MORE, PLEASE!
Opening Prayer
God, as I come to your Word today, please pour out on me fresh passion to be part of seeing your kingdom come.
Read ACTS 4:23–31
The Believers Pray
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
“‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.[a]’[b]
27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
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.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Where do you see the world threatening the testimony of Christians, both locally and globally?Today we see the disciples continuing in prayer, continuing together, continuing to stand on the Scriptures, continuing to recognize both God’s sovereignty and human responsibility behind events, and continuing to acknowledge Jesus as God’s humble Messiah. Far from dampening their spirits, the hostility they faced fueled their passion to continue in what they’d been called to (v. 29). How often do we pray for protection first—against opposition, rather than for fearlessness?
To continue in their mission and ministry, the new church community knew they needed more of God’s enabling: more courage to speak, more miracles to attest their words, and more of the authority of Jesus’ name to be manifest. Asking for help is hard—perhaps pride gets in the way, or fear that our request will be rejected. But these believers didn’t hesitate and God’s answer was immediate and powerful. Of course he wanted them to have all they needed to continue in their commission: it was his plan and purpose they were partnering with, his glory and fame they sought to further! So, as soon as they asked, he poured out his Spirit afresh. Continuing to be filled, continuing to overflow—this constant rhythm of receiving God’s life and having it run over with the courageous expression of it is available to us today!
Apply
What is your habit in prayer—to ask God for protection or for fearlessness?
Closing prayer
Father, I look to you to provide everything I need to continue in what you have called me to, all for your glory.
Book and Author Intros
Extras
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.