Rev. A.J. Ogden

Preaching the gospel message to all people everywhere is the most needed of any work on earth. But a great majority of unbelievers have no appetite for it, despise it, oppose it, talk it down and even try to stop it in our day. It was certainly about the same way when Stephen preached two thousand years ago and was carried to a storing party for his faithfulness to God! The world, the devil, and the flesh hated God’s word then just as they do today.

Look with me at the Bible account of Stephen. Acts 7:59-60, “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

The Bible tells us that Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. No wonder Jesus stood for Stephen because Stephen had stood for him on earth and even in death. I’m sure Stephen would tell us to stand steadfastly in the faith, and the practice of it in our earthly journey.

What our world needs most (the gospel) it wants least of all. But we preachers and laymen cannot preach what the world desires, but preach what the world needs above all else.

Persecution worldwide today is worse than at any time in the history of mankind. We may not always hear about it in the news media, but Christians by the thousands are dying for their faith all the time.