SCRIPTURE: Acts (NIV) 7:55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to W
OBSERVATION: From reading this verse one might get the idea that Stephen was in a great revival! He was full of the Holy Spirit and having visions of God! He saw the resurrected and ascended Jesus!
THIS verse gives us insight into Stephen. The verses BEFORE and AFTER give us 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 stone him to death. Stephen was discovering that the One inside him was greater than what surrounded 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! 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 easily seen by others. Amen.
Pastor Leon
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