Readings and Thoughts for Monday, February 11, 2008
Acts 4:23-31 The Believers Pray for Boldness
This is the preaching text for Sunday, February 17 at Buffalo UMC.
Perhaps the apostles were used to living with controversy, since they had experienced a fair bit of resistance during their time in ministry with Jesus. Now they are in the middle of controversy again, and that controversy is going to continue to develop and challenge them until it comes to a crisis point in chapters 7 and 8. The scene we have today involves Peter and John returning to the rest of the disciples after they have been accused before the Jewish council. The council would have loved to have sanctioned them in some way, but they could not find a means of doing so without angering the crowds who were thrilled with the miracle Peter had performed.
I mentioned way back in the introduction that there are many parallels in Luke and Acts. Things that Jesus did or experienced in Luke, the apostles do or experience in Acts. Just as Jesus was often the center of controversy for miracles of healing (if they occurred on the Sabbath, for example, or if he told someone “your sins are forgiven”), the apostles now are having the same kind of experience. What they accomplish for the kingdom of God brings about both positive and negative reactions.
I can imagine what a Leadership Team meeting might look like at Buffalo UMC if our two lay leaders had just been brought before a judge on legal charges related to one of our ministries. Wouldn’t we want to lay low for a while? Worry about our public image? Try not to draw any more attention to ourselves? But the early church does not react this way at all. Instead, their prayer remembers how Jesus was persecuted and takes heart that they are experiencing the same kinds of things their Lord experienced. Then they say, “Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness…. (Acts 4:29).” They are already in trouble, and they pray to be even more courageous in sharing the Gospel of Jesus!
God’s response to this prayer is dramatic: “When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.” In other words, they prayed for courageous empowerment to speak and act and they were granted that very courageous empowerment. You know the phrase – “Be careful what you pray for, you might get it.” Normally we say this in reference to things we think we really want, perhaps not understanding the implication or cost of having them. But this is different – the followers of Jesus, having been frightened by the threats against them from the council, pray to God to be relieved of their fear, but not through withdrawal, but through greater boldness and courage. It took courage just to offer this prayer; the prayer showed the depth of their trust in God to provide for them and to ministry through them. It is no small thing to pray to God, asking to be used in service to him. Your prayer will be answered.
Have you ever offered your life or some part of your life (your time, your energy, your money) to God? How did God take you up on your offer? Did you experience empowerment from the Holy Spirit related to your offering?
1 comment:
I wish I could say that I have had more of these experiences, but sadly my trust in God is still growing. There are definitely a couple of financial and two specific health instances that come to mind. There were a couple of times when I felt moved to give financially to the church when we really "couldn't afford it." In every instance, it worked out just fine, and not only were there no financial repercussions, but the rewards spiritually and the blessing felt were amazing.
The health situations were even more convincing. Both situations were desperate, but the presence of God's spirit was nearly overwhelming when I prayed. In neither case did I know what the outcome would be, but in both situations I felt the assurance that I was not alone, and a peace that could only come from God. I knew whatever happened that God would get me through it - there was no doubt at all.
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