A MIGHTY ENTRANCE 133necked... in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy
Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you" (Acts 7:51). Why did
he say that? Because of what he was filled with: "But he,
being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the
glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of
God" (v. 55).
The presence of the Spirit became so powerful in
Stephen's life that he was able to look up and see God's
glory. He even took on the emotions and attributes of the
Spirit as he was being stoned. Stephen said, "Lord, do not
charge them with this sin" (Acts 7:60). Can you imagine
such a reaction? He didn't say to God, "Judge them. Kill
them. Slay them." The Holy Spirit made the difference.
I am convinced there is a point in your relationship with
the Spirit when the anointing becomes so heavy on you—
His presence so close to you—that you can look up and see
a vision of God. That's how real He can become.
Saul, during his dramatic conversion, had a firsthand
experience with the awesome power of the Holy Ghost. As
he was on his way to Damascus, breathing out murderous
threats against the followers of Christ, "suddenly a light
shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground,
and heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why are you
persecuting Me?'" (Acts 9:3-4).
He was trembling and astonished. "Who are You,
Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are
persecuting," He replied. "Arise and go into the city, and
you will be told what you must do" (Acts 9:5-6). The men
traveling with Saul were stunned and speechless. Saul was
blinded by the experience for three days before God healed
him and he was "filled with the Holy Spirit" (v. 17).
Again the Spirit made a mighty entrance. He
transformed Saul the antagonist into Paul the apostle. In