijah), saying, ‘Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.’ So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith which flows into the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.” [1]
Later, the Lord told him to challenge the king’s 700 false prophets to a contest. The Lord turned the tide on that evil king and his false prophets. By a miracle of the Lord, the king’s 700 false prophets were executed that day.
Elijah did not just talk about faith in God, he had it. When an evil leader ruled his country, Elijah’s ministry strategy was to listen to and act on God’s Word. The Lord brought forth the victory.
[1] 1 Kings 17:2-6
“’Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.’
Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we know not where You go; and how can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by Me.’” [1]
What a wonderful promise! Jesus has went to His Father’s house to prepare a place for us so that we may be with Him forever.
Last night, a dream brought me to my knees. Sherry woke up and prayed as well. We prayed for as many people as came to mind.
In the dream, I was in a carnival setting, but I did not want to be there. As I tried to leave, the carnival people kept throwing snakes and candy at me. These things attached themselves to me so that I had to rip them off. In the dream, I did not think to call on the Lord. I tried to leave the place of torment in my own strength but could not escape.
When I woke up, I felt the chill of evil in the room, so that is when I rolled out of bed and onto my knees to pray. Sherry did too. Praise the Lord, as we prayed, Jesus rebuked the evil one. Then, we prayed for our children, grandchildren, parents, siblings, congregational members, neighbors, spiritual leaders, our nation, and the people of the world. We prayed that none would end up in the place of torment where there is no escape and where it is too late to be saved by JESUS.
Jesus has given a wonderful promise to everyone who believes in Him: an eternity with Him in His Father’s house. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life for everyone who believes.
“Lord Jesus, please help all who read this message to realize the value of Your great salvation, repent of sin, call upon Your Name, and follow You by living according to Your Word all their days.”
[1] John 14:1-6
“Jesus... was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray Me.’ Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom He spoke. He then lying on Jesus’ breast said to Him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is he to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it.’ And when He had dipped the sop, He gave it to Judas Iscariot.” [1]
“When the host would dip his piece of bread into the dish, and then give the sop to someone, that was very, very significant. The host or master of the house would give the sop to the person to whom he wanted to show his greatest love and esteem. He did that by dipping into the common dish and then placing the sop in the person’s mouth. In doing that, he would show to all those present, and to the person receiving the sop, the love and honor he had for him.
Jesus knew that Judas was about to betray him. Yet, there he sat, quite possibly in a position of honor at the meal, and Jesus gave him the sop.” [2]
Jesus extended grace, honor, and love to Judas. Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. He traded an eternity with God in paradise for earthly money that would only yield a momentary pleasure.
Jim Elliott once said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose.”
The eleven disciples who remained faithful to Jesus, though mistreated on earth, enjoy eternal feasting and joy unspeakable and full of glory with Christ in heaven.
“Lord Jesus, please pray for us that our faith will not fail in the hour that tries by fire. Please bring us to Your heavenly kingdom by keeping our faith in You strong.”
[1] John 13:21, 23-26
[2] Michael A. Verdicchio quote: confidenceandjoy.com
“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.” [1]
Of all the wonderful experiences that our loving doting Heavenly Father has granted me, being a husband, father and grandfather are roles that evoke much joy, love and singing from me. I find myself singing about Sherry, my wife, almost daily. Once, I even converted the national anthem into a love song to her. I enjoy seeing her smile. When I hear from one of our children or grandchildren, my day brightens, especially when we FaceTime.
The Heavenly Father has redeemed my life from the pit of sin and despair and granted me the blessing of delighting in being a doting husband, father, and grandfather.
“Thank You Heavenly Father for filling my life with rejoicing! Thank You for Your love. Thank You for sharing Your songs with me.”
Praise be to God our Father for His great love for us. Jesus is the expressed image of God. [2] If we have seen Jesus in the Gospels, we have seen the Father. [3] Jesus is the image of the invisible God. [4]
Think of how Jesus His Son did not defend Himself when the people preferred the murderer Barabbas before Him. How could God rejoice with joy and singing over such people?
Jesus did not defend Himself against those who hated Him because He wanted to save them. If He defended Himself, He could not save Barabbas. The criminal Barabbas in the Passion Story represents the human race. We all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. [5] “There is none righteous, no not one.” [6] We deserved to be hated not rejoiced over, but the Lord died for our sins because He loves us and wants to save us.
Our Heavenly Father is a doting Father... He delights to sing over us with joy. His promise still stands forgiveness of sins and renewal in His image if we believe in His Son. Christ still pours the pure love of the Holy Spirit into us as we trust in Him. [7]
In the power of the Holy Spirit, we too can rejoice with joy over people as our Heavenly Father does, Jesus took on our nature so that we can experience His divine nature by His grace. The joy of our Loving Doting Heavenly Father! Amen! Alleluia!
[1] Zephaniah 3:17
[2] Hebrews 1:3
[3] John 14:9
[4] Colossians 1:15
[5] Romans 3:23
[6] Romans 3:10
[7] Romans 5:5
