Unstoppable Courage
Opening Prayer
Loving God, I thank You that, although I may be untrained in theology, Your Spirit teaches me Your truth.
Read ACTS 4:13-22
[13] When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. [14] But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. [15] So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. [16] “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. [17] But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” [18] Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. [19] But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. [20] For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” [21] After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. [22] For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
How did people react to this event?Our age has a lot in common with that of the early church. In those days, messages were passed from person to person by word of mouth. Today electronic media like email, cell phones and the Internet mean that messages can travel faster than ever before; they can reach more people; and they can’t be stopped or controlled. Advertisers use the phrase “viral marketing” to describe the way products are powerfully promoted by electronic gossip. Thank God that the electronic media also enables the Christian message to spread around the world.
This was the dilemma the Jewish leaders faced. They simply couldn’t get the lid back on the box! They hoped that they could bully Peter and John into silence, and that somehow the spread of the Gospel could be contained. No chance! Yesterday Peter and John had seen a lame man walk after 40 years; today everyone in Jerusalem knew about the miracle.
The Good News of Jesus is simply unstoppable. Always has been. Always will be.
Apply
What means can you use to help spread the Gospel? Are there any new or electronic ways you can use?
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, show me any new ways that I can use to spread Your “unstoppable” Gospel around the world.
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