Forgive And Pray For Your Enemies

But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

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.

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 

                                                                                    (Acts 7:55-60 KJV)

There are times when we might think that we will never be able to forgive someone. Yet, here is Stephen following in the footsteps of Jesus, forgiving those who are putting him to death. A young man Saul, is witness to this event. This young man you probably know better as St. Paul, missionary to the gentiles. Yes, Paul the great persecutor of Christians was there to witness and encourage the stoning of Stephen. 

Saul persecuted Christians. That is, he persecuted them until the day that he met the ascended Lord on his way to Damascus to hunt down even more Christians. In that encounter with the Lord, the Lord asked Saul why he was so busy persecuting him. That was the day that the old man in Saul died and Paul began to live and serve the Lord even to his own death. One of the most ardent persecutors of Christians became one of the greatest missionaries ever once he met the Lord. We can never know what the Lord has in store for any of us, not even our enemies.

Forgive your enemies and pray for them, even as our Lord Jesus and Paul and many other saints have gone to their deaths, praying for and forgiving their enemies. For our hope is not in this world. Our hope lies in the promise that as we draw our last breaths that we, too, might look to the heaven and see the glory of God, with Jesus standing at His right hand.

God's Peace - Pr. J

No Fear Of Death

Old Sheldon Church, Beaufort, SC

At a pastor's conference, years ago, the speaker informed us that everyone is afraid to die, including Christians. I was offended by this revelation. I know many Christians who are not afraid of death. St. Paul certainly was not. He wrote: 

"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this    will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am   hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you." (Phil 1:21-24 NKJV)

As a pastor and former hospice chaplain I have sat beside more than a few who have been breathing their last breaths in this world. I have indeed witnessed the fear of death in the faces of some. But, I have also witnessed the peace and the joy of those who know that their hope to depart and to be with Christ is about to be fulfilled. In those latter times, I was reminded of St. Stephen's martyrdom.

But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

                                                                           (Acts 7:55-60)

Stephen saw the glory of God. He saw Jesus. Up until his very last breath, Stephen followed in the footsteps of Jesus to further the gospel as he prayed, even as Jesus had prayed with his last breath, for the forgiveness of those who were putting him to death. 

Not long after Stephen's stoning, St. Paul, who is this same Saul who stood and watched the murder of Stephen, met the ascended Jesus on the road to Damascus. His whole life changed. He became a willing and ardent follower of Jesus; living his life as a testimony for Christ. He was not afraid of prison. He was not afraid of death. He longed to be with Jesus; yet, he was willing to do whatever God's will was for him. He was willing to be attacked and persecuted in this world if it would advance the gospel.

No, we are not all afraid of death. Those who believe that Jesus lived and died; rose from the dead; and now reigns in the Heavenly Kingdom look forward to the day when we will see the full glory of God even while we understand that it might be necessary for others that we stay here in this world a while longer. 

While we live we will give testimony of all that God has done for us, to His glory.

God's Peace - Pr. J

No Fear Of Death

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body." (Philippians 1:21-24 NIV)

At a pastor's conference, years ago, the speaker informed us that everyone is afraid to die, including Christians. I was offended by this revelation. I know many Christians who are not afraid of death. St. Paul certainly was not.

As a pastor and former hospice chaplain I have sat beside more than a few who have been breathing their last breaths in this world. I have indeed witnessed the fear of death in the faces of some. But, I have also witnessed the peace and the joy of those who know that their hope to depart and to be with Christ is about to be fulfilled. In those latter times, I was reminded of St. Stephen's martyrdom. "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.' At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' Then he fell on his knees and cried out, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them.' When he had said this, he fell asleep." (Acts 7:55-60)

Stephen saw the glory of God. He saw Jesus. Up until his very last breath, Stephen followed in the footsteps of Jesus to further the gospel as he prayed, even as Jesus had prayed with his last breath, for the forgiveness of those who were putting him to death. Not long after Stephen's stoning, St. Paul, who is this same Saul who stood and watched the murder of Stephen, met the ascended Jesus on the road to Damascus. His whole life changed. He became a willing and ardent follower of Jesus; living his life as a testimony for Christ. He was not afraid of prison. He was not afraid of death. He longed to be with Jesus; yet, he was willing to do whatever God's will was for him. He was willing to be attacked and persecuted in this world if it would advance the gospel.

No, we are not all afraid of death. Those who believe that Jesus lived and died; rose from the dead; and now reigns in the Heavenly Kingdom look forward to the day when we will see the full glory of God even while we understand that it might be necessary for others that we stay here in this world a while longer. While we live we will give testimony of all that God has done for us, to His glory.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Persecution and Evangelism

 

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of

righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

  When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 

  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.”

  At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

  While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:54-60 NIV) 

God uses even the worst things that happen for the good. Stephen's death should definitely not come under the category as a good thing. He was stoned for sharing the Good News of the Kingdom. Yet, even as he was being stoned for it, he testified to the goodness and mercy of God.

Following the stoning of Stephen the followers of Jesus were persecuted mercilessly. They scattered across the countryside. But, as they went they shared the Good News with others. The stoning of Stephen initiated a wide-spread persecution of the Christians; yet, it also initiated a wide spread evangelism movement.

Jesus promised that persecutions will come to those who follow him. But, with persecution; much blessing not just for the one; but for those who witness the persecution and those who hear about it. Persecutions do come; but, blessings comes with it. For, "blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 5:10) 

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Main Thing

Pr. Stephen Lien, LCMC Coordinator for Pastoral Ministry

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Phil 2:1-4 NIV)

Yesterday, the members of Christ Lutheran Church joyfully attended a 3-hour workshop on Evangelism following Worship and a lunch together. Yes, we spent the whole day at the church like in years gone by and those who stayed appeared to thoroughly appreciate and enjoy the time together learning what it means to be an evangelist.

Rev. Stephen Lien, Coordinator for Pastoral Ministry for LCMC (Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ) preached in the morning and led the workshop in the afternoon. He proved to be a living example of what he taught:  "People don't care what you know until they know that you care." He showed that he cared about Jesus. He showed that he cared about ministering to others. He showed that he cared about the members and visitors to Christ Lutheran in both what he said and what he did. And, not just at Christ Lutheran. I had dinner with him and his wife, Joanne, the evening before and witnessed first hand how he put others before himself; asking staff where they were from, about their lives, calling them by name. By the time we left the Golden Lion, on Flagler Beach, one would have thought they had known each other for years.

Evangelism, you see, is not a program. It is a way of life. It is a lifestyle formed when we keep the "Main Thing The Main Thing." When we begin to truly realize how much love God has for us and for all people; we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to love and care for others; to show genuine concern. We reach out to others, sharing that love of God, in word and in deed. As Paul tells us in Philippians, we value others above ourselves, not looking to our own interests; but, we find out, we ask questions, we communicate with others, to find out about their interests and their needs. By showing that you care about them, as Christ cares about all of humanity, then they will care about what or rather who you know, who is Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Evangelism is a lifestyle not a program. Live life!

God's Peace - Pr. J