In today’s text (Acts 6:8-15) we see what God can do through a person with a heart for Him when he is full of grace and faith. Stephen will soon become the first Christian martyr. Yet before his death he leaves his mark permanently in the pages of our bibles as an example of how God can work in a man or woman of faith.
“And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen… disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.”
Acts 6:8-10, NKJV.
Notice the following truths observed in the text above.
- Can God do miracles now that the apostles are gone? Stephen was not an apostle. There is no indication that he was present on the day of Pentecost. Yet Stephen was used mightily by God even to the point of performing great wonders and signs.
- Does a person need to be educated or have seminary training to be effective in ministry? There is no indication that Stephen was educated. And there certainly were no seminaries at this time. What matters is the presence and power of God’s Holy Spirit in our lives and ministries.
- Who can God use? God can use any Christian whose heart is surrendered to Him and walks in faith and power.
Just remember that the two things that diminish a Christian’s “power” more than anything else are unbelief and sin. Walk in faith. Walk in repentance. Walk in power. Walk in Grace. Walk with HIM!
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” … “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:7-9
May we be a people whose hearts are so surrendered to the Lord that we too would walk in Grace, Faith and Power!
Pastor Mike