A Heavenly Welcome For a Martyr
“Who (Jesus Christ) is gone into Heaven, and is on the right Hand of God; Angels and authorities and powers being made subject to Him” (1 Peter 3:22).
The Lord Jesus, having been victorious at the Cross, is now seated on the Right Hand of the Father. He paid the sin debt for all mankind and rose victorious from the grave and is now highly exalted with Angels and authorities and powers being made subject to Him. Jesus spoke of this power after his Resurrection in the following verse:
“And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given to Me (by the Father) in Heaven and in Earth” (Matthew 28:18).
After his Resurrection the early church went forth in His Name. It is recorded in the Book of Acts that “many wonders and signs were done by the Apostles.” Great persecution came upon the church in Jerusalem with many believers arrested. Because of this there was great need among the believers and the first deacons were appointed because of the complaints of Grecian believers regarding the lack of care for their widows. The twelve Apostles appointed seven men regarding this need. One of the seven was Stephen.
Stephen was a man “full of faith and the Holy Spirit” and that he “did great wonders and miracles among the people.” Certain Jews in Jerusalem arose and began to dispute with Stephen. They were unable to “resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke.” The future Apostle Paul, then known as Saul, was among their number. They brought false witnesses against Stephen accusing him of saying things that he did not say.
Stephen defended himself, and the faith, with the longest recorded sermon in the Bible outside of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount and the Olivet Discourse. His words hit hard against the Jews and leaders who were present. The Bible said they were “cut to the heart.” and “gnashed on him with their teeth.” The Holy Spirit had them come face to face with the truth and their reaction to the Truth of God’s Word was to martyr Stephen. The Word says the following:
But he (Stephen) being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into Heaven, and saw the Glory of God, and Jesus standing on the Right Hand of God” (Acts 7:55).
They stoned Stephen, with Saul, the future Apostle Paul, witnessing and approving of this heinous act. The Lord Jesus Christ, seated at the Right Hand of God, stood to welcome His martyr home. What a picture!
We may experience persecution from those that claim to be Christians, but have not been born again. Just as the religious leaders of that day came against Stephen for responding to their threats with the Word of God; we too are to stand upon the Word of God. It may bring persecution or even martyrdom as it did Stephen, but we will be standing on the Truth and we will see the Glory of God and our blessed Savior when our days here are complete. We can rejoice in this knowledge today and eagerly await the Lord’s coming for His church in the Rapture.
The Lord loves us and died for us on the Cross. We acknowledge that love and are born into the Kingdom of God by repenting of our sins and placing our faith in His sacrificial death at Calvary. He loves us and awaits are being with Him for eternity when are life here is done. The Bible tells us that “absence from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Yes, when we do pass from this life, we will immediately be in the presence of the Lord. And yes, should we be here at the time of His return for the church we will be “raptured”without experiencing natural death and we will be with the Lord forever. We’ll close with the Words of our Lord in the Gospel of John. He spoke these words just prior to His Crucifixion and they contain a great promise for all who love Him and are alive at the time of his return.
“As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that He lay down his life for his friends. In My Father’s House are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself” (John 15:9,13 & 14:2,3).
Prayer Changes Things
The Lord wants us to come to Him with all our needs. Prayer requests can be left on the comments page of this website.
“For the eyes of the Lord are on the Righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers…” (1 Peter 3:12).
The Lord hears our prayers and is faithful to answer.
Always Remember,
God Loves You!
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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2024
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