Inspiration from Dan's heart

 Following God's call, no matter what the cost!! 
One of my favorite people in the Bible is Stephen. When you mention Stephen, most people's response is that he was a martyr. The thing I like most about Stephen was his integrity. Whenever Stephen is described in the book of Acts, it says that Stephen was a man "full of faith, full of the Holy Spirit and full of power and did great wonders and signs among the people."
Stephen was a man that was at peace with what God had called him to do. We can learn from how he lived his life, that he was not going to walk in doubt. He was not going to question whether God had called him to service. No matter what the cost, he was going to do exactly what God had said for him to do. As he did the ministry he was called to do, without wavering, he stood steadfast in his faith...believing with no doubt; that's how he was able to accomplish what God had asked him to do. The Word tells us in Acts chapter 6 verse 10, that when Stephen did great wonders and signs among the people, there were some that didn't like it. It says, "they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke." So they secretly gathered together, persuaded others to tell lies about Stephen, and falsely accused him of blasphemy. They seized him and brought him before the council. Let's look at the end of Stephen's life:
Acts 7:54-60-- "When they heard these things they were cut to the heart and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And said, 'Look. I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.' Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears and ran at him with one accord. They cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses lay down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, 'Lord do not charge them with this sin.' And when he had said this, he fell asleep."
Here's Stephen, a man full of faith, a life committed to serving God no matter what the cost and he knows he is about to die. He looked up into heaven and saw the glory of God. He saw Jesus himself, who had suffered and been vindicated now standing up to vindicate him and welcome him into heaven. As Stephen looked upon the glory of God I believe it allowed him to have a tremendous heart of forgiveness for those who were persecuting him.
"Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice,
'Lord do not charge them with this sin.' " (Acts 7:60)
What do we need to follow God's call, no matter what the cost?
1. We need to be full... full of faith, full of the Holy Spirit, and full of power
2. We need to BELIEVE...He will enable us to answer the call
Are you full...do you believe?