01.07. Excerpt2 - Stephen

Excerpt2 - Stephen

They spilled out from the upper room
Not cowering or clothed with gloom.
They were ablaze with holy fire,
Fully consumed with one desire -
To know and to be known by Him
Who purged them from defiling sin,
To let the Temple crowd just see
How holy simple men can be.

By God they formed a holy band
Who would, through Him, possess the land.
They formed a special holy crew,
- A deacon band, something quite new.
Men Christ saved to the uttermost;
Purged and filled with the Holy Ghost.
They heard from God that His first choice
Was one called Stephen, a faith-filled youth.

This flaming soul, with holy power,
Did wonders and miracles by the hour.
The other apostles, beaten and in jail,
Were not in fear - they just prevailed.
They could not be intimidated.
Why? Just because they were related
To One above upon a Throne
Who kept His touch upon His own.

The more men beat this holy crew
The more their testimony grew.
Never did men of any nation
Hear anywhere a greater oration
Than that which Bro. Stephen gave,
Choosing not *his* life to save.

Into an outer court they led him,
Battered his body, stoned and bled him.
He saw that crowd through blooded eyes,
He further saw - into the skies,
And, surely to his great surprise,
He saw his Lord and Savior rise
Before the throne at God’s right hand
To welcome him to his Homeland!