Monday, November 12, 2012

“And Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people… And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council… And the high priest said, “Is this so?”  And Stephen said… “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit.  As your fathers did so do you.  Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute?  And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”… “Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth against him.  But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God,” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together upon him.  Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.  And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”  And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

(Acts 6:8, 12, 7:1-2a, 51-53-60)

 

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch then out of my hand,”

(John 10:27-28)

Saint Stephen was martyred… to bring about ‘a good’… Paul – one of the greatest Saints

Jesus said: When Saint Stephen was martyred, it was ‘at a time’, when the chief priests and elders, wanted to ‘put an end’, to the growing rise, of Christianity.  They ‘aimed at the root’ - for he was one of ‘the first fruits’ – of My Kingdom, through martyrdom.  But what they ‘did not expect’, was that I would use their desires: ‘to kill My People’ - to bring about ‘a good’ from ‘their own kind’.  And how was this done?  But through Saul’s journey, to Damascus, after he was blinded, and he was ‘charged with a new command’ – from My Heavenly Throne: to stop ‘persecuting the Christians’, as they were My Followers.  Now Saul became – shortly thereafter: Paul – one of the greatest Saints, and scholars – at the time.  I would use his gifts, for being ‘chief priest’; for being ‘one of the Pharisees’, to help, spread, the True Gospel.  For, Saul, saw ‘the martyrdom of Stephen’ take place in front of him. 

Today… the same type of martyrdom... all would be told ‘they were saved’

Many Christians today, are ‘going through’, the same type of martyrdom – in their hearts.  Because, they are ‘bullied’, by the ‘priests and pharisees’ of this time – to kill: their own faith; to shed it like, ‘a dirty coat’; to keep giving, their churches: alms, and tithes - and in turn, they all would be told ‘they were saved’. 

The ‘chief priests and pharisees’… telling the people: ‘this continual lie’

But the ‘chief priests and pharisees’ – in telling the people: ‘this continual lie’ - have done the same thing, that Saul did, when he first persecuted My Church.  Why did he persecute My True Church?  But because of power, prestige, and position.  The chief priests, elders, and Pharisees, were ‘threatened’ at the time, by those who would ‘die’, for the truth, and for ‘faith in Me’.  And in these times: true faith in Me is scarce. Just because a soul, ‘believes in Me’ does not make them: ‘saved’.  But if they act on their ‘belief in Me’, in turning away from ‘all forms of wickedness’, then they truly believe, in Me. 

You pastors, you ministers… I will ‘steal away the flocks’ – from your churches

You pastors, you ministers, have destroyed, My flock, within your ‘white sepulchers’, and ‘stone-cold buildings’.  You would rather: they pay your salaries, and the upkeep of your own ‘monstrosities’, than ‘tell them the truth’’, for ‘fear that they will leave’ and you will lose one more: ‘tax break’.  If ‘tax-exempt status’ is more important – to you, than the flocks that you have been given ‘charge over’, then I will ‘steal away the flocks’ – from your churches.  I have already stolen: My Presence. 

You pastors, you ministers… have judged My People as “saved”, when their very lives, are in peril

You pastors, you ‘ministers of worldliness’, yours will be ‘a heavy Judgment’! – unless you repent – for at your hands, many souls have been lost; at your flatteries, and ‘puffing the people up with pride’ – that they are ‘holy and saved’.  I will, require ‘their blood’, at your hands.  You think you can ‘escape My words’ because they are ‘uncomfortable to hear’: but I told you ‘to whom much is given much is expected’ – and where, will you be then? – when you are ‘stripped-down in front of Me’ – just your soul, and My Judgment?  Then, ‘the tables’ will be reversed.  For you have judged My People as “saved”, when their very lives, are in peril - when ‘the sword’ has reached: their very lives. 

I know My sheep… And I will call to them and they will come

I know My sheep and they know Me.  And I will call to them and they will come.  For where I am there My sheep will be.  But: depart from Me all you workers of iniquity!  For ‘a heavy Judgment’ is coming upon you wicked souls! – unless you repent ‘in sackcloth and ashes’ – then how can I ever! – welcome you to the Kingdom of Heaven?  Repent I say to you all Repent!  Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you.  Draw away from Me and you will enter into ‘the beast state’.