The Stoning of Saint Stephen

**Fenny West** Thu 13 Sep 2007, 11:50 am

The Stoning of Saint Stephen
a man who was sold out to God
Faithful, Spirit –filled, one of seven.
Saturated by the Word of God.

He spoke the word with boldness
Religious fanatics could not stand
Told them their wrongs in frankness
His heart they failed to understand

They carried Stephen like a cargo
dumped him helpless by the wall
hurled stones on him like a foe
But he prayed for them in it all

Like Jesus, ‘Father, forgive them
They know not what they do.'
So he prayed as his breath they stemmed,
In fury as a pack of hounds do.

Persecuted today like Stephen?
Stand to see God’s salvation.
Have you been hurled into prison?
Look to the God of very nation.

He is interceding for you.
Your troubles will lift you up.
God will bring you through.

When your back is down you can only look up.

Acts 6:1 to Acts 8:2

Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit and bold and fiery for God. He was sold out God; in love with Him. He knew whom he believed and what he believed and would not compromise even to the point of death.

What a challenge to us today who live in the end-times. Are we prepared to take up our cross like Stephen? Are we equipped to fervently preach the Gospel even when we are being stoned, imprisoned and abused for His name's sake? Does the word of Christ dwell in us so richly that the Holy Spirit has scriptures He can remind us in the evil day like Stephen?

Lord help us to be prepared and remain faithful, come rain or shine, summer or winter, when we are full or when we are empty, in Jesus' Name, amen.

**Waqar Daniel** Thu 13 Sep 2007, 4:30 pm

Dear Fenny:

God bless you for posting a poem on Stephen here. I am really impressed by Stephen's character, courage and faith of Stephen.

You know Fenny, we can make big claims "like dieing for God" but when we face a situation we are afraid. I once faced a situation of life and death and how I wanted not to die. Although this situation was medical and had nothing to do with my faith.

On the other hand when we read Stephen's account in the Book of Acts, I get inspired by his courage and his faith in God. People (non-believers) at his time may have thought that "what a waste of life" because he only had to denounce Jesus. But Stephen showing his faith in God left a great lesson for us.

Whatever happens, we must never denounce Jesus to save our life but we must lose our life to gain an eternal life wearing a white and golden crown to walk with Jesus forever and ever. Now this losing of life can also be taken as worldly pleasures and following the crowd in doing wrong.

God bless you and your family

ChristianLady Thu 13 Sep 2007, 4:39 pm

Stephen's story is simply great and I love it. Thank you for posting such a great poem honoring Stephen.

God bless

**Fenny West** Thu 13 Sep 2007, 5:09 pm

It is a pleasure, Christianlady

May you be encouraged to go from strength to strength, standing by what and Whom you have believed regardless of the obstacle.

Fenny

**Fenny West** Thu 13 Sep 2007, 5:15 pm

Waqar

We all deny the Lord at one time or the other, especially when we depend on our own strength and ability, like Peter.

But the Lord is merciful and gracious, extra-ordinarily patient and abundant in goodness and in truth. He pardons us and restores and increase our faith when we repent and hold His Hands, like Peter again.

Our faith increases as we keep hearinng and hearing and hearing and putting what we are hearing into practice.( Rom10:17,James2:26)

Shalom

Feny

**Waqar Daniel** Thu 13 Sep 2007, 6:58 pm

Fenny, I totally agree with you, on our own we cannot do anything, it is God who strengthens us through our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.

God gives us a spirit of boldness and with that spirit in us we can do anything and overcome any obstacle.

God bless you and your family