When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:55–60 NIV)

The Point: The clearest sign of the Holy Spirit in you is that you have authority over your inner world when you can’t control your outer world.

Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. (Acts 6:3–4 NIV)

Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue…(Acts 6:8-9 NIV)

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven…Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:44-45; 48 NIV)

“God cares more about your authority over something than he does about the absence of that thing in your life.” -Dr. Andy Yarborough

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (1 Corinthians 12:9 NIV)

Your faith is not there to take away your suffering, but to enable you to suffer well.

The presence of the Holy Spirit often accompanies some season of loss, persecution, or hardship.

“The first and most basic thing we can and must do is to keep God before our minds…This is the fundamental secret of caring for our souls.” -Dallas Willard