Thursday Devo
Scripture Reading:
Acts 4
29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.
29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.
Commentary from the ESV Study Bible:
4:29 Their prayer for boldness in witness shows a determination to directly disobey the command of the Sanhedrin. They do not pray against those who persecute them but pray for their own faithfulness in witness.
4:30 and signs and wonders are performed. The believers do not hesitate to pray that God would work more miracles as they continued proclaiming the gospel. Such a prayer does not indicate deficient faith but is rather an evidence of their strong belief that God would work in their midst in an immediate way that authenticates the gospel.
4:31 God answered the believers’ prayer. The place where they were gathered was shaken as if by an earthquake, and the Spirit descended upon them in a way they could perceive. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit indicates that people could be “filled” with the Holy Spirit more than once, for Peter was among them and he had already been “filled with the Holy Spirit” (v. 8), and all the disciples present at Pentecost had been “filled” with the Spirit as well (2:4). The Holy Spirit’s power did not come on them automatically but in answer to their expectant, believing prayer.
4:30 and signs and wonders are performed. The believers do not hesitate to pray that God would work more miracles as they continued proclaiming the gospel. Such a prayer does not indicate deficient faith but is rather an evidence of their strong belief that God would work in their midst in an immediate way that authenticates the gospel.
4:31 God answered the believers’ prayer. The place where they were gathered was shaken as if by an earthquake, and the Spirit descended upon them in a way they could perceive. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit indicates that people could be “filled” with the Holy Spirit more than once, for Peter was among them and he had already been “filled with the Holy Spirit” (v. 8), and all the disciples present at Pentecost had been “filled” with the Spirit as well (2:4). The Holy Spirit’s power did not come on them automatically but in answer to their expectant, believing prayer.
Study Questions:
- To KNOW Jesus is the make Jesus KNOWN. In chapter 8 after Jesus delivered the man that was tormented with demons, the man desperately wanted to stay with Jesus. But Jesus sent the man away and told him to return to his home and tell people what had happened. The woman at the well ran into the village into a group of people that despised her and told them to come and see the one, true Messiah. Many are intimidated when it comes to sharing their faith. How willing are you to share your faith with someone in your life? When was the last time? And who in your life right now needs what you have?
- I think we can be encouraged by the disciples. Even though they had spent three years with Jesus, and 18 months being trained in ministry, they all abandoned Jesus in his time of need. They cowered in fear as he hung on the cross. But then these 12 regular guys, with no qualifications, turned the world upside down amidst intense persecution and opposition at every turn. What happened? The Holy Spirit. They were empowered and emboldened by the Spirit of God. That same Spirit is in us! Spend some time today praying for the Holy Spirit to fill you up and empower you! Pray for him to fill you with great boldness!
Pray:
- That you would be ready and willing to share your faith with those that need Jesus.
- That you would pray daily for God's Spirit to fill you anew.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
5. Why do I follow Jesus? I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
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