[Must Read] WORKS OF THE HOLY GHOST IN PERSECUTED CHRISTAINS (Act 7:55)

WORKS OF THE HOLY GHOST IN PERSECUTED CHRISTAINS (Act 7:55)

But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God”.
The holy spirit is not impersonal force. Impersonal meanings, the Holy Spirit should not be regarded as:
▷ Material or natural force;
▷ Impassive, i.e. unconscious, insensible and insensitive person;
▷ Indifferent, i.e. unfriendly and unwelcome

The Bible describes him as God. He posses the attributes of God. He is present everywhere (Psalm 139:7-8); he knows all things (1Corinthians 2:10-11); and he has infinite power (Luke 1:3). He also does things that only God can do; create (Gen 1:2) and give life (Rom 8:2)
He is equal in every way with the other persons of the trinity – the father and the son.
The holy spirit is a person who engages in personal ways with us. He’s grieved when we sin (Ephesians 4:30).he teaches us (1Corthians 2:3), Prays for us (Rom 8:26), Guides us (John16;13) Gives us spiritual gift ((1Cor 12:11), and assures us for salvation (Rom 8:16).
With the above background knowledge in mind, Christians should understand the presence of the holy ghost in the persecution of Stephen according our text, not only Stephen, he present whenever any Christian is under trial or test of faith; difficult or dangerous situation; etc.

The text reveals that Stephen was:
1. Full of the Holy ghost. This speaks of completeness. In other words, Stephen in the face of persecutors was complete with the holy ghost conversely, Stephen would be incomplete without the holy ghost even in the face of his sworn enemies. Also; “fill of the Holy spirit speaks about wholeness”.
To be whole is to be entire, in other words, the entire person of Stephen was at the time and presence of his persecution wholly overtaken by the presence of the Holy spirit. No wonder, it was recorded about his persecutors as they looked upon him;
“And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him saw his face as it has been the face of an angel” (Act 6:15).

2. Looked steadfastly into heaven. With the fullness of the holy ghost he can only look into heaven with a steadfast look because:
• The God whom is defending his truth is in heaven;
• Jesus his savior, lord and master is in heaven;
• His help can only come from heaven and not earth; “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the lord, which made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121: 1-2)
Heaven is the saint’s home. And, and Jesus has promised all saints of their home in preparation: “let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me, in my father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you. I will come again and receive you unto myself.

3. And saw the glory of God. When a saint is full of the Holy Ghost he sees not the glory of men and this world that will soon pass away, but he sees the eternal and everlasting glory of God: “for all flesh is grass, and all glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, stand the flower thereof falleth away” (1Peter 1:24)

4. “And Jesus standing on the right hand of God”. Being so full of the Holy Ghost, he also saw Jesus standing, instead of sitting. Jesus is standing to welcome a home coming saint.
Likewise all heaven-worthies shall Jesus stand and host of angels to welcome them home, all heaven worthies home coming.
This lesson is meant to awaken all Christians and covenant saints to;
• Be full of God’s salvation and righteousness
• Be full of God’s  holiness and purity;
• Be full of God’s Holy spirit
Apostle Peter concludes saying “seeing then that all this things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2Pet 3:11-13).