More Boldness, God!

 

Acts 4.
Peter and John standing trial before the council.
They can’t decide what to do with them, other than tell them that due to their teaching they have created quite an upheaval among the people, and they are to, “never again speak or teach in the name of Jesus.” (4:18)

And of course we know that the disciples… now apostles… cannot agree to that.
Their words in response are this, “We cannot stop telling about every we have seen and heard.” (4:20)

The council threatens them, but they release them due to the fact that there would soon be a riot if they continued restraining them any longer.

When the students… now teachers… are reunited with the believers, they told what they had experienced and in response the believers raised their voices in one accord.

It’s a beautiful image of unity and oneness in the Spirit.

And you can see the part of the prayer that displays a definitive shift. The words from the body of bold believers that changes the game.

Verse 29 tells us that these were the words, as a prayerful petition, from once-weary hearts turned brave, “And now, O Lord, hear their threats and give us, Your servants, great boldness in preaching Your word.”

I stopped in my tracks when I read them.

Because I wonder if I could say the same.

Peter and John relay precisely what we need to imitate, yet it’s more difficult than we’d like to admit. “Now, God, hear what they have been saying to us and about it. Look at the way they’ve been mocking us, and threatening us because of our unwavering commitment to our mission. And in hearing them, will You make us more bold in our preaching?”

They didn’t ask for comfort.
They didn’t beg for the removal of danger.
They didn’t inquire to be discharged from their duty.

They asked for more boldness to continue the work.

Their prayer included grace to advance steadily in their responsibility regardless of apparent setback, rejection, or fear of man.

And in doing so, God gives them a greater degree of His Spirit.
Oh how we would miss the mighty increase of God’s strengthening power if we never surrendered to the need of His courage in the face of impossible challenges!

We receive in increase only that which we are bold enough to sincerely petition for.

It’s as though the brothers here are saying, “Give us more, God. We will go in the strength You provide along the way.”



It’s bold.
It’s brave.
It’s behaving like Jesus who endured a wooden torture device for you… and for me.

Peter and John were not only encouraged by the body of believers that surrounded them upon their high council discharge, they were enabled by the Spirit to do even GREATER works moving forward.

The word enabled means this = “set up; empowered; prepared; fitted; commissioned; qualified; conditioned; equipped for a specified extended or premium use! “

Wow!

Let’s not miss the chance to be enabled by the Spirit to do even more for Him.
Regardless of the cost.
Regardless of the pain.
Regardless of the difficulty.

Make us BOLD in our witness for You, God! It is my prayer with every breath.