Peter and John are full of the Holy Spirit, speaking to people and leaders who are not on their side. They are physically and verbally threatened and yet they continue to speak of their Strong God "with fearless confidence" (4:29-31). They were experiencing the kind of hostility that would cause most of us to retreat from the Christian life, as we have imagined it. How did they get to this place of boldness from their previous positions of denying Christ and of fear (John 18:15-18; 20:19-20)?
"When My Son's followers first faced opposition, they prayed, not for protection from suffering but for boldness in testifying [Acts 4:29-30]. They were so devoted to their new purpose [4:18-20], so confident in their new hope [4:12], so dependent on their new power [1:8], and so willing to suffer in their new mission [20:22-23] that they became a holy community, set apart to live their passion to dance with Me and to invite others to the party.
"That level of Spirit-fullness could not coexist with pretense.... without embracing what it means to radically follow My Son." (66LL)These disciples were fully alive in the Spirit, living in the reality of Jesus' promise to be with them and to give them power. Their confidence was not in themselves, nor in promises of blessing or safety. Their confidence was squarely placed in their Savior. These are the words of David that Peter spoke declaring this very thing,
Why do the nations rageThis is the God we seek to glorify. This is the Savior we follow. We can be fearlessly confident because we are secure in the refuge of Him.
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
“As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”
Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him. (Psalm 2, ESV)
1 comment:
The following verses stood out to me:
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."
How much clearer can it be? It is not Allah or Buddha or getting in touch with your inner self that leads to salvation. Only in the name of Jesus are we saved.
Lord, this breaks my heart for my neighbors and family members and friends who don't know you. I pray that You would use me in any way You desire to plant seeds in their hearts about their need for Jesus to be their Savior. Thank you, Lord, that I can rejoice in the joy of my salvation!
In addition, I loved this verse:
"As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:12, 20 NIV)
Lord, I pray that I would not be able to hold back from speaking about you, from sharing praises of how You have been at work and are working in my life and in the lives of those around me. Let my lips praise You every day of my life, Lord, and recognize the rich blessings You lovingly have bestowed on us.
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