Devotional #15
“But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And said Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God” Act 7: 55-56. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak; and he shew the things to come. He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you” John 16:13-14.
Stephen was a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. He manifested the power of the Spirit by doing wonders and miracles. He also showed forth the wisdom from above while speaking with people who came from different places gathered in Jerusalem.
Stephen gave full narration to all those who sat in the council, from the beginning of how God called Abraham, to the end and how the promises were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. When they heard these things, they were pricked in their hearts. When the Holy Spirit brings the conviction to the hearer’s heart those who resist Him will show their reaction by developing anger toward the person who is filled with the Spirit. As their anger reached its peak, they ran upon Stephen to kill him.
While the situation was thus unfolding, Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit and looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. He said that Heaven was opened and the son of man was standing on the right hand of God.
One of the functions of the Holy Spirit is to show the things which are going to come hereafter. Holy Spirit was sent to glorify the risen Lord. He will continue to communicate to them those who are filled with the Spirit the glories of our Lord.
Stephen was about to be stoned but the Spirit opened the heavens to see God on the throne and the glorified son of man standing on the right hand of God. He was filled with the joy of seeing the glorified Lord rather than fear about his life which is in danger. Those who see the heavenly things through the Spirit are not shaken by the things on earth around and about them, Psalm 16:8.
God breathed into man breath of lives, one soulical life and another spiritual life. Man lives with soulical life unto himself and with spiritual life he lives unto God. God desires that man should live unto Him, that is why He breathed spiritual life also in him.
When man disobeyed God’s command and committed sin, he lost the ability to live unto God. Scripture calls this a spiritual death state (Ephesians 2:1-2). Lord said unless one is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). Holy Spirit brings the conviction of a sinner’s dead state towards God and quickens to live unto God and to see the things of God.
Those who are baptized in Spirit will have the privilege of, the Holy Spirit dwelling in them and guiding them into all the truth about the things of God. So that they may learn the things of God and walk in them. Stephen was not only yielded to the Spirit dwelling but also filled with the Holy Spirit who enabled him to see the heavens opened which is another realm.
God is Spirit and His dwelling place heavens are the spiritual realm. If a man who lives on earth in a natural realm, cannot see God (Ex 33:20, 1 Tim 6:16). But when Jesus Christ came, He said to Nathaniel, “Hereafter ye shall see heaven open… “John 1:51. Jesus Christ became a ladder between earth and heaven and opened the heaven for man.
Jesus Christ came into this world to fulfill all the plans of God towards man. In entire God’s creation, man is the only one who has two lives who can live here on earth and in spirit lives unto God in the heavenly realm. Those who are filled with His Spirit can experience this state.
Prophet Elijah stood in the presence of God in Spirit, though in his body he was here on the earth (1 Kings 17:1, 18:15). Abraham saw the day of the Lord and rejoiced… (John 8:56).
For those who habitually live unto God in spirit, the Holy Spirit brings them unto the experience of Heavens opened. The Holy Spirit enables them to see the Glorified Lord who as a Son of Man entered into glory. This enables them to exercise future hope of glory and draw power to live overcoming life now on earth.
Holy Spirit quickens the sinner when repented of sins and brings faith in God. He also activates all spiritual senses to see, hear and understand the things of the heavens which God has kept for them even before the foundations of this world. He has made this possible for all those who live unto the fulfillment of His purposes and glory on earth.
It is a blessed privilege given to all those believers who do not grieve or quench the Holy Spirit.
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