The first time he was mentioned in the Scriptures was in Acts 6:5. Before then, nobody heard anything about Stephen. Stephen’s lineage was not stated. We are not sure if He got to know about Jesus when He was still on earth or after He ascended into Heaven. Whatever the case, Stephen came into limelight and took the centre stage. Here is how he was introduced in the Scriptures the first time.

… and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost. Acts 6:5

There was a problem among the believers and the Apostles asked the multitude to select men that can be trusted to take care of the situation. Seven men were selected and the first among them was Stephen. Among the selected seven, Stephen was the only one whose Spiritual résumé was attached. His uncommon anointing couldn’t go unmentioned.

Reading about Stephen in the Acts of the Apostles may cause one to wonder at the anointing upon him. He didn’t join the flock very early, yet when he did, his impact was strong. Stephen didn’t just happen. There are questions we may be tempted to ask about him. How and why did he receive such an uncommon anointing? Why was he given such power, wisdom and audacity when he wasn’t among the twelve apostles? He didn’t even replace Judas. So who was Stephen?

The Holy Spirit didn’t stumble upon Stephen. God doesn’t fill one with such power without the person’s consent and desire. Stephen wasn’t among the very early followers of Jesus no doubt, but he was partly responsible for who he became. Whenever it was that Stephen started following the Lord, he took a decision to settle for the ultimate and not for what others had. Those that believed were baptized in the Holy Ghost but the anointing upon Stephen was more than a double portion. He was so filled that people wondered at him. He performed great miracles and wonders among the people. Nobody could withstand the wisdom and Spirit that worked in Him.

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people… And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Acts 6:8 & 10

In 2 Timothy 2:20 we are told that there are diverse vessels in a great house. The house of God is a great house. In it you find diverse vessels. We have vessels of gold, vessels of silver, vessels of wood and vessels of earth. These are all called vessels but some vessels are much more than others. Some are of greater use than others. And some are entirely useless, though they may also be called vessels and are still found in the same great house. Verse 21 of that passage tells us that we decide what type of vessel to become. We are responsible of who we are in the house of God. If a man chooses and does what it takes to be a vessel of honour, the Master would use him for every good work. That is what happened to Stephen. In faith he decided and went for more than what others had and the Lord granted him what he desired. His kind of anointing is not forced on anyone. You have to yearn for it. You have to show the Lord you are ready to carry such great presence of Him inside of you.

Stephen was greatly filled with the Holy Ghost. The council of authorities wasn’t comfortable with the Spirit of wisdom and excellence in him. They didn’t know what he was up to, so they plotted to kill him. They resolved to stop him before he turned everything upside down. False witnesses were arranged to accuse him. He was accused of blasphemy against God and Moses, and for preaching Jesus. They stirred up the people against him and he was immediately arrested. Here’s what happened on his arrest.

And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. Acts 6:15

When Moses came down from the mountain after meeting with God, his face shone. He wasn’t aware that his face shone. It shone so much that the children of Israel couldn’t look upon him. They were afraid to go close to him. He had to cover his face to speak with them. That is a sign upon one who has been with the Lord. It is a sign of God’s glory. Same was the case of Stephen. He has been with the Lord, filled with the Holy Ghost. The glory couldn’t be hidden.

With great wisdom and with no fear, Stephen addressed the people that arrested him. He fulfilled what Jesus said in Luke 12:11-12. They were in awe as he spoke to them wisely and fearlessly. He traced their history from Abraham to Jesus. In the middle of his speech, Heaven opened. Heaven opened and Stephen saw the glory of the Lord. While still standing on earth, Stephen looked up into Heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus Christ at the right hand of God. A vision of glory like this is not very common. Sometimes we can get God to do the extraordinary because of who we are in Him and to Him. The closer we get to God and what He reveals to us depends on what we desire. There’s no limit to what God can do in us, for us and through us when we are filled with His Holy Spirit.

Stephen was stoned to death that very day. His life started in Acts chapter 6 and ended in Acts chapter 7. He lived a brief Christian life. By his death, he became the first Christian martyr on earth. We may not understand why he died early but God understands. Our days and times are in His hand. But even in death, there was still something about Stephen. While he was brutally stoned, he had a prayer on his lips for his killers. It was a prayer of forgiveness. He prayed to God not to lay the sin of his murder on his murderers. As a saint, he couldn’t die with a grudge. Stephen might not have known that he would die by that single arrest, especially when some apostles have been arrested previously and released. Though his death might have taken him unawares, Stephen didn’t meet God with a grudge or bitterness. He was wrongly killed and so was in a position to grudge and proclaim judgment upon his killers. But just like his Saviour, he didn’t give in to that. Because of who he was and by reason of the Holy Spirit in him, he gave up his ghost without bitterness and died the death of a saint.

Stephen’s life was brief but he lived a greater life than many that had all the time and years. If we are to entitle his life, ‘A life in the Spirit’ would make a good title. Stephen’s life was a life lived in the Holy Spirit of God. That was what made the difference. If the Holy Spirit was taken away from Stephen, he would have lived an ordinary life like any other. Though his life was brief, Stephen achieved much for God because of the Holy Spirit he had.

Stephen was a man of uncommon Spirit, but it didn’t just happen. God wouldn’t force His presence on anyone. He desired the Lord and He poured upon him His Holy Spirit without measure. Jesus said:

If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luke 11:11-13

Like in the case of Stephen, it doesn’t matter when we started the race or how long we’ve been in it. It doesn’t matter how the multitude that started before us are succeeding or failing, or if mediocrity is the norm. Stand out as a Christian because you have the same Holy Ghost Stephen had inside of you.

We are the salt of the earth. We are the substance in this world. We are created for impact. Like Moses and Stephen, when they behold us, they should see the glory of God in us because we’ve been with Jesus and are still with Him.

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. Acts 4:13

Unconsciously, we present the Christian faith as weak, without power and lacking in authority. Whereas the greatest power on earth is the power of the Holy Ghost and that is the power of the Church of Jesus Christ. That power hasn’t been taken away from the earth, so we can’t settle for less. The Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father. On the day of Pentecost, that promise was fulfilled. Stephen lived a life of great miracles, signs and wonders, wisdom, glory and excellence because of that promise. That is the life that God provided for every one of His children. Many would desire to live longer than Stephen. That is beautiful, but it’s not just how long, but how good and how well. Whatever length of time we spend here, let’s live the life that counts through the power of the Spirit.

Jesus said it was expedient He went back to the Father, so that He would send us the Holy Spirit. So if we ask for the presence of the Holy Ghost and His infilling, we will have it. He was provided for us. And only through Him we can do exploits for God. Jesus told the apostles not to go anywhere or do any work until the Holy Spirit comes upon them. This tells how important the Holy Ghost is in a Christian walk and work with God. If we are filled of Him, we can do so much more. Stephen was an ordinary man, but the presence of God in him through the Holy Ghost set him apart. That same Holy Ghost and power is still on earth. And He is waiting for us! St. Paul understood the indispensability of the Holy Ghost, that’s why he asked the believers he met at Ephesus;

Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? Acts 19:2

This is a question for every believer. Have we received the Holy Ghost since we believed? Are we working through Him and walking in Him? Is our faith made of power or is it without authority and of no power? Have we received the Holy Ghost since we believed?

Here are some Scriptures for us.

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:4-5, 8

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… And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever… Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you… But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:12, 16-18, 26

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4

Posted: April 05, 2018 03:12 pm

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