The very first introduction we have of Stephen is a description in Acts 6:5 that says, Stephen was a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. How cool is that? He was full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit. It was obvious. The way Stephen lived conveyed that he walked with Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Greek word for “full” here doesn’t just mean that the Spirit occupied Stephen, like water occupies a glass when filled, but it is a word that means that Stephen was dominated by, controlled by the Holy Spirit. Oh, in a world that is populated with people who are full of anger, full of hate, full of fear, and full of self, how God longs for more who would desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Verse 8 of Acts 6 says, He was full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.
Those are some pretty impressive things to be filled with, don’t you think? To be dominated by the grace of God and power of God to the point where you are able to perform great wonders and signs that point people TO God?
People opposed him, stirred up people against him and brought him before the Sanhedrin. But look at what verse 15 says. 15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. Pretty incredible, right? The opposition, all mad and animated and dramatic, demanding that the Sanhedrin do something, but all the while the Sanhedrin were sitting there with their jaws on the floor, almost speechless because Stephen’s face looked like an angel’s.
Listen, Stephen was SO full of the Holy Spirit that he looked heavenly. He looked other-worldly. They were captivated by just his countenance. Stephen didn’t possess that power on his own. It was conveyed on him by the Holy Spirit. How do people see us when they look at us? Is there evidence that we belong to the Holy Spirit?
The high priest finally asked in chapter 7 if the charges were true. And you know what Stephen did? He didn’t waste time in answering their question. Instead, he presented an Old Testament Bible lesson, and it wasn’t a short one.
And they just let him keep talking. This was redundant for them. I mean, they already knew everything he was saying. These were the religious leaders. They knew the stories. But you don’t even get the sense that they were gesturing with their hands for him to get on with it or to get to the point.
The religious leaders sat and listened to the whole message without interrupting him to say, “Would you just answer our question?” And he worked his way up to saying this in verse 5151 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised.
Remember, the sign of the Old Testament Covenant between God and His people was circumcision, but it had never been about a physical sign. The physical sign of circumcision was a representation of what God wanted to do in them which was to mark their lives with His Holy Spirit. He wanted to have Spirit control of their hearts and lives. Pentecost power goes beyond religious exercises and the following of rules and regulations. Pentecost power is transforming, all-consuming and is supernatural. It is the result of an internal invasion of the Holy Spirit, a circumcision of the heart.
Stephen went on to say: You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now YOU have betrayed and murdered him— 53 YOU who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
Boom. Mic Drop. The religious leaders, the supposed “good guys,” weren’t resisting Stephen. They were resisting the Holy Spirit, and they had conspired to kill Jesus. Do you understand the boldness it took for him to say that? The only explanation, the only reason he could be so bold was that he was full of the Holy Spirit. Look what happened next.
54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus STANDING at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man STANDING at the right hand of God.”
Listen, People who are full of the Holy Spirit are gifted to be able to see what is unseen.
Stephen didn’t start quaking. Stephen didn’t panic. Stephen didn’t lose his lunch. Stephen didn’t try to escape. Stephen was fixated on the image of Jesus. People who are full of the Holy Spirit never lose sight of Jesus. The Holy Spirit IS the Spirit of Christ, and people who are focused on the Holy Spirit will always have Jesus in their sights.
Here’s what I think about the fact that Jesus stood up for Stephen. I think He stood both out of anger and honor. He opposed those who were creating false charges against him, against the religious leaders who wouldn’t receive Stephen’s message. Jesus knew what that felt like. I also think he stood to honor Stephen for his boldness, for his courage, for his tenacity, for his commitment to the Gospel. Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit, His Spirit, and Stephen was in it to win it.
Stephen had the approval of Jesus.
57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 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.
What power and presence of mind Stephen had that he could even go to prayer while he was being stoned to death. He asked Jesus to receive his spirit, and then he fell on his knees, humbling himself even more with his posture and asked for those who were killing him to be forgiven. I mean, come on. Only someone who is filled with the Holy Spirit could pray for people who are killing him to be forgiven.
People are filled with a lot of things today. They are filled with a desire to be accepted by others, which keeps them anxious and constantly checking their social media status. They are filled with anxiety over the state of the nation or the implications of this pandemic, and it keeps them weak and just treading water. They are filled with a thirst for adventure, sexual pleasure, for entertainment, or for anything to help escape the woes of this life. Those are all dead-end streets.
But people who are filled with the Spirit of God? They have courage and peace at the same time. They have authority and can speak with conviction in a way that is captivating. They can pray for and bless their enemies. They aren’t living on hopes, dreams, wishes, “karma,” and “good vibes.” They are living on real spiritual fuel because they can see the unseen. And in addition to all of that, they have the applause of Heaven! What a satisfying and powerful life!
Live with power to respond and react to life’s challenges. Live with power to see the unseen. Be filled with the Spirit of God.
