"So they called for them and ordered them not to preach or teach at all in the mane of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, 'Whether it's right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard'".
When was the last time someone accused you of being too bold? When was the last time you remember anyone being accused of being too bold? I would like to propose that if you have to think about this for longer than 15 seconds it has been far too long. This is one of the problems we have as American Christians. We have become so comfortable we have no feeling left of what the transforming power of the Spirit has done for us!! Our fire has been reduced to nothing but coals, on a good day!!!
In Acts we see that Peter and John have been put before the royal council. The council sends the declaration for them to no longer preach the Gospel. Filled and so compelled by the Holy Spirit they respond with dignity that they can not stop. The things that they have witnessed and have preformed through the Spirit is too much for them not too share.
What made Peter and John's testimonies so strong was that they told the truth and they SPOKE IT!!! To give testimony means to recount a religious experience. You can not testify to that which you have not experienced. These men talked about what Jesus had done and what the Spirit is doing, giving them an unshakable testimony. THe Chef Priests, as the Bible states, thought themselves as uneducated when they heard their testimony (vs. 13). This could not have happened though had Peter and John not opened their mouth in the first place. Granted a lot of our boldness comes from the Holy Spirit, by the same token when we pray for boldness we need to pray that we will speak when the opportunity comes.
God gives us opportunities to be bold and proclaim His name, our free will lets us decide if we will follow Him and proclaim His gift, or hoard it like the sinful people we are and keep to ourselves like society tells us to.
God today make us bold for you, but let us speak when you give us these opportunities. Let us open our mouths and proclaim once and for all that You are Lord of our lives and that You have come to save the souls of the lost. You came for us and took our pain. We deserve nothing less than Your wrath on our shoulders everyday!! To You be the glory for You have continued to shine Your mercy down on us. Forgive us our sins and take the cup of trials from us so that we may serve You whole heartedly and see You in our trials. In Jesus powerful Name we pray. Amen.
