The Testimony of Stephen Moore

A special night at Listooder as another 'Amongst Ourselves' meeting gave the younger Listooder members an opportunity. The highlight of the opening part of the meeting being the 'Million Pound Drop' quiz, presented by Ross Greer and John Neil.

Also in the early part of the meeting, favourite songs were chosen from the Listooder chorus book, including these two wonderful pieces:

And can it be that I should gain

An interest in the Savior’s blood?

Died He for me, who caused His pain—

For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! How can it be,

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Amazing love! How can it be,

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? 

In Christ alone my hope is found;

He is my light, my strength, my song;

This cornerstone, this solid ground,

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My comforter, my all in all—

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

It was then time to welcome one of the leaders of the work in Listooder, Stephen Moore, to come and bring a personal word of testimony. Stephen began by reading from Proverbs chapter 3, and seeking God's help in prayer. He then began to relate how he was brought up in a Christian home, on a farm just outside Lisburn, County Down. He was sent to regular church meetings and knew the reality of God from a very young age.

On one particular night, at the age of 7, Stephen was troubled by the fact that he could not get into heaven in his own strength. But remembering the verse he had been taught, Stephen called upon the Lord to save him, and immediately knew that the burden of sin had been lifted from him forever.

Yet even with the Christian influences around him and the knowledge that he now had the Holy Spirit in his life, the devil still managed to make his mark in Stephen's life. Tempted to try smoking and drinking, Stephen was thankful that he did not become hooked by either of them. Even still, he regretted that during his school days he was not the sort of Christian he should have been. 

As he went on through school and into college, Stephen failed to live fully for the Lord. On into employment, sometimes far from home, Stephen started to slip further away from the Lord. Spending time socially with his colleagues at work, Stephen began to be more and more like them. The devil now had a grip on his life. His life at home was very different from his life away. 

But Stephen knew, all the while, that this was not the way he should be acting. He knew he was saved, He knew the Lord was in his life and that he was bringing shame to the Lord's name. Stephen reminded the young people that a true believer will never be happy in sin. Despite the pleasure that can be had, it is not a true or a lasting happiness.

With the convinction of the Holy Spirit beginning to take a firm hold on him, he began to make excuses to his colleagues. Not able to explain the reasons why, he knew that he should not be out drinking and in that sort of company.

Due to return home from working away, Stephen started to pray that the Lord would provide good Christian friends and influences that would allow him to grow again in the grace of the Lord. At that time, Stephen's now wife and a Christian for many years, Helen, began to text him. On his return they began to spend time together, and married after a few years. The Lord answered prayer.

Stephen and his wife have since got involved in both the work at Listooder and also in their local church. Very few believers, if any, have the blessing of going through their Christian life without difficulty. The devil's power is very real and very strong. In ourselves, we are very weak and susceptible to failure. But the Lord is strong and powerful. His strength will always prevail in our lives. While it is important that we go through these trials, the power of God is seen in all its glory when He restores us again to Himself, often much more on fire for Him than we ever were before.

As he finished, Stephen brought our attention back to Proverbs 3, and in particular verse 6, encouraging the young people, in all their ways, to acknowledge Christ and that He has promised to direct our paths.