(reworked)
SCRIPTURE: Acts (NIV) 7:55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
OBSERVATION: From reading this verse one might get the idea that Stephen was in a great revival, full of the Holy Spirit, and having visions of God! He saw the resurrected and ascended Jesus! This verse gives us insight into what was happening inside Stephen.
The verses before and after give insight into Stephen’s circumstances. He was not in a revival. The people around Stephen were furious at what he had just told them. In a very short time, they would take him out of the city and stoned him to death. The One inside Stephen was greater than the ones surrounding him–even greater than what might happen to him!
And look who was watching. Not only was heaven taking note of how Stephen was being treated, Acts 8:1 reveals that Saul, the future Apostle Paul, was watching too!
APPLICATION: Praise the Lord my circumstances do not have to rule my spirit! I can be full of the Holy Spirit no matter what is happening around me or to me!
And there are people watching my life today, to see how I handle the tough times. I want them to see in me what Saul saw in Stephen.
PRAYER: Lord, as Saul was watching Stephen that day, there are people watching my life today. I need Your Holy Spirit. I want to stay full of Your Spirit. I want a revival in my heart that can be seen by others. Amen.
Pastor Leon
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