27-Feb-2024 – Do you have courage to be a stephen in your place?

Published by Sunil Binkam on February 27, 2024February 27, 2024

And cast him out of the city, and stoned him – Acts 6:58

This is a chapter which is longer and deeper and immediately makes a believer falls in love with this man called Stephen. A personification of the knowledge of the word and the forgiveness of Jesus to be as a role model for many of us.

If we look at the characteristics of Stephen –

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and 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, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch – Acts 6:5

If we observe these verses, the disciples asked the believers to choose 7 people from few thousands. They must be of an honest report of other believers and they must be full of Holy Ghost. That means, they must be submitted to the leading of the Holy Spirit in any case irrespective of the consequences. They also must be full of wisdom. Among the seven chosen men, Stephen was full of faith and Holy Ghost.

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake – Acts 6:8-10

Stephen was also having full of power along with his faith in Jesus Christ. He did great wonders and miracles. So we can understand how high of spiritual standards he maintained before the church and God.

Now comes the persecution and tribulation. Many people gathered false witnesses and raised people against Stephen. But when the gathered people looked at him –

And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel – Acts 6:15

A bright, no fear, no tension but full of faith in God and with full of wisdom of the word of God, Stephen just looked like an angel to the people who wanted to find fault with him.

Then he narrated the events that led to Jesus and how Jesus was the long awaited Messiah. But the foolish people could not understand but killed Stephen.

If we look at our scenario in the present days, few of us have opportunities to safely and freely serve our Lord but still few of us are going through the similar persecution. Can we be like Stephen? having full of Holy Ghost, godly wisdom, power in Spirit, mercy and forgiveness like Jesus?

If so, given an opportunity of a safe and free environment to worship and serve our Lord, like Stephen we can do a great ministry of power and wisdom of the word of God. By edifying fellow believers, serving the church honestly and preparing the believers for the eternal kingdom.

But if we are given an opportunity to be in a hostile environment and full of resistance and persecution, then we can stand strong like Stephen for the truth of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ exhibiting the similar nature of Jesus Christ.

Now the question is, “Do you have courage to be a Stephen in your place?”.

Prayer

Dear loving heavenly Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. You kept the cloud of witness before us for a reason. Thank you for todays’ witness of Stephen. Help us to cultivate similar desire and zeal towards the things of God. Help us to be witnesses in any opportunity whether it is a good and cooperative or hostile. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!