I have read Stephen’s account many times but this time his life began to reveal a deeper truth, and it’s an honour for me to speak about Stephen—the deacon, the servant [humility]—and his ministry.
Stephen was a man of honest report, and his life represented his testimony of Jesus as a true Christian. His reputation was honest, and the fruit of his character produced a godly life.
Scripture reveals that he had the full measure; he was heavily laden, like a ship that was loaded with cargo, with the Holy Spirit. He was also full of faith (full of the Word. Faith comes by hearing), and filled with wisdom which means he had knowledge of divine revelation of the scriptures and was skilled in applying it in a spiritual application.
We can see that Stephen had a strong foundation laid. The Gifts of the Spirit can now flow through him to minister effectively and accurately with profound signs and wonders. The apostles laid hands upon him, and a transference is released.
The anointing flows into Stephen because we see that the Gift of faith and the Gift of miracles began to manifest through him because the people saw the great wonders. But in Acts 6:8 we see another key: he was full of faith and power.
What I see and perceive here is that all that he carries as a spiritual mantle is laid up in this word power.
Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. This tells me that Stephen was a man baptized in the Spirit, with intense power [dunamis, demonstrative power] being overflowed as man of persistent, continual prayer – praying much in other tongues as a lifestyle!
You cannot be Spirit-filled and be a prayerless Christian at the same time. Stephen was so full of the Spirit of Glory and the anointing that the people could not resist the words he spoke as it cut them to the heart.
This is a picture of the last day church reaching the last day harvest and bringing the latter rain in full manifestation as the sons of Glory reaping the end-time harvest.
Pastors, contend for the Glory! Christians, contend for a spirit-filled life!
To have an outflow of prayer, you must first have an inflow of the Word [Colossians 3:16: Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly…”] and the be filled with the Spirit [Ephesians 5:18-21].
Stephen, full of the Holy Ghost and the Spirit of Glory, was ready to be stoned. As he was being persecuted, he looked steadfastly as the heavens opened and he saw the throne of God [the Glory of God], and Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father. With a loud voice he cried, knelt, and fell asleep!
*Study notes and reading is from Acts chapter 6 to chapter 11. This is a prayer adventure that awaits you, enter in and be challenged!
