Empowered by the Grace and Power of the Holy Spirit

 

By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Acts 6:8-15

 

Acts 6:8

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

(ESV)

 

With the simplicity of the Gospel message, ministry would appear to be easy.  However, the sharing of the simple message meets with great opposition for we have powerful spiritual forces at work in the world that constantly attempts to stop the Gospel message (Ephesians 6:12).  While unseen these spiritual forces are real with God allowing Daniel to catch a glimpse of these forces hindering the delivery of the answer to his prayer (Daniel 10:2-14).  While the message of the Gospel is simple, ministry must occur under the grace and power of the Holy Spirit with the minister protected by the armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-18). 

 

Stephen is first introduced in Scripture in Acts 6:5 as one of the seven chosen to minister to the neglected Hellenistic widows so the Apostles could focus on their devotion to prayer and the teaching of the Word of God (Acts 6:3-5).  The signs and wonders done by Stephen are possibly events occurring as he ministered to the widows under the grace and power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:8).  This account in scripture is the first record of someone other than one of the Apostles doing signs and wonders in the name of Jesus and aligns with Mark 16:17.  However, just like with the Apostles, the signs and wonders done in the name of Jesus have gotten the attention of the religious leaders with them disputing Stephen (Acts 6:9), but these leaders could not stand up to the wisdom and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit with which Stephen spoke (Acts 6:10). 

 

This failure to withstand Stephen’s wisdom from God left these religious leaders with no choice but to secretly instigate a mob against Stephen making false accusations against Stephen (Acts 6:11).  This instigation and fake testimony stirred up the people including the elders and scribes, prompting them to bring Stephen before the council just like they did with the Apostles (Acts 4:1-22; 5:17-42; 6:12).  As they bring Stephen before the council, those disputing with Stephen begin to present their false witnesses to the council accusing Stephen of speaking of the destruction of the temple and abolishment of the customs of Moses (Acts 6:13-14).  As Stephen stands accused, his face shines like that of an angel (Acts 6:15).  The accusations against Stephen are false because,

 

1)      Jesus was not speaking of the destruction of the temple building but his death and resurrection (John 2:18-22) – When the religious leaders of Jesus time asked him for a sign, he told them that if they destroy this temple, he would raise it in three days.  The temple he was speaking of was the temple of his body within which was the Holy Spirit.  The sign is Jesus' death, burial for three days, and his resurrection, signifying the destruction of sin.  Jesus was not making a blasphemous statement but providing a sign pointing to salvation. 

2)      Jesus was not abolishing the customs of Moses but pointing out the hypocrisy of the religious leaders in Jerusalem (Matthew 22:23-33; 23:1-3) – One of the Jewish customs was the requirement that the brother of a man dying childless must marry the widow to raise up offspring for the brother (Deuteronomy 25:5-8).  The Sadducees were not interested in finding out whose wife the woman would be at the resurrection for they did not believe in the resurrection.  Instead, their agenda was trying to trap Jesus into abolishing the custom but instead, Jesus informs them that in the resurrection of the dead, the woman will not be given in marriage but will be like the angels in heaven.  Jesus then challenges their lack of belief in the resurrection by reminding them that God is the God of the living and not the dead (Matthew 22:32). 

 

The accusations leveled at Stephen are false and unfounded, yet they will lead to his death.  They are also the same accusations leveled at Jesus indicating these religious leaders do not yet understand who Jesus was.  The simple message of the Gospel that Jesus died, was buried in the grave for three days, and arose from the grave, brings salvation to all choosing to believe.  If you have not made this profession of faith in Jesus as your savior, I encourage you to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

While the Gospel message is simple, its presentation will meet with opposition by the enemy who wants to condemn all of humanity to an eternity separated from God.  Jesus came that we may have abundant life through his death on the cross.  As a Church in these chaotic times, it has never been more crucial for believers to be like Stephen and continue ministering and sharing the simplistic Gospel message with the grace and power of God through the Holy Spirit.  A world in chaos needs Jesus with the Church as His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) who are filled with the Spirit of God to be witnesses for Christ (Acts 1:8).  May God bless everyone reading this post.