Boldness

When was the last time you were arrested for your faith?  Here in the U.S. we don't have to worry about that but many around the world live in constant danger because of their beliefs.  The early Believers faced a similar threat.  In fact, Acts 4 describes a time when Peter and John were arrested for "teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead" (verse 2).

My favorite part of this story happens after Peter and John are questioned by the Sanhedrin and subsequently released.  Verse 23 says that "on their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them."  After the explanation, the people had a prayer meeting.  Hands down, the best line of the prayer is in verse 29: "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness."

When was the last time you knew that a conflict was coming and you stopped to pray for great boldness?  The Believers prayer was answered in a mighty way. "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly" (verse 31).  God longs for us to prayer for His Spirit.  As our world becomes more and more secular and time grows short, shouldn't we be praying for boldness every day?  Boldness to share the Word of God with everyone around us so that we may hasten His soon coming!!!

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7).