Enter the stage Stephen. His ministry as a Christian was very short indeed. However, God so used Stephen as to rocket launch the gospel message into the whole world. There within Stephen were 7 Characteristics which God used in a mighty way. Although, there is no record that anyone came forward or accepted Christ during the sermons of Stephen. However, his impact on the church is undoubtedly one of the most profound. What were these characteristics? 1) He was filled with the Holy Spirit. 2) He was filled with wisdom. 3) Full of Faith. 4) He was full of Grace. 5) Power-filled 6) Courageous 7) Glory-filled. What was it that Stephen did and how did he change the world in such a short time? Even though he never had the number of converts attributed directly to him, his was a story of triumph that each of us should learn from.
Stephen most likely was one of the early converts. We are not told exactly when he came to accept Jesus Christ as Lord; but it is assumed it was around the time of Pentecost. Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, Stephen then boldly went to the Sanctuaries of the Jews who came to Jerusalem from gentile nations. He took the message of the gospel directly to them, in their houses of worship. Stephen was a Greek name, indicating that he was himself such a Jew. Many of the Jews of that day lived in various gentile nations. Yet, they came to Jerusalem for special “feast days” to worship God. Hence, when the crowds were so large at the temple, they had their own sanctuaries where their language was spoken. They would gather there to learn of God and to debate the scriptures.
Stephen’s Ministry
When the dispute over the distribution of provisions for the Hellenistic (Greek Jewish) widows came about as recorded in Acts 6, Stephen was the first named administrator of the seven chosen. The characteristics necessary to be chosen were Holy Spirit filled and full of wisdom. From among the greater than 20,000 Christians of his day, his name appears to be the first chosen. That, in itself, speaks highly of him. He boldly took his ministry to the sanctuaries of the Jews who had pilgrimed to Jerusalem from the utter most parts of Gentile lands. The last recorded words of Jesus prior to his ascension were this. 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 1:8).
Stephen was the first martyr. It was his martyrdom that launched the extreme persecution of the church leading to its disbursement into all the gentile nations. Yet, here he was. This man whose face shone with God’s Glory such that even his accusers said, “he had the face like that of an angel.” His mission: to present the unwavering truth of the gospel message clearly and precisely to the foreign Jewish leaders. Indeed, with his gentile nature of grace, he boldly debated the truth of the gospel with the best of them. Among them was Saul of Tarsus. Stephen so clearly presented the truth. He won each debate which angered these leaders for their failure to win. His words rang back within the heart and mind of Saul years later, once Saul was converted and became Paul.
Stephen’s death
Ah, but when cannot win on the debate stage, humans turn to slander. So, they hired men to accuse Stephen of blasphemy. The same accusation that had been launched against his Savior. Stephen responds with an eloquent response as is recorded in chapter 7. Stephen at the end of his sermon, gazed up into heaven and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Following this, he was taken out and stoned to death. Even there, as the stones hit his body, Stephen prayed “Lord, lay not this charge at their feet” (Acts 7:60). His final words revealed the characteristics of this man.
Stephen’s Characteristics
He was filled with the Holy Spirit. Dying to self, he gave full reign to the Holy Spirit who filled him with power and wisdom. He was also filled with faith. No doubt of God’s Sovereignty lay within his heart or mind. Faith is knowing God IS and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6). So, even as the stones hit his body, Stephen remained totally surrendered to God’s will. He was fully committed to trust and obey God, leaving the consequences to Him. This kind of faith made him courageous, fearless. Knowing God’s love, he was filled with grace toward these men who accused and killed him. Ah, but for the grace of God he would be one of them. Understanding the depth of God’s grace toward him, allowed him to display that grace.
Finally, in all that happened to Stephen, God’s Glory shone forth to all who saw. It would be some time until Saul realized this; but I am certain he looked back often and saw Stephen’s face. Furthermore, this was the catalyst, launching the church into all the world.
Concluding Thoughts
What about you and me? The characteristics of Stephen are at our disposal. Because, for every believer the Holy Spirit comes to indwell, to empower and to equip. So, why do we not yield ourselves to Him fully?
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.