Now possessing the fullness of faith and holy spirit, looking intently into heaven, he perceived the glory of God, standing at the right hand of God. And said, "Lo! I am beholding the heavens opened up, and the Son of mankind standing at the right hand of God."
Acts of the Apostles 7: 55-56, Concordant New Testament Translation
The Hellenistic Jews were livid at the words of the apostle Stephen. As he preaches the risen Lord within the temple courts, he is brought before the Jewish Sanhedrin to answer for his perceived blasphemous words. Instead of admitting to his blasphemy, Stephen once again preaches that Jesus is indeed the promised Christ. Furious, the Sanhedrin orders the apostle stoned to death for his blasphemy. As he stands before his accusers, Stephen proclaims that he indeed has seen the risen Christ, "I am beholding the heavens opened up, and the Son of mankind standing at the right hand of God" {Acts of the Apostles 7:56}. As he faced his own death at the hands of his accusers, Stephen perceived Jesus looking and cheering him on, awaiting to receive him into heaven. For their part, those leaders within the Jewish faith who accused him did not possess the ears to hear Stephens message of the truth that Jesus is the risen Lord they have so eagerly awaited for so long. Of course, these were the same Jewish leaders who put Jesus to death for the blasphemy of declaring Himself the Son of God. When we read the scriptures, we often recognize the folly of those who refused the message that Jesus is indeed the risen Lord. How could anyone deny Christ Jesus? Yet there continue to be those who will. There continue to be those who, despite the best intentions of those bringing the message of the truth we find in in Christ, will not have ears to hear that message. I have dealt with similar situations in my own life. I currently know a man who, despite confessing to be a believer, will adamantly deny the truth of Jesus found in the gospels. He will justify his immoral behavior with the belief that, "God wants me to be happy." Yes, there is no doubt that the Lords desire is for us to be happy, but not in the way you might think. Gods desire, is that we remain happy IN HIM. THIS is the truth we have in our life lived within the Father.
For those who do not possess the ears to hear the truth, a union life within the Father is simply, blasphemy. In their limited understanding, the truth resides in the words spoken from the pulpits of the mainstream church. Yes, Jesus is our risen Lord, but to live IN HIM? What blasphemy is this? Well, it turns out that it's not blasphemy as all, but the truth spoken of our life within the Father. Jesus Himself has spoken that our life is not lived independently of, but within the Father {Johns Account 14:20}. Has Jesus spoken blasphemy? Well, in the eyes of the Jews who condemned Him to His death, yes. Yet the truth of our life in Christ Jesus is well documented within the scriptures. The apostle Paul speaks to this in the book of Galatians. Paul proclaims that his life no longer exists, "But living in me is Christ" {Paul to the Galatians 2:20}. Paul understood the truth, that the old man he once was has been crucified on that cross with Christ. What remains, as Paul points out, is Jesus. Yet many who follow the words and the evangel of Paul continue to have ears that will not hear the truth of their life in Christ Jesus. I know a man who will claim that those who speak of the liberating words of Paul are simply cherry-picking verses in order to advance their blasphemy. Really? I thought that we have been taught that the words of scripture are true, and "above any two-edged sword" {To the Hebrews 4:12}. I guess that only applies to verses mentioned from the church pulpits. Before his death, Stephen proclaimed that he had seen the heavens opened and Christ Jesus standing at the right hand of God looking on with approval. Jesus was cheering Stephen on! Stephen was proclaiming the truth of Christ to those without ears to hear, and for this Jesus delighted in him. How much so will He also delight is we who speak the truth of our life lived within the Father? These are not words of blasphemy, but of the truth of Christ.
For the era will be when they will not tolerate sound teaching, but, their hearing being tickled, they will heap up for themselves teachers in accord with their own desires
Paul to Timothy (2) 4: 3, Concordant New Testament Translation
~Scott~
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