Acts 7:57-8:3 KJV
(57) Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with
one accord,
(58) And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their
clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
(59) And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit.
(60) And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their
charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
(1) And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great
persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered
abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
(2) And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
(3) As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men
and women committed them to prison.
The persecuted church is not knew to the world. Yet when did it begin it began
actually in the Old Testament with Jewish faith. Perhaps it is only fitting to say war
over religion is perhaps the stupidest reason to fight with a God has powerful has he
is. After all we serve a God with power that can squish an ant from heaven, send a
cyclone across the prairie out of season, and earthquake the size of the globe, and yet
God at this time does not demonstrate his wrath without cause. He has the power to
send manna from heaven, meat to us, yet we stand thinking war of faith will stop
people making sacrifices, people from hating or killing all in the name of God. Stephen
made a simple speech that the leaders did not agree with so they got angry enough to
stone him, to kill him and to begin to kill others that agreed with Stephen. Saul a
priest and a person in leadership saw Stephen stone, whether or not he had power to
stop it is unknown but from that day forward he began to persecute Christian. He
went from town to town killing, beating and jailing the church, not knowing what he
was doing was not of God. Jesus would speak personally to Saul and would blind Saul
so that he would have to think about what he was doing. He got saved and baptized
and received his sight again. It was a dramatic change for Saul.
When God allows a leader to die for his name another will rise up. Stephen was a good
man, and servant to all. He was a great man of faith and deserved not death. Yet his
words caused a war. A war that has been since the beginning of time when man first
rebelled against the truth of God’s word. God’s word is not about war. Things have
been done in the name of God that is not God. If God can destroy Sodom and
Gomorrah on his own, can he not destroy other areas of wickedness. Yet there is line
we draw when it break civil, towns, county, state, federal, international laws. Laws
that are designed to keep the world in check. Yet freedom of faith is not worldwide.
Christians are still persecuted. Christians do die. Yet Christians are victorious either
way. Christians have the hope of eternal life with Christ Jesus. The hope that is
assured in the heart of every believer from beginning to the end of faith. Yet faith
starts small as mustard seed as sin is remove the person soul. It grows to a living faith,
of prosperity of knowing Jesus will never leave or forsake you. As Stephen Cried out
he had a vision of Jesus. He knew he was going home, yet his home was assured and
hope of his vision spread among all that witnessed his death.
What makes your hope alive, you have the ability to reflex on where has God brought
you from the day of confession of faith in Christ Jesus and repentance of sin. Where
are you now, is your hope alive and assured. Jesus can change the life of even those
who persecute His people, but He wants to do so to glorify his name. The churches
persecution is not in vain. It is for a purpose. Allow God to take you through. If you
ever persecuted a Christian just repent, and turn your life over to Jesus. God will
forgive. He loves you too.
Dear Heavenly Father, breath the hope of faith in your children, despite the pain
some are going through around the world because of their belief in you. Help those in
harms way this very night and change the enemy for your glory. Testify who you are
Lord, so they will know your reality. In Jesus precious name, Amen.
