Full of Faith and Power

January 24

Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs. — Acts 6:8

Scripture reading: Luke 4:1–19

In the early days of the church, all who did the work of serving had to be full of the Holy Spirit. The greatest qualification for ministry is to be filled with the Spirit.

Stephen was a man “full of faith and the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5). God so manifested Himself in Stephen‘s body that he became an epistle of truth, known and read by all. He was full of faith! Such men never talk doubtfully. You never hear them say, “I wish it could be so,” or “If it is God‘s will.” They have no ifs; they know. You never hear them say, “Well, it is not always so.” They say, It is sure to be.” They laugh at impossibilities and cry, “It will be done!” They shout while the walls are up and when they come down. God has this faith for us in Christ. We must be careful that no unbelief and no wavering are found in us.

“Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). The Holy Spirit could do mighty things through him because he believed God, and God is with the man who dares to believe His Word. All things were possible because of the Holy Spirit‘s position in Stephen‘s body. Because Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit, God could fulfill His purposes through him. When a child of God is filled with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit “makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:27). He fills us with longings and desires until we are in a place of fervency like a glowing fire. When we do not know what to do, the Holy Spirit begins to work. When the Holy Spirit has liberty in the body, He conveys all prayers into the presence of God. Such prayers are always heard. Such praying is always answered; it is never bare of result. When we are praying in the Holy Spirit, faith is evident, and as a result the power of God can be manifested in our midst.

When some of the various synagogues arose to dispute with Stephen, “they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke” (Acts 6:10). When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we will have wisdom.

Thought for today: A man full of faith hopes against hope.

充满信心与力量

1月24日

司提反充满信心和能力，行了大奇事和神迹。—使徒行传 6:8

圣经朗读：路加福音 4:1–19

在教会的早期，所有从事服侍工作的人都必须充满圣灵。事奉的最大资格是充满圣灵。

斯蒂芬是一个“充满信心和圣灵”的人（使徒行传 6:5）。神在斯蒂芬的身体里如此显明自己，以至于他成为了一封真实的书信，被众人所知并阅读。他充满了信心！这样的人从不怀疑地说话。你永远不会听到他们说：“希望如此”，或者“如果这是神的旨意”。他们没有如果；他们知道。你也永远不会听到他们说：“好吧，事情并不总是这样。”他们说：“它一定会成就。”他们嘲笑不可能的事并喊道：“它会实现！”他们在墙还竖立时就在欢呼，到墙倒下时仍然欢呼。神在基督里为我们拥有这样的信心。我们必须小心，自己心中不要有怀疑和动摇。

“司提反充满信心和能力，在百姓中间行大奇迹和神迹”（使徒行传6：8）。圣灵能通过他行大能，因为他信神，而神与敢信祂话语的人同在。一切都可能，因为圣灵在司提反体内的位置。因为司提反充满了圣灵，上帝才能通过他完成祂的旨意。当神的儿女被圣灵充满时，圣灵“按神的旨意为圣徒代祷”（罗马书8：27）。他让我们充满渴望和渴望，直到我们处于一个炽热的地方，如同炽热的火焰。当我们不知道该做什么时，圣灵开始工作。当圣灵在身体中获得自由时，祂将所有祷告传达到神面前。这样的祈祷总是被听见。这样的祈祷总是得到回应;它从来没有结果。当我们在圣灵中祷告时，信心显而易见，因此神的能力可以在我们中间显现。

当一些各样的会堂起来与司提反辩论的时候，‘他们无法抵挡他所说的话中的智慧和灵’（使徒行传 6:10）。当我们被圣灵充满时，我们就会有智慧。

今日的思考：一个充满信念的人在绝望中仍抱有希望。