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Acts 7: 59
“While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Now we know why Jesus was standing. He was standing to bring Stephen home.
Everyone who dies in the Lord no matter how terrible the death are brought home by Jesus.
Death comes to us all. It has various different forms and today many will go through the valley of the shadow of death and it will be incredibly painful. Whilst being killed Stephen prayed.
Why did he pray that prayer? He was confident where he was going. He knew this life is not the end of it all. He knew his painful death was only a vehicle into something beautiful.
His body would soon lay battered and broken on the earth but his spirit would go on.
One day Jesus will stand up for you and you will be making your final prayer, “receive my spirit” and He will. You will be home.

Don’t give up on a young person

Acts 7:58
“dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.”

Meanwhile …. a young man named Saul.
Already a leading Pharisee, responsible for the stoning of the church’s first martyr and subsequent persecution onslaught. His name is Saul.
He saw every stone hit Stephen. He sanctioned the stoning, making sure it was done correctly, absolutely. This was not punishment, there was only one outcome from this.
He was just a young man.
Some young people look like their future is inevitable.
They are already involved in things that are outrageous.
Their backs are against God even those who think they are doing okay.
Never write off young people. How they start isn’t always how they finish. You know the story. What God did God is still doing!

Acts 7:57

“At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,”

Some people don’t listen.
Some people are all noise.
Some people get violent.
They are usually the people who have lost the argument.

Look

Acts 7:56
“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Stephen invites them to look. To see what he is seeing. But they were not for looking into heaven. Though heaven was open and Jesus was standing in the throne room, only Stephen was seeing.
Those in a fury of rage will never see what Stephen sees.
They can occupy the hierarchy, they can have many people looking at them through glassy eyes of envy, but they may not have good eyesight. They may be professionals of their industry, strategic leaders bringing strategic insights, working the seminar circuits of life having seen the world more than any other, but they cannot see what Stephen saw.
Better a poor man who can see heaven open than a rich man whose worldview is the earth.
One of the reasons for blindness is rage. It blinds you to heaven for you are so focused on seeking justice for how you were wronged, what has been said about you. Your opinions weigh you down into the mud and you cannot see when your head is not lifted.
This Earth is not everything. It will pass away. Be careful with your anger, don’t let it consume you.
Take your eyes off what people have done and lift them up today. Heaven is open, Jesus is waiting. He is standing waiting for you.

What are you facing?

Acts 7:55
“But 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.”

When people are raging at you where do you look?
Like a stormy sea do you look at the waves?
Stephen didn’t look at the animal fury of the religious leaders.
He looked up to heaven.
At the hands of your persecutors will you be intimidated by their face as they shake their fists at you?
How do those who are imprisoned, mistreated, beaten and killed face their enemy? What does the suffering Church teach us?
I believe it is not to face your enemy but to look up.
Stephen looked up and saw. He didn’t see the anger of men but the glory of God and Jesus standing in the throne room.
What are you facing today?
Make sure it is heaven.

Animal fury
Acts 7: 54

When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.

They were not offended by what Stephen had said. That’s not what brought on their fury. It was the fact they knew he was right. They were cornered, trapped like a wild dog perhaps dangerously afraid but willing right now to bring an uncontrollable defence. Wiling to even eat him alive. They want rid of him. They are either harmed further by the truth or they harm.
Being a truth-sayer is dangerous. You can get yourself into hot water. Choosing not to be silent can cause very loud voices to come towards you. The truth will cost you.

‘The Church on The Ocean’ is a captivating story that builds a bridge between everyday life and mission. As we journey through the life of Surf Church in Hossegor, a realistic and God-empowered picture is painted of what it looks like to surrender each day to Him and build His kingdom, wherever we are placed. Rich, Regi and the family are close to our hearts here at Elim Missions, they are part of our Elim family, and it is such a joy that others can now share in their journey as they surrender everything for the God they serve and the people they love. Church planting is always a leap of faith but, as this film shows, its fruit is everlasting.
Watch this fantastic film by Sarah Cogdon now http://www.thechurchontheocean.com/watch #filmreview #surfchurch #thechurchontheocean http://ow.ly/i/j6I2a

#Prayerline It was a joy for Paul Hudson to speak at the induction service for our fantastic missionaries Martin and Rebeca Davison. Although we are sad to no longer have them on the Elim Missions team, we are overjoyed that they have been placed and that they feel called to carry on God’s work, here in the UK. We pray for them in this new season and we are excited to hear of what God is going to do through them in Yate. http://elim.im/prayerline http://ow.ly/i/j4evI

Lots and lots of angels

Acts 7:53
“you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it.”

When God came to Mt Sinai with the law He came with angels.
Stephen was challenging the religious leaders saying not only have they rejected the Righteous One but they have disobeyed the law of God that they are idolising in so many ways.

When God comes He can come in an unrecognisable way, vulnerable and in weakness. He came as a baby.
But when God comes He can also come with power and strength, loud and bright. Look at this verse showing how He came with the law in Mt Sinai:

The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary. Psalm 68:17

Tens of thousands and thousands of thousands! That’s a huge number! Look at these verses:-

Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones. Jude 1:14

A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were open. Daniel 7:10

God has much at His disposal. He has a vast army. He is strong, powerful, awesome God. We cannot see that number, it is infinite.
Let’s magnify our God today. We cannot make Him bigger but we can see Him bigger.

I’m hurt

Acts 7:52
“Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him-”

Throughout history those who speak for God and are sent from Him have been killed, they still are.
Throughout history those who believe in God have done the killing, they still do.
A lot is done in the name of God.
There’s a lot of hurt inflicted by people who believe they are right.
But the amazing thing is God works despite people and turning everything into good. The greatest hurt was not only to the forerunners of the Righteous One (Jesus) but the murdering of Him. But we know God was in control.
Has someone hurt you?
They did it throughout history. It’s okay. God is in control.