“For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart” (Psalm 11:2).
He was a good man, a man who loved God and served Him to the best of his abilities. His name was Stephen. He lived in Jerusalem when Christianity was beginning to grow. There always seems to be some sort of division within the Christian community, and so it was in the early days of Christianity.
“And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration” (Acts 6:1).
At that time, there were people in need, and the members of the church were trying to care for those needs, in particular, widows. In order to better tend to all the needs of the people within the congregation, it was decided that men would be appointed to oversee the care of those in need. The Apostles knew it was important that they stay in prayer and seek God’s guidance, and others should tend to the needs of the congregation. Seven men were chosen who were honest, full of the Holy Ghost, and had wisdom. Stephen was one of them.
“And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7).
The simple act of doing God’s work within the congregation brought people to faith, and the congregation grew.
“And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people” (Acts 6:8).
I think I would have liked Stephen.
As happens too often, people will ruin a good thing. “Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen” (Acts 6:9).
Some people just can’t deal with a man like Stephen who served the Lord and was very knowledgeable about his faith. These troublemakers were unable to silence Stephen because he spoke with the power of the Holy Spirit. These wicked people talked others into saying lies against Stephen.
“Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God” (Acts 6:11).
They resorted to lies in order to silence him. They stirred up community leaders who arrested Stephen and brought him before the council. False witnesses said that he spoke blasphemous words against the Jewish ways.
“For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us” (Acts 6:14).
Stephen didn’t let these false accusations change the way he represented Christ. Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets (which fulfilled prophecy) but didn’t destroy it.
Whenever we take a stand for Christ, we run the risk of being hated for exposing sin in the hearts of people. Jesus said this would happen. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:18-19).
The world hates because the world doesn’t know Jesus. Christians need to step away from worldly ways and love others in the way Jesus loved. It isn’t love if we ignore the sin that’s sending the unsaved person to eternity in Hell. We must share the Gospel and help the lost to come to a saving faith in Jesus. That’s exactly what Stephen did. He explained Jewish history to the Jewish leaders who questioned him. Stephen spoke truth, but the wicked hearts of those listening couldn’t accept the truth.
Ever since the call of Abraham, the Jewish people have had troubles and persecution because of their rebellion against God. It was only when they trusted God that they found blessings. They had seen God’s miracles when He took them from slavery in Egypt and led them to the Promised Land, but they allowed their hearts to turn away from God, who was leading them to His promises; they turned to worshipping demonic idols.
Stephen pointed out that the Jewish people had a history of first rejecting God’s promise and having troubles, then later accepting it and finding blessings. Stephen’s words touched a sore spot in the hearts of the wicked.
“When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart and they gnashed on him with their teeth” (Acts 7:54).
These Jewish leaders weren’t any different than sinners today. When their sin was pointed out to them, they became angry and set their hearts to kill the messenger in order to stop the message.
“Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 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 7:57-58).
The wicked can plug their ears and not listen to God’s truth, but their ignorance will never stop the truth from being the truth. Sin is sin even when you plug your ears and call evil good. Wicked hearts will always reject God’s truth.
God’s truth will never be stopped. Wicked people with evil in their hearts and souls have tried for centuries to stop the Gospel from being preached. Stephen was the first person to be martyred for his faith in Jesus. He spoke God’s truth in love; boldly, with no fear. Even unto death, the Holy Spirit was with him, and as the rocks were hurled at him, taking his life, Stephen stepped into eternal life and found peace with the Lord whom he served.
A young man who was there and heard Stephen’s words was Saul. When you share the Gospel and it’s rejected, don’t think that seeds haven’t been planted. Saul had much hate in his heart and became a vicious persecutor of Christians. It was Saul who was headed to Damascus to arrest Christians when he met Jesus, and his life was changed. Saul surrendered his life to Christ, became known as Paul, and spread the Gospel and wrote many of the letters that are contained in our Bible. Because of him, many people are still coming to salvation.
Paul had witnessed the murder of Stephen, but even his hatred didn’t stop God from changing his wicked heart. In one of those letters he wrote, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceable with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord….Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:18-19, & 21).
That’s not always easy to do, but should always be our goal. We cannot show God’s love while we harbor hate in our hearts.
Sugar is sweet, water is wet, God is love. It’s what He is. He is also just, and justice requires punishment for wrongdoings. God has told us what His standard of perfection is, and He has told us what the punishment for falling short of His perfection is.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
People have a sin nature and find it impossible not to sin, but uncontrolled sin is on a rampage. There is much evil in this world; from Muslim terrorists attacking citizens of Israel to the murdering of babies in the womb, evil is everywhere. Satan is behind every murder since the beginning of time. He feeds on human hatred and fear. It’s Satan and his demons who inspire weak-minded people to kill and destroy.
Once again, we have seen a person pull the trigger of a gun and kill another human being. It wasn’t the gun that killed but a demon-possessed human who made the decision to pull the trigger. Charlie Kirk was a man to be admired. He stood strong and true for Jesus. He used words to debate with people, but wicked hearts prefer violence and bloodshed. Mr. Kirk is being called a martyr, and I agree. He was murdered while serving Jesus.
Too often, we see this type of craziness happen in lands far away, but when it happens close to home, it’s shocking. Brothers and sisters, this was an evil act, but how can it happen in America? Because all manner of sin and wickedness are tolerated, but the God of love and salvation is rejected. Another question I have is, how can we tolerate any cold-blooded murder? A baby murdered in the womb is of equal horror to a man shot while speaking God’s truth, but where is the outrage?
Wicked hearts must be changed. Charlie Kirk’s murder is making news headlines around the world, and I pray that what was meant for evil will be used for good, but the demonic cry of joy from liberals turns my stomach. Brothers and sisters, let me encourage you to mourn the loss of Charlie Kirk and feel the shock of what happened, but remember who he served. He served Jesus Christ who is the one we all need to praise and worship.
When Mr. Kirk was murdered, he stepped into eternal life with Jesus. He can truly rest in peace. Don’t forget that there is a young man who is about to stand trial, something Mr. Kirk wasn’t given, and he is facing the death penalty. For him, and all who plotted with him, are facing eternity in the Lake of Fire. Their sin will send them there. Find it in your heart to pray for the salvation of those wicked people who were, and are, very lost.
The Apostle Paul was of the same wickedness, but God’s grace and mercy touched him and changed him. This same grace and mercy is offered to all who accept it.
Has God turned away from blessing the United States of America? If He has, I can understand why. Instead of respecting God’s truth, this nation has gone the way of Sodom and Gomorrah. God made a man and a woman, and that is where marriage began. Any sexual activity other than within a God-ordained marriage is sin.
“But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly” (Genesis 13:13).
These men lusted after each other rather than desiring marriage that pleased God. Their sin had become so wicked that God had to send His judgment on them. We know about AIDS, and I’m sure Sodom was full of disease. Abraham’s nephew, Lot, had chosen to live in Sodom. It seems as if he was able to keep from being a part of the wickedness there, and before the judgment that God was about to send could happen, Lot and his family had to be removed from that wicked place.
It will be the same for Christians. God’s judgment is coming. The same spirit of wickedness that brought destruction to Sodom and Gomorrah is destroying America. God will remove Christians prior to His judgment. If you, like Lot, have been living amongst the wickedness, it’s time to get away from it. Turn to Jesus and surrender to Him.
How do you help to change wicked hearts? Start with your own. Draw nearer to Jesus and follow Him closer. Then go to your local school and be sure your child isn’t being brainwashed or taught ungodly things. Better yet, homeschool your children if at all possible. Study the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans and see what happens when evolution is credited with creation rather than God. We are in the end times, and the Rapture is drawing very near.
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:1-2).
Also, look to the person in the pulpit. Is he speaking God’s truth, or is he telling you to be tolerant of the wickedness in the world. Remember, the people in this world who embrace the wickedness are not the enemy. The enemy is the demonic spirits that are possessing people. These evil spirits are able to possess or oppress us when we give them power. How do we do that? Mind-altering drugs are a huge problem. This became quite a big problem during the hippy days of LSD and other illegal drugs.
Today, I know many people who are given prescriptions for drugs to calm their nerves. Many children who need discipline are given drugs instead.
Another problem is that we “tolerate” people who choose a sinful lifestyle. We would rather allow neighbors and family to go to Hell rather than share the Gospel.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).
Charlie Kirk was murdered because he chose to share God’s love and God’s truth. He had Biblical answers for people with wicked hearts. He stepped into a glorious eternity, and we can be comforted by that fact. We must take Scripture seriously. Study Ephesians chapter 6, know who or what the enemy is, put on the full armor of God, and fight the good fight for God’s truth.
The Rapture is coming soon. Some people say it will happen in September, others say October. The truth is that only God knows when it will happen. Signs are in place, and the anticipation is high. Until we are taken Home, do your part to change wicked hearts.
God bless you all
Nathele Graham
Recommended prophecy sites:
www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com
All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.
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“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).