A close family member had died. During the three days it took to travel home, God prepared me to enter the world of deep loss, pain and suffering. For different reasons, I knew I would need what Stephen had in Acts 7:55-60.
As Stephen is about to be executed, we are told that he, “full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ At this they covered their ears, and yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him…While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed…Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
What happened here? First, Stephen prayed by looking at up at Jesus. Second, the Holy Spirit made what Stephen knew in his mind a reality to his heart. At the very moment the earthly court was condemning him, he realized that the heavenly court was commending him. He experienced fullness from what Jesus made possible for him through His work on earth, the cross, death etc. This is an experience of the gospel. At that exact moment, Stephen got an extremely vivid, powerful sight of what he already knew intellectually—that in Christ we are beautiful in God’s sight and free from condemnation (Col 1:23).
The Spirit took that intellectual concept and electrified his entire soul, mind, heart and imagination. Finally, Stephen was able to exhibit the new humanity that God is creating. He had courage. He forgave his oppressors. He faced his accusers not just with boldness, but with a calmness and joy. That is spiritual renewal. It is not simply an emotional experience—it is a heart changing and therefore life-and-practice shaping work of the Holy Spirit.
What circumstances are surrounding you? Do you face them with the fullness Stephen had – no matter how little or big they seem? What Jesus did for you is for right now. Pray for courage to let the Holy Spirit show you where you specifically need renewal and for that prayerful dependence to increasingly characterize your life.
