January 11, 2022

As I was doing my daily reading the other day, something really jumped out at me. In Acts chapter 4, Peter and John were arrested and brought before the religious leaders. Peter and John were told not to speak about Jesus, but Peter and John replied, "How can we not talk about the things we have seen and heard?"

So they were threatened and released by this group of religious leaders. Which brings us to the passage I want to share where God moved me:

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 made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant,[a] said by the Holy Spirit,
  “‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
    and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers were gathered together,
    against the Lord and against his Anointed’[b]--

27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your 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 continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Did you see it there? Really amazing stuff! When they went to their friends, they described what they just went through. And then.....they rejoiced! They worshiped! They praised God! They acknowledged what they went through, but more than that, they acknowledged the greatness of God, His power and His plan. 

And if that's not enough, they prayed differently than you and I probably would have prayed. They didn't pray God remove these people from leadership, nor the city, nor the planet. They didn't pray that God would take the hardship and troubles away. They prayed this: "God, continue doing what you do best - signs and wonders, healing people - and God give us boldness to preach of Your fame and glory and power. Help us not to be afraid to share about you."

And that's the first thing that hit me. That's where God was speaking to me first. I am more prone to pray that God takes the troubles away (because to be honest, I like being comfortable), than to pray God thank you for the situation and the continued opportunities I have to see you working. Sure, it's easier to pray like this when life is going good, and honestly I have had a pretty gracious life without much hardship. And yet, I still find ways to complain, I still find ways to cry out, "God take this misery away from me!" Maybe (not maybe, absolutely true) I need to change the way I pray....to focus more on God and declaring His greatness than I need to worry about my comfort. 

Stick with me a little more, because then I had a thought as I was reading. Did you read the last verse? Yeah, that one at the end there. The one that says "the place where they were gathered was shaken." Yeah, that line. Like, an earthquake shook the place where they were. How cool would it be if every Sunday, as churches gathered together to worship and pray, locations shook. Those people who didn't go to church knew that Sunday, at 10am, things are going to shake around the house in Cypress because that church is meeting and praying. Not a big, catastrophic earthquake, just a little earth wiggle and jiggle to remind people that God is an amazing, all-powerful, earth shaking God. 

And the passage ends with a great truth and promise - they were filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak boldly.

God is faithful. God is with you. God empowers you. When you are afraid or weary or run down remember this - the God we worship is an earth shaking God who still continues to do signs and wonders and heals. May we be known as a people who, no matter the circumstance or opposition, boldly proclaim His Word!

-Pastor Brian