Jesus is usually characterized as sitting at the right hand of God. What would cause Him to stand up? Meet Stephen. He is described as a Spirit-filled man whenever he’s mentioned biblically. He was chosen as one of the seven original deacons in Acts 6. One qualification for the seven is that he had to be “full of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:3). Consider then Acts 6:5, “And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.” In Acts 7, Stephen preaches a sermon where everyone comes forward…to kill him. Acts 7:55 reports about him, “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.”

 

So the question must be asked – why did Jesus arise? He stood up to greet the church’s first martyr who lived and died being full of the Holy Spirit. He stood up up to meet the man who was filled with faith, and was faithful to the end! That is why Jesus rose from His seat! Will Jesus stand when you go home? Today, and every day, you should purpose to live a Spirit-filled life that will cause Jesus to rise when you go home.