Filled with the Spirit: Stephen's Forgiveness and Faith

Apr 12, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Foundation of a Life Fully Surrendered to God

A life fully surrendered to God is the foundation of true worship. It is an offering of every part of our existence, from our deepest pains to our greatest joys. This surrender is not a one-time event but a daily posture of the heart, a conscious decision to lay down our own will and desires. In this place of surrender, we find that our lives become holy and pleasing to Him, a living sacrifice. It is here, in this surrender, that we are drawn into a closer, more intimate relationship with our Creator. [37:54]

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Romans 12:1 (NIV)

Reflection: As you consider the concept of a "living sacrifice," what is one specific area of your daily routine—perhaps your schedule, finances, or a relationship—that you have been managing on your own? What would it look like to consciously lay that area down before God each morning this week?

Day 2: Being Filled with the Holy Spirit for Godly Response

Our ability to respond in a godly way to life's challenges is directly tied to being filled with the Holy Spirit. On our own, we run on empty, quickly becoming distracted, defensive, and overwhelmed by the pressures we face. But when we are filled with His Spirit, we are empowered with a strength, courage, and focus that is not our own. This divine filling allows us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, even in the midst of our greatest storms, transforming our reactions into reflections of His grace. [56:07]

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18 (NIV)

Reflection: When you face a moment of frustration or difficulty this week, what is one practical way you can pause to acknowledge your need for the Holy Spirit’s filling before you respond?

Day 3: Keeping Our Eyes Fixed on Jesus Amidst the Storm

In the middle of life’s most intense trials, our natural tendency is to focus on the chaos surrounding us. Yet, we are called to a different perspective—one that looks intently beyond the immediate struggle. Being filled with the Spirit grants us the grace to lift our gaze and fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. This heavenly focus provides a peace and stability that the world cannot offer, reminding us that we are never alone in our suffering. [57:24]

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)

Reflection: What is one recurring worry or distraction that most often pulls your focus away from Jesus? How might you intentionally redirect your attention back to Him the next time it arises?

Day 4: Trusting God Completely with Our Lives and Our Spirit

A life of faith is marked by a profound and complete trust in God’s sovereign care. This trust is demonstrated when, following the example of Jesus and Stephen, we commit our very spirit into His hands. It is an act of relinquishing ultimate control and acknowledging that our lives—and our deaths—are secure in His loving will. This level of trust extinguishes the fear and anxiety that come from relying on our own understanding and strength. [01:07:59]

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
Luke 23:46 (NIV)

Reflection: Is there a circumstance or relationship in your life where you are struggling to trust God’s control? What would it look like to prayerfully commit that specific situation into His hands today?

Day 5: Extending Forgiveness Through the Love of the Spirit

Forgiveness, especially in the face of deep hurt, is a supernatural act made possible only through the love of God poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. It is not a dismissal of the pain caused but a decision to release the offense and the offender to God, trusting Him with the outcome. This Christ-like forgiveness is a powerful testimony that can open doors for God’s redemptive work, both in our own hearts and in the lives of those who have wronged us. [01:11:04]

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.
Mark 11:25 (NIV)

Reflection: Is there someone—perhaps from your past or even recently—whom you have forgiven in your head but still struggle to release from your heart? What is one step you can take this week to ask God to fill you with His love for that person?

Sermon Summary

The narrative centers on Acts 7 and the life and death of Stephen, drawing clear connections between his character, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the birth of a church that grows amid persecution. The account portrays Stephen as a devoted servant who preaches boldly, confronts entrenched religious pride, and calls out the stubbornness of leaders who refuse to see Jesus. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen fixes his gaze on heaven as fury rises around him; he sees the glory of God and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. Rather than retaliate, Stephen commits his spirit into Jesus’ hands and petitions forgiveness for his executioners, modeling a faith that trusts God through the final breath.

The sermon unpacks several theological threads: the danger of religious rigidity that values law over relationship, the indispensability of the Spirit for courage and clarity in crisis, and the paradox that persecution can accelerate gospel spread. Saul appears as a witness to Stephen’s execution, an introduction to a future convert whose life and letters will reshape the early church. Martyrdom emerges not as something manufactured by suffering but as what suffering reveals about a life already surrendered to Christ. Practical application presses the necessity of daily dependence on the Spirit, a crucified life that dies to pride and power, and the discipline of forgiveness that opens space for God’s redemptive work in others. The conclusion invites an active response: inward cleansing where hearts remain “uncircumcised,” renewed surrender to Jesus, and a readiness to act when the Spirit prompts. The overall conviction holds that the same Spirit who steadied Stephen will empower believers today to stand faithful—focused on Jesus, generous in forgiveness, and willing to be transformed by trials so that God’s purposes advance.

Key Takeaways

1. Be filled with the Holy Spirit The presence of the Spirit produces clarity, courage, and steady faith when everything else threatens to collapse. Spirit-filled devotion enables a focus on Jesus rather than the mob, and it supplies the resources to speak truth without being consumed by fear. Regular dependence on the Spirit prevents spiritual burnout and turns trials into opportunities for gospel witness. [54:07]
2. Fix eyes on Jesus in storms Fixing attention on the risen Son brings perspective that reorders fear into worship and witness. When eyes lock on heaven, earthly accusations lose their power to define identity or destiny. This posture strengthens the soul to endure and testifies that hope lies beyond the present violence. [56:07]
3. Forgive even your fiercest persecutors Forgiveness is an act of trust that places enemies into God’s hands rather than holding them captive to past harm. Asking God not to hold sin against others breaks cycles of revenge and opens the door for unexpected redemption. Prayer for offenders contains the creative possibility that God will transform both victim and aggressor. [68:21]
4. Martyrdom reveals true spiritual character Persecution exposes what discipleship has already formed rather than manufacturing it on the spot. True martyrdom issues from a life daily surrendered to Christ; trials simply display the reality within. The endurance of suffering proves the depth of conversion and clarifies the church’s witness. [76:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[37:00] - Opening Prayer & Worship
[39:53] - Church Remembrances and Announcements
[44:56] - Reading Acts 7
[47:54] - “You stiff-necked people” Explained
[54:07] - Filled with the Holy Spirit
[56:07] - Fixing Eyes on Jesus
[59:20] - Jesus Standing at God’s Right Hand
[62:08] - Stephen Dragged Out and Stoned
[66:39] - Stephen’s Final Prayers
[76:26] - Martyrdom Revealed, Not Created
[80:34] - Call to Response and Altar Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading: Acts 7:54-60 (NIV)
54 When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Observation questions

What specific actions did the religious leaders take against Stephen after hearing his words?
What was Stephen’s physical posture and what did he see in the moments before his death?
What two prayers did Stephen offer as he was being stoned?
Who was present and participating in this event, as mentioned in verse 58?

Interpretation questions

Stephen was described as "full of the Holy Spirit" in this moment of crisis. What does this suggest about the connection between the Spirit's filling and a person's ability to respond with peace and courage under extreme pressure?
Stephen’s prayer for his executioners, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them,” mirrors Jesus’ prayer on the cross. What does this parallel reveal about the nature of true discipleship and forgiveness?
The text says Jesus was "standing" at the right hand of God, whereas other passages describe Him as seated. What might Jesus’ standing posture in this moment communicate about His involvement and care for His followers who are suffering?
The narrator makes a point to mention that the witnesses laid their coats at Saul’s feet. Why might this detail be significant for the larger story of the early church?

Application questions

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is presented as the key to having clarity, courage, and a steady faith when everything else threatens to collapse. [54:07] What are some practical, daily ways to cultivate a life that is dependent on and filled with the Spirit, especially when life feels routine?
Fixing attention on the risen Jesus brings a perspective that can reorder fear into worship. [56:07] When you face a stressful situation—a conflict, bad news, or a season of anxiety—what are some tangible first steps you can take to “look up” and fix your eyes on Jesus instead of the problem?
Forgiveness is described as an act of trust that places enemies into God’s hands rather than holding them captive to past harm. [01:08:21] Is there someone in your life, past or present, whom you have struggled to forgive? What would it look like this week to actively release that person to God in prayer, trusting Him with the outcome?
Persecution and trials don't create our character; they reveal what has already been formed inside through daily surrender. [01:16:26] If your faith were to be tested by a sudden hardship or opposition today, what would your immediate reaction reveal about the current state of your heart and your daily walk with God?
The story suggests that we often don't know the history or future of the person who offends us, and that God may have a plan to use them. [01:12:38] How can this truth change the way you respond the next time someone cuts you off in traffic, is rude to you in a store, or says something hurtful?
The ultimate goal is to look like Jesus when life hits the hardest. [01:19:51] Think about a recent "storm" you faced—big or small. In what specific ways did your response reflect Jesus? In what ways did it not? What is one thing you can do to better reflect Him in the next storm?

Sermon Clips

30s

#FilledWithGodsLove

“The creator of the universe, your heavenly father, has put Holy Spirit inside of you. And when he put the holy spirit in you, he also put the love of God in you. That's why we talk about in wedding ceremonies, when we talk about love, joy I mean, we talk about love is patient, love is kind, love love, all the things that love does for each other. The truth is that you and I don't have the ability inside of us to love others like God does, but he fills us with his love.”

32s

#JesusIsWithYou

“Your savior is not sitting up in heaven going, well, they'll make it through. Once they die, bring them to heaven. We'll be fine. That's not our savior. Our savior is walking with you every minute of every day and he is on your side. He is there with you when you say, man, I need to share the gospel with that guy over there, but I don't know how. And Jesus is with you. Holy Spirit is empowering you. You're not alone. And Steven sees it in a way that my friend Jeff would say, man, Jesus is standing up, giving him a standing ovation for who he is and what he's done and how he's lived his life.”

40s

#TrialsRevealStrength

“See, in our lives, our struggles our struggles, our trials, our tribulations, our our all the things that we walk through, They're not what makes us strong. They're what reveals our strength. And we wanna be a martyr for Christ. What our god calls us to do is die daily, put ourselves on a cross, and die for Jesus. And then one day, we may get to die physically for him and prove that relationship. So understanding this is that Stephen didn't become the martyr because they killed him. They killed him because he had already become a martyr for the father.”

41s

#PrayerChangedHistory

“Said a minute ago, Saul becomes Paul. Saul Paul writes many letters. He writes a a chunk of the New Testament that you and I follow. He becomes the biggest evangelist that you and I have ever seen in our lives and in scripture and all the things. And he is the one standing there condemning Stephen to death. And Stephen says, god, don't hold it against him. Now we we need we need to see that because here's why. Here's why. Because Augustine said many many years ago, he said, if Stephen had not prayed, the church would not have had Paul.”

32s

#ForgiveLikeStephen

“And when you have that type of love, you can be in Stephen's situation where he is being stoned to death, having people probably spit stuff on him, say stuff to him, throw rocks at him, they're trying to kill him as quick as possible. And he loves them so much only because of the Holy Spirit inside of him and the love of God in him. He says, father, forgive him. And then you have to pay attention to this. One of the people standing in that circle at that point was named Saul.”

38s

#CourageIsRevealed

“That courage that you have, that comes out when it's needed. But it doesn't become courage when you need it. It it becomes courage, and then you get to need it, and God uses it to show people what's inside of you. So as we as we hear that, if we wanna live for Christ, if we wanna be those people that would say, man, I would I would die for him. If you're not willing to die for him to yourself on a daily basis, you won't die for him physically on the cross anywhere else. But when we go through this the tough times, the struggles, the loss, It reveals what's god's doing already in our lives.”

30s

#YouDontKnowTheirStory

“If Stephen doesn't throw out that prayer, we believe, and you can look it up and say, we believe that God actually answered the prayer of Stephen. Okay. I'm not gonna hold it against him. And Paul gets to meet Jesus. It changes his life, changes our lives forever because of what we get to read. And my thought for you in that is this, you do not know the history or the future of the person that has offended you. You don't know.”

34s

#StrengthRevealedUnderPressure

“How does that relate to me and you at all? This is what this is what I think it says. What's this statement? What is happening inside of you is revealed by the life going on around you. If you have a strength inside of you that comes from the father, that is revealed when things get crazy and bring pressure, and your strength is revealed. And when you go through that strike that struggle, that trial, that that tough time, that difficulty, that loss, God uses that to reveal that strength to those around you.”

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Filled with the Spirit: Stephen's Forgiveness and Faith

Devotional

Day 1: The Foundation of a Life Fully Surrendered to God

Day 2: Being Filled with the Holy Spirit for Godly Response

Day 3: Keeping Our Eyes Fixed on Jesus Amidst the Storm

Day 4: Trusting God Completely with Our Lives and Our Spirit

Day 5: Extending Forgiveness Through the Love of the Spirit

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Filled with the Spirit: Stephen's Forgiveness and Faith

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