Dying Grace

I have been considering the account in Acts 7 of the testimony and stoning of Stephen.
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Stephen was taken before the Sanhedrin and questioned about his faith and beliefs. His response was to recount fully the entire History of the Hebrew People and the revealed Glory of God. Their response to his testimony was outrage, anger and a stoning.
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I believe we are dangerously close to living in this type of hostility toward the truth of God's Word, and His image being displayed in the faithful of His calling.
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Consider the following information regarding Harold Koh, a candidate nominated by our President to the #2 position in the Justice Department.
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JUDGES should interpret the Constitution according to other nations’ legal “norms.” Sharia law could apply to disputes in US courts. The United States constitutes an “axis of disobedience” along with North Korea and Saddam-era Iraq.
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Those are the views of the man on track to become one of the US government’s top lawyers: Harold Koh.
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President Obama has nominated Koh — until last week the dean of Yale Law School — to be the State Department’s legal adviser. In that job, Koh would forge a wide range of international agreements on issues from trade to arms control, and help represent our country in such places as the United Nations and the International Court of Justice.
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It’s a job where you want a strong defender of America’s sovereignty. But that’s not Koh. He’s a fan of “transnational legal process,” arguing that the distinctions between US and international law should vanish. (Quoted from the ALL AMERICAN BLOGGER)
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My father sent me an email regarding this very subject late last week. If I got myself consumed with this information I would be very, very afraid. Panicked Even. I'm grieved at best for the state of our nation and the plight that our children and grandchildren will have endure based on the selfish and arrogant positions our government has imposed upon its people.

Here is what I wrote in response to my father's cautionary email:

I know you don't like to predict seasons and times, but we are admonished by Scripture to discern the times and seasons in which we live. And, I don't know about you but the books of Revelation and Daniel seem to be coming more and more alive. One World Government, a Messiah Complex Leader, HMMMM...

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I guess my only consolation at this point is that God promises that there will be a REVIVAL in the last days, and I for one want to live every moment here faithful to God regardless of the circumstances. If Sharia is the law... Then I will die for my faith. That's is all I know at this point. I have to trust God. He allowed this to happen to bring about His ultimate will and purpose for this nation. Hopefully congress will wake up before it is too late. As it stands now - we have a President who thinks he is Christ and a Congress and Senate with a Runaway Jury Mentality!

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Father God, and Our Lord Jesus, my prayer today is do not tarry a moment longer than necessary - we are the people of Your Name and we know You, Oh Lord have never forsaken the righteous or left your children begging for bread. We believe You have the power to change hearts, to reverse decisions and even to make the sun stand still in the sky if that is Your desire. We look for You in the Eastern Sky and commit ourselves to stand firm on the faith you've planted in us until you come to call all of Your Children Home. Thank you for always hearing and having an answer prepared for us when we come to Your throne of grace. You are good and Your mercy endures forever. May Your grace and love be with us in the days ahead. In Jesus most holy name I pray, Amen.

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I'm going to wear my knees out before I surrender my hide. Even in great struggle and physical captivity - God showed up for the likes of Daniel and Jeremiah, and Paul and John. He will do it for us as well. And when that time comes that I may be persecuted for my faith - I pray for the dying grace that God gave Stephen - a glimpse of glory as he was stoned to death. Hold fast to God, Daddy. As I know you are. He always takes care of His own. Now more than ever we must believe that to be true.

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Stephen implored the religious/social leaders of his time to listen to his plea on behalf of God and they stoned him. I believe we are headed to an escalation of these very days revisited upon the people beholden to the name and salvation of Jesus Christ. Stephen was granted a glimpse of God's glory as the stones were cast upon him and his life translated from an earthly faithfulness to a heavenly glory. How beautiful that moment in Scripture is to me. My question today is: Are Christians today, in this western culture of "Me" first, prepared to die for what they believe or will they succumb to the degradation and alienation of society to the point of denying God to spare their own lives?

I guess that makes me thankful for Peter's testimony... We will be sifted. We will be. May God be glorified - whatever may come. But for today, I pray - Thy will, not mine be done, Oh Lord. Please do not tarry long. Come, Lord Jesus, Come. Amen.