Speak the Word of God with Boldness
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Acts 4:23-31
23. When they were released they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25. who by the mouth of our father David, thy servant, didst say by the Holy Spirit, `Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things? 26. The kings of the earth set themselves in array, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed' -- 27. for truly in this city there were gathered together against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28. to do whatever thy hand and thy plan had predestined to take place. 29. And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness, 30. while thou stretchest out thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of thy holy servant Jesus." 31. And 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.
Peter and John have been held and questioned by the authorities and even threatened with imprisonment for “stirring things up” in Jerusalem by testifying about the risen Christ. But they tell the Sanhedrin that they are unable to remain silent—they are too filled with the Holy Spirit and feel too compelled to preach the good news of the resurrection! Even against the treat of punishment, they continue preaching—to the Sanhedrin—and all the high priests of the temple!
The apostles returned to the “upper room” where they had met before, and where their congregation probably continued to meet. Their testimony about their preaching, and the ultimate release was so powerful and exciting, that everyone was overwhelmed! Their release was amazing, and the fact that “all the people” were praising God made it too “risky” for the authorities to imprison the apostles.
What a time to be alive! Dangerous, exciting, full of joy and prayers of gratitude! To have known Christ personally, and to have talked with him in that upper room after the resurrection! How amazing! No wonder they couldn’t contain themselves! And now the apostles and the others gathered praise God for protecting John and Peter. Their release is inspiration to the others to boldly declare the Good News to everyone! And then, to have the room shake! What other confirmation was necessary?
Wouldn’t it be so much easier to be Christians if we had actually met Jesus?! Wouldn’t our testimony be more compelling if we were bold and unafraid of ridicule and scorn for what we believe—and testify to? And yet, 2000 years later, the truth still burns within us! After all this time, the passion and the excitement still overwhelm us! Jesus came to earth, became man, set aside his divinity, hung on a cross, rose from the dead, walked among us 40 days, ascended into heaven and dwells there with God. What else do we need? How can we not speak up!? It is impossible to be silent!
So we need to shut out “the world” for a while each day so we can “hear God” in our lives. Then we need to go into “the world” and share the message of His love and power and grace! It’s impossible to be silent when we’re filled with the power of the Holy Spirit! And we are! We only need to “activate” it! That’s how we testify without concern or care for what the world says—about us or our message! The message is true. We are commanded to spread the word. We cannot help ourselves!
I hope you spend your day testifying to the Risen Christ by how you live and act, by how you think and pray. And that you release the power of the Holy Spirit within you as you go out into the world.
Mary
