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When we are filled with the Spirit the words we are to speak will be given to us. But, we must listen to those words and not speak on our own. That is when we get ourselves in trouble, thinking we know everything and not waiting.

Few men have the enduring qualities and the dynamic character that embraced Stephen. He had been chosen to take the role of a "servant"...caring for the poor and widows, administering to their needs. How many of us would respond to such an obscure lowly task as this, if we were so endowed with the gracious and outstanding gifts that Stephen had. I think his servanthood attitude was what clothed all of the gifts Stephen had. He was willing, even as Paul..."to be all things to all people, that he might win some." It was one of his strengths. 
Stephen was "FULL OF WISDOM" (Acts 6:3, 10). This is a unique gift which must be exercised with discretion and sensitive judgment. Many have abundant knowledge and understanding, but do not know how to translate that into wisdom. For a man to have wisdom, is to have the ability to know how to apply knowledge wisely, to be able to discern and relate to the things he confronts from day to day, giving wise consideration, and coming to a definitive conclusion. Wisdom gives man the ability of insight into the areas of confusion and frustration and the ability to differentiate between what is "simply good" from what is "best." 
Solomon said, "Blessed is the man that finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for [wisdom] is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold" (Proverbs 3:13-14). Stephen acted wisely before crude, powerful, unethical, malicious men. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed about by the wind" (James 1:5-6). 
Stephen was "FULL OF POWER" (Acts 6:8). God will never call us to a task without giving to us the power to accomplish it through Him. God had a specific ministry for Stephen that was both effective and fruitful. God endued him with divine "power to work wonders and do miracles among the people." He had a unique ministry among the people that quietly invaded their lives and greatly influenced their faith.
This demonstration of power established his validity and authority as a "man of God." There were in that day, even as today, those who demonstrated miraculous power, but not from God. Satan has miraculous power, and works through those who are persuaded and submissive to his demonic power. 
Stephen's power was initiated and manifested by God, through him for HIS glory, and for the salvation and healing of the people. He recognized the source of his strength and leaned upon the Holy Spirit to work through him as he ministered among the people.
How wonderful it would be if our lives were "clothed with wisdom and power" in a measure like Stephen's. The same Holy Spirit that embraced Stephen and endued him with wisdom and power is the ONE WHO is working in us today! May the Holy Spirit so "possess us" and minister through us.
I need to take an inventory of my life today and determine if someone could describe my life and my personal example as a person "full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, full of grace and power”, and one who loves and serves Jesus. Maybe we all should begin asking God today to accomplish this in our life. We often seek the "gifts" instead of the GIVER, the "blessing" instead of the BLESSED ONE, and the "anointing" instead of the ANOINTED ONE. I pray that we may learn to "lean upon HIM," the source of all our strength, wisdom, and power.  http://www.freegiftforlife.com http://www.freegiftforlife.com/me/DonO

Few men have the enduring qualities and the dynamic character that embraced Stephen. He had been chosen to take the role of a "servant"...caring for the poor and widows, administering to their needs. How many of us would respond to such an obscure lowly task as this, if we were so endowed with the gracious and outstanding gifts that Stephen had. I think his servanthood attitude was what clothed all of the gifts Stephen had. He was willing, even as Paul..."to be all things to all people, that he might win some." It was one of his strengths. 
Stephen was "FULL OF WISDOM" (Acts 6:3, 10). This is a unique gift which must be exercised with discretion and sensitive judgment. Many have abundant knowledge and understanding, but do not know how to translate that into wisdom. For a man to have wisdom, is to have the ability to know how to apply knowledge wisely, to be able to discern and relate to the things he confronts from day to day, giving wise consideration, and coming to a definitive conclusion. Wisdom gives man the ability of insight into the areas of confusion and frustration and the ability to differentiate between what is "simply good" from what is "best." 
Solomon said, "Blessed is the man that finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for [wisdom] is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold" (Proverbs 3:13-14). Stephen acted wisely before crude, powerful, unethical, malicious men. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed about by the wind" (James 1:5-6). 
Stephen was "FULL OF POWER" (Acts 6:8). God will never call us to a task without giving to us the power to accomplish it through Him. God had a specific ministry for Stephen that was both effective and fruitful. God endued him with divine "power to work wonders and do miracles among the people." He had a unique ministry among the people that quietly invaded their lives and greatly influenced their faith.
This demonstration of power established his validity and authority as a "man of God." There were in that day, even as today, those who demonstrated miraculous power, but not from God. Satan has miraculous power, and works through those who are persuaded and submissive to his demonic power. 
Stephen's power was initiated and manifested by God, through him for HIS glory, and for the salvation and healing of the people. He recognized the source of his strength and leaned upon the Holy Spirit to work through him as he ministered among the people.
How wonderful it would be if our lives were "clothed with wisdom and power" in a measure like Stephen's. The same Holy Spirit that embraced Stephen and endued him with wisdom and power is the ONE WHO is working in us today! May the Holy Spirit so "possess us" and minister through us. 
I need to take an inventory of my life today and determine if someone could describe my life and my personal example as a person "full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, full of grace and power”, and one who loves and serves Jesus. Maybe we all should begin asking God today to accomplish this in our life.  We often seek the "gifts" instead of the GIVER, the "blessing" instead of the BLESSED ONE, and the "anointing" instead of the ANOINTED ONE. May we learn to "lean upon HIM," the source of all our strength, wisdom, and power.  http://www.freegiftforlife.com http://www.freegiftforlife.com/me/DonO

Stir up the Spirit within you and trust that when you need the words to say, He will give them to you!

Every student of the Word, every teacher of the Word, every minister and pastor of the Word of God, every missionary, needs the anointing of the Spirit of God in order to proclaim the truth. As the context tells us, that won't mean that we have no opposition, but it does mean that we can reflect the Spirit of Christ (v.15) during the adverse circumstances!

The gifts of the spirit are very strong and no one can stand up against them. God is mighty if you are full of the holy spirit then with the power of God in you ,you can stand up against anyone and defeat them.

Jealously is a dangerous thing and this is what Stephen was facing in this verses 9 though 15. The leaders from what I can understand refused to hear the words from God that he was speaking. They couldn't understand that if they believed what Stephen preach that the people would not turn from them. They feared losing the power they thought they had over the people and that's such a shame. I think some of our ministers today fell the same way as they preach what the people want to hear not what the words say. And that is too bad.