Sunday, July 17 - Acts 4:18-31

Learning to listen to God speak is key to walking the road of life.  Do you hear God speaking to you?  Do you understand what message(s) He is sending?  It is an amazing adventurous existence when we move through life with God as our tour guide.  I don't mean to make light of difficult situations, or brush off how crippling certain seasons of life are, but I know when I lean on the Word of God for direction, when I wait for Him to speak to me, it all comes together.

The apostles knew what God wanted them to do, they heard Him speak to their hearts and they knew Jesus wanted them to continue sharing the message of Good News.  "Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:18-20)

These brave followers of Jesus knew their lives were in danger but they also knew the salvation of the world was more important.  Just think what a burden and gift their assignment from heaven was to them.  What did they do when the political rulers warned them?  "...they raised their voices together in prayer to God." (Acts 4:24)  They asked God to give them boldness to continue to tell the amazing story of Jesus.

God heard their prayers and honored them. "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." (Acts 4:31) ) God honored their prayers and sent the Holy Spirit to them.  God will do this for you and for me as well.  All we have to do is pray and ask God for what we need.

Read Acts 4:18-31 here.