“Gather round me while I preach some, feel a sermon coming on here”! One of our prophets of today, Johnny Mercer, wrote that and went on to share one of his greatest sermons. Accentuate the Positive.
Since Friday’s glorious announcement about Roe, Peggy and I have been in shock, as we like many of you have spent 49 years praying to hear those words. Praise God! Gather round!
So now what? As we talked she mentioned Stephen whom she had read about that morning. His story is in detail in Acts 6 and 7 and I highly recommend it. He had been chosen by the leadership of the church in Jerusalem to serve the people (Deacon?) A man full of the Holy Spirit who was preaching and doing great wonders and miracles. Some men rose and came and confronted him but were not able to stand before God’s Spirit coming through him. So they hired some rabble rousers to go to the supreme court and lie about him. So the DOJ came in the night and arrested him and brought him before the high court. They brought false witnesses against him (lied) because he was coming against “settled law” and even quoted the feared “dead” Man. They finally gave Stephen the chance to defend himself and he proceeded to give them a history lesson from their own books. He reiterated everything from Abraham through 4-5 generations step by step, including the enslavement and Moses. He was preaching to the choir, but it was what they wanted to hear. He detailed the famine that caused them to go to Egypt and the horror they endured under the king who forced them to kill their babies, even Moses who was saved by his sister and raised by the Kings daughter. Even as Moses grew as a prince in the palace he never forgot his people. Even included the story of Moses killing an Egyptian and fleeing for his life. You know the story, how he came back after 40 years as a saint of God to free his people and with God calling the shots he did. He even included an indictment against them by sharing how their ancestors rebelled against Moses and ran after Moloch to whom they sacrificed their babies, (any of this sound familiar?) He reminded them that their own prophets had instructed them but, “ You stiff-necked and stubborn people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always actively resisting the Holy Spirit. You are doing just what your fathers did. And you killed the prophets for telling the truth.”
You can imagine, they were enraged, so Stephen pilled it on. He looked up and said I see Jesus standing at the right hand of God. That did it, they came at him with covered ears least they hear more truth. So they condemned him to death by firing squad and ushered him out of the city to meet his fate. It didn’t take Stephen but a short time to summon the courage to stand up to the evil opponents of God. We have waited 49 years to press the issue for righteousness in our land. Please remember Stephen in the coming weeks as Satan’s forces will no doubt come after us. Stand strong on his example. “Don’t fear those who can only take your life.”
Tonight at 7:00 we will be discussing the 5th chapter of Isaiah where one of their prophets continued to warn them and we will continue to the Good News of chapter 7 when he tells them of the coming Immanuel.
As we fast tomorrow, I suggest we stay focused on the blessing that has just occurred…”If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Praise God, Jim
L.I.F.E. Ministries
114 Wynngate Rd.
Wilmington Island, GA 31410
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Jim Bulluck…..PLEASE NOTE: EMAIL CHANGE TO: [email protected]
912-695-6510 office
912-695-6510 cell
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