Stephen Prays for his Executioners
Would you as a man or woman of God be able to pray for your executioners. Stephen's only crime was preaching the #Gospel of #Jesus #Christ and for that he was stoned to death.
The church was growing and some areas in the church was lacking in their daily ministrations, so the Apostles had the brethren to choose seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom they may appoint over these business. Stephen was chosen with six other men by the brethren. They were set before the Apostles, and the Apostles prayed and laid their hands on them. Stephen was a man full of faith and power and did great wonders and miracles among the people.
But when you are doing a mighty work in the name of the Lord, you will have the disputers that will challenge your faith and knowledge of God's word, and in Stephen's case, there was certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, that disputed with him.
And because these disputers were not able to resist his wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke, they accused him of speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God.
What was Stephens crime? Speaking in the name of the Lord, concerning those things spoken by the prophets of God concerning His Son Jesus. Stephen said that #Jesus Christ of Nazareth shall destroy this place (what place?) and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. (Acts 7) And when they heard his wisdom, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. Why? because Stephen was coming against their customs and laws with the gospel of Jesus Christ. But he (Stephen), being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God
And when they heard Stephen preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, (and Stephen), calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. (Acts 7)
Stephen prayed to God and said, "Receive my spirit," (Accept me). When you know that you have done no wrong, when you know that you have been faithful to your God and his word preaching the gospel of
Jesus Christ, no man has the right to judge you in that, your only judge is God, your heavenly Father, commit your spirit to the one who gave it.
And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Stephen was showing his executioners who his Lord and Saviour is by his words, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." He was faithful in death, he did not change his faith when death was upon him, but he, like his Lord, faced his executioners and asked his Father to forgive them. Can we as men and women of God, in the face of death pray for our executioners?
The church was growing and some areas in the church was lacking in their daily ministrations, so the Apostles had the brethren to choose seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom they may appoint over these business. Stephen was chosen with six other men by the brethren. They were set before the Apostles, and the Apostles prayed and laid their hands on them. Stephen was a man full of faith and power and did great wonders and miracles among the people.
But when you are doing a mighty work in the name of the Lord, you will have the disputers that will challenge your faith and knowledge of God's word, and in Stephen's case, there was certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, that disputed with him.
And because these disputers were not able to resist his wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke, they accused him of speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God.
They will set up a false Witness against You
What was Stephens crime? Speaking in the name of the Lord, concerning those things spoken by the prophets of God concerning His Son Jesus. Stephen said that #Jesus Christ of Nazareth shall destroy this place (what place?) and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. (Acts 7) And when they heard his wisdom, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. Why? because Stephen was coming against their customs and laws with the gospel of Jesus Christ. But he (Stephen), being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of GodAnd when they heard Stephen preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, (and Stephen), calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. (Acts 7)
God is Judge
Stephen prayed to God and said, "Receive my spirit," (Accept me). When you know that you have done no wrong, when you know that you have been faithful to your God and his word preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, no man has the right to judge you in that, your only judge is God, your heavenly Father, commit your spirit to the one who gave it.
And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Stephen was showing his executioners who his Lord and Saviour is by his words, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." He was faithful in death, he did not change his faith when death was upon him, but he, like his Lord, faced his executioners and asked his Father to forgive them. Can we as men and women of God, in the face of death pray for our executioners?
