text: Oct 30, 2006 at 03:37 o\clock
  "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." (Isaiah 53:4)
  Christ's death was a shameful death. More than the pain they inflicted upon Him, perhaps the shame was the most trying aspect of what man did to the holy Saviour. In Roman executions, the criminals were stripped naked, and inhumanely exposed to public shame. So the Roman soldiers cast lots for His clothes and left Him naked. Scripture tells us, Christ "endured the cross, despising the shame." (Hebrews 12:2) This He did in love for sinners and because of His delight in doing the will of God. What a tragedy it is if we are ashamed of the One who bore such shame for us! (Milton Haack)
  N.J. Hiebert # 2783
  "And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on (Stephen), saw his face as it had been the face of an angel." (Acts 6:15)
  Never fear persecution; it will make your face shine as an angel's.
  N.J. Hiebert # 2784
  Oct 26, 2006 at 16:41 o\clock
  Oct 23, 2006 at 18:37 o\clock
  N.J. Hiebert # 2776
  N.J. Hiebert # 2777
  do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)
  N.J. Hiebert # 2778
  Oct 20, 2006 at 18:47 o\clock
  "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk,
  even as He walked." (1 John 2:6)
  Oct 19, 2006 at 00:46 o\clock
  "But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a
  more excellent way." (1 Corinthians 12:31)
  Oct 16, 2006 at 18:15 o\clock
  Oct 13, 2006 at 17:21 o\clock
  "He being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. . . . they cast him out of the city . . . and they stoned Stephen (who) calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." (Acts 7:55-59)
  The question that occupies us is that of the death of Stephen; and we notice that he literally went through death to go to the Son of man standing at God's right hand. His speech began with "the God of glory" and endd with "the glory of God;" and he went through the volleys of stones, superior to all suffering up to his very last breath, seeing with quickened perception the heavens opened and what they contained.
  Oct 10, 2006 at 17:03 o\clock
  "Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more
  blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35)
  Oct 6, 2006 at 17:47 o\clock
  "Did not our heart burn within us, when He (JESUS) talked with
  us by the way?" (Luke 24:32)
  Oh, brethren, be great believers! Little faith will bring your souls to Heaven, but great faith will bring Heaven to your souls. (C.H. Spurgeon)
  N.J. Hiebert # 2760
  Oct 5, 2006 at 01:54 o\clock
  Oct 2, 2006 at 17:46 o\clock
  Such was Epaphras! Would there were hundreds like him in this our day! We are thankful for preachers, thankful for writers, thankful for travelers in the cause of Christ; but we want men of prayer, men of the closet, men like Epaphras. We are happy to see men on their feet preaching Christ; happy to see them able to ply the pen of a ready writer in the noble cause; happy to see them making their way, in the true evangelistic sprit, into "the regions beyond" ; happy to see them, in the true pastoral spirit, going again and again to visit their brethren in every city. God forbid that we should undervalue or speak disparagingly of such honorable services; yea, we prize them more highly than words could convey. But then, at the back of all we want a spirit of prayer - fervent, agonizing, persevering prayer. Without this, nothing can prosper.
  - A prayerless man is a sapless man.
  - A prayerless pastor will have but little food for the flock.
  We want men of prayer, men like Epaphras, men whose closet walls witness their agonizing labors. These are, unquestionably, the men for the present moment. (C.H. Mackintosh - Miscellaneous Writings - Vol. 4)