Consenting unto his death

As we close chapter 7 we see that Saul had been incorporated in with the murder of Stephen. As the angry mob picked up stones to kill the faithful deacon, they laid their coats with Young Saul. There is something to say about large masses of people who are in unison. The whole atmosphere of energy that must have surrounded Saul was incredible. It drove these men to violate their own moral code and religious upbringing under the standard of patriotism. They took the law into their own hands in a vigilante justice which was nothing short of a "kangaroo court." As they hurled the stones which began to break the skin of Stephen and crushing his bones, Saul instinctively cheered the men on who took the life of that innocent man. "FINISH HIM! FINISH HIM" Saul was consenting unto his death. As Stephen knelt down, he cried out for forgiveness for those hurling the fatal blows. As the stones struck this first martyr's head, chest, and defenseless body, Stephen maintained his Christlike testimony. As a shark senses the vulnerability of its prey, Saul was driven by an uncanny desire to persecute people of "this way." It was an act of patriotism which would drive these threats to the country and their way of life from popularity. He began his crusade by gaining permission from the high priest to further that unadulterated hatred for all followers of the treasonous Christ. Upon receiving permission and the full support of the Jewish religion, Saul set out to fulfill his venomous "calling." He was regarded as a minister of justice to rid the nation of these pestilent criminals. As Stephen was not yet buried, Saul began to cause havoc of the grieving church. He broke into homes and carried off mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, and i am sure entire families who were "followers of this way."

Saul's goal was to snuff out this rebellious congregation and cease the preaching, teaching, and living in the name of Christ. No more would the temple be "threatened" and the holy laws of Moses be spoken against. No more would the common criminal Jesus be promoted among men.

As Saul oppressed the followers of Jesus, they just kept spreading their doctrine of this Christ fellow. Saul's ambition was no match for the very work of God which he attempted to silence. The Word of God abounded. Many people believed. This enraged Saul even more. (More to Come later)

Destruction of An Angry Listener

Scary things happen when I actually study the Bible. I mean, I do it regularly, but when I actually take serious time to study, look what happens? (tongue in cheek)


Look at Acts 7:54-60 and notice the downward spiraling that takes place when one does not reverse their thinking/actions upon hearing the Word of God


1. They were cut to the heart (7:54 -60)
2. Gnashed on him with their teeth
3. Cried out with a loud voice
4. Stopped their ears
5. Ran upon him with one accord

(Acts 19:29, Mark 7:57)

*Note the Spiritual decline

* conviction not dealt with with leads to disdain/disrespect for leadership and or the preacher/message
* disrespect for the message/messenger leads to open rebellion
* open rebellion leads to absolution of ability to listen to reason (point of no return – moral conscience is darkened)
* inability to listen to reason leads to demonic activity (Mark 7:57, Acts 19:29)


too many times that I can remember, my family would "grill the pastor" for lunch rather than talk about how the Sermon was relevant to our life.


Lord, help me to endure the still coming chastisement of the sins of my youth.

3 types of Believers

I believe there are three "types" of believers.



Many believers are those who are just that. Believers. They struggle daily with assurance of their salvation. They don't study the Word. They don't pray. They aren't separated from the world. They show up on Sunday. They might show up 3 times a week. They are Believers...but seriously lack discipleship and commitment to Christ.





The second camp are the disciples. I believe MANY of those faithful to church are in this category. I believe they have come to the place of commitment to Christ and have/doing their best to walk with God and live according to the Holy standards which are required as our "base" obligation to the Lord. I believe they are not perfect. They struggle everyday as do the "believer" camp. I do believe however, they have chosen to "take up his cross daily" and "follow me" I believe this is the most common form of Christianity that is displayed by MANY....including Pastors.





The last camp is a reserved group. I believe there are FEW that have walked the earth in these last days. these people are so in tune with Christ that the world hates them. I believe their testimony and lifestyle are such that it brings unholy anger upon the world and they in turn persecute/martyr them. Every time the word Christian is used, it carries with it a sense of "suffering."



I believe Paul was trying his best to convince Agrippa to become a "Christian" as Paul was.



If I can be so blunt as to say that Acts 1:8 is often misrepresented when it says "and ye shall be WITNESSES"....the word witness comes from the same greek word (according to Strongs) as MARTYR. Everyone wants to claim themselves a witness for Christ but yet few actually take up their cross of sacrifice much less their cross of death.





While I won't make it an official Doctrine....or something I would present as a separating issue of contention.....I do believe this is accurate according to my present understanding of scripture.

any comments?

Stephen The Man Acts 6-7

Acts 6-7: Stephen



By way of introduction:

1. The character of the witness is ALWAYS held in question
2. The testimony of the witness is compared against their character.
3. The worth of the message is measured by the character of the messenger.


(I Tim 4, Titus 2)

I. Stephen’s Character (Acts 6)
A. Full of Faith
1. Godly Discipline
2. Example to the Believers/Of the Believers
3. Walk with God
B. Full of Wisdom
1. Intelligence
2. Biblical understanding put to practice
C. Honest Report
1. From those without
2. From those within


II. Stephen’s Conduct (Chapter 6)
A. Assisted in overseeing the care for the widows (Daily Ministration)
B. Teaching
C. Evangelism
D. Respect for Civil government
E. Reverence for the office which he held


III. Stephen’s Consecration (Acts 6-7)
A. Verbally Attacked ( I Peter 2:22-25)
B. Lied about ( Matt 26:59-60)
C. Incriminated unjustly (Matt 27:1-2)
D. Steadfast in his Faith (Isaiah 50:7,Luke 9:51)
E. Looked to God for strength (Matt 27:46)
1. Christ didn't look to God for Strength but rather for our example
2. Stephen looked to God not because he was in trouble but because it was his "habit"
F. Executed (Matt 27:50)
G. Forgiveness was his dying thought Luke 23:34

FORTRESS

Here is a sermon I preached recently. I trust it will be a blessing.

http://victorybiblebaptistchurch.com/sermons/2011/february/fortress.wma

Autonomy of Local Churches and Accountability

One of the guidelines for how a NT Church is cooperation with other churches. Church letters, Baptismal records, prayer, encouragement, fellowship, financial support if possible, assistance in disciplinary measures. All of these things can be found in the New Testament. They do not override each church's autonomy. They do uphold scripture. A pastor who leaves one church having disqualified himself, and goes to another church, and is given an office of which they are disqualified have violated scripture.

there are some possibilities.

A. The disqualified, dishonorable man was not honest (most likely)
B. The disqualified dishonorable man manipulated his way in/or started a church (this is always a favorite among the wolves)
C. The church refused to stand for scripture in hopes to "reform" the "fallen"
D. The Church just did not know what they were doing...they were novices
E. The church believes "what happens in vegas stays in vegas"
F. The disqualified became qualified. (heresy straightened up, divorced spouse passes on - only if the spouse was the one to cause the divorce IMHO/V.V.ology103, correction of moral failure OVER TIME (some time and much deliberation)


Each church remains autonomous- SELF GOVERNING.

There is no governing Body other than the Eternal Godhead. There is no enforcer or executor outside of that local body of believers. Nothing I said has changed.

Interestingly enough, there seems to be a lack of ethics in Fundamentalism especially among certain brethren of the Baptist sect. However, there are STILL many of us who are IFB (even IFB9Xers) who diligently keep themselves from fornication and submit themselves to the Holy Spirit, to their churches, to their wife(ves), families, even to each other for accountability and for "veto".

I have talked with SEVERAL IFB preachers from various colleges, various camps. Each have verified that in the ordination "grilling" the question was made whether or not it was biblical to "resend" ones ordination of that person became unqualified. Each time, the person being ordained would not only testify that it was Biblical, but that they also would hold each person ordaining him accountable for keeping the faith in pure conscience.


Having a VOLUNTARY accountability to co-laborers (as I have said before) does not eliminate the autonomy of any said Bible Believing Church. It is just not something that you hear about among the graduates, staff, or heritage of "prominent" IFB places of learning.

Head of Gold; Heart of Pride

This week I was reading in Daniel. I got into Chapter two and was immediately smitten with the prophetic context. I also noticed a lesson on economics, politics, and many other sub-points which will keep me busy for a few weeks with lessons to glean out of it.

One lesson in particular, the dream that good ol "Neb" had..the image had a head of Gold.

God had specifically placed Nebuchadnezzar in charge. Daniel called him a "king of kings." He was given his power directly from God. He didn't answer to people. He Answered to God.

In the very next Chapter, Neb puts up an image of GOLD and orders national worship. Now, where did he get the idea to build an image of gold?

Then I got to thinking of the recent blessings that God has bestowed (KJV word) on our church. Not even two years ago, our church was dwindled down to twenty people. They were exhausted from carrying the financial load of our building in bad repair. Shortly after my near death during surgery, our building caught fire. I was sure that my sorry excuse (in my eyes) of a pastorate was over. Then, God put me back in the hospital for another week as I was near to a heart attack.

I have always heard that the three of the 4 worst things a Church can endure is a split (done that) a building program, a fire/flood and a scandal. Thankfully, we have avoided a scandal. However, we were anemic already by morale standards. We honestly didn't expect to make it through a building program after the fire, after a split. We were all frustrated. Then, God brought a Christian Contractor to us to help us in the erecting of our building...and most importantly, building our church back together.

As the building was being built, I began looking for another place to be in the ministry. I began looking for anything and anywhere. I forced myself to work a Full Time Job to make up for the lack of funds needed to complete the building. My goal was to get out of dodge with the only thing I had left...my pride.

I remember the Monday AM like it was yesterday. I went in to work an overtime shift perfectly healthy. Within two hours, I was begging for mercy. I was struck down with a super trifecta infection. Staff, strep, and cellulitis. I was hospitalized for a month and was Four days from my leg being amputated. I was a complete wreck. I wanted out. I wanted my life to end. I was in bad shape. I remember being in such depression that I asked for Mental health to put me on a suicide watch. I was flat on my back, in complete pain, and NO signs of improvement.

God took me to a place where I had only ONE solution....Patience. God left me with nothing but my pride....and I refused to wait patiently on Him.

As I yielded myself to the Lord fully in that hospital bed, I began to heal. I began to regain strength. The medicine FINALLY began to fight the infection. The pain subsided.

The building was completed in Oct. We began to "work out the kinks" of the new building and getting our church family all on the same page.

God removed a few more members of the church...but then allowed us to unite as a family. God has continued to bless us and has added to our church attendance and faithfulness. God has been so good to us.

Recently, I was able to fill in for a pastor who was on vacation. I was talking to one of the men of that church and told him they need to work on getting some more people in the church...more men...for families.

My intention was not to be condescending....however, that is exactly how it came out.....PROUD....SELF GLORIFYING.


Neb was that head of gold. "The best"....an air of pride. He was top dog.

It went straight to his heart. A heart of pride. He failed to give God the Glory.

Let it be a reminder to all of us....what God does or doesn't do.....it is all for his glory and praise.

God ended up taking away Neb's reasoning. The simple fact is, GOD DESERVES THE GLORY. We need to be humble....or we will be humbled.