This week we commemorate the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church with a video, and a message about Stephen, the first known Christian martyr. Stephen was one of the first leaders of the church. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he was convicted to bring people the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Steven condemns his stiff-necked, Jewish brothers for being so flesh-filled in their hearts and ears, and for resisting the Holy Spirit. The flesh filled heart is "cut away" when you allow the Word of God to inform you and change you. They were so flesh filled and resistant to the Spirit, that they stoned Stephen and in the process of stoning him, as his body was failing, he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and remained joyful beyond the point where his body failed. What does that mean to us today? Resistance remains, however our life and our overall purpose is about getting ready to meet Jesus Christ.