Day 34: The Bold and the Powerful

Acts 4:23-31

And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:

'Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the LORD and against His Christ.' “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

The fourth chapter of Acts is very powerful as it sends the church of today a message on praying boldly. Peter and John had been going about teaching in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. Their preaching had been so successful that as many as five thousand had gathered and believed. When the leaders of the Jews figured out

what was happening, they decided to arrest Peter and John, more or less to get them off the streets. When the rulers, elders, and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem to question Peter and John, they began by asking, “By what power or what name do you do this?” It is at this point in the interrogation that the boldness of Peter and John is clearly seen. In Acts 4:13, the leaders of the Jews could sense the great courage of these two, that they were unschooled, ordinary men, and that they had been with Jesus. Nothing greater could be said of us than to have others see us and say that we have been with Jesus. Our actions, conduct, and attitudes tell others a lot about who we are and to whom we belong.

Peter and John were able to return to their own people and report what had just happened to them. In Acts 4:24 and following, they raised their voices together in prayer to God, calling Him “Sovereign Lord” and asking Him to enable them to speak His Word with great boldness. In Acts 4:31, 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.

As we prepare to enter a new year, what better time than now could there be to begin praying boldly? Our God is willing and able to bless us, but He wants us to ask and ask specifically.

One other thing, if we pray boldly, we need to expect powerful things to happen!

Written by DeWayne Griffin, an elder at Mt. Juliet

# posted by JP @ 12:01 AM on Friday, December 17, 2010

Comments:

This is wonderful; thank you for words and leadership. I am thankful that we have such wonderful people and leaders (such as you) within our church. We are truly blessed.

TS

# posted by

Anonymous : December 17, 2010 at 2:52 AM

yes, I agree with TS. What a blessing! Grif we missed you lately and hear you may be back with us on Sunday. I look so forward to seeing you. Thanks for the encouragement for us to pray boldly! And thanks for being a part of an eldership that stands boldly and courageously. Great article! drs

# posted by

David R. Shannon : December 17, 2010 at 6:22 AM

Grif...Thanks for your example of determination and discipline. You are loved by many.

dab

# posted by

David : December 17, 2010 at 9:17 AM



Day 34: The Bold and the Powerful Acts 4:23-31 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: 'Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the LORD and against His Christ.' “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. The fourth chapter of Acts is very powerful as it sends the church of today a message on praying boldly. Peter and John had been going about teaching in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. Their preaching had been so successful that as many as five thousand had gathered and believed. When the leaders of the Jews figured out what was happening, they decided to arrest Peter and John, more or less to get them off the streets. When the rulers, elders, and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem to question Peter and John, they began by asking, “By what power or what name do you do this?” It is at this point in the interrogation that the boldness of Peter and John is clearly seen. In Acts 4:13, the leaders of the Jews could sense the great courage of these two, that they were unschooled, ordinary men, and that they had been with Jesus. Nothing greater could be said of us than to have others see us and say that we have been with Jesus. Our actions, conduct, and attitudes tell others a lot about who we are and to whom we belong. Peter and John were able to return to their own people and report what had just happened to them. In Acts 4:24 and following, they raised their voices together in prayer to God, calling Him “Sovereign Lord” and asking Him to enable them to speak His Word with great boldness. In Acts 4:31, 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. As we prepare to enter a new year, what better time than now could there be to begin praying boldly? Our God is willing and able to bless us, but He wants us to ask and ask specifically. One other thing, if we pray boldly, we need to expect powerful things to happen! Written by DeWayne Griffin, an elder at Mt. Juliet # posted by JP @ 12:01 AM on Friday, December 17, 2010 Comments: This is wonderful; thank you for words and leadership. I am thankful that we have such wonderful people and leaders (such as you) within our church. We are truly blessed. TS # posted by Anonymous : December 17, 2010 at 2:52 AM yes, I agree with TS. What a blessing! Grif we missed you lately and hear you may be back with us on Sunday. I look so forward to seeing you. Thanks for the encouragement for us to pray boldly! And thanks for being a part of an eldership that stands boldly and courageously. Great article! drs # posted by David R. Shannon : December 17, 2010 at 6:22 AM Grif...Thanks for your example of determination and discipline. You are loved by many. dab # posted by David : December 17, 2010 at 9:17 AM Post a Comment << Home	Mt. Juliet Church of Christ 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road P.O.Box 248 Mt.Juliet, TN 37122-0248 (615)758-2274 Fax:615-754-2351 Email Worship Services: Sunday Early Worship: 8AM Sunday Bible Study: 9:15AM Sunday Late Worship: 10:15AM Night Worship: 6PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7PM Past Archives: November 2010 December 2010

Day 34: The Bold and the Powerful

Post a Comment