Notes of Faith October 18, 2025
Glimpses of Heaven: Stephen
Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God! Acts 7:56
Seldom has a sermon so inflamed a crowd that they rushed upon the preacher and killed him on the spot. It happened with Stephen in Acts 7. During the frenzy, several strange things happened: (1) Stephen was suddenly filled afresh with the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:55). (2) He gazed upward and saw heaven, glimpsing the glory of God and Jesus standing at His right hand (verse 55). (3) Stephen, overcome with excitement, shouted to his enemies what he was seeing (verse 56). (4) While being battered with rocks, he cried out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (verse 59). (5) Stephen knelt in the dust, shouting, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin” (verse 60). And with that, he “fell asleep” (verse 60).
What a contrast Stephen experienced between the wrath of earth and the welcome of heaven!
Stephen’s experience is unique, but according to 2 Peter 1:11, all those who live faithfully in Christ “will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (NIV).
That prospect should brighten your heart today!
May we never go through what Stephen did, but let us follow his example in faithfulness, boldness, and Christ-likeness.
G. Campbell Morgan
Acts 7:54-60
54 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. 55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; 56 and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." 57 But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. 58 When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" 60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" Having said this, he fell asleep.
I pray, that as the world descends into the pit of hell, if the Lord leaves me as a witness on this earth, that I will defend the truth of God, Jesus and His work for my sake, and His written Word, even to the point of death! May we all become bolder in speaking the truth in love as the time approaches for the return of Jesus and His judgment on this unbelieving world!
Pastor Dale