The Surrendered Life

“But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.”—Acts 6:10

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He told the disciples to stay in Jerusalem and wait for God the Father to fulfill a promise He had made—the promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5). It is the Spirit of God who brings the Christ-life alive in us—for He is God and is transforming us into the image of the Son of God (2 Corinthians 3:18), convicting us of sin (John 16:8-9), leading us to truth (John 16:13), and giving us power (2 Timothy 1:7). While we have this Spirit within us the moment we come to know Christ, we can limit the effectiveness of the Spirit by giving into sin. Or we can grow in the power of the spirit, by practicing habits of holiness whereby the Spirit of God within us flourishes (Ephesians 3:16). As the Bible says,

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen”—Ephesians 3:20-21.

The surrendered life means that God’s power is at work within us. God can do more than we could ask or think, because of the Spirit of God working in and through us. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, demonstrated the reality of this principle in his last moments on earth. Because he had done great wonders and signs among the people, some Jews rose up in opposition to him. But no matter what they said, they weren’t able to “withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.” It was the Spirit of God that enabled him to speak so powerfully and refute so boldly. As Jesus said,

“And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say”—Luke 12:11-12.

If you are a believer in Christ, have repented of your sins, and received Him as Lord and Savior, then know that His Spirit is at work in you—conforming you and transforming you into the image of His Son. Cultivate your relationship with the Spirit of God by taking in the things of God (e.g., reading His Word, praying, fasting, etc.), dying to the things of this world by laying them at His feet, giving them over and leaving them behind. And when you do you will see Him doing works in you more than you could “ask or think, according to the power at work within [you].”

Ask God to give you wisdom when you face difficulty, allow Him to speak to you when you are in distress, ask Him to help you navigate the problem you are facing, and ask Him to do such a work in you that His name will receive glory—as Stephen did. He testified to the greatness of God with his life, and God’s name was glorified. He was not delivered in the human sense of the term, but He was taken on to something greater and much more precious. Be filled with the Spirit, allow Him to do His work in you, and experience the joy of the surrendered life. Amen.