The delegate to the widows

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Has anyone ever wondered at the signifigance of the men (Stephen specifically called them brothers and fathers) who layed their garments at Saul's feet? I believe it was at this point that power shifted to the devil, the destroyer. Jesus said to him shortly after "Saul, why do you persecute Me?" Jesus regained Paul, but at what price to the church?

What are the garments of a Christian. Purity, signified by the white garment of

Rev 3:18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Stephen was one of the ones delegated to care for the widows. Yes, even in the fledgling church their biggest problem was the treatment of the women. This is where the divisions of languages and racism/bigotry showed up first.

The apostles represented the teachings, Stephen represented the caregiver.

When he was about to be stoned he calls to the "God of Glory"

Acts 7:2-3 to this he replied: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. 'Leave your country and your people,' God said, 'and go to the land I will show you.'

Acts 7:55-56 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

Colossians 1:27
To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

The highest glory of the creature is in being only a vessel, to receive and enjoy and show forth the glory of God. It can do this only as it is willing to be nothing in itself, that God may be all. Water always fills first the lowest places. The lower, the emptier a man lies before God, the speedier and the fuller will be the inflow of the divine glory.

In being a tabernacle, Stephen was fully a representative of the bride. His eyes a fixed gaze on the heavenlies.

2 Corinthians 3:18
So our faces are not covered. They show the bright glory of the Lord, as the Lord's Spirit makes us more and more like our glorious Lord.

Stephen was fully drawn and attracted to Jesus, he was infused with His Spirit. Jesus stood from where He was seated and watched as Stephen was stoned.

Stephen was a man of great learning, full of the Holy Spirit, yet the job enlisted to him was to feed the widows. May we learn from his example.

 

[Shulamite]

Very, very good....

Amen.... 100%.

The greatest among us is the servant of all....

Yeshua came to empty Himself and serve us, even unto death. He washed feet, touched the sick, fed people, associated with those that were no considered "important" in this world...

The greatest ministry I have is to minister to HIM FIRST in our intimacy, then to others.

Very good post!

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

I'm passing on this blessing that was sent to me. Thank you very much

I thought this would bless you.


[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial][SIZE=-1]Stephen the Servant

Stephen the Servant

Our hearts should be like Stephen's
Of whom the Apostles did ask
Who thought that to serve not beneath him
To him just his Godly task

The church did appoint unto him
The widows and orphans to feed.
To daily distribute them bread
Or any perhaps in need

His life was full of God's miracles
His anointing held people in awe
Chosen for this faith and love for the Lord
And God's hand on his life that they saw

Today we may think that this strange
Or perhaps some may think a demotion
To just pass out bread and care for the church
To Stephen it was his devotion

You see Stephan was no small man
Of great power and faith was he filled
Not wanting to start his own ministry
Just that which the Father had willed

I'm sure there were those in his life
That said, Don't they know who you are?
A ministry of helps? A servant of others?
Just tell them that you are a star!

Please tell them that this is beneath you
God's call on your life too intense
And then if they still won't believe you
We'll all then run to your defense

Stephan had long since died to self
His own will far removed
Selfless ambition and total submission
For the church his own martyrdom proved

It turned out he was the first to be martyred
for Christ his young church to die
To be last and not first, the least and not most,
Truly this was his heart's cry


Now Jesus with the Father in Glory
Yes seated at God's own right hand
Just read for yourself at his stoning
That Jesus himself did stand [/SIZE][/FONT]

 

[JPPT1974]

Stephen followed Christ even
At the cost of his own death

 

[EarthMomma]

I'm passing on this blessing that was sent to me. Thank you very much

I thought this would bless you.


[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial][SIZE=-1]Stephen the Servant[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]

Stephen the Servant

Our hearts should be like Stephen's
Of whom the Apostles did ask
Who thought that to serve not beneath him
To him just his Godly task

The church did appoint unto him
The widows and orphans to feed.
To daily distribute them bread
Or any perhaps in need

His life was full of God's miracles
His anointing held people in awe
Chosen for this faith and love for the Lord
And God's hand on his life that they saw

Today we may think that this strange
Or perhaps some may think a demotion
To just pass out bread and care for the church
To Stephen it was his devotion

You see Stephan was no small man
Of great power and faith was he filled
Not wanting to start his own ministry
Just that which the Father had willed

I'm sure there were those in his life
That said, Don't they know who you are?
A ministry of helps? A servant of others?
Just tell them that you are a star!

Please tell them that this is beneath you
God's call on your life too intense
And then if they still won't believe you
We'll all then run to your defense

Stephan had long since died to self
His own will far removed
Selfless ambition and total submission
For the church his own martyrdom proved

It turned out he was the first to be martyred
for Christ his young church to die
To be last and not first, the least and not most,
Truly this was his heart's cry


Now Jesus with the Father in Glory
Yes seated at God's own right hand
Just read for yourself at his stoning
That Jesus himself did stand [/SIZE][/FONT]

Thanks for this thread! and for this blessing about Stephen. Oh, to be stedfast in that dying-to-self process! Thank God that through Jesus Christ, we are able, and the rewards are without limit. I've always felt in my heart that Stephen never felt a stone as the glory of the Lord kept Him according to all the great and precious promises! What an example for us, first as a servant, and then to serve in persecution with such pure love that He begs the Father to forgive His punishers. In Christ alone . . . is that even possible.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Yes, thanks for pointing that out! As he was being stoned he was asking for their forgiveness, with his mind completely on heaven, seeing Jesus standing there. It reminds me very much of Jesus' own death. That Jesus was standing shows His present activity in Heaven and His participation still in earthly things, especially concerning His church!

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

It was the Sanhedrin, the keepers of the temple, that actually stoned Stephen. They were the ones who didn't believe in the resurection. In a sence they can be represented by the flesh in the material sence. They laid their cloaks at the feet of Sual. a Pharisee. The Pharisees didn't partake of the stoning, but were participants none the less. They represent the intellect. Stephen represents the spirit in relationship to the Holy Spirit.

The apostles were the teachers, but when the people were scattered after this incident they became the teachers while the apostles stayed in Jerusalem. They left the "new Egypt" into the wilderness of the world, bringing it to the end of the world.

I pray that many will reach the rest in the good land, of the Kingdom on earth, were we will be able to conquer the giants of our lives, in the power Jesus exemplified.

The scattered people preached the Kingdom of God, as being Jesus. To live the kingdom Stephen was the martyr that set this in motion and also a fine example of what the kingdom produces.

 

[EarthMomma]

And it seems to me important that Stephen didn't set out to be a martyr, he was just determined to be true and faithful. Yes, what a great example of His Kingdom Come!

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Another example that i see from Stephen is that as the church we are all the widow of satan and just as all the widows were at that time incapable of meeting their needs themselves, we also are incapable of meeting our own spiritual needs. The food is still the good news but it's the Holy Spirit that ministers to our needs, regardless of the background that we come from. And Jesus still stands as the overseerer, when we die to satan and fix our gaze on the heavenlies.

 

[ydouxist]

I would like to see my poem on Stephen in a painting.
Maybe the poem in the center surrounded by scenes of his life,ministry, and martyrdom.

 

[JPPT1974]

Again we need people like
Stephen to stand up for
Those that can't stand up for themselves
Amen in agreement!

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

I'm passing on this blessing that was sent to me. Thank you very much

I thought this would bless you.


[FONT=verdana, helvetica, arial][SIZE=-1]Stephen the Servant

Stephen the Servant

Our hearts should be like Stephen's
Of whom the Apostles did ask
Who thought that to serve not beneath him
To him just his Godly task

The church did appoint unto him
The widows and orphans to feed.
To daily distribute them bread
Or any perhaps in need

His life was full of God's miracles
His anointing held people in awe
Chosen for this faith and love for the Lord
And God's hand on his life that they saw

Today we may think that this strange
Or perhaps some may think a demotion
To just pass out bread and care for the church
To Stephen it was his devotion

You see Stephan was no small man
Of great power and faith was he filled
Not wanting to start his own ministry
Just that which the Father had willed

I'm sure there were those in his life
That said, Don't they know who you are?
A ministry of helps? A servant of others?
Just tell them that you are a star!

Please tell them that this is beneath you
God's call on your life too intense
And then if they still won't believe you
We'll all then run to your defense

Stephan had long since died to self
His own will far removed
Selfless ambition and total submission
For the church his own martyrdom proved

It turned out he was the first to be martyred
for Christ his young church to die
To be last and not first, the least and not most,
Truly this was his heart's cry


Now Jesus with the Father in Glory
Yes seated at God's own right hand
Just read for yourself at his stoning
That Jesus himself did stand [/SIZE][/FONT]

I would like to see my poem on Stephen in a painting.
Maybe the poem in the center surrounded by scenes of his life,ministry, and martyrdom.

Hi ydouxist, my computer wasn't working for a few days so just got to read this posting. I would love to see for someone to put your poem to a picture of His life and work. I don't have the skill to do it myself but I'm sure there are many talented people online here that could. I'm happy you took credit for writing such a beautiful poem, I wasn't sure from your pm if you wanted to but am glad you did. There's so many aspects to what Stephen did that deserve recognition and I think you said it very well in that poem about him. Thanks again!

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

The seed sown

The feast of the Passover ( the lamb, bitter herbs, unleaven bread) was eaten in readiness and preparation to leave.
Stephen's death caused a migration of the saints, away from Saul's group of persecutors.

Acts 4:8 Those therefore that were scattered went about the land bringing the good news of the Word

"
These were the second group. The apostles in Jesusalem, these went to Judae and Samaria and Paul's group will continue to the ends of the earth.

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

​

​

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

How is being stirred into action giving more diligence to those things that belong to our peace?

Luke 19:41-42

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem​

41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.​

Acts 2:42 describes them as being "they that continued stedfast in the apostles teachings and fellowship in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. and many signs and wonders were being done..43..." Those who had been cut to the heart (spiritual circumcision) 2 :37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”​

Hebrews 2

Do Not Neglect Salvation​

1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? ​

Heb 2:1-4​

vs 1:"giving more heed to the things that we have heard" "lest we drift away" It takes no effort at all to drift, but like the disciples in the storm it takes every effort just to stay on course.​

vs :3 "how shall we escape if we neglect" not reject, just neglect.​

vs :4 refers to this earliest church before the first dispersion.​

Rev 14:12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.

tbc​

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Edit

 

[JPPT1974]

Don't you wish that
More people were like Stephen
Who put everybody and God first
And put himself last!

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Don't you wish that
More people were like Stephen
Who put everybody and God first
And put himself last!

Thats how it'll be in heaven I'm sure.

 

[Daniels]

Thank you Jesus.

Stephen's Characterstics.

1. Full of faith.

2. Full of grace.

3. Full of wisdom.

4. Full of power.

5. Full of Light.

6. Full of Scripture.

7. Full of Love.

 

[obsolete]

 

[JPPT1974]

Indeed heaven will be like that
Ain't that the truth!