Being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed intently into heaven....

Acts 7:51-60 (NASB) from the daily reading in the One Year Bible (link on links page)

⁵¹ “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. ⁵² Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; ⁵³ you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.”

Stephen Put to Death

⁵⁴ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; ⁵⁶ and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” ⁵⁷ But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. ⁵⁸ When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” ⁶⁰ Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep.

Once again we see what Jesus said being lived out here in the life and death of Stephen.  "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you."(John 15:18-19)    "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil."(John 3:19)         We certainly see in our society and culture today that they love darkness rather than light. People like Bruce Jenner and homosexual athletes and celebrities are called courageous for persuing what the Bible and our former culture called deviant lifestyles, while someone who lives and professes faith in Christ like Tim Tebow is ridiculed and mocked. Society says it is good to have a LGBT pride event but to elevate and promote straight lifestyles and traditional marriage is intolerant. It is those who have chosen darkness that are intolerant, they don't simply want there choice to be allowed and tolerated, they want to call what they have chosen right and anything else wrong. The verse says "this is the judgement Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light"  I am not judging, I am believing what the One who will judge has said:

For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, ²³ so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.  ²⁴ “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life....  He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. ²⁸ Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, ²⁹ and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. ³⁰ “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.  (John 5:22-24,27-30)

As we see in today's text darkness does have it's day. There is a level of authority that has been given to evil on this earth that will exist until Christ returns. Stephen was judged according to the darkness of mens hearts. We too, if we stand for Christ and declare His words and the truth of God's Word, may become subject to the judgment of our darkened society, culture and government. In our world today, Christians are being persecuted and executed for their faith in countries all around the world. We see in the text, through this account of Stephen, the keys for our own ability to stand in these times. Just as we cannot prepare in advance what we are to say, there is no level of preparation we can do to stand when we are tried for our faith.

The text says:  But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; ⁵⁶ and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 

If we walk in the Spirit, if we are, like Stephen full of the Holy Spirit, then we are in unity with the Father and Jesus. We, like Stephen will have direct access to the heavenly realm, an ability to see the glory of God even amidst the deepest darkness of this world.  God says: "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."(Deuteronomy 31:6) Jesus says:  I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”(Matthew 28:20)      Stephen was able to face and forgive his persecutors and executors because he was full of the Holy Spirit and unified with Christ.

This truth, the power of the Holy Spirit and gazing into heaven to see the glory of God and Jesus will susstain us through whatever trial and judgment the world brings on us. The psalmist understood this and says:     Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me. (Psalm 23:4)      Death, whether it comes by natural causes at the end of a long life, or through the cruelty of other men, or even if it comes through the cruelty of sickness and disease, is merely a shadow.  It has no eternal power over us. Paul says:    we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.(2 Corinthians 5:8)     If we will be full of the Holy Spirit and look into the heavenly realm seeing the glory of God and Jesus the object of our faith we can walk through whatever storms or trials this world might bring.

Peter was able to walk on water, above the raging waves in the midst of a storm.           Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” ²⁹ And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:28-30)    It was only as Peter looked around and saw the storm that he began to sink. While he kept his eyes fixed on Jesus the object of his faith he walked above the storm that surrounded him.

Whatever  storm you are facing, God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will walk with you. We cannot prepare for the many different storms, trials or persecutions we may face in this life. The only preparation we can make is to walk in the Spirit. To be filled with the Holy Spirit now so that He will lead and guide you through whatever comes. If you have been caught unaware or unprepared for a storm in your life, if you feel like you are, like Peter, sinking and succumbing to the wind and waves, respond as he did.

Cry out Lord save me! Jesus response to you will be as it was for Peter,    Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him...(Matthew 14:31) He may lift you out of the storm or He may walk through it with you, holding and even carrying you through.

On the prayers, poems and quotes page of this site, there is the familiar "Footprints in the Sand" poem. If you've never read it check it out. If you have know that He will never leave you or forsake you in your darkest hour.

Thank You Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ and precious Holy Spirit. Fill me today, that I may walk with You every day.     Amen