FAITH AND POWER
Acts 6: 8
One thing God requires in his servants is faithfulness. And faithfulness is one thing God honors in his servants (I Sam 2: 30.) Stephen did not come to have this testimony given of him overnight. He began believing God by grace as a faithful church member, faithful to God and to his brethren. Then he served as a faithful deacon, faithful to God and to his brethren. At last, God used Stephen as a faithful preacher of the gospel, faithful to preach Christ. All along the way it was the Lord who blessed Stephen among the people filling him full of faith. In spiritual blessings from God, Stephen's barns were filled with plenty and his wine press with new wine (Pro 3: 10.)
The believer whom God increases full of faith he also fills full of power. Most everything a person does in this life is to gain power. Most forsake Christ in their pursuit of worldly power. But those who God fills with the glory of Christ are the ones whom God truly fills with his power. So much so, that the most temporally powerful man is no match for the believer.