God Is Shaking Things Up!

Scripture

29And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:29-31

Observation

Peter and John had just stood and preached the Gospel of Jesus with confidence before the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law  who  had met in Jerusalem to decide their fate. In verse 13 we read that “The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.”  The threats of death did not silence them because they had already died to themselves and were alive in Christ. So, the leaders let them go with some threats of retribution.  What’s the first thing Peter and John did upon release? Did you parade themselves around town, go on the news circuit, preach some sermons? No, they gathered with the other believers and got on their knees to pray for MORE boldness. Now, I don’t know about you, but after the boldness they had already exhibited as evidence by the reactions of their enemies, I’m not sure I’d be praying for more. I’d probably be feeling pretty good with my boldness and would pray for something else. These early Christians weren’t about to rest upon their past success and prayed instead for a fiery fearless confidence in the face of opposition. The room shook to its very foundations by the power of The Holy Spirit in that room of surrendered saints. I feel like God wants to shake things up again!

Application

If these bold Christians were praying for more boldness in evangelism this should probably be at the top of my prayer list every single day.  So, why isn’t it? Honestly? I’m not ready for God to shake things up. I’m pretty comfortable with the people I know and the people that know me as we gather together every Sunday and share life together in small groups. What I should not be comfortable with is how many people are going in to a Christless eternity, while I sit in my comfy Christianity. According to recent Barna research it seems I’m not the only one. Only 1% of pastors say their churches are very effective at evangelism. That means 99% of pastors say their churches aren’t bold in their sharing of the Gospel while 72% of Americans describe themselves as spiritually open, with younger generations more open to God since the pandemic.  So, we’ve never had more opportunity to share the reality of Jesus with those around us and we’ve never been less likely to do so. I don’t wake up with fear of reprisals or being thrown into prison for my faith. So, why do keep my faith to myself? Is it that I think someone else will do it? Is it that I think it will make things uncomfortable and awkward between my neighbors and I? Is it that I’ve replaced actual long term relationships with one time invitations to my church?  What if the measure of success in sharing my faith isn’t whether  a person attends my church , but whether they have come to meet Jesus through my life and bold example? Am I ok with everything not being completely resolved if I’m seeing a friends life moving closer to Christ? Can you feel things shaking with those questions? I sure can. What if relational curiosity and openness on my part can bridge the divide between my faith  and the culture God has called me to reach?  The thing about this prayer meeting in Acts 4 was that, just like in Acts 2, they didn’t keep it in the room. They had just had a power encounter with God, but it was unto an external action. God showed Himself TO them so He could show Himself THROUGH them!

Prayer

Ok Jesus, You are shaking things up and I’m here for it! Give me your heart to  engage the spiritually curious around me!  What are some of the adjustments I need to make in how I live my life?  I’m so thankful for the privilege of the weekend services and prayer gatherings, but I’m asking for a boldness outside of this comfort zone. This is what I do and love doing, but what else are You calling me to?  I get excited to talk to people about my favorite movies or food, but why am I not excited to talk about You. Forgive me for fear of man. You’re not calling me to abandon theology or water it down, but just look at whether I’m not I’m actually having intelligent curious conversations with those outside the Church! Let me care more about the souls of my fellow man than I do my won comforts. Stretch out Your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus right here in North County! Help me to realize the way You stretch out Your hand is by using my hands in serving others.