Empowered by the Spirit: The Legacy of Stephen

Devotional

Day 1: Staying Full of the Holy Spirit Empowers Ordinary Believers

Stephen was not an apostle, pastor, or preacher, but he was chosen because he was full of faith, wisdom, and the Holy Spirit. His life shows that God uses ordinary people who are filled with His Spirit to do extraordinary things, regardless of their title or position. When you stay full of the Holy Spirit, God can work through you in powerful ways, whether you are serving behind the scenes or sharing the gospel openly. The only qualification needed is a heart that is open to being filled daily with God's presence, allowing Him to use you wherever you are. [06:09]

Acts 6:3-5 (ESV)
"Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit..."

Reflection: In what area of your daily life can you invite the Holy Spirit to fill you and use you, even if no one else notices or gives you a title?

Day 2: Godly Wisdom and Understanding Are Greater Than Worldly Power

Stephen’s effectiveness came not from human wisdom or eloquence, but from the wisdom and understanding that come from God. The power of wisdom and clarity, rooted in God’s Word, enables believers to speak truth that cannot be resisted or refuted by the world. When you seek God’s wisdom above all, your words and actions carry a weight and authority that transcends human arguments, and God’s Spirit will give you what you need in every situation. [07:10]

Proverbs 4:5 (ESV)
"Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth."

Reflection: What is one decision or conversation you face this week where you need to pause and ask God for His wisdom instead of relying on your own understanding?

Day 3: The Spirit of Antichrist Opposes Truth, But God’s People Shine with His Glory

Throughout history, the spirit of Antichrist has sought to silence the truth and those who proclaim it, often through lies, persecution, and even violence. Yet, when God’s people are full of the Holy Spirit, their lives radiate a supernatural peace and glory that cannot be denied, even by their accusers. Like Stephen, who was falsely accused but whose face shone like an angel, believers are called to stand firm in truth and let God’s presence be evident in their lives, no matter the opposition. [26:51]

Acts 6:15 (ESV)
"And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel."

Reflection: When you face misunderstanding or opposition for your faith, how can you respond in a way that reveals God’s presence and peace to those around you?

Day 4: Forgiveness in the Face of Persecution Reflects the Heart of Jesus

Stephen’s final words, echoing Jesus on the cross, were a prayer of forgiveness for those who were killing him. This radical forgiveness is only possible when a person is full of the Holy Spirit and rooted in a real relationship with Christ, not just a religious title. In moments of pain or injustice, what comes out of you is what is truly inside you—so staying filled with the Spirit enables you to respond with the love and mercy of Jesus, even toward your enemies. [36:20]

Acts 7:59-60 (ESV)
"And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them.' And when he had said this, he fell asleep."

Reflection: Is there someone who has wronged you that you need to forgive today? Ask God to fill you with His Spirit so you can release them and pray for them as Jesus and Stephen did.

Day 5: A Life Lived for Christ Is Honored by God, Not by Titles

Stephen’s story ends not with earthly recognition, but with Jesus Himself standing to honor him as he entered heaven. God sees and honors those who are faithful, even if the world does not notice. Your value is not in your title, platform, or public recognition, but in your willingness to be filled with the Spirit and to live for Christ every day. When you live this way, you can be confident that your life matters to God, and that He will honor you in ways that far surpass earthly applause. [32:12]

Acts 7:55-56 (ESV)
"But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, 'Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.'"

Reflection: What would it look like for you to live today in such a way that you seek God’s honor above the approval or recognition of people?

Sermon Summary

In Acts 6, we see the early church in a season of both growth and persecution. Out of chaos, God brings order, and the church expands as the apostles focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word. Stephen is chosen—not because of a title or position, but because he is full of faith, wisdom, and the Holy Spirit. He is tasked with serving, caring for widows, and meeting practical needs, yet his life is marked by the supernatural power and presence of God. Stephen’s story reminds us that God uses ordinary people, not just those with titles, to do extraordinary things when they are filled with His Spirit.

Stephen’s boldness in sharing the gospel brings him into conflict with the “freedmen,” a group who prided themselves on liberty but rejected any moral law. Their resistance is not just to Stephen’s words, but to the Spirit and wisdom with which he speaks. The real battle is spiritual—between the Spirit of God and the spirit of the world, the spirit of Christ and the spirit of antichrist. When people begin to listen to the truth, the enemy is threatened, and opposition intensifies. Yet, Stephen’s response is not retaliation, but forgiveness, echoing the words of Jesus on the cross.

The martyrdom of Stephen is not just a historical event; it is a prophetic picture of what it means to be a true follower of Christ. Christianity is not a title, but a relationship that transforms us from the inside out. When we are full of the Holy Spirit, our lives radiate the glory of God, even in the face of persecution. The world may celebrate the silencing of truth, but God honors those who stand firm. Jesus Himself stands to welcome Stephen home, showing us the eternal significance of a life lived in the fullness of the Spirit.

We are called to be a people who, like Stephen, stay continually filled with the Holy Spirit. This is not just for moments of crisis, but for every day—raising families, facing trials, and sharing the gospel. The same Spirit that empowered Stephen is available to us, enabling us to respond with grace, courage, and love. Our legacy is not in titles or recognition, but in being vessels through whom God’s presence and truth are made known to a world desperate for hope.

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Key Takeaways

1. God Uses Ordinary People Filled with His Spirit Stephen was not an apostle, pastor, or preacher; he was chosen for his character and spiritual fullness. God’s power is not reserved for those with titles, but for anyone who is willing to be filled with the Holy Spirit and serve faithfully. The greatest qualification for kingdom impact is a life surrendered and continually filled with God’s presence. [04:57]
2. The Real Battle is Spiritual, Not Merely Cultural or Political The conflict Stephen faced was not just with people, but with the spirit behind their resistance—the spirit of antichrist. Every generation faces this battle between the Spirit of God and the spirit of the world, and it often manifests as opposition to truth and righteousness. Recognizing the spiritual nature of the struggle helps us respond with discernment and dependence on God. [11:59]
3. The Power of a Spirit-Filled Life is Seen Most in How We Respond to Persecution Stephen’s response to false accusations and violence was forgiveness, mirroring Jesus’ own words on the cross. What comes out of us in moments of trial reveals what fills us. When we are full of the Holy Spirit, we respond not with retaliation, but with grace, love, and a desire for others to know Christ. [36:20]
4. God Honors Faithfulness, Even When the World Does Not While Stephen’s death seemed insignificant to the world, it was honored in heaven—Jesus stood to welcome him. Our value and legacy are not determined by earthly recognition, but by God’s approval. Living for the applause of heaven means being faithful in both the seen and unseen moments, knowing that God sees and rewards every act of obedience. [32:12]
5. Staying Full of the Holy Spirit is a Daily, Lifelong Pursuit Being filled with the Spirit is not a one-time event, but a continual process of seeking God’s presence and power. Just as a cup must be refilled, we must daily ask God to fill us anew so we can walk in His ways and respond like Jesus. This is how we overcome trials, break generational patterns, and become vessels of God’s love and truth in a broken world. [44:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:36] - The Early Church: Growth Through Persecution
[01:58] - Choosing Servant Leaders: The Example of Stephen
[02:40] - Order Out of Chaos: God’s Way of Expansion
[03:45] - The Freedmen and the Spirit of Liberty
[04:25] - Stephen’s Qualifications: Full of the Spirit
[06:09] - The Power of Wisdom and Understanding
[07:10] - The Gospel Confronts the Spirit of the Age
[08:38] - Opposition and the Cost of Truth
[11:08] - Martyrdom: The True Cost of Following Christ
[14:18] - Christianity: Not a Title, But a Relationship
[16:51] - Prophetic Parallels: Witnesses and the End Times
[19:07] - The Enemy’s Real Fear: People Hearing the Truth
[23:04] - The World’s Response to Truth and the Spirit of Antichrist
[26:51] - Stephen’s Trial and the Glory of God
[29:49] - Stephen’s Martyrdom and Jesus’ Honor
[33:31] - The Mystery of God’s Timing and Sovereignty
[35:28] - Forgiveness: The Mark of a Spirit-Filled Life
[38:01] - The Ripple Effect: Saul, Ananias, and Transformation
[44:37] - Staying Full of the Holy Spirit Daily
[47:20] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Acts 6:1–15; 7:54–60 (ESV) —
> 6:3 “Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
> 6:5 “And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit…”
> 6:8 “And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.”
> 6:15 “And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.”
> 7:54–60 “Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God… And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

Observation Questions

What qualities did the early church look for when choosing people to serve practical needs, and why was Stephen chosen? (Acts 6:3, 6:5) [[04:25]]
According to the sermon, what was unique about the group called the “freedmen,” and why did they oppose Stephen? [[03:45]]
How did Stephen respond when he was falsely accused and faced violence? (Acts 7:59–60) [[36:20]]
What did those in the council notice about Stephen’s appearance as he stood before them? (Acts 6:15) [[26:51]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the apostles prioritized prayer and the ministry of the Word over meeting practical needs themselves? What does this say about the different roles in the church? [[01:58]]
The sermon says Stephen was “full of faith, wisdom, and the Holy Spirit.” Why do you think these qualities are more important than having a title or position in the church? [[04:57]]
The opposition Stephen faced is described as a spiritual battle, not just a cultural or political one. How does recognizing the spiritual nature of opposition change the way believers should respond? [[11:59]]
Stephen’s last words were words of forgiveness, echoing Jesus on the cross. What does this reveal about the power of a Spirit-filled life, especially in moments of suffering? [[36:20]]

Application Questions

The sermon emphasized that God uses ordinary people who are full of the Holy Spirit, not just those with titles. In what areas of your life do you feel “ordinary,” and how might God want to use you there? [[04:57]]
Stephen’s life was marked by serving others and meeting practical needs. Is there a practical need in your church or community that you feel prompted to help with? What’s one step you could take this week? [[04:25]]
The “real battle” is spiritual, not just cultural or political. Are there situations in your life where you’ve been fighting the wrong battle? How can you shift your focus to prayer and dependence on God in those areas? [[11:59]]
When Stephen was persecuted, he responded with forgiveness instead of retaliation. Think of a recent time you were wronged or misunderstood. How did you respond, and what would it look like to respond with grace and forgiveness next time? [[36:20]]
The sermon said that “what comes out of us in moments of trial reveals what fills us.” What tends to come out of you under pressure? What would you like to see change, and how can you invite the Holy Spirit to fill you daily? [[37:16]]
Stephen’s legacy was not in recognition or title, but in faithfulness. Are there unseen or unrecognized ways you can be faithful to God this week? How can you remind yourself that God sees and honors your obedience, even if others don’t? [[32:12]]
The pastor compared being filled with the Spirit to refilling a cup every day. What is one practical way you can seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit daily—through prayer, Scripture, worship, or another practice? [[44:37]]

Sermon Clips

Let me remind you this morning, you don't have to be a pastor of a church. You don't have to be on a board. You don't have to have a title to do great and mighty things for God. He had no title whatsoever. The only qualification you need, according to Stephen, is you need to make sure you stay full of the Holy Spirit of God. [00:05:53] (26 seconds) #SpiritFilledService

Every generation has always had heroes. We can think of army heroes or battle heroes or sports heroes or maybe heroes in our lives, in our school, a teacher or somebody that has been been something in our life that people make a big deal of it. And some of them wear medals, some wear uniforms or get some sign of a certificate. But whenever you are a hero for the body of Christ, most of the time you're going to wear a scar. [00:09:38] (40 seconds) #ScarredForChrist

``There's only one way to the Father. There's only one way to eternal life, and that's through Jesus Christ our Lord. And how many know that Christianity is not a title? It's a relationship. Well, I'm a Christian. I don't like this. I'm a Christian, this, that, and the other. No, you can't just wear the title. There's too many titles of Christianity. You realize Christianity because you have a relationship. You love what he loves. You hate what you hate. You cry out to him every day because you can't do this without him. But with him, you can do all things. [00:14:27] (34 seconds) #RelationshipNotTitle

Stephen, who wasn't a pastor, he wasn't a teacher, he wasn't a prophet, he wasn't an evangelist, he wasn't an apostle, he was just somebody who allowed himself to be full of the presence of God. God and realize no matter if you don't put me in a church, I'm still going to preach the gospel. If you don't make my name a big name, I'm still going to preach the gospel. It doesn't matter if people know who I am or don't. I'm still just going to tell people about Jesus. [00:31:58] (28 seconds) #FaithBeyondTitles

Christianity is not a title. It's a relationship. It's a fruit. He says in time of persecution, in times of trouble, hard times, instead of reacting and saying whatever, you know what comes out of you? What's in you? The same thing that Jesus did is what we do. And that's what Stephen did. Because he was a man full of the Holy Spirit. [00:37:08] (35 seconds) #FruitOfRelationship

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