“The suggestion pleased the whole congregation; and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith [in Christ Jesus], and [filled with and led by] the Holy Spirit… Now Stephen, full of grace (divine blessing, favor) and power, was doing great wonders and signs (attesting miracles) among the people.” -Acts 6:5a, 8, AMP

Understanding Fullness in Acts 6:5-8

Stephen’s name means “victor’s crown,” and he wore it with integrity and grace. He was abounding in the gifts God had given him, and we see his life was identified by fullness through these Scriptures. He was commissioned by the apostles to serve and minister and commissioned by God to die for his faith. His life is a profound reflection of the One he desperately loved and followed.

“The emphasis in Stephen’s life is on fullness: He was full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom (Acts 6:3, 10), full of faith (v.5), and full of power (v.8). In Scripture, to be ‘full of’ means ‘to be controlled by.’ This man was controlled by the Spirit, faith, wisdom, and power. He was a God-controlled man yielded to the Holy Spirit, a man who sought to lead people to Christ.” -Warren W. Wiersbe, “Be Dynamic”

Christ lived in Stephen in “the fullness of him who fills everything in every way (Ephesians 1:23).” From the short account, it seems Christ took up great residence in Stephen’s life. Although he was not sinless like Jesus, he was known for the fruit of the Spirit in his life. He was willing to live for Christ, even to the point of death. I remember standing at Stephen’s gate in Jerusalem where it is believed he was stoned to death. The intensity of his willingness to die for his faith overwhelmed me to the point of tears. I will not forget that place because this story came alive in my heart that day.

Stephen’s Example of Surrender

Stephen’s life causes me to ask the question: How much am I willing to live for Jesus?

Stephen came on the scene as one who exemplified Christ and was willing to serve those in need. Somewhere along the line, his reputation of being filled with the power of the Spirit preceded him, allowing people to encounter the miraculous power of Jesus. Stephen gave Jesus everything he had, and at the end of his life, he was crowned by the Lord. “‘Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown (Revelation 2:10b).’”

Many of us may not be called to be martyrs, but we are indeed called to be living sacrifices. “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).” We are called, like Stephen, to allow Jesus to take up so much ground in our lives that the fullness of Jesus is manifested in the same way it was manifested through Stephen. And all of it mattered so that the gospel would be proclaimed and the lost saved and Jesus glorified.

How much am I willing to die to myself so that Christ may live His life through me?

The great price that Jesus paid that cost Him His whole life was for you. Then He decided you were so worth it that He came to live inside of you so that the life of Christ would be manifested through your life. He put His glory on you (John 17:22) and fills you with all the fullness of Christ. You have everything you need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). The only question in this reality is how much you are willing to die so that Christ can live. The same exact descriptors of Stephen can be true of you since the same Christ who lived in Stephen resides in you. He has not changed—He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. However, I want to pose a juxtaposition to this truth based on a quote from Francis Chan.

“You don’t need the Holy Spirit if you are merely seeking to live a semi-moral life and attend church regularly. You can find people of all sorts in many religions doing that quite nicely without Him. You only need the Holy Spirit’s guidance and help if you truly want to follow the Way of Jesus Christ. You only need Him if you desire to ‘obey everything’ He commanded and to teach others to do the same (Matt. 28:18–20 NIV). You only need the Holy Spirit if you have genuinely repented and believe. And you only need the Holy Spirit if you understand you were called to share in Christ’s suffering and death, as well as His resurrection (Rom. 8:17; 2 Cor. 4:16-18; Phil. 3:10-11).” -Francis Chan, “Forgotten God”

The truth of the matter is this: Stephen was a man made in the image of God and looked a lot like Jesus. We weren’t told how long He knew God. We only know his life was full of the Spirit. That is available for you and me. We aren’t capped by the degree to which Christ can be made known in and through our lives. Our intimacy with Him and availability to be full of Him is the same for us as it was for Stephen. We just have to decide to which degree and depth we want to go. How much are you willing for this to cost you? Will we long for more of the life of Christ to be made evident in our lives so our utter dependence on Christ, unto our own death of self, becomes the open space for the Holy Spirit to exalt Jesus? He will take up our sacrificed lives to make Christ wildly known through both our intimacy and surrender. God is a gentleman. As it pertains to your surrender, He won’t take more room in your life than you are willing to give Him. But I can tell you that He doesn’t want to live in the box of limitations we place on Him based on our unbelief and disregard. He is breaking out of that box all over the Earth, and the power and love of Jesus is sweeping people into the Kingdom. Why? Because God is love, and He wants no one to perish without Him! The glory of God is covering the Earth (Habakkuk 2:14)!

Prayer

Jesus, will You make my life like that of Stephen who was willing to live and die for You? May it be said that I manifested the fullness of Christ in my life because I walked in intimacy, faith, and surrender. Burn away the chaff of self-centeredness, self-preservation, pride, and all forms of ungodliness. Sanctify me through and through so that I look more and more like Jesus. Do it now, Lord, so that the nations encounter Jesus! In the powerful and merciful name of Jesus!

A Few Key Notes

• Two more dates are available in our Arise Summer Series. Join us for a cross-cultural dinner on July 11 and August 15. We will enjoy a meal while learning about other cultures and faiths. You will experience an evening of sisterhood, education, and conversation as we discuss what God is doing among three major world religions. Registration is free; you will only have to pay for the cost of your dinner.
• Come take the gospel to the nations with Arise. View our open teams and apply for one today!