Craig T. Owens

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And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which [Stephen] spoke. (Acts 6:10) 

Luke the historian doesn’t give us very many details about Stephen, but one common thread is the obvious help the Holy Spirit gave him: 

• Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people 
• they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke 
• all who sat in the council…saw his face as the face of an angel 
• when they heard these things they were cut to the heart 
• being full of the Holy Spirit, [Stephen] gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God 

Jesus lived this way too. Near the end of His public ministry He said, 

“I have never spoken on My own authority or of My own accord or as self-appointed, but the Father Who sent Me has Himself given Me orders concerning what to say and what to tell. And I know that His commandment means eternal life. So whatever I speak, I am saying exactly what My Father has told Me to say and in accordance with His instructions.” (John 12:49-50 AMP) 

Jesus said this same Holy Spirit who directed His vocabulary, and Who gave Stephen his irresistible words, would do the same thing for us too. The apostle Paul asked for the Ephesian Christians to pray for him like this, “Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19). 

When we are yielded to the Holy Spirit we can say with assurance…

A mark of a godly leader is his irresistible, Spirit-led vocabulary. 

This is part 60 in my series on godly leadership. You can check out all of my posts in this series by clicking here.

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