Acts 7 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Acts 7.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/act/7/1/s_1025001

Meditate on verses 51 and 55.

 

You men who are stiff-necked and

uncircumcised in heart and ears

are always resisting the Holy Spirit;

you are doing just as your fathers did.

 

But being full of the Holy Spirit, he

gazed intently into heaven and

saw the glory of God, and Jesus

standing at the right hand of God.

 

One of the men selected for distributing food in Acts 6 was Stephen.  After out-debating his oppressors, Stephen was falsely accused, arrested, and allowed to tell his side of the story to the High Priest and religious leaders (Acts 6:8-7:1).  He recounts the history of Israel from Abraham through Solomon and finishes by accusing the religious leaders of resisting the Holy Spirit, killing the prophets, and killing the Righteous One (vs. 2-53). 

 

Filled with rage, these leaders take Stephen outside Jerusalem to kill him (vs. 54, 58).  Contrast the glorious vision of Stephen with the murderous vision of his accusers.  Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, sees Jesus at the right hand of God; the religious leaders are blind to Who God truly is (vs. 55-57).  A Spirit-filled Stephen prays the same as His Spirit-filled Savior, “LORD, do not hold this sin against them!” (vs. 60; Luke 23:34).  

 

Is the Holy Spirit dynamically active in your life?  Do others see the Spirit working in you?

 

Pray Acts 7:51 and 55 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, do not let __________ and me

 be stiff-necked and uncircumcised in

heart and ears, always resisting the Holy Spirit. 

Let us be full of the Holy Spirit, gazing intently

 into heaven, seeing Your glory, God, and

 Jesus, standing at Your right hand.

In Whose name, I pray~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell