Pray Today
Day 7: Acts Ch.7. Stephen becomes the first recorded person to be martyred for the Christian faith. In prayer today, give God thanks for the courageous souls throughout history who suffered so we might know Christ. Pray also for believers today who are faithfully risking their lives for Christ around the world. One lost person or family:
JESUS today YOU will SAVE me.
Eat This Book
Read Proverbs Chapter 16
Acts 7
1 Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
6 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
7 And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.
8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.
12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.
13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.
14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.
17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.
19 The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.
20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months:
21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.
22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?
27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?
29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,
32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.
34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.
36 He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
40 Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?
43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.
45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;
46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
47 But Solomon built him an house.
48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
50 Hath not my hand made all these things?
51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55 But he, 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,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 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.
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 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.
The POFW Daily Bible Reading 
Acts 7: 20-43
History repeats itself. In every generation, we can find the same pattern. People are the same. When confronted with God’s message, they do not understand (25) when urged to live at peace, they refuse to listen (27) when given a God-sent deliverer, they reject him (39) when rescued from an evil situation, they prefer useless idols to the merciful God (41. Such is human nature rebellious, ungrateful, foolish. God is the same. The God who spoke to Moses was the same God who had spoken to his ancestors (32). This God hears when people are troubled (34. He comes to deliver (34). He leads His people from death to life (36). He surrenders to their desires those who willfully reject Him (42). Such is our great God merciful, powerful, holy. He is always the same, whatever happens ( Mal. 3:6). For Stephen’s hearers it was a warning not to trifle with God. It is also an assurance that every promise of God stands firm forever.
A.L.M.A.S.
55 But he, 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,
60 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.
Every day we need to be refilled with the Holy Spirit. When we manage to become full of the Holy Spirit, we will be close enough to Jesus to become aligned with His purpose. Just as Jesus said forgive his crucifers, likewise Stephen said a similar request, which shows he had the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ is the work of God in our life, when we yield to His will.
9“These patriarchs were jealous of their brother Joseph, and they sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him.
Stephen emphasized the spiritual presence of God with Joseph all the time. Joseph did not need to go to the temple to be close to God – there was no temple. Instead, God was with him all the time. Yes, God is everywhere. He is with you at home, at work, at school, when on vacation, his presence is there when you invite him in.
Throughout this chapter as Stephen ReITERATED the story, God rescued many people in many different ways. It wasn’t always as they would have wanted or planned; but it was God’s plan. Just as Stephen, let us only have eyes for God. Hebrews 12:1-3 MSG says “Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” ReVIVE and ReCALL His will for your life!
57. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
60. 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.
They cried out against a man of God because he told them the truth…he cried out asking God to show them mercy.
Are we using our voices to speak against others, or are we using them to save the lost?
Acts 7:56-57 [ amp] And He said ,Look! I see the heavens opened,and the Son of man standing at God’s right hand !
57] But they raised a great shout and put their hands over their ears and rushed together upon him.
Stephen ,looking up into heaven,saw glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
As these vile men killed Stephen, he was ushered into heaven’s glory.
Stepen was full of the Holy Spirit, he was stoned to death! But God was still there.
You need a miracle, or something done for someone, call on Jesus !
Thank you Jesus.
”Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these accusations true?” This was Stephen’s reply: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me. Our glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham in Mesopotamia before he settled in Haran. God told him, ‘Leave your native land and your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.’ So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran until his father died. Then God brought him here to the land where you now live. “But God gave him no inheritance here, not even one square foot of land. God did promise, however, that eventually the whole land would belong to Abraham and his descendants—even though he had no children yet. God also told him that his descendants would live in a foreign land, where they would be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. ‘But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,’ God said, ‘and in the end they will come out and worship me here in this place.’ “God also gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision at that time. So when Abraham became the father of Isaac, he circumcised him on the eighth day. And the practice was continued when Isaac became the father of Jacob, and when Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs of the Israelite nation.“
Acts of the Apostles 7:1-8 NLT
He was a man of faith – He did not know where he was going, but he believed that, under God’s guidance, the best was yet to come
REVIVE
FOLLOW THE FIRE
THE BUSH THE FIRE AND THE VOICE
30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
The testimony of Stephen includes the FIRE of GOD in the bush. I believe we have opportunity in this 40 Day season to expierience similar encounters with JESUS our LORD.
We must simply be sensitive to FOLLOW THE FIRE that GOD places before us. Its a NEW SEASON!
The song says it well.
Say, say it’s a new season and it’s a new day
Fresh anointing
Nothing will stop, Nothing will stop
Fresh anointing
Someone say this fresh is flowing my way right now
Right now it’s a season of power
(Let the weak say I’m strong) and prosperity
(Let the poor say I’m rich)
It’s a new season coming to me
60 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.
True christianity is when you are wounded, yet you lay not the sin to the individuals charge and ask God to forgive them for what they did.
Many times in the Word of God we see where Jesus was persecuted, treated wrongly, yet never opened His mouth to defend himself or to rebut what was said or done to Him.
Oh, to be like Jesus, to be like Jesus, on earth I long to be like Him. All through life’s journey from earth to glory, I only ask to be like Him.
No tengo palabras, amen!
48-49 ”“However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: ‘Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord, Or what is the place of My rest?“
God made the world and everything in it. Everything belongs to Him. He cannot be confined to a place built by man.
”“But will God really live on earth? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!
1 Kings 8:27 NLT
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.60 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 a mighty man of God who died in the most tragic and unfair way, yet he not only forgave them, he prayed God not charge these men with his death. When we forgive someone of the horrible hurtful things they’ve done to us, can we truly say to God to not charge them one day with all they’ve done? When we can say that and mean it, we have truly forgiven.
But he, 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 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
———-
… being full of the Holy Ghost..
Two things , it all started by him speaking the truth, a truth others did not like at all and took matters into their hands and did what thought he deserved.
But what did he do? What happened to him as they were stoning him? I almost believe ( (maybe it’s crazy) that because he was full of the Holy Ghost God caused him to only focus on him, while his flesh was being bitten his spirit was witnessing something magnificent, his glory ..
but also out of a pure and compassionate heart, he even prayed for them asking the Lord to not lay their sin to their charge.
👉🏼 THIS IS POWERFUL!
… full of the Holy Ghost.
God is LOVE.
forgive.
🙏🏼
REVIVE
Act 7:60 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.
The forgiveness displayed by Stephen is amazing. We all need to pattern our lives after this man of God. While rocks are bashing his skull in, he asks God to forgive them. Sometimes we have a difficult time forgiving someone who spoke ugly to us.
Acts 7:38-39 (NLT), “38) Moses was with our ancestors, the assembly of God’s people in the wilderness, when the angel spoke to him at Mount Sinai. And there Moses received life-giving words to pass on to us. 39) But our ancestors refused to listen to Moses. They rejected him and wanted to return to Egypt.”
How sad that people who Refuse to listen to the Life-Giving Words (TRUTH Of God’s Word) that Pastor Teaches and Preaches and passes on to us, will Refuse him and The Word and will want to Return back into Egypt – the world.
Today, Be REVIVED! Listen and Receive the Life-Giving Words of The TRUTH Of God’s Word that Pastor Teaches and Preaches and be Saved from this world of sin – Egypt.
Thank You JESUS for Your Life-Giving Word – The TRUTH!!
60 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
Imagine not only being chosen As a disciple, but being the first martyr for Christ and in having so much love and Holy Spirit guidance in you that as they are throwing stones at you to condemn you to death you refuse to resist the temptation and bitterness to hold in against the individuals killing you. That is not only transformative evidence, but it is
you.
Acts 7
60 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 the first martyr for God. Of course he didn’t deserve to die. He was a wonderful gracious Godly man. He even asked God to forgive them who killed him. He was full of the Holy Spirit and went up to the Lord.
Thank you Jesus for this day and for beautiful souls as Stephen.
Rosalind Ayers-Clark
50 Hath not my hand made all these things?
🫴🏻🫴🏻🫴🏻🫴🏻🫴🏻🫴🏻🫴🏻🫴🏻🫴🏻🫴🏻🫴🏻🫴🏻🫴🏻🫴🏻
Whatever we have, whatever we see God made it. We should never worship what was created, only the creator Himself should be worshiped. So many are out for what they can get, more, more and more. If only they would realize that whatever wealth you acquire here on earth will stay here. After you are gone, it will all go to someone else, or be thrown away, some stranger may be wearing your clothes that you had to have. Nothing will have the same meaning to another as it had to you. It is more blessed to give than to receive. We have necessities and it is good to be able to have them, even things that we want, not necessarily need is alright, we just should not become obsessed with possessions. Be thankful for all things.
Vs 51-53) (Prophet’s sent)…see Heb 1:1. Vs 54&60) Cut to the heart..knelled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord lay not this sin to their charge. When he said this he fell asleep…..Lord, show me ways I can grow my faithfulness to your word I ask you for opportunities to practice being faithful in the little moments so I can be faithful in the bigger moments ~ Amen….
Acts 7:60 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
Matthew 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Luke 6:28
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Forgive,Pray,Bless them
Acts of the Apostles 7:3-4, 30, 34, 36 NLT
[3] God told him, ‘Leave your native land and your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.’
[4] So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran until his father died. Then God brought him here to the land where you now live.
[30] “Forty years later, in the desert near Mount Sinai, an angel appeared to Moses in the flame of a burning bush.
[34] I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groans and have come down to rescue them. Now go, for I am sending you back to Egypt.’
[36] And by means of many wonders and miraculous signs, he led them out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and through the wilderness for forty years.
God’s promises and words are yes and Amen.
God is with us through the fires of life and he can make beauty out of the ashes. Through the fires and ashes in life God can give you a word that can change your perspective on the situation you are going through. Open your heart and mind for what God has for you.
I’m Listening
Song by Chris McClarney
When You speak, confusion fades
Just a word and suddenly I’m not afraid
‘Cause You speak and freedom reigns
There is hope in every single word You say
I don’t wanna miss one word You speak
‘Cause everything You say is life to me
I don’t wanna miss one word You speak
Quiet my heart, I’m listening
When sorrows roar and troubles rage
You whisper peace
When I don’t have the words to say
I won’t lose hope
When storms won’t break
You keep Your word
Oh, and Your promises will keep me safe
Oh, I don’t wanna miss one word You speak
‘Cause everything You say is life to me
Oh, I don’t wanna miss one word You speak
So quiet my heart, I’m listening
Your ways are higher
You know just what I need
I trust You, Jesus
You see what I cannot see
Your ways are higher
You know just what I need
I trust You, Jesus
You see what I cannot see
I don’t wanna miss one word You speak
‘Cause everything You say is life to me (No)
I don’t wanna miss one word You speak
So quiet my heart, I’m listening
I don’t wanna miss one word You speak
‘Cause everything You say is life to me
Oh, no, I don’t wanna miss one word You speak
So quiet my heart, I’m listening
I don’t wanna miss one word You speak
‘Cause everything You say is life to me
I don’t wanna miss one word You speak
So quiet my heart, I’m listening
In the past 6 days there’s a song by Lauren Daigle that I’ve heard 4 times when I’m driving and I have the radio on. God can speak to through songs and the song being played 4 different times on the radio when you are in your car. That’s a strong message from God for your life
Peace be still is the song
6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
55 But he, 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,
60 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.
It was the Holy Ghost that enabled Stephen to be able to do wonders. It was the Holy Ghost that gave him the words to speak when he was being falsely accused and it was the Holy Ghost that helped him forgive his enemies.
This is why every day we must wake up and be REfilled with the Holy Ghost!
”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.“
Acts 7:60 KJV
Hallelujah!!!! Yes🙌 being filled with the Holy Ghost will definitely allow you to forgive those who have wronged you in your past, present, and future!!!
”Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others].“
1 Peter 4:8 AMP
And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.6 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
A lot can be done by sharing the word of God. We see how Stephen gave them a whole Bible study. From the beginning to their current time and explained what the word says. He was a man that lived the word even to is death. What does this speak to us today? That the word has more value than anything else in our lives.
In these verses we can see how God was with each of these men throughout the generations. His grace accompanied and guided them until they fulfilled the purpose for which God had chosen them. God not only chooses men but he shows them his grace, uses them and leads them to accomplish what he desires. It is only in our hands to allow ourselves to be used by God and to fulfill his purpose.
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
The people that stoned Stephen did not want to hear the truth that he was saying to them. He was telling them the answer that they just needed to quit resisting the Holy Ghost, but they were angered and killed him instead of repenting. Jesus help us to be full of the Holy Ghost and fire no matter the situation we are facing.
Thank you Jesus!!!
And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,
32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
thank you Jesus much for your kindness to help us