Empowered Witness Week 17: The Legacy of Stephen: Part 1: Unshakable Faith

Acts 6:8–15 ESV

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Good morning, church. Today we’re going to dive into a powerful passage from Acts 6:8-15, a passage that reveals the strength and resilience of a man completely surrendered to the Holy Spirit—Stephen.

Stephen was a man like us, living in challenging times, facing opposition, and yet his life was marked by an unshakable faith, a radiant grace, and an unstoppable power.

As we explore Stephen’s story, I want us to consider what it means to live an unshakable life, fully empowered by the Holy Spirit, no matter the circumstances.

Who was Stephen?

Who is Stephen? there is not a lot of historical information about him. most of what we know about him comes from the book of Acts.

In church tradition he is very important. His feast day is celebrated on December 26 in the Western Church (St. Stephen's Day) and on December 27 in the Eastern Church.

Apocryphal Acts: Some non-canonical writings mention him.

Hellenistic Background: Stephen is believed to have been a Hellenistic Jew, which means he was a Jew who had adopted the Greek language and some aspects of Greek culture.

His name, Stephen, is Greek, and his interactions with members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen, which included Jews from various Greek-speaking regions, suggest that he was part of the Hellenistic Jewish community in Jerusalem.

Early Christian Writings: Some early church fathers, such as Augustine and Chrysostom, wrote about Stephen.

Discovery of Relics: According to tradition, the relics of Stephen were discovered in the 5th century by a priest named Lucian in a village near Jerusalem

1. A Life Marked by Grace and Power (Acts 6:8):

Acts 6:8 ESV

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

Stephen was described as "full of grace and power," performing great wonders and signs among the people. These weren’t just ordinary qualities; they were the evidence of a life surrendered to God, a life that had been transformed by the Holy Spirit.

Grace is often seen as gentleness, kindness, and favor. But in Stephen, we see that grace is not weakness; it’s strength under control. It’s the ability to stand firm in the face of opposition with a heart full of love.

And then there’s power—the power that comes from the Holy Spirit. This power wasn’t just for the apostles; it’s for every believer, including you and me. Stephen performed miracles, not because he was special, but because he was available.

He was willing to be used by God, and the Spirit worked mightily through him. What could God do through us if we fully surrendered our lives to His Spirit?

There’s a story told about D.L. Moody, the famous evangelist, who once heard a preacher say, "The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to Him." Those words struck Moody deeply, and he responded in his heart, "By God’s help, I aim to be that man." Moody was not a highly educated man, nor did he have any special advantages, but he was fully available to God. And through his availability, God used him to reach millions for Christ.

Stephen was a man like that—fully available to God, filled with grace and power, and willing to be used wherever and however God wanted. He wasn’t an apostle, but God still used him to perform great wonders and signs among the people. The key was his availability and his openness to the Holy Spirit’s work in his life.

Application:We often think that God only uses the super-spiritual or the highly gifted, but that’s not true. God is looking for people who are simply available—people who will say, "Lord, here I am. Use me." Like Stephen, we can be vessels of God’s grace and power if we make ourselves available to Him.

2. Unshakable in the Face of Opposition (Acts 6:9-10):

Acts 6:9–10 (ESV)

9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called freed Roman slaves), and of the Cyrenians (modern Libya) , and of the Alexandrians, (modern Egypt) and of those from Cilicia (modern Turkey) and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

But with power and grace often comes opposition. Stephen faced fierce opposition from the Synagogue of the Freedmen. They argued with him, but they "could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking" (Acts 6:10

Acts 6:10 ESV

10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

Here’s the truth: When you live a Spirit-filled life, when you are bold in your faith, you will face resistance. The enemy doesn’t attack what isn’t a threat.

But Stephen didn’t back down. He wasn’t shaken by their arguments or their anger because his foundation was in Christ.

The same Spirit that empowered Stephen is available to us. The wisdom he spoke with wasn’t his own; it was the Spirit’s. We don’t need to be afraid of opposition when we’re standing on the truth of God’s Word. The Spirit will give us the words to say and the strength to stand firm, just as He did with Stephen.

3. Radiant in the Midst of Accusation (Acts 6:11-15

Acts 6:11–15 ESV

11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

When they couldn’t defeat him with arguments, they turned to lies and false accusations. They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, dragging Stephen before the council. But here’s the amazing thing—Acts 6:15

Acts 6:15 ESV

15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

What does it mean to have the face of an angel? It means that even in the midst of false accusations, Stephen’s countenance radiated peace, purity, and the presence of God. He wasn’t angry, defensive, or afraid. He was at peace, filled with the Spirit, knowing that God was with him.

"How could Stephen's face radiate like an angel while he was being falsely accused and facing certain death?"

This raises deeper questions about the source of our peace and strength: How can we cultivate such deep spiritual roots that, like Stephen, we remain unshaken and even radiant in the face of life’s greatest challenges?

It challenges us to consider the transformative power of the Holy Spirit and the depth of faith that comes from truly knowing God. This moment in Stephen’s life invites us to explore the mystery of divine peace and the supernatural strength that God offers to those who are fully surrendered to Him.

When we are falsely accused, when we face trials, do we radiate the peace and presence of God? Do we respond with grace and truth, or do we react out of fear and anger? Stephen’s example challenges us to trust God in the midst of our trials, to reflect His light even in the darkest moments.

Imagine a tree in the middle of a storm. The winds are howling, the rain is pouring down, and the branches are swaying violently. Yet, despite the intensity of the storm, the tree remains standing. Why? Because its roots go deep into the ground, anchoring it securely. The tree may be battered on the outside, but it’s unshakable because of its deep roots.

Stephen’s life was like that tree. The storm of opposition and false accusations raged around him, but he remained unshakable. His roots were deep in Christ, and the Holy Spirit was his anchor. Even as he stood before the council, facing lies and condemnation, his face radiated peace, like the face of an angel. His external circumstances didn’t determine his internal peace because he was deeply rooted in God.

Application:We all face storms in life—trials, accusations, opposition—but like that tree, we can stand firm if our roots go deep into the Word of God and our relationship with Him. When the storms come, we won’t be shaken because our foundation is secure. Stephen’s peace in the midst of the storm is a powerful reminder that when we’re anchored in Christ, we can face anything with a radiant, unshakable faith.

4. The Secret to Stephen’s Strength: A Spirit-Filled Life

So, what was the secret to Stephen’s unshakable life? It was the Holy Spirit. Stephen was full of faith, full of grace, full of power, full of wisdom, and full of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit wasn’t just an influence in Stephen’s life; He was the driving force behind everything Stephen did.

The same Spirit that filled Stephen is available to us today. If we want to live an unshakable life, we must surrender fully to the Holy Spirit. We must allow Him to fill us, guide us, empower us, and speak through us. We must seek Him daily, depend on Him in every situation, and trust Him completely.

Conclusion:

As we close, I want to leave you with this challenge: Are you living an unshakable life? Are you filled with the Holy Spirit, marked by grace and power, unshakable in the face of opposition, and radiant with the presence of God even in the midst of trials? Stephen’s life was remarkable, but it wasn’t unique. The same power that was available to him is available to us.

Two “Nuggets”

Nugget 1: "Grace is strength under control."

This nugget captures the essence of Stephen’s character—he was full of grace, which wasn’t a sign of weakness but of incredible strength. His grace, combined with the power of the Holy Spirit, allowed him to stand firm, perform miracles, and face opposition without losing his composure. It’s a reminder that true grace is powerful and resilient, enabling us to be strong in our faith while showing kindness and love to others.

Nugget 2: "Availability is the key to being used by God."

Stephen’s life demonstrates that God’s power flows through those who are fully available to Him. He wasn’t one of the apostles, but his willingness to serve and be led by the Holy Spirit made him a vessel of God’s miraculous work. This nugget emphasizes that God doesn’t need us to be extraordinary; He needs us to be available. When we make ourselves available to God, He can do extraordinary things through us.

Invitation: "A Call to an Unshakable Life"

As we come to the close of this message, I want to extend an invitation to each of you—a call to live an unshakable life like Stephen. We’ve seen today how Stephen, a man full of faith, grace, and power, faced fierce opposition and false accusations, yet he remained unshaken, filled with the Holy Spirit, and radiating the peace and presence of God.

Now, I ask you: Is your life unshakable? When the storms of life hit—whether it's opposition, accusations, or trials—are you rooted deeply in Christ, standing firm, and radiating His peace? Or do you find yourself shaken, anxious, or fearful?

If you desire to live a life that is unshakable, filled with the Holy Spirit, and empowered by God, today is the day to make that commitment. God is calling you to be like Stephen, a witness for Him in your daily life, someone who reflects His grace and power in everything you do. But this kind of life is only possible when you are fully surrendered to Him, when you invite the Holy Spirit to fill you and guide you in every situation.

So, I invite you now to respond. If you’ve never surrendered your life to Christ, today is the day to make that decision. Come forward and receive the gift of salvation and the promise of the Holy Spirit who will empower you to live a life of grace, power, and peace.

And if you are already a believer but find yourself struggling to remain unshaken in the face of life’s challenges, I invite you to come and renew your commitment to the Lord. Ask Him to fill you afresh with His Spirit, to deepen your roots in His Word, and to give you the strength to stand firm in every storm.

Let us pray together, asking God to make us unshakable witnesses for His glory, just as Stephen was. If you feel led to respond, I encourage you to come forward as we pray and worship. God is ready to meet you here, to fill you with His Spirit, and to empower you to live the life He has called you to live.