Stephen: An Example of a Spirit-filled Christian
Thesis: The Spirit-filled Christian is endowed with God’s power to endure the world’s opposition, so that the testimony of Jesus is made effective.
Introduction
The Scripture often exhorts us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. But what does that mean? Think for a moment about a water-saturated sponge. If we push down with our finger, even slightly, water runs out onto the table. We immediately know what fills the interior pockets of the sponge. The same is true of us. We can tell what fills us on the inside by what comes out under pressure.
The Spirit-filled Christian Is Endowed with . . .
A. Exegesis
- Light of Christ’s Presence, v. 15
- Wisdom of God’s Word, v. 10
- Power of God’s Spirit, vv. 8 & 10
B. Illustration
How’s your power source? Are you plugged in? In his book, Spiritual Stamina, Stuart Briscoe tells the story of a man who bought a new computer. Bringing his new prize home, he carefully opened the box, gingerly took the machine out, studied its manual, and connected the wires. Eagerly, he flipped on the power switch–but nothing happened. Puzzled, the man switched the computer off and rechecked all the connections. He rounded up a screwdriver and fastened the wires more securely. He read again the relevant portion of the manual. Satisfied that he’d followed directions, he turned the computer on . . . and again nothing happened. As his anger rose, the man’s little girl walked into the room.
“Hi, Daddy!” her cheery voice rang out. “What a pretty computer! Can I plug it in?”
C. Application–How is one filled with the Spirit? Colossians 1:9-12
- Must be Born-again
- Prayer
- Bible Study
- Purpose of the Filling–>Service
The Spirit-filled Christian Is Hated and Persecuted by the World, John 15:18-19
A. Exegesis
- Opposition, v. 9
- Malicious Slander, v. 11
- Perversion and Distortion of Truth, vv. 13-14
B. Illustration
833 Christians will be martyred tomorrow! As incredible as it seems, it is true. An average of 833 believers are killed daily because of their faith.
That’s more than 300,000 Christians martyred each year!
These staggering statistics come from David Barrett, editor of World Christian Encyclopedia and a leading authority on Christianity world-wide. In nearly every country where Bible League materials were used last year, including Mexico and the Philippines, Christians were murdered for their faith.
He concludes that the worldwide statistical chance of becoming a martyr in your lifetime, if you are a Christian, is one in 200. If you are a missionary, it is one in 50. If you are a native, full-time evangelist, your chances are one in 20.
C. Application–Christians don’t have to go looking for persecution. Persecution will find you.
The Spirit-filled Christian Will Overcome the World’s Persecutions by:
A. Exegesis
- Vision, 7:55-56, “I see Jesus.”
- Love-Forgiveness, 7:60, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
- Testimony that Does Not Die, 8:1, “And Saul was there.”
B. Illustration
In Charles Colson’s book, Loving God, he tells of a quiet act of forgiveness in the Old Soviet Union that began a chain of events that still survives. Deep in one of Siberia’s prison camps, a Jew by the name of Dr. Boris Kornfeld was imprisoned. As a medical doctor, he worked in surgery and otherwise helped both the staff and the prisoners. He met a Christian, whose name is unknown, whose quiet faith and his frequent reciting of the Lord’s Prayer moved Dr. Kornfeld.
One day, while repairing a guard’s artery which had been cut in a knifing, he seriously considered suturing it in such a way that he would bleed to death a little while later. Then, appalled by the hatred and violence he saw in his own heart, he found himself repeating the words of the nameless prisoner: “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”
Shortly after that prayer, Dr. Kornfeld began to refuse to go along with some of the standard practices of the prison camp, including one day turning in an orderly who had stolen food from a dying patient. After that, he knew his life was in danger, so he began to spend as much time as possible in the relative safety of the hospital.
One afternoon, he examined a patient who had just been operated on for cancer of the intestines, a man whose eyes and face reflected a depth of spiritual misery and emptiness that moved Dr. Kornfeld. So the doctor began to talk to the patient, telling him the entire story, an incredible confession of a secret faith.
That night someone snuck in and smashed Dr. Kornfeld’s head while he was sleeping–he died a few hours later.
But Kornfeld’s testimony did not die. For the patient who had heard his confession, became, as a result, a Christian. And he survived that prison camp and went on to tell the world what he had learned there. The patient was the great writer, Aleksander Solzhenitsyn.
C. Application–A faithful testimony about Jesus and a consistent demonstration of love and forgiveness will endure forever.
Conclusion
When persecution comes, will you be prepared or filled with the Holy Spirit to endure and be faithful?
Are you a Spirit-filled Christian? If not, the invitation is for you to receive Christ and the Holy Spirit.