VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: The Voice Of The Martyr Stephen!

The Life Of Stephen 

- The First Martyr For The Faith Of Jesus Christ - 

Should Inspire Everyone Of Us Who Trusts In The Lord 

For Our Eternal Salvation! 

Beloved, 

Stephen's Life Accused Those Who Knew Not The Lord 

And

He Was Hated For It! 

Stephen's Ways Pleased The Lord 

And

The Lord Blessed Him With The Heavenly Vision 

As His Days' End Visibly Approached! 

Dear Ones, 

In The Earthly Court

As Long As The Judge Is Seated

Both Accuser And Defendant Have Opportunity To Speak 

But

When The Judge Stands Up

Judgment Has Been Rendered 

And

The Case Is Over! 

Stephen Saw Jesus Christ Standing At The Right Hand Of God 

And 

He Went To His Long-Sleep Knowing That 

The Lord, The Judge Of All Flesh

Had Rendered Judgment Against Wicked Men 

And 

In His Favor! 

Dear Ones, 

Hold On To Your Blessed Hope In The Lord! 

The Wicked May Escape Justice On Earth 

But 

They Cannot Escape The Court Of Heaven! 

Please Dare To Live Your Life 

With Heaven Ever Always In Your View! 

In The Name Of Jesus

Pray And Please Almighty God 

And 

He Will Surely Bless You To All Pleasing! 

Peace! 

"Hate Evil!"

We Have A Direct Command Of Almighty God: 

"Hate Evil!" 

Beloved, 

We Will Hate Evil 

Because 

We Love The Lord! 

We Serve The Creator Who Is The Holy God Known Alive

The Savior Dear

The Good Shepherd

The Forever Friend

The Returning Redeemer

The Kind King

The Incorruptible Judge

Our Blessed Hope! 

Our Lord Jesus Provides For Us Before We Express Our Need! 

He Has A Thousand Ways To Save Us 

Even Though We Need Only One 

And

When We Are Instructed ... Commanded

To Do Something For Our Good

We Always, Always, Always Have A Blessing Of 

Infinite Magnitude Attached! 

We Have The Preserving And Delivering Hand Of 

Our Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omni-Present God Attending Us

Protecting Us

And 

Providing For All Of Our Needs 

And

Our Enduring Faithful Obedience 

Ensures That 

We Will Not Be Overcome By Evil! 

Please Take Note ... 

Satan Aka His Evilness Was Distinctly Told How Far He Could Go 

To Wreak Havok In Job's Life 

So Let Us Correct The Error Which Says That 

Evil-Doers May Do Whatever They Want! 

Evil-Doers  Cannot Do More Than What The Lord Says 

Is 

Permissible! 

Never Forget That 

The Promise Is Given For Our Deliverance

So Shout "Hosanna!" 

Shout "Save Now!" To Our Lord Christ 

Even As You Hate Evil Like You Would Hate Rat Poison! 

Rejoice! 

The Lord Is King! 

Our Deliverance Is On The Wing! 

Stand Strong! 

Peace!

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Sing Unto God! + PRAYER: Help Us, Lord, To Sing Unto You Like Whistling Kettles!

Give Almighty God Great Praise: 

Don't Be Stingy! 

Think Critically, Beloved

About The God ... The Lord Jesus Christ 

Whom We "Proudly" Say That We Are Serving 

And 

Dare To Recognize That We Are ... Liars!?! 

Yes! Liars! 

We Say We Serve The Holy God

Who Ever Strengthens Us 

And 

Even Shields Us From The Harm We Cannot See! 

We Say That We Totally Trust Him 

But 

What We Mean To Say Is That 

We Trust Him Sometimes 

And 

Usually When It Is Convenient 

Aka When He Helps Us According To Our Timing 

And 

We Have "The Reason" About Which To Rejoice 

And

Merciful Powers

That Is When We Haul Out Our Grandparents' Favorite Song 

And 

Attempt To Burst Somebody's Ear-Drums As We Sing: 

"I Am Delivered! 

Praise The Lord!" 

We Should Be Ashamed Of Ourselves 

And 

We Should Do A Haul 'n Pull 

Aka Haul Back The 

"Where Was God When ... !?!" 

And 

Dig Deep For A Big Dipper Full Of 

"Jehovah, Hallelujah! 

My God Always Provides!" 

Dear Ones, 

It Takes No Effort To Sing Unto God 

When You Have Cash To Burn

Food To Waste

Clothes Enough To Dry-Rot

Nice Children

The Adoring Spouse

And 

Pleasant Work! 

If, However

You Can Pray, Praise

And 

Lift Up The Lord In The Midst Of The Storms In Your Life

You Know For Sure That You Are Cooking With Gas! 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, 

Oh, That We Who Call Ourselves

Committed Christians 

May Be As The Whistling Kettle That

Sings Its Best Music 

When The Non-Stop Heat Is Applied

 To Its Bare Bottom 

And

The Only Stress-Reliever

Is To Sing Unto God 

Until Relief

The Promise Of Very Present Help

Swiftly Arrives! 

Thank You, Lord Jesus

For Being The On-Time

In-Time

Never-Late

Promise-Keeping

Heart-Cleansing

Ever-Loving

Always-Giving God Of Grace 

Who Inhabits Glory! 

Please Help Us To Give You Real Praise 

Because

You Are Our Perfect Love

Blessed Hope

And

Sweet Peace! 

AMEN!!!

Stop Eating Swine's Food!

Many Of Us Live With The Hope For Glory 

But Not 

The Blessed Hope That 

Leads To The Kind Of Glory That 

Transports Us To Everlasting Life! 

Where, Why

When Did We Go Astraying After The Scraps That 

Swine Gladly Eat Instead Of Eating From 

The Kind And Faithful King's Table Of Good And Plenty!?! 

Was It On The Day You Were Bypassed 

For What You Thought Was Your Just Due 

Or 

Perhaps It Was The Day That 

Your Pride Overcame Your Common-Sense 

And 

You Started Walking On Satan's Enchanted Ground Of 

Smoke And Mirrors!?! 

Beloved, 

Only Those Who Walk In The Will Of God 

Are The Children Of God

And

The Blessed And Beloved Brethren Of Our Lord Christ! 

We Will Not Be Bountifully Blessed 

And 

Eternally Saved

If

We Just Have And Use The Family's Name 

But

Do Not Possess Jesus Christ's Pure And Holy Character!

 

Brethren, Beloved

Since We Are Using The Name Above All Names

Let Us Diligently Seek 

To Assimilate The Character That Creates Us Anew! 

Let Us Not Be Among Those Accused Of False Pretenses 

And 

Charged With Using Bogus Identity Papers! 

Let Us Choose To Walk The Talk

Live The Life

Carry The Cross

And 

Do The Duty 

So As Not To Suffer Eternal Loss! 

Think About It ...

Carnal Things Are Temporal

But 

Christ's Free Salvation 

Is 

Eternal! 

Do Your Due Diligence 

And 

Let The Name Of Christ 

Become Your Nature In Christ! 

Peace With The Living God Is Free

So Dare To Diligently Pray Without Ceasing! 

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Keep Close To The Lord Christ!

Worldly Wisdom Says:

 

"Keep Your Friends Close

And

Your Enemies Closer!" 

Jesus Christ 

Is 

Our Forever Friend 

And

Satan

Is 

Our Forever Enemy! 

Jesus Christ Creates, Recreates

Saves, Redeems, Revives

Regenerates, Cleanses, Helps, Heals, Blesses

Uplifts And Elevates! 

Satan Deceives And Destroys! 

Jesus Christ The Righteous Says: 

Draw Near To Me

And

I Will Draw Near To You 

And

Be Your Shepherd

Lord, God And Kind King

And

Lead You Gently Safely Home

To Life Everlasting! 

Satan The Damned Says: 

"You Are As God! 

Do What Feels Good! 

Do You! 

Rest When You're Dead!" 

Beloved, 

Worldly Wisdom 

Is 

Not Wise 

And Is Not

For Anyone Who Has Taken The Hand Of Jesus Christ 

And 

Is Living Under The Banner Of The Blessed Hope! 

The Way Of Our Forever Friend Does Not Include Self

Selfishness

Self-Serving Or Self-Aggrandizement! 

Please Stay Away From Satan

The Enemy Of Your Soul

The Accuser Of Our Brethren

Who Wants You To Be As He Is: 

Homeless, Stateless, Condemned 

And 

Damned! 

Satan Wants You Dead! 

Jesus Christ Purchased Everlasting Life For You 

With Everlasting Love! 

Stick Close To King Jesus 

And 

Live Forever! 

The Heavenly Storehouse Elevator + PRAYER: Father, Please Help Us To Fix Our Eyes On King Jesus!

There Is No Created Being That

Can Stop You From Communing With Your Creator

So Never Let The Harsh, Often Cruel, Voice Of Opposition 

Stop You From Boarding 

And 

Calmly Riding

The Heavenly Storehouse's Always-Available Elevator!

Prayer Brings Us Up To Almighty God

And

Is Like Our Communicating With Our Very Best Friend

So Take The Holy Word-Preserved As Written

And

Indulge In Prayer Always

For Everything

And

For Nothing At All

And

Do So Diligently

And

Until Your Earthly Life Shall End!

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, 

I Come In Faith With All My Doubts Set Aside

Sure Of Your Abiding Love

Grateful For Your Blessed Grace

Thankful For Your Free Mercy

And

Praising Your Holy Name! 

I Am Grateful, Lord

For The Blessed Hope

Christ In Me

My Hope To See My Jesus In Peace

And

To Get Home To My Place In Your House In Glory! 

Lord, 

You Have Plainly Told Us That In This World 

We Shall Have Tribulation 

And

You Have Asked Us To Be Of Good Cheer

- To Be Happy - 

Because You, In Your Flesh

For Our Salvation

Overcame The World! 

Thank You For The Knowledge

And

Thank You For The Grace 

Given To Help Us

By Faith

Through Constant Praying

To Endure! 

Father, 

Please Hold Me! 

Please Hold My Head

My Heart 

And

My Trembling Hand! 

Please Lead Me

Guide Me

Feed Me

Teach Me

And

Ever Comfort Me 

And

Lovingly Correct Me! 

Please Help Me, Lord

Not To Live Through My Lying Eyesight

Or My Carnal Emotions 

Which Vary

According To The Often Deceitful Words That 

We Daily Hear! 

Please Help Us, Dear Lord

To Faithfully Live On The "Thus Saith The Lord!" 

The Truth That Is Life

The Light That Is Our Prince Shiloh

Our Perfect Peace 

King Jesus

Upon Whom We Ask You

To Help Us Firmly Fix Our Eyes

And

In Whose Name We Humbly Pray! 

I Love You, Lord! 

Please Come For Us Soon! 

AMEN!

Are You Saying That You Never Had A Glass!?!

The Great God Of Grace And Glory 

Has Boldly Gifted 

And 

Blessed Us With His Peace 

And 

Covered Us With His Plain Words Of Love, Care 

And 

Caution: 

How Do You Respond To Disappointments, Challenges

Set-Backs, Set-Ups

Sorrows

And 

Shame!?! 

Do You Stop To Evaluate The Situation 

And 

Pray For Peace And Power To Press On 

Or

Do You Lash Out Angrily, Aggressively

Arrogantly, Hostilely And Hatefully 

Or

Do You Say That The World Never Liked You 

And 

Head For The Nearest Exit 

Or 

Do You Suck On Your Thumb

Rock Yourself To Sleep

Say That You Never Had A Glass 

Or Ever Get Anything To Put In A Glass

And 

Try To Kill The Messengers 

Who Are The Lord's Workmen!?! 

Beloved, 

We Who Believe

And 

Trust The Lord Of Life

And 

Obey The Word Of The Holy God 

- Who Loves Us Sacrificially -

Know That We Do Not Walk Alone

And 

Understand That We Have For Our Help 

The God Who Knows All Things

 And

Does What's Best For His Dear Children! 

Please ... 

Let Us Of The Household Of Faith 

Remember Whose Children We Are

Glory In The Fact That He Overcame 

So That We Can Overcome All Things In His Name

And 

Never Forget That Our Home 

- In His Father's House Of Peace And Joy - 

Is 

Just Over The Hill-Top!

Truth ... The Truth ... Cannot Fail Us

So Let Us Rejoice Greatly That

Soon Coming

 Is

Our Promised Relief! 

Hold On To The Blessed Hope: 

Jesus Christ Is Our Only Peace! 

Pray For Peace! 

CHRISTIANITY: The Life Of Worldly Privilege!?!

Privileged!

Blessed!

Faithful!

Obedient!

Grateful ... And More!

They Were Not Huddled Together!

They Were ... Are ... All Over The Place

And

Most Of Them Were Real Easy To Identify:

They Wore Their Christian Regalia! 

Big Hats! 

Sharp Suits! 

Some Were Too Comfortable! 

Many Were Proudly Pious! 

Many Were Snifflingly Sanctimonious! 

Many Were Giving And Griping! 

Many Were Studiously Parsimonious! 

All Named The Name Of Christ Jesus! 

Many Were Fat And Cried Poverty! 

Fruit Was Everywhere:

Preserved Fruit! 

Fruit Crumble! 

Fresh Fruit! 

Spoiled Fruit! 

... And You Could Read The Signs

Observe The Tells Aka The Hints That 
They Wanted Observed And Recognized

And

Back-Slappingly Commented Upon! 

It Was Just Sad

But

They Were All So Happy

To Be Amongst Friends:

Christian And Proud Of It!

Christian And Humbled By It!

Christian And Profited By It!

Christian And Blessed By It!

    Mercy Said No!

    I Love The Lord!

    I Walk With God!

    Too Blessed To Be Stressed! 

        Cooperating With Christ!

        I Should Have Died!

        Waiting, Watching, Working Christian!

        Wise Unto Salvation!

The Call To Order Was Given ... Firmly

And

A Hush Fell Upon The Room! 

His Nibs, Florid MC, Master Of Ceremonies 
Had Taken Center Stage! 

The Time Had Come! 

Everybody Was Eager To Hear The Missions Report
But
Surprisingly
Nobody Knew Who Was Giving The Report This Session! 

Anticipation Was High! 

Usually Given To Flowery Phrases And Hyperbole

Florid MC ... His Voice Noticeably Shaking

Without Preamble, Baldly Said:

Brethren, 

Time Is Short! 

The Master Is Here! 

Prince Shiloh, Welcome! 

The Gasp In The Room Was Audible! 

Real Audible! 

Now That Was Straight Out Of Left Field! 

Unexpected! 

Being Au Fait With The Book

They Know That The Prince Still Speaks To His People

But 

They Weren't Expecting To Hear Him Up Close And Personal! 

Hearts Swelled With Pride 
At Their Assembly Being Graced By The King! 

What A Blessing! 

Prince Shiloh Spoke Of Love
Grace And Mercy Given And Not Exemplified!

Prince Shiloh Spoke Of Truth Given

And Truth Denied!

Prince Shiloh Spoke Of Peace Given

And Peace Made A Verifiable Lie!

And Prince Shiloh Cried.

Then, Suddenly

Prince Shiloh ... Our Prince Who Is Peace

Raised His Voice!

Brethren, Beloved Brethren

Why Do You Use My Name

Say That You Love Me

Enjoy The Benefits Of The Commitment

Of The Love Relationship

And Do Not Do What Is Good And Right!?!

All Rise!

All Who Know Themselves To Be Privileged, Please Sit!

Everybody Sat Down! 

All Who Know Themselves To Be Truly Blessed, Please Rise!

Everybody Got Up!

All Who Know That 
They Are Grateful To Almighty God For The Myriad Blessings 
Daily Bestowed Upon You Personally

Please Sit!

Of The 2,500 People Known Present And Accounted For

2,227 People Sat Down!

The Number Showed On The Screen!

The Gathering Groaned!

All Who Know By The Word Of Truth That Convicts Of Sin

And Convinces Of Righteousness

That They Are Faithful And Obedient 
To Their Calling And Commitment To The Lord

Please Remain Seated!

Of The 2,500 People Present And Accounted For

A Remnant, 393 Saints, Remained Seated!

You Could Have Heard A Pin Drop!

Shock Was Evident!

Fear Was Apparent!

Hope Appeared Absent

But 

Love Was Not Lost!

Prince Shiloh Started To Speak Again!

Those Who Are Sitting, Please Come To Me! 

All Who Are Standing, Please Sit!

When All Were Appropriately Resettled

Prince Shiloh Said:

A Saved Christian Is A Faithful
Ever-Obedient
Grateful For Grace

Waiting For The Consummation Of Their Hope 

Wise Unto Salvation 
Watching Worker

Who Does Not Take Anything For Granted

Not Even Their Life!

Were This Event On The Great Day Of Small Things

All Of You Who Are Here Seated

Would Be Amongst Those Forever Lost To The Living Kingdom!

These Few Who Are Here With Me

Would Be The Ones Headed For Glory

Incorruptible 

Immortalized

Glorified!

Beloved, 

Let This Be A Lesson To You In The Chair! 

Godliness Is Gladness! 

Against You, I Forbear!

You Now Have Opportunity 

Your Life To Turn Around

So Be Not Complacent:

Your Life In The Here And The Now 
Is Assuredly That Of The Time-Bound!

Make Good Use Of The Reprieve You Have Been Given!
All The Heavenly Intelligences Are Available To You
And Desire To See Your Salvation!
Remember: Earth Is An Hospital For The Sin-Sick
And A Learning The Way To Everlasting Life Station!

After Prince Shiloh Had Departed

Florid MC Spoke With A New Gravitas 
In His Already Powerful Voice:

Brethren, 

I Stand Before You A Soul Chastised!
We Have Been Warned! 

Forewarned Is Fore-Armed

So Not One Of Us Here Has Any Reason Whatsoever

To, Hereafter, Be Lost To The Living Kingdom! 

If Prince Shiloh Didn't Love Us Sacrificially

He Would Not Have Come To Warn Us Of Our Peril! 

We Can No Longer Indulge In Business As Usual! 

If We Are Following Christ

We Will Conduct Ourselves As He Did

Always Pleasing The Father ... Our Father In Heaven! 

The Text That Prince Shiloh Has Left For Our Admonition 
Is Luke 14:27! 

Let's Take It To Heart:

Following The Lord Christ 

Is Not For The Faint-Hearted 

Because It Is Not The Life Of Worldly Privilege

Worldly Abundance And Carousing 

And Excesses Sufficient To Make Our Savior Sad! 

Self-Denial, Sacrifice

Disappointments, Delay

Hatred, Malice And Mistreatment 

Are All Conditions To Be Faithfully Endured 

And Overcome 

But We Are To Live Fully Cognizant Of 
The Value Of The Treasure

That Is The Blessed Hope! 

Following After The Lord Christ 

Our Very Own Prince Shiloh

Is Safety, Security, Satisfaction, Sanity

And Salvation 
For The Repentant Sinner Sanctified ... Set Apart

For His Holy Use! 

There Is No Risk Because ... Again

We Have The Blessed Hope 

Which Benefits Are Known 

Before We Even Decide To Walk With The Lord Christ 
Who Is Creator, Provider, Savior

Redeemer, Forever Friend

Hope For Heaven

And Surety For Everlasting Happiness! 

We Have Been Reminded That Gratitude Is A Grace!

Earthly Joys Are Temporary! 

Heavenly Joys Are Glorious, Eternal
And The Return On Our Investment In Christ 

Is Infinite 

So Let's Boldly And Safely Choose 

To Take The "Risk" That Is Ordained

All Heavenly Reward! 

The Prince Of Peace ... Prince Shiloh 
Is Ever With Us!
Let's Do Better For Him
So That We Will Be Better In Him:
He Is Our Perfect Peace!

PRAYER: Thank You, Father, For Walking Me Through Life's Stages!

Prayer Is The Life-Blood Of The Believing Soul!

How Can I Not Be Grateful, Lord

For All Your Gifts Of Love!?!

How Can I Not But Feel Oh, So, Blessed

When I Know That You Are 

On The Throne Of Heaven Above!?!

You Are My Father: I Give Your Honor!

You Are My Master: Thank You For The Hire!

You Are My Teacher: Thank For The Living Word!

You Are My God: Worship Is My Reward Every Passing Hour!

I Have The Blessed Hope!

I Have Jesus' Faith!

I Have Truth For The Ages!

Thank You For Walking Me Through

All Of Life's Stages!

Father,

I Choose To Work With You

And To Help To Build The Living Kingdom

And By Your Grace

I Choose Not To Give Heed To Him

Who Encourages The Unwary

To Indulge Unhealthful Living!

I Desire To Live With You, Lord

And I Have Hope For The Journey!

I Have Strength By Your High And Holy Hand 

For The Upward, Homeward, Way 

And

I Thank You, Lord, I Thank You

For Your Personal Gifts Of Grace And Faith

For Each Of My Journeying Days!

You Are My Life: You Make Me Live!

You Are My Help

And My Reason For Being

And

I Am Most Thankful For

The Day Soon To Come

When My Heart's Believing 

Will Turn Into My Eyes' Seeing!

Please Keep Me In The Faith That 

Fails Not!

Please Keep Me On The Path That's

Always Right!

Please Help Me To Ever Walk In Eternal Life's Light

So That To You, Father

I May Be A Blessed Delight!

I Love You, Lord!

Come Soon!

In Jesus Christ's Holy Name, I Pray!

AMEN.