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The Four Godly Traits Found In Stephens Life Series
Contributed by Kim Oliver on Jun 28, 2014 (message contributor)
Summary: THE FOUR GODLY TRAITS FOUND IN STEPHENS LIFE
Stephen or Stephanos means crown
THE FOUR GODLY TRAITS FOUND IN STEPHENS LIFE
INTRODUCTION
STEPHEN WAS ONE OF THE SEVEN DEACONS APPOINTED TO LOOK AFTER THE DAILY DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD TO THE POOR (acts 6 v1-6).The need arose from a complaint that the widows were not receiving their fair share of the food.Stephen is described as a man full of the holy ghost(acts 6v5).His ministry was not only distributing food to the widows.He did great wonders and signs among the people(acts6v8).Another aspect of his ministry was debating the conflict between Judaism and Jesus Christ of nazareth being the Messiah.The bible says they could not challenge his holy ghost wisdom.In acts chapter seven Stephen speaks up before the council.
F.F.BRUCE POINTS OUT THAT STEPHENS SPEECH WAS NOT FOR SELF DEFENCE IN THE FORENSIC TERM.IT WAS BY NO MEANS CALCULATED TO SECURE AN ACQUITTAL BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN.IT IS RATHER A DEFENCE OF PURE CHRISTIANITY AS GODS APPOINTED WAY OF WORSHIP.
In (acts 7 v 56) it says
Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
No other person but Jesus himself used that term son of man now Stephen uses that same term son of man,he saw what Daniel saw in old testament
I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
14; And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Stephen refused to bowed to The Sanhedrin so they heard enough and the bible says in
57: Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
So let's look at these Godly traits that brought Stephen into new testament prominence.
NO ONE;
FINANCIAL INTEGRITY
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost.
Wherefore, brethren,
look ye out among you seven men of
1: honest report,(integrity)
2: full of the Holy Ghost
3: and wisdom,
whom we may appoint over this business.
The church started to grow an as a church grows so do the needs of people,the apostles had a problem with coping with the business side and the spritual side of the church so they appointed 7 men to handle the business side of the church,STEPHEN WAS CHOSEN.In my church I have a business man with a proven tract record to handle the finances.He is very strict with Gods money.He is a stickler for details,he makes sure before the end of the month that there is enough money for debits.Financial integrity among believers is becoming a problem,after these men were chosen you never hear of this problem again.Someone once said integrity is what you do in the dark when no- one is watching.
Eg;of integrity.
1: JOSEPH WITH POTIPHAR WIFE.
2: DAVID WITH HIS HANDLING OF URIAH,I KNOW WE ALL LOVE DAVID ME TO I WROTE THREE SERMONS ON HIM. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT AT ONE TIME URIAH HAD MORE INTERGRITY THAN DAVID.let me refresh your memory David made Uriah drunk to get him to go home and sleep with his wife so he could be acquitted of his adultery,but a drunk man(Uriah) had more INTERGRITY than a sober man(David).Let's read;
9: But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.
10 And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?
11 And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
When you have MORAL INTERGRITY YOU MOST PROBABLE HAVE FINANCIAL INTERGRITY AND you are restrained from doing certain things,your conscience won't allow you." I WILL NOT DO THIS THING "says URIAH.
NO TWO; FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Wherefore, brethren,
look ye out among you seven men of