Wait on the Lord:

This is a message for my ministry sons.

In the days of the new Church one man was so holy as to cause a conviction that brought about his stoning.

His name was Stephen. Stephen was stone because his words were so true, that they who were embraced the prevalent lies of that day, could not bear to let him live. Stephens’s words were the very oracles of God.

Today, as in the days of the first church, a man’s total dedication to the Lord will lead him to be shunned by the status-quo church and the world. Truth is dividing factor in men’s relationships. To love truth may even get you killed.

If you’ve never been the one shunned for being a bearer of the torch of truth, you will probably not understand the things I speak of. The political and religious climate of Stephen’s day was one, which was oppressive to anyone who did not get on board with the way things were being done by their leadership. This oppression was either by the dictates of Romans, or by the Jewish leadership.

Today the same forces oppress the true believer. The whorish church entangled in relativism and psychological seduction, hates they who stand for the pristine clarity and absolutes of the bible. Today’s government and financial system, hates they who stand against its lies.

Solomon wrote mighty words. He knew the whole duty of man was to Fear God and keep His commandments. Men in leadership often want praise and worship for their actions. In this day, if you fear God, you cannot support nor condone the evil dictates of church or government.

Our government, both church and political is full of men who have been advanced beyond their ability to lead. In deed, it is my presupposition that no man governs well without a clear understanding of God’s word. What it took Solomon a whole life to understand was, man can only be a success, by being obedient to God.

Men, who have success without first having the victory of good character, are the worst kind of leadership a people can endure. Our present day immaturity in leadership has caused the crises we face as Christian people and as a nation. Everything our young president has done has caused more trouble for this nation.
The problem is that before we elected this rebel with a cause to the White House, we threw away the skillful teacher from our churches.

In Isa. 3 the Lord’s present judgment on the church and modern man is outlined clearly. He takes away the skillful, and gives boys in their stead to lead.

More then ever in time we need men who are true elders in leadership. The qualifications I see lacking in our present church are spelled out as requirements for holding a priestly leadership role in the Older covenant:

Exd 18:21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place [such] over them, [to be] rulers of thousands, [and] rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

To change our nation we need new leadership. We need true elders. This must happen in the church before it ever happens in the world. But the church’s attitude toward this scripture is mostly to deny it and the young almost without exception see no need to minister a week in their father’s robe before they take up their own mantle.

This father’s heart has long been toward the youth called to leadership. But they have seldom listened to my message, which is simply: “Repent unto the kingdom”.

Stephen was a young man. But the scripture gives testimony of his life and purity. Surely no man would despise him for his youth, for he was honorable. To be ready to receive honor in the kingdom is not something that you get because you said a sinner’s prayer. Honor is to be given to them who it is due.
The point of this is that Stephen was honored of God, because he was righteous, and yielded to God and to those whom watched over his soul. Stephen was not working to take something from someone he did not deserve. He was rather consumed in doing his Lord’s will.

Act 6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
Act 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

It was a man who was devoted who carried Stephen to his burial. Great lamentation was offered, for they knew they had lost much in Stephen’s death.

Act 8:2 And devout men carried Stephen [to his burial], and made great lamentation over him.
Act 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

At that time the climate against the work of the young church grew so great, that the believers were scattered. So the truth was advanced by the scattering of those who believed.

And yet the greatest accomplishment of Stephen’s life may have been that Paul saw a man who had faith in God. Stephen’s truth, converted Paul.

Act 22:20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

Every young man and woman must see that Stephen’s lack of a high position did not keep him from God’s best.

For the Lord himself stood in honor of this man’s life and death. Selah

Young believer, God has a time for you. Do not push yourself ahead, but wait on the Lord, and see that in every situation, you strength shall be renewed.

Psa 25:3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
Psa 37:34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see [it].
Pro 20:22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.