Devotional #14
“Wherefore brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report full of the Holy Ghost and of wisdom whom we may appoint over this business” Acts 6:3 “And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost…” Acts 6:5 “And Stephen, full of grace and power dig great wonders and miracles among the people” Acts 6:8. “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake” Acts 6:10.
As the power of the Holy Spirit convicted many and added them to the church, the enemy also worked in his way by using the weapon of language. Apostles called the multitude of the disciples and asked them to choose seven men of honest report.
Disciples chose seven from the multitude and Stephen was one of them. Apostles prayed and laid hands on them as a token of appointing deacons. Stephen was a man full of faith and the Holy Ghost. When a believer is baptized in Holy Spirit, Spirit not only works in inward parts to sanctify but fills with power to be used in His work. The Holy Spirit works like a fire in inward parts to bring into truthfulness and to be used outside with power for His glory.
Stephen was chosen to function as a deacon to serve tables. But his service was not limited to that function in the early church. He did great wonders and miracles among the people. This is the manifestation of the power of the Holy Spirit.
Then there arose certain of them who came from different places against Stephen as they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Stephen was given wisdom by the Spirit which required him to speak with all those who rose against him.
When God chooses a person to be used in His service not only He fills him with the Holy Spirit and also supplies all wisdom according to the need of the situation. Apostle Paul says that “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory”1 Cor 2: 7.
Paul was praying for the believers in Ephesus and Colossians that God may give unto them the Spirit of wisdom (Eph 1:17, Col 1:9). The Lord told His disciples, “But when they deliver … For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you” Matthew 10:19-20. “Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it” Psalm 81:10 is the promise of the Lord. The wisdom which comes from above supersedes all the wisdom of man here and they cannot resist it.
Stephen was a man full of faith and the Holy Ghost. Lord said “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) John 7:38-39. This promise became true in the life of Stephen.
He believed and received the Holy Spirit which flowed in his belly like a river of living water. When we are thirsty about the things of the Lord and believed in His promise He fills us with His Spirit to quench our thirst and also to minister to others with all wisdom.
Though initial faith is a gift of God, those who built on that in their life by trusting and obedience to the word of God, then He fills with His Spirit to be used in all wisdom for His glory.
Either in the first century Church or in successive centuries in the development work of the Lord the principle of the Holy Spirit working through chosen people like Stephen, Phillip, and Paul is the same and goes on. Now also God looks for the same kind of people to be used. If we trust and are ready to do His will, God will use us in His work by filling us with His Spirit.
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