Next Step #37

One of the most encouraging and empowering early records of the Holy Spirit’s work in the church, occurs when Peter and John have been imprisoned for performing a miracle of healing in Jesus’ name. After boldly proclaiming that the healing came in the name of Jesus before the Jewish ruling body—the Sanhedrin—and being instructed by the Sanhedrin not to preach again in Jesus’ name, Peter and John return to the other believers and give an account of what took place. At the conclusion of the account the believers offered this prayer to the Lord, ²⁹And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. ³⁰Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”  Obviously, the believers had not intention of stopping their preaching in Jesus’ name. All they asked the Lord is that he would give them GREAT BOLDNESS to continue. Here is God’s response to the prayer:

³¹After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.  The believers had already been filled with the Holy Spirit, but now they were filled again. The result was they were empowered to do what they had asked God—they preached the word of God with boldness. As we go about our lives, loving and serving in the name of Jesus, there will be those who oppose us. In such times, let’s remember the apostles’ prayer for GREAT BOLDNESS, and let’s call on God to fill us with that same boldness. God is always ready to fill and re-fill us with the Holy Spirit, and as we call on Him to do so, we will be made ready in every situation to continue to share the new life of Jesus with boldness and effectiveness to His glory!