When JESUS Stands Up

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and . . . 

Whether you are a Christian or not, you will experience certain things in life. Number one, you will have an enemy who will try to attack you in some form or fashion. And number two, it will not always be easy to forgive or forget what a person has done to you. When JESUS Stands Up . . . https://godhasspokenministries.com/2023/01/19/when-you-belong-to-god/

The REAL Enemy

All believers in Jesus Christ should remember that the real enemy is the devil acting out in various ways through various means (even through people). I Peter 5:8 warns believers to, Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 

Throughout history, those who have confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior have been under attack. Such was the case with one of the first deacons in the early church. This deacon’s assignment was to make sure that food was distributed to the widows. While carrying out his responsibilities, Stephen also performed miracles that showed that God was with him. Unbelief in Jesus Christ and jealousy led some to try and stop Stephen’s work. When they were unable to stop his work, they resorted to telling lies. Their lies led to Stephen being put on trial by the Jewish leaders of that day. https://share.google/110rH6lGWbbUc4ftm

The Trial

Then the high priest asked Stephen, Are these accusations true?  Stephen replied, telling the history of the Jewish people, ending with these words, You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? . . . His words infuriated the Jewish leaders . . . but Stephen, full of the Holy [Ghost], gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God. He saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. When JESUS Stands Up . . .

Imagine that you are Stephen. Falsely accused and put on trial. You look up to heaven. And there you see Jesus. The Son of God is standing at the right hand of His Father, your Father. He is looking at you.

The GOD of PROTECTION

One comfort that the Christian has that the unbeliever does not have is that the God of the Bible is on his/her side. In other words, no matter what the situation is that you are in, God’s got you. You may be hunted down by your enemy. Your enemy may even get close enough to knock you down, but you will not stay down for long. God will help you get back up. We often don’t realize how close God is, and then we also forget that our God is the protector of His people. When JESUS Stands Up . . .

The TRUTH of the MATTER – Getting back to Stephen’s trial, did the leaders let him go? No, Stephen was stoned to death. He was the first martyr of the early Church.

But how could this be? Didn’t the Bible say that Stephen looked up and saw Jesus standing in heaven? Why didn’t Jesus send the angels or speak a word to save Stephen? Because – For Stephen, his purpose was to witness for Christ, then [to] die brutally in order that the Gospel [of Jesus Christ would] go forth. https://share.google/YwpH19znU1Cmy0dhU

Every believer has the responsibility to tell the message of salvation. However, each assignment will be carried out uniquely according to the plan of God. Will you have to go through some type of persecution? Maybe, maybe not? Just know that the enemy will try to stop you.

How will you react? Will you gaze steadily into heaven and see the glory of God? Will JESUS be able to Stand Up for you?

Scriptures: Acts 6 & 7; I Peter 5:8; II Corinthians 4:8-9

God Has Spoken Ministry (GHSM); Celebrating God: The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost! #GHSM