Thoughts

Sometimes There Is A Cost 

I've mentioned several times that we should be bold and strong, and that we should follow the leading of the Holy Spirit when He tells us to speak up.

Well, that’s what Stephen did in chapter seven of Acts, and he became the first Christian martyr. 

He spoke the truth. In answering the religious leaders, he told them the entire history of the Jewish people, and he let them know that they were not on God’s side. Their reaction to this was predictable, was it not? In today’s jargon, they were offended. But instead of running off to their “safe space”, they had Stephen taken out and stoned to death.

Listen, being filled with the Holy Spirit is not a guarantee that speaking the truth to those who do not want to hear will not be offended. It’s no guarantee that you will not draw the wrath of people who would harm you.

Follow the Crowd Or Follow the Lord?

Jesus told us this. In the gospel of John, chapter 15, verses 18 and 19, He said, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.”

And He also said in Matthew 10:33, “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.”

So, who’s approval do you want? I would rather have the approval of Jesus.

The Aftermath of the Stoning of Stephen

Chapter eight begins where chapter seven leaves off. Stephen had been stoned to death because of his plain truth speaking to the religious leaders.

What happened after Stephen’s execution? The scripture says that “On that day widespread persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem and most believers, except the apostles, were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.”

And then a couple of verses later it says that “The believers who were scattered went from place to place, where they spread the word.” They didn’t cower in place. They didn’t shut up. Having seen what happened to Stephen, they knew what could happen. But they spread out and spread the word.

Now, I know that I might be starting to sound like a broken record, but I never know when someone new might be listening, and I don’t know what will be happening in the news when you hear this podcast. Christians are facing this kind of persecution today, as I record this. Most of us have heard reports and seen videos of the Islamic terrorist group ISIS killing Christians. Here in America, it’s nowhere near that bad…right now…but it is not outside the realm of possibility that it will happen here. 

Be encouraged by what the early church did, beloved. Be encouraged and know that what looks like defeat and disaster to the world is far from it in the eyes of Almighty God. Jesus has already won the war. What we are seeing today are the death throes of satan and his demons. 

The enemy Is Desperate

He knows that his time is running out. He wants to frighten people and keep them from following Jesus. Don’t fall for his lies. Don’t accept the defeat of denying Jesus. Kick the devil in the teeth and remain strong in your faith in Jesus Christ. Because there will come a day when EVERY knee will bow, and EVERY tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, including the master of lies himself.

Today's Bible Translation