“For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” Acts 20:27
STEPHEN
Text: Acts 7:48-60
Introduction:
What fills your mind?
The things of God or things of the world?
Stephen is a great example to each of us as to what we should be filled with.
Question:
What are these things?
He was a man:
1) Full of Faith (Acts 6:5,8).
Faith binds us to God.
Faith has three qualities:
a) It is the act of the will in receiving Christ as Saviour – John 1:12.
Saving faith.
b) It is living in obedience to God – Acts 5:29,32.
Walking by faith.
c) It is the attitude of the heart in leaving things in God’s hands.
(II Cor.4:13-18)
Faith rest.
To be full of faith means that there is no room for doubt, nor fear in the heart, just as there is no room for anything else in a full vessel.
2)Full of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5).
How do we become filled with the Holy Spirit? – Eph.5:18.
a) Sing (Eph. 5:19).
b) Give thanks (Eph. 5:20).
c) Submit yourselves to one another. (Eph. 5:21)
d) Children, obey your parents (Eph. 6:1)
e) Be strong in the Lord (Eph 6:10).
f) Put on the whole armour of God (Eph. 6:11).
g) Pray always (Eph. 6:18).
h) Fill yourself with Scripture.
3) Full of Power (Acts 6:8).
Power is the ability to do things.
God never asks us to do things without giving us the power to do them.
With every command there is a promise.
“But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost..” Acts 1:8
We need power to share the Gospel, to have compassion on the needy, to teach God’s Word, to rebuke error, and to edify others.
We are filled with God’s power as we are filled with God’s Word and God’s Spirit.
‘Truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.’ Micah 3:8.
4)Full of Light (Acts 6:15).
The light within caused Stephen’s face to shine as an angel’s face.
Sin makes us ugly, but being filled with Christ makes us beautiful.
Matthew 5:16 ‘Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works…’
II Corinthians 4:4 Stephen had the light of the glorious gospel of Christ.
II Corinthians 4:6 Stephen had the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in his life.
5) Full of Scripture (Acts 7:1-50).
As we read Acts chapter 7, we realize that as Stephen related the history of Israel, he was filled with the knowledge of the Bible.
If we fill our lives and minds with God’s Word, we will be full of power and full of the Holy Spirit.
Question: Are you full of God’s Word?
Question: Do you study, memorize and meditate on God’s Word daily?
6) Full of Courage (Acts 7:51).
The face of man and the fear of man did not affect Stephen.
He did not hesitate to charge those who were opposing God’s work with being ‘stiffnecked and uncircumcised,’ of resisting the Holy Ghost, with not keeping God’s law, and with murdering Jesus Christ. (v.51-53).
His courage and conviction resulted later in the conversion of Saul.
Question: Are you full of courage for Christ?
7) Full of Love (Acts 7:60).
The stones that the persecutors hurled at Stephen broke his head, but they could not break his heart of love for Israel.
His lips were bloodied with the blood of persecution, but they could not stop the pouring forth of love’s intercession.
When the love of God fills our hearts and minds, it will enable the servant of God to do greater things for Christ.
‘The love of Christ constrains us.’ (2 Corinthians 5:14).
8) Full of Wisdom (Acts 6:3,10).
Stephen was full of wisdom because he spent time with God in the Bible, in prayer, in preaching the gospel, and in humbly serving God’s people.
Conclusion:
As Christ is sufficient to carry Stephen through martyrdom, so Christ is sufficient to carry us through every situation of life.
