and what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and philip, and prochorus, and nicanor, and timon, and parmenas, and nicolaus, a proselyte of antioch. [acts 6:5]

 

“a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit”

 

if a friend was describing you to others in just a few words – what would they say?

full of faith?

full of the Holy Spirit?

 

these were the words used to describe stephen.

these descriptions – full of faith and the Spirit – are not special gifts only give to a few. they are gifts given by God the Father to all who receive Jesus his son as savior.

for by grace you have been saved through faith. and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [eph 2:8]

in him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, [eph 1:13]

 

if you have trusted the person and work of Jesus Christ to make you right with God, so you can be with God – you have been given faith and his Spirit. the Spirit of God is in you as is the faith of God. the question is not – do you have faith or the Spirit? the question is – are you full of faith and the Spirit?

how would you answer? maybe you are asking, what does it mean to be full of faith and the Spirit?

to be full of faith – means Jesus and his gospel – defines and informs all of your life. your faith in Jesus and his work defines and informs how you live, how you forgive, how you love, how hope, how you work, how you give, how you serve, how you disagree, and more. “full of faith” means – the gospel defines all your life.

to be full of the Spirit – means your life is defined by submission to the Spirit. you submit to his power, his rule, his love, his power, his voice, and more. to be full of the Spirit mean all of you – is submitted to and led by all of the Spirit.

so, … how would you answer?

 

today – can be the day you begin to be defined by faith and the Spirit.

today – you can ask the Lord for these things. he loves this prayer.

i don’t think it is a one and done prayer. i think it becomes a prayer – that you breath from your heart and mouth every day – all day. make it your own words, and speak it out to the Lord.

 

“Lord, give me more faith in Jesus, and his work.”

“i believe, help my unbelief.” [mark 9:24]

“Lord, your Spirit lives in me because of Jesus. help me now submit to his rule, his love, his power, his voice. yes Lord, i submit – help me submit and i will follow!

and do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, [eph 5:18]

 

~ john ryan