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Stoning of Steven
hillsbororiver:
--- Quote from: gallenwalsh on January 04, 2010, 09:24:23 PM ---
On reading about the stoning of Steven it would seem that it was Christ himself in Steven that lead him to say and do what he did.
--- End quote ---
Hi GW,
As I read the first sentence in your post a few additional verses came to mind...
Acts 7:58 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.
Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Acts 7:60 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.
Acts 8:1 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.
Acts 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Acts 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Acts 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Peace,
Joe
Deborah-Leigh:
--- Quote ---Has any one out there really grown to the same point Steven did ? Is it possible, even expected of us?
--- End quote ---
Perhaps this can encourage you. :)
Excerpts from Rays conference 2009
Well, there are a lot of scriptures saying, if you don’t do this, if you don’t do it right, if you don’t keep on doing, if you don’t overcome, if you don’t endure, you’re not fit for the kingdom of God. Except you forsake husband, wife, family (Luke 14:26 ), everything you have and follow Me, you cannot be My disciple… that’s tough.
How many are sometimes bothered by such Scriptures and think that maybe we just won’t make it? We just won’t be acceptable to God? We fold every time a severe trial comes our way? You want to live godly, but you just can’t conquer some sins and then all these many Scriptures condemn you. Am I talking to anyone in this room?
It’s not a very peaceful or rewarding life living like this with so many uncertainties, is it? Never ever being quite certain as to where you stand with God. We see too many areas where we know we fall short and then we condemn ourselves.
It’s not very soothing to live a life like that, living in kind of fear and trepidation as to whether or not you are ever going to make it into this kingdom of God.
Maybe when He says “few,” what He really means is hardly any.
Well I want you all to leave this conference with a confidence from God that will enable you to live in peace with himself/herself. A feeling like you learned some stuff, some important stuff and I want you to leave the confidence with, that if God has begun a work in you, He will finish it. To be assured that you will be in the Kingdom of God and receive a reward. God did not call us to a life of uncertainty, doubt and frustration. Even if you fall, God is able to make you stand up.
So I gave you kind of the negative side. But there is a real positive side, isn’t there? The positive side is this; yes, you can’t fall away... you can’t look back… you can’t refuse to continue on… you can’t refuse to overcome the trials that are put before you. But if God is truly calling you, He won’t let you! That’s the good news. But even if He lets you fall, it will teach you a lesson, that we don’t have the strength to rely on ourselves.
...WE DON'T HAVE THE STRENGTH TO RELY ON OURSELVES... :o
Arc :)
mharrell08:
Concurring with Joe:
Matt 25:40 & 45 ...Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me [Jesus]....Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me [Jesus].
John 15:20 & I John 4:17 "Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also… Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He [Jesus] IS, SO ARE WE IN THE WORLD…"
Marques
daywalker:
Hello gallenwalsh:
LOVE isn't something that you can simply 'purchase' or 'find'... It is learned, and is something that grows.
Think of it this way... You can't plant a 100 year old apple tree. You first plant the seed, then water it and care for it, and prune it as it continues to grow out of the ground.
While it's true there is a lot of hatred and evil all around us--and sometimes it can be overwhelming--if you look harder, you will also see LOVE, and therefore GOD [God IS Love]. I see Him everywhere, all the time. Whenever you witness someone helping another in need, you're seeing GOD [not 'literally' obviously, but His LOVE and Goodness shining through that person...].
..but if there were no evil in this world, then we would see no good either... If there were no bad people, then essentially, there would be no good people either.
God knew what He was doing when he put the "knowledge of good and evil" in the same tree.
Hope this helps. I know it's sometimes easier spoken than lived...
Christopher 8)
--- Quote from: gallenwalsh on January 04, 2010, 09:24:23 PM ---On reading about the stoning of Steven it would seem that it was Christ himself in Steven that lead him to say and do what he did. Why does the spirit not manifest itself TODAY in such a powerful way ? I have always wondered how it is possible to really LOVE your enemies, I do not believe it is humanly possible to do so. I myself have been persecuted and gave love for hate many times and it just wears you out no matter how patient you are and never ends well, there is way too much hatred in this world. Love does not overcome evil, they hate you even more for it.So what is the gain ? Has any one out there really grown to the same point Steven did ? Is it possible, even expected of us?
--- End quote ---
daywalker:
Nice catch, Joe!!
Marques thanks for the additional verses... ;)
--- Quote from: hillsbororiver on January 05, 2010, 07:29:18 AM ---
--- Quote from: gallenwalsh on January 04, 2010, 09:24:23 PM ---
On reading about the stoning of Steven it would seem that it was Christ himself in Steven that lead him to say and do what he did.
--- End quote ---
Hi GW,
As I read the first sentence in your post a few additional verses came to mind...
Acts 7:58 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.
Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Acts 7:60 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.
Acts 8:1 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.
Acts 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Acts 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Acts 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Peace,
Joe
--- End quote ---
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