People who love the Word of God can have a tendency of becoming too detailed oriented in their teaching. For example, they might talk too much about the meaning of the opposing Greek and Hebrew words. Or they might fill their messages with far too much talk about tenses of verbs and moods, until the congregation gets a little too testy and moody. Or those preachers might become too mechanical in their approach Word without using any imagination or making any application. And I’m sure that I’m often guilty of some of these sorts of things.
Take for example, the subject for this evening – the filling of the Holy Spirit. We could have a theological lecture on the differences between the filling of the Spirit and the indwelling of the Spirit. Or we might have an historical study, including a comparison of the working of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and then in the New Testament.
Some pastors might dip their tongues into theology books and talk about the opinions of others. And some might put more imagination than scripture into their message. But one of the blessings of the kind of study in which we are engaged, is that we find our Bible doctrine in a context of practical history. We are forced us to consider the practical aspect of the doctrine under consideration. I don’t know whether or not I have been very successful, but this has been my desire from our first message more than sixty sermons ago.
When we first looked at Acts 2 one of our messages dealt with the fact that the church in Jerusalem was baptized in the Spirit AND its members were filled with the spirit. I hope that message wasn’t a theological nightmare for you, because I wanted it to be practical. And I tried to show you what were the characteristics and results of both those things.
Then when we were first introduced to Stephen a month ago, we were specifically told that he was an excellent candidate to be a deacon of the church in Jerusalem, because he was so godly. Return to Acts 6:2 – “It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 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. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, & Philip, & Prochorus, & Nicanor, & Timon, & Parmenas, & Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.” When we first looked at Stephen, one point in that introduction was that he was filled with the Spirit. And I tried to suggest how that filling of the Spirit might have been seen in his life. Tonight, we have a far greater opportunity to learn what it is to be a Spirit-filled saint of God. Here we have some actual details, which any good painter could put on canvas if he had the talent.
What was Stephen like because he was full of the Holy Ghost? I’m not saying that everyone filled with the Spirit will show these same characteristics exactly, but in looking at Stephen we should see some things which could and should be seen in us.
First, Stephen was LOOKING INTO HEAVEN.
Verse 55 – “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.”
I think that the message that he gave to the Sanhedrin that day was Holy Spirit inspired. In fact it was Spirit-inspired in more ways than one. I would like to think that my messages are Spirit inspired, but not in the sense of Biblical inspiration. I hope that when I sit down with my Bible, my commentaries and my computer that I am led of the Lord. But Stephen had the promise of Christ to fill his mouth while he stood before that council. The Lord had told His disciples that they didn’t need to plan and organize their defense. He said that the Spirit would put words in their mouths. Even though I believe that his sermon was directly related to his filling of the Spirit, our scripture tonight tell us to move on. “Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked into heaven.”
First, I must confess that I don’t know for sure how Stephen was looking into Heaven. I don’t know if the Lord gave him a vision, or if He was magnifying the man’s imagination. I don’t know if this vision of the Lord was through his eyes or through his faith. But, however it was accomplished, it was for real. Stephen could see the throne room of Jehovah. Can I be so bold as to say that all the saints who are filled with the Spirit look into heaven?
It would be foolish to say that they all look through the same eyes as Stephen, or that they see the same things, But all the saints who are filled with the Lord, see the Lord high and lifted up. You see, those who are filled with the Spirit “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Those who are Spirit-filled have “set their affections on things above, not on things on the earth.” People who are filled with the Spirit “lay up for themselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” And as a result their hears are there because that is where their treasure is. I think that we might illustrate it this way: Last Thursday, Olan Smith died and immediately awoke in the presence of the Saviour. As a result, Mrs. Smith, their children, have thought much about heaven in the last three days. “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Those who are truly filled with the Holy Spirit of God, will be often looking into Heaven.
But in Stephen’s case, he had more than enough reason to be looking horizontally RATHER than heavenly. What does verse 54 mean when it says that “they gnashed on him with their teeth?” I don’t think that it doesn’t mean that they ran up and started biting him. But it probably does mean that if they were wolves or lions they would have done exactly that. The word probably expresses what they were expressing, and the look that filled their faces. At that moment they hated and despised Stephen and would have devoured him if they could. Whatever it included, Stephen was in serious trouble, and he knew it. Most people would have started looking for human help or some sort of escape routes. He might have scanned the crowd looking for the face of Joseph of Arimethaea or Nicodemus. He might have prayed for a crowd of disciples or even Roman soldiers to rescue him. But no, he looked into Heaven; he looked toward his Heavenly home. He looked toward His Saviour.
In fact he looked “steadfastly” into heaven. There might be a number of things that we might say about that word “steadfastly.” It could tell us that he looked with determination; he stared toward glory. He was determined that nothing was going to draw his attention away from this revelation of his Lord. It might also tell us something about the tranquility that filled his heart. It didn’t matter what the world and the sinners were going to throw at him, his heart was filled “with peace that passeth understanding” – heavenly peace. Spirit-filled people aren’t concerned with the fall of the stock-market, the poor crop season, the increase of AIDS, SARS, mad cows or insane chickens. Their only fear is that they might betray the Lord through some sort of sin.
Stephen was filled with the Holy Ghost and this brought his heart into the throne room of the Lord.
Secondly, to be filled with the Holy Spirit is to SEE THE GLORY OF GOD.
I can’t tell you precisely what it was that Stephen saw, or exactly how he saw it. But I think that we can conclude that it was far more than seeing the glory of God – by faith. Perhaps it was the same way in which Isaiah saw it in chapter 6 of his book. But there it was – the throne of Jehovah with the Lord Jesus standing just off to the right side.
Was he blinded by the sight? And if so, was it that since he was about to die, the blindness caused by that glory didn’t disturb him? Could it be that he didn’t even see his murderers because he had seen the ineffable Glory of God? Could it be that when Saul, the persecutor was blinded by the glory of God, he was immediately drawn to back to the memory of Stephen being blinded by the same glory?
Blinded or not, that glory was undoubtedly softened by, and focused on, the person of the Saviour. Whether his eyes could see the person at the center of the vision, he did definitely recognize Jesus. I know that many preachers say that Christ was standing there in anticipation of greeting his saint. But I’m not sure that isn’t just a little too poetic. Assuming that the chronology is correct, Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right of the Father some time before he was actually executed and ushered into the Lord’s presence. Stephen was still in the council chamber when he saw what he saw, and then he was violently thrust out of the city and stoned. That undoubtedly took some time. If I was forced to say what the Lord was doing, I’d guess that He was interceding for Stephen and others.
Laying aside the things that we don’t know about these verses, I think that we can make an application or two from this information: For example, people who are filled with the Spirit, can see their Saviour. Oh, not necessarily with their physical eye, and not necessarily by way of special vision. But they see Him nevertheless. And they can compare His humble humanity to his current glory. They see him once despised and rejected, but now they see him accepted by the Father as our mediator and advocate. The saints, when they are filled with the Spirit, know and can see that the Lord is interceding on their behalf.
Third, when people are filled with the Spirit, they are bold to speak of the things that they see and hear.
I can just picture myself in Stephen’s situation, standing before dozens of the most powerful men in the land. Perhaps I have just preached a descent sermon with my notes still in front of me. But the audience is ready to bite my head off, as well as my arms and my legs. And then the Lord gives me a fresh revelation of spectacular proportions. Is this cowardly lion, going to open his mouth and pour gasoline on the flames, by declaring things which I know the audience denies and hates?
Do you think that PETER was filled with the Spirit when he was waiting to find out what was going to happen to his Master, and as he was warming himself before the fire in the high priest’s house? Peter wasn’t even spritzed with the Spirit, let alone filled. The presence of the Holy Spirit inculcates boldness, not cowardice. “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”The presence of the Lord filling our hearts will make us bold and courageous for the Lord.
Fourth, when Stephen was filled with the Spirit, he WILLINGLY GAVE HIMSELF AWAY.
One of the key ingredients of sin is SELFISHNESS. Remember that the Lord Jesus summarized the law in two statements: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, will all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy strength and with all thy mind. And the second is like unto it; thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Self is the epitome of sin.
Sin grieves the Holy Spirit. Sin drives out the fullness of the Spirit. But the fullness of the Spirit drives out sin, and that includes self and selfishness.
This Spirit-filled man was totally devoid of self at this point in his life. And he was completely aware that his human spirit was different from his human body. “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Do you suppose that this was the first and only time, he prayed or thought like this? I think that Stephen lived his life with this kind of attitude: “Not my will but thine be done.” I am thine, O lord, I have seen thy voice, and it told they love to me.
Notice that Stephen asked the LORD JESUS to receive His spirit.
Wouldn’t this be considered as blasphemy by the rabbis? Once again this is the elevation of the Saviour into the position of deity. But Stephen realized and declared that in Christ Jesus was his salvation and his eternity.
One other thing that characterized this spirit-filled man, was HIS PRAYER.
Stephen whole-heartedly prayed for the Lord’s blessing and forgiveness for his murderers. And just how easy, or difficult, is it to pray for one’s enemies? Can just any one ask the Lord to bless the man who is bringing a fatal blow down upon his head? This is the influence of the Spirit who was infilling Stephen. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
I think that we can say that there is no better way to die than as Stephen did – filled with the Spirit.