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The second have of Acts 4 has 2 distinct parts - a prayer by Peter and John, and those who were the ‘believers’ at this point in time, and a description of how this community lived in harmony, and essentially shared everything they had as one.
This prayer in verses 23 through 31 is just awesome. So, Peter and John were just in prison, just answering for their faith in front of these folks who were obviously in power, and were power hungry. And Peter and John no doubt knew that these events were likely to repeat if they continued to carry on in this fashion, spreading the gospel, out in the open, and fanning the flame of this Jesus movement. They had to be a little scared. And look what they prayed, v 24-31.
Notice - they didn’t pray for rescue. They didn’t pray for peace. They didn’t ask for saving. They confessed to God that they were finally putting the pieces to together, that they were starting to understand that all along, God was actually sewing together this story that is now recent history, and they had missed it when it was happening, but that they could see it now. I imagine they were still a little in shock as to how they missed it. And so, what did they pray? They asked for boldness. They asked that God would simply give them the strength, the courage, and the will to continue in their calling, to continue their contribution in God’s story. I just love that!
That’s a prayer worth repeating. And, it is worth remembering in less glamorous times. In that moment where I am at my whit’s end with a friend who is struggling with a particular issue, and I know I need to be a friend but I am tired of forgiving and I am exhausted from caring…perhaps I can pray that God would give me boldness to declare His word and to do as I know He would have me do. When I am burnt out and broken down because I can’t get on the same page with my wife about an issue...perhaps I can pray for boldness, and the will to continue in God’s will. It doesn’t have to be a life or death issue. This prayer is a great example of asking God for something for which I think God essentially always responds. If I humble myself and ask for the will and the courage and the energy to follow God’s will...that’s a prayer that I have experience having answered without fail.
And closing out the chapter, we see an awesome example of community, the sharing of resources and life between all of these believers. It begs the question, “What if this was really what being a Christian felt like, this kind of community - who WOULDN’T want to be a part of that?”. Our faith should be inviting.
Today, the big away from me is that prayer though...what an awesome prayer, and what an awesome reminder that I need to rely on God for the strength to do his will in my life.
The second have of Acts 4 has 2 distinct parts - a prayer by Peter and John, and those who were the ‘believers’ at this point in time, and a description of how this community lived in harmony, and essentially shared everything they had as one.
This prayer in verses 23 through 31 is just awesome. So, Peter and John were just in prison, just answering for their faith in front of these folks who were obviously in power, and were power hungry. And Peter and John no doubt knew that these events were likely to repeat if they continued to carry on in this fashion, spreading the gospel, out in the open, and fanning the flame of this Jesus movement. They had to be a little scared. And look what they prayed, v 24-31.
Notice - they didn’t pray for rescue. They didn’t pray for peace. They didn’t ask for saving. They confessed to God that they were finally putting the pieces to together, that they were starting to understand that all along, God was actually sewing together this story that is now recent history, and they had missed it when it was happening, but that they could see it now. I imagine they were still a little in shock as to how they missed it. And so, what did they pray? They asked for boldness. They asked that God would simply give them the strength, the courage, and the will to continue in their calling, to continue their contribution in God’s story. I just love that!
That’s a prayer worth repeating. And, it is worth remembering in less glamorous times. In that moment where I am at my whit’s end with a friend who is struggling with a particular issue, and I know I need to be a friend but I am tired of forgiving and I am exhausted from caring…perhaps I can pray that God would give me boldness to declare His word and to do as I know He would have me do. When I am burnt out and broken down because I can’t get on the same page with my wife about an issue...perhaps I can pray for boldness, and the will to continue in God’s will. It doesn’t have to be a life or death issue. This prayer is a great example of asking God for something for which I think God essentially always responds. If I humble myself and ask for the will and the courage and the energy to follow God’s will...that’s a prayer that I have experience having answered without fail.
And closing out the chapter, we see an awesome example of community, the sharing of resources and life between all of these believers. It begs the question, “What if this was really what being a Christian felt like, this kind of community - who WOULDN’T want to be a part of that?”. Our faith should be inviting.
Today, the big away from me is that prayer though...what an awesome prayer, and what an awesome reminder that I need to rely on God for the strength to do his will in my life.