60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘LORD, DO NOT HOLD ‘THIS SIN’ AGAINST THEM.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7
The last recorded words of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, were a short but heartfelt prayer. He’d already spoken powerfully and truthfully about the history of Israel, but the religious ‘gnashed their teeth at him’. They were so angry at the words Stephen spoke by the Spirit that they had to kill him. (Great anger and bitterness still exists today under the guise of religion, different religions, including Christianity. A Christian Missionary couple working in Pakistan used to be apprehensive if religious parties could be elected to govern – it usually meant trouble for them)
Stephen’s death was the forerunner to a powerful, coming move of God through His newly established Church.
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Acts 8:1
‘On that day’, the outbreak of persecution was immediate. They’d gotten rid of Stephen, the man whose wisdom they couldn’t subdue;
…who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. Acts 6
They now sought to scatter the whole Church, but God permitted it and the Good News spread further afield.
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. Acts 8
Stephen was a man full of the Holy Spirit, even his face shone when he spoke to the religious. He didn’t just speak the words of God while he lived but even as he died. Stephen could have cursed those killing him, but even as he was being assaulted he asked God not to hold it against his attackers. Stephen didn’t place any hindrances to the coming move of God by critical, judgemental words – HE FORGAVE THEM. Words are such a powerful thing;
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18
The weakest believers have the life of God in them and have power by their words to create a reality of ‘death or life’! Stephen spoke words of life for all around him and didn’t block God’s Grace for others in the future.
Believers need to surrender our mouths to the Spirit and speak Life, not destruction to those around us.
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