Stephen.
“They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit;…” - Acts 6:5.
wow, what a description! to be known as “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit”… after i read this verse, i began to think about what i am or would be known for. the basics: i’m the tall, fobby Korean kid who is always laughing or smiling. i’m also the super young sophomore who should be a freshman. in KCCC, i’m probably known as USC praise leader or that tall guy in Hosanna. or the tall guy who blocked the projector with his hands during praise at Gethsemane, HAHAHA (oops. >.<). back in Las Vegas, i’m known as “PK,” which has become a proper noun for me since 2004. some people somehow relate me to dancing, for which i wish i could live up to that relation. i’m pretty sure some people think that i’m obnoxious and annoying, while others may think that i’m shy and awkward. these descriptions about me are all external and somewhat superficial.
but am i known as “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit”? most likely not.
so what about Stephen made him known as “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit”? after reading Acts 6 and 7 (the only two chapters in the Bible where Stephen is present, i believe), i found that the one most defining characteristic about Stephen was his boldness (i bolded the “boldness,” haha.) in the gospel and in Jesus Christ. as he “was doing great wonders and signs among the people,” he was “full of grace and power” (Acts 6:8), so much that even those who opposed him “could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking” (Acts 6:10). even when he was falsely accused of blasphemy, he was not afraid to stand before the Sanhedrin and rebuke its members for “always resist[ing] the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51). when he spoke, he was “full of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:55) and spoke with the guidance of the Spirit.
dang, that boldness to stand before a huge group of non-believers and declare the authority of Jesus Christ, that boldness that only comes from the Holy Spirit, that boldness that comes not just from the Holy Spirit but from being FULL of the Holy Spirit.
often times, i find myself shying away from speaking up about my belief even with some of my close friends. while i was reading the Bible today, my roommate came back from class, and when he asked me what i was doing, i unconsciously started thinking of alternative answers in my head before admitting that i was reading the Bible, as if it were something to be ashamed of in front of my non-Christian roommate. the only times i went witnessing on campus were when i was obligated to go witnessing due to YBSJ training. even though my Father is the Creator, Sustainer, and Savior of all creation, i still lack boldness in proclaiming my faith in Him. no matter how hard i try to be more like Stephen, i inevitably fail due to my lack of confidence and faith.
on Sunday, Pastor Moses said during Bible study that comparing ourselves to the amazing, faithful people in the Bible would simply be frustrating and discouraging if it weren’t for Jesus Christ. knowing that it was through Jesus Christ that the people in the Bible were able to demonstrate their faith and knowing that through Jesus Christ we can be like the people in the Bible—that is one of the greatest importances about the centrality of Jesus Christ in the Bible. when i heard this, i immediately thought back to Stephen. being known as “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit”—that seemingly impossible task now became possible through Jesus Christ.
now, i’m not saying that i want to be bold in my faith only to be known by others as “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.” but, DANG, how awesome would it be to be known as that! it would mean that more than anything else in my life—physical appearance, personality, education, titles, responsibilities, etc.—being filled with the Holy Spirit would be the defining characterstic of my life, that Christ will be displayed in my life. this is possible only through Jesus Christ, and i need more and more of Him every day to achieve this goal; so, i am going to seek Him more, spend more time with Him through His Word and prayer, and be empowered by His Spirit to be bold in my faith. i want to live a life that is BOLD. i want to have a faith that can move mountains and be so filled with the Holy Spirit that my face will be “like the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15). and, after a lifetime of boldness in Christ, i hope that my tombstone will read:
“Eui Hwan Park, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.”
