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“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness.”  Acts 4:29 (ESV)

Conflict  and opposition are often something we avoid. I’m totally not a fan unless its healthy conflict zeroed in on working together to reach a compromise. However, we can’t get through life without conflict because we’re all fallen people living in a fallen world. And it’s interesting how most of the conflict we endure comes from those we’d least expect to oppose us.

Talk about opposition, the early church in Acts was characterized by religious leaders who desperately wanted to silence these Jesus followers. However, Peter and John courageously and boldly continued to  proclaim the good news of the gospel – Jesus was  alive – the resurrection was indeed reality. Yet the religious leaders didn’t like the evidence staring them in the face. A lame beggar who couldn’t walk for 40 years was now healed. God added about 5,000 more believers to the early church; the message of the gospel (birth, death and resurrection of Jesus) was spreading.

Sound familiar? This was the same group that wanted to destroy Jesus because their religious authority was being challenged. The Jesus followers were growing in number (sounds a little like the Israelites in Egypt). They couldn’t silence or alter the work of God no matter how hard they tried. Greatly annoyed, the religious leaders arrested Peter and John.

Totally love the way Peter and John didn’t cave to the demands of these leaders. With no legal grounds for charges against them, the leaders released them with specific instructions to stop teaching and speaking about Jesus. However, this dynamic duo stood their ground;  “We cannot deny the truth,” echoed from their lips.

Don’t know about you sweet friends, but my heart is challenged in reading Acts 4: 24 -28. Peter and John went to their friends telling them exactly what had happened and instead of the followers running for cover, they lifted their voices to God. Prayer was their first line of offense.

Now, just keeping it real here, I would have prayed too in the face of persecution and opposition but not the way they prayed. I would have asked God to destroy those leaders attempting to silence them. I would have asked God to silence the leaders instead. I would have cried out for protection and deliverance. The focus of my prayer would have been all about me, yet these courageous followers sought only to continue to speak God’s word with boldness – hearts and minds devoted and focused on spreading the gospel. And God indeed granted their request. Powerful prayers zeroed in on God’s sovereign plan and not our own agenda for ease and comfort.

No persecution knocking at our door. No perceived threat on our life for sharing the gospel. In this country, we enjoy the privilege of the right to worship freely and the freedom of expression and speech. Yet all too often we choose silence because we fear offending someone with the glorious lifesaving news of Jesus’ love and forgiveness. We pass up opportunities to share His truth in love due to pride – zeroing in on what people will think of us.

Peter and John’s actions speak loud and clear – no one would silence their voice when it came to speaking the word of God. They wouldn’t shrink back or cower – pleasing God was more important than seeking accolades from man.

Sweet friends let’s all  pray for boldness and courage when God opens doors for us to share His amazing truths. Let’s pray for open hearts and seeds planted to take deep roots and produce a harvest glorifying His name  – boldness and courage are ours for the taking if we truly ask.

“Father thank You for filling us with Your boldness and courage in the face of opposition. Show us how to lovingly share Your truth even when others oppose us and rejoice in knowing we are pleasing You with our faithfulness.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life