City Life Starter

Written by Scott Fiddler

The Word

The Word

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 . . .

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.

-Acts 4:23–24, 27-29. 

Reflection

Peter and John are released from prison and they go back to their friends to tell them what happened. They probably told them about preaching Jesus to the religious leaders and being threatened. And then, perhaps still amazed by their own Holy Spirit-inspired boldness, they told their friends how they defied the religious leaders to their face.

And then they all pray together to ask the Lord to “take note” of the religious leaders’ threats. Those threats were real. These same religious leaders had just thirty days before turned Jesus over to the Romans to be crucified.

Yet, while they asked the Lord to take note of the threats, they did not pray, “Lord, protect us,” or “put a hedge of protection around us” or any of those other prayers we pray. 

We like travel prayers—“Lord watch over us while we travel.” We like food prayers, especially food prayers—“Lord, bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies.” We want safe travels and nourishing food.

Here, there was none of that. These were not prayers about their safety or nourishing food but prayers about the mission. “Lord . . . grant that your bond-servants may speak your word with all confidence . . . “ And they prayed that the Lord would support the mission with healing and signs and wonders to glorify Jesus. 

Application

Those are the kind of prayers that are easy for the Lord to answer because they are prayers that are according to His will. See I John 5:14-15.

The Lord heard their prayers because when they finished, the place where they had gathered was shaken, reminding them of God’s power. Then there was another outpouring of the Holy Spirit, empowering them to speak boldly. 

They prayed for the right thing. What they needed was power, not protection. There was going to be opposition. If we are truly on mission, there will be opposition. We needn’t pray that He remove the awkwardness or the inconvenience that goes with sharing the Gospel. Those things are all a given when we are on mission. What we need is the power to speak His Word boldly. 

And I’m guessing if we stay on mission and pray for His power, the Lord might even bless our food and travel as a bonus.

Prayer

Lord, please help me to speak Your Word boldly. In Jesus’ name, amen.