Shaken by God
Acts 4:31 When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.
Today we’re finishing up our wee mini-series on persecution – not because I have some morbid desire to focus on suffering but because the tide of persecution against those who simply believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for their sins and rose again, is rising.
Now maybe this idea of some rising tide of persecution doesn’t sit so well with you. Life’s good, the world goes on, what’s this maniac talking about?
In 2023, Open Doors (a ministry to persecuted Christians) reported that more than 360 million Christians were experiencing high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith – including violence, imprisonment, loss of property and social ostracism.
In that same year, the number of Christians killed for their faith was estimated at over 5,000 – a slight decrease on previous years, but still representing significant ongoing violence against Christians.
Yesterday we saw how some 1st Century Christians, led by the Apostles Peter and John, reacted to the persecution they were suffering. They prayed for boldness to continue telling people about Jesus, and for God’s miraculous power to work through them.
So … how did that pan out? How, if at all, did God respond?
Acts 4:31 When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. (NRSV)
God answered their prayer. He shook the earth. He filled them with His Holy Spirit. He gave them exactly what they asked for – the boldness to speak the word of God in public.
There’s only one sort of prayer the Bible teaches about – the sort that has powerful results. So when you’re perhaps facing persecution … pray for boldness and watch out, because God’s about to show up!
That’s His Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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