Stephen - A Spirit-Filled Man

ACTS 6:5 - 7:60

-this passage marks a transition in the book of Acts

-up to this pt - Peter has been the dominating figure – ministering to Jews

-another man looms on the horizon – Paul – introduced in 7:58

-Paul is converted in chap 9 – will minister to Gentiles

-after Paul comes on scene – Peter begins to fade from the scene

-exp w/Cornelius(10) /freed from jail (12) /on council (15) – then ???

-the rest of the book focuses on Paul

-bridging the gap between those two giants of God is Stephen.

-only 3 mentions of Stephen in Bible -- Acts 6-8, 11:19 & 22:20

-his ministry catapulted church out of Jerusalem – scattered - 8:1 -his death must have left an indelible impression on Paul.

-this all makes Stephen a key figure in the early history of the church

-showed - efforts of one courageous person can have far-reaching effects.

-proves that impact of a man’s life & ministry is not restricted by it’s length

-his ministry (tho brief) was essential to God’s plan for world evangelism -Stephen paid the ultimate price for his commitment – 1st Christian martyr

v5 -- Stephen is spoken of as "a man full . . . of the Holy Ghost"

-this is the EXPLANATION of the IMPACT of his SHORT life/ministry

-THIS was the THEME / SECRET of his life, ministry, impact for God

-THIS is God's plan & provision for every Christian

-not for few Christians ONLY / older / mature / preachers / msnries

-is to be the NORMAL experience for God's children

Ephesians 5:18 KJV

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

-if took a picture of a man full of the Holy Ghost…what would it look like ???

1. Available & Willing to Serve 6:5-7

-available to the Lord for whatever He appoints.

-7 men needed --- NOT for preaching/prominence/position - but hidden ministry - serve tables -- to distribute to widows in need – HIDDEN MINISTRY

-7 men selected were ready & AVAILABLE– 1stmentioned – STEPHEN

-EVIDENCE THAT……

a. out of 1000’s of men now in the Jerusalem church -- he was one of 7

-reveals the high esteem the church had for him

-what does Spirit-filled man look like? great preacher? prominent pastor?

b. a Spirit-filled Christian will be available to the Lord & to the Church for whatever task the Lord appoints – ARE WE AVAILABLE for whatever He wants?

-the task may not be a prominent one, it may be a "backroom" job

-like David’s servants -- 2 Sam 15:15 And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.

-we ought be willing to do ANYTHING the LORD would ask of us

-preach sermon/teach lesson OR take out trash/clean floors or restrooms

v7 – the result of their service / being plugged in where they were needed

-a church full of servants will grow / be blessed / people will grow in faith

2. A channel for the power of God. v8

-Stephen was used of the Lord

-it says that Stephen did great wonders … but don’t miss … “full of power”

-NOT POWER of Stephen, charisma, personality, public speaking ability

-see the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit through Stephen

-but – Stephen WAS the channel – thru which the Spirit could work

-every Christian – to be a CHANNEL of the working power of the Spirit of God

-God may not perform miracles through us in same way as Stephen

-BUT – there WILL BE evidence of His wonder-working power through our transformed lives --- LET SPIRIT OF GOD WORK THRU YOU

-some people are draining, discouraging – BUT PEOPLE ought look at what SPIRIT of GOD is doing in your life and be ENCOURAGED

-people ought be able to look at your life and SEE GOD / working of God

-people should be able to “tune in” to your channel & see GOD AT WORK

John 14:12 KJV

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

-our lives ought to touch others thru our:

a. words – ever heard the encouraging words of a friend & know they came from God ?? *IL* Marc Monte – encouraged me recently

b. attitudes – are contagious – gripey / positive

c. works – the things we DO to help people / impact them for Christ

3. Grace under provocation. v9-14

v9 …disputing with Stephen

v11-13

-suborned: throw in stealthily, introduce by collusion (planned attack)

-recruited false witnesses / hatched up a wicked plot

-BUT -- all this failed to overthrow / discourage this Spirit filled man

*IL* maybe you have had unkind/untrue statements made about you

-Stephen had all that, and more. How did he react?

v15 -- gives us the answer

-we might have understood if he had become rattled & angry & retaliated

-BUT – we are reading about him in God’s WORD because he didn’t

-this set him apart from the avg Christian who has no “longsuffering”

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is… …longsuffering

-under tremendous provocation -- …."as it had been the face of an angel"

*IL - David – many enemies – “behaved himself wisely in all his ways…”

-similar thot concerning the apostles --- Acts 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

4. Mighty in the Scriptures. Chap 7

-practically whole 7thchapter is taken up with Stephen’s defense / sermon preached to his accusers

-we will read thru it later --- see it is packed full of scripture

a. He knew the Scriptures well to be able to quote them so freely.

-how many verses do we know? - memorization is a lost art

b. He believed the Scriptures – ALL of them – historical/poetical/prophetic

c. He preached the Scriptures. His sermon was "all Bible" !

d. He presented the Christ of the Scriptures - preached the cross – v52

e. He applied Scriptures to his hearers & did it fearlessly -- v51

6:10 …they were not able to resist…

-what does this snapshot of a Spirit-filled Christian look like?

-a Spirit filled Christian knows / loves / believes / preachesthe Bible

-he presents Christ in all the Scriptures / applies Scriptures to his own life

-helps others to know the Word of God

-SPIRIT OF GOD WILL ALWAYS POINT TO WORD OF GOD

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

-do you KNOW the Word of God – ??? – not just know “about “ it

1. Avail & willing to serve 2. Channel for power 3. Grace under provocation 4.Mighty in Scrip

5. Sustained in adversity. 7:54,57-59

-look what happened to this man of God --

-this Spirit-filled follower of the Lord – hated - being stoned to death

-preacher – what do you mean “sustained” --- HE was STONED to death ??

--WELL – look at WHAT was he doing?? feeling sorry for himself / overwhelmed with sorrow / crying for mercy ???? – NO – NO

-NO -- the marvelous thing is that Stephen kept his peace and his poise

-he did NOT “LOSE” it -- he WAS sustained by the Lord

-he did not go under -- but he rode the storm of trial victoriously

-explanation is in v55-56 ----

a. he was full of the Holy Ghost --- it was the Spirit of God in control

b. he kept his eyes on JESUS – that is where Spirit of God will point you

-THIS IS the way to be victorious in midst of trial/testing/sorrow/suffering

-*IL* “why do the things that bother me most keep happening?”

-with eyes on Jesus – things that really bother you won’t bother you

-BE SPIRIT-FILLED ---- a Spirit-filled man endures – eyes in right place

*IL* Moses -- Heb 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

2 Cor 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

2 Cor 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:

-how many of God’s people have been sustained b/c of Paul’s testimony

1 Pet 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you:

-no matter what you are going thru – SPIRIT of GOD can sustain you thru it

6. Resemblance to JESUS v59-60

-his prayers were JUST LIKE the two petitions that Jesus offered from cross

a. prayer of forgiveness -- Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

b. prayer of surrender to death -- Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:

-here is good appl --- a Christian full of Holy Ghost will look like Jesus

*IL* Peter & John -- Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. -- you remind me of that …. Jesus

-the goal of the Spirit of God is to conform you to the image of Christ

2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same imagefrom glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

-how long has Spirit of God had to work on you – to make you look like Jesus

- “well, preacher, I’ve been saved 30yrs” – I know – but how much of that time has the Holy Spirit had control ???

-some people been saved lot of years – still babies in Christ – because still yet have not surrendered to the control of the Spirit of God

-perhaps best compliment to be given about you ------ “you help me love Jesus more / your life makes me think of the Lord Jesus”

*IL* Ron Gearis funeral – “I am a better Christian because of Ron Gearis”

7. Greatly lamented in his death 8:2

-great lamentation – exceeding (high, large & loud) mourning

-when Stephen died, the church grieved loudly

a. it was a great loss on earth – to lose……

a. a man who was available & willing to serve wherever needed

b. a man thru whom God worked in great power

c. a man who was faithful & joyful thru great adversity

d. a man mighty in Scriptures

e. a man who reminded us of the Lord Jesus

-he did not have a long list of converts – but certainly he impacted many

-altho the people judged Stephen a blasphemer and killed him -- he was one of the noblest and most powerful Christian men who ever lived

-no exaggeration to put him on par with Ab/Moses/Elijah/David/John Baptist

b. it was a great gain in Heaven

-he did not die before accomplishing the mission God laid out for him

7:56 .. Jesus was standing to welcome him home

Psa 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

-when you die – will you be greatly missed ??

*IL* some are missed because they were our loved ones –

-our goal ought to be – to be missed because of our value to the work of God

CONC – trust the example

-example of Stephen should serve as challenge to all of us – SPIRIT-FILLED