My awesome, Grandchildren, and Annika, Kaleigh, Kate, Gavin; whom I love and pray for every day: The early church was growing so rapidly that the widows were not always being taken care of so seven deacons were chosen and this, “…pleased the whole multitude. And they “…chose Stephen, a man full of faith…and power, did GREAT WONDERS and signs among the people.” (Acts 6:5, 8) Stephen was being used greatly of the Lord so, “…there arose some from the Synagogue…disputing with Stephen…they were not able to resist his wisdom…they came upon Stephen, seized him, and brought him to the council…And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as THE FACE OF AN ANGEL.” (Acts 6:9-12, 15) We must be very mindful of this because this is what God does for us when we are being OBEDIENTLY TO AND PLEASING HIM!!! Stephen spent the next fifty verses preaching a very thorough history how God blessed and kept His people and He closed with this remark, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers…” (Acts 7:51-52)
When the Sanhedrin heard this, they became very angry and they ground their teeth at Stephen. “But he was full of the Holy Spirit. He looked up to heaven and SAW GOD’S GLORY. He SAW JESUS STANDING AT GOD’S RIGHT HAND. “Look!” he said. “I see heaven open. The Son of Man is standing at God’s right hand.” When the Sanhedrin heard this, they covered their ears. They yelled at the top of their voices. They all rushed at him. They dragged him out of the city. They began to throw stones at him TO KILL HIM. The witnesses took off their coats. They placed them at the feet of a young man named Saul. While the members of the Sanhedrin were throwing stones at Stephen, he prayed. “Lord Jesus, RECEIVE MY SPIRIT,” he said. Then he fell on his knees. He cried out, “LORD! DON’T HOLD THIS SIN AGAINST THEM!” When he had said this, he died.” (Acts 7:54-60) This is something we must always remember, when we are in trouble, the Lord is STANDING BY ready to help us.
Notice: […We must understand that the bible says:] “…He looked up to heaven and SAW GOD’S GLORY. He SAW JESUS STANDING AT GOD’S RIGHT HAND.” !!!] That’s for you: Stephanie, Ethan, Camden, Olivia, Aidan, Landon, Kinsley, Annika, Kaleigh, Kate, Gavin…