0813. 795. Stephen

795. Stephen

A Study in Acts 6 and Acts 7

He was a man—

1. “Full of Faith” (Act_6:5). “Faith is the subtle chain which binds us to the infinite,” so writes one. Faith has three main traits: it is the act of the will in receiving Christ—Joh_1:12; it is accent of the life in obedience to God—Act_5:29, Act_5:32, and it is the consent of the heart in leaving things in His hands—2Co_4:13, 2Co_4:14. To be “full of faith” means there is no room for doubt, nor fear in the heart, even as there is no room for anything else in a full vessel.

2. “Full of Grace” (R.V. Act_6:8). Grace means more than favour; it is favour on God’s side, and signifies receiving everything for nothing when we do not deserve anything. It shows itself in various ways: it is strength to equip us—2Co_12:9, salt to preserve us—Col_4:6, beauty to beautify us—Act_11:23, fragrance to perfume us—Act_4:33, life to ennoble us—2Ti_2:1, power to use us—1Co_15:10, and liberality to bless us—1Co_8:7-9. When the tree is full of sap, it will be abundant in fruit.

3. “Full of Power” (Act_6:8). Power is the ability to do things. We have often seen a notice outside a warehouse to let, “To be let with power,” so that when a tenant goes into possession he finds there is an electric plant to move things. The Lord never asks us to do anything without giving us the power to do it. With every precept there is a promise. We need to be empty in order that He may fill us, then He will fill us.

4. Full of Light—Act_6:15. The light within caused Stephen’s face to be radiant without, was the Holy Spirit within. His face was like the face of an angel. Sin makes us ugly, but the grace of God makes us beautiful.

5. Full of Scripture—7. If chapter seven is read through or recounted, it will be found that Stephen related the history of God’s dealings with the nation of Israel from the call of Abraham to the rejection of Christ.

6. Full of Courage—Act_7:51. The face and fear of man did not affect Stephen. He did not hesitate to charge those who were opposing the work of the Lord with being “stiff-necked and uncircumcised,” also of resisting the Holy Spirit, with not keeping God’s law, and with murdering the Lord Jesus—Act_7:51-53. His conviction and courage had their after result in the conversion of Paul, for, as Augustine has said, “But for Stephen’s prayers and testimony, the Church would not have had the Apostle Paul.”

7. Full of Love—Act_7:60. The stones which the persecutors hurled at Stephen might break his head, but they could not break his heart of love. His lips might be drenched with the blood of persecution, but they could not stay the pouring forth of his love’s intercession. When the grace of God in its love fills the heart and mind, it will enable the servant of Christ to suffer any death.

The great lesson to be gathered from the life and testimony of Stephen is, there is no condition in life, there is no office we are called to fill, there is no testimony we may have to bear, and there is no death we may have to face, but Christ is sufficient to carry us through.

By: DR. F. E. MARSH