Stephen

In this week's lesson of the Beth Moore DVD study of the book of Revelation that we're doing Beth talked about the importance of our testimony.  According to Revelation 12 Satan will accuse us to discredit our testimony.  Our testimony is one of 2 things that we possess to overcome Satan.  Beth said no wonder he tries relentlessly to attack it.  We need to turn the attack back on him.  We've been covered in the Blood of the Lamb and try all he wants, Satan cannot uncover it.  Isn't that amazing?  No matter what we've done in the past, our testimony is that God's grace has covered it all!  Praise the Lord!

My brother Stephen is such a godly man yet he can be so hard on himself!  He does so much for others but he doesn't seem to realize how much he gives and how much he influences others for the Lord.  Why is it that we have so much trouble seeing the good in ourselves?  Satan works hard on us to make sure we belittle our testimony.


In one of Dad's little notebooks (he always carried one in his pocket - he never knew when a sermon idea or other inspiration would hit him) Dad had written a short outline about the soul winners and prayer warriors in our family.  He mentioned his great-grandfather and his grandfather.  I just have to share with all of you what he wrote next in his own words:

Stephen - you have been and are a man of prayer
I bless you with this desire to be a soul winner
God has a soul winners crown for you
Man's greatest End - It deserves your greatest care and desire
Glorify God
From your youth you were different from your brothers
You cared so for animals
Most live for themselves without regard for others
You have not sought riches, honor, pleasure, false hopes, dreams
You have a heart for God
Time is a vapor
I pray God's best for you - prosperity, power in the Spirit - confidence in God alone
The way up is down
To be low - high
Contrite spirit - rejoicing heart
Repenting soul = victorious
To have nothing is to possess all
To bear cross is to wear crown
To give is to receive


Stephen, forgive me for sharing this with everyone but I wanted to impact you with Dad's own words over your life.  His prayers are in a gold bowl as incense in the Throne room of God!  I love you, my dear brother!


Revelation 5:8-10 (The Message)
Each had a harp and each had a bowl, a gold bowl filled with incense, the prayers of God's holy people. And they sang a new song:

   Worthy! Take the scroll, open its seals.
   Slain! Paying in blood, you bought men and women,
   Bought them back from all over the earth,
   Bought them back for God.
   Then you made them a Kingdom, Priests for our God,
   Priest-kings to rule over the earth.