Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
(Acts 4:31 (NIV))

Do you wish that you had been a part of the early church?

When you read the accounts of the faith, boldness and power that they were filled with, I can't imagine anyone who professes a faith in Jesus who would not want to be able to speak the truth with the same convictions that they early church had in speaking the word of God.

Do you possess that conviction?

I hate to say this, but most people do not possess the same conviction that the early church possessed. We have lost something along the way. We have replaced being the Body of Christ with classes and committees. We have replaced the faith and boldness with recited words and a fear to speak the name of Jesus in public. Is this what your faith has become?

Do you desire to possess the conviction that the early church possessed?

Do you desire a faith that is filled with boldness to speak the word of God?

When you read the words that lead up to Acts 4:31, you see that Peter and John were ordered not to speak the name of Jesus. Their response in the face of this threat tells a different story than most of us would tell today.

But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."
(Acts 4:19-20 (NIV))

This brings up a very important question.

It all comes down to your fears.

Do you fear God or do you fear man?

Your answer to this question determines your desire to be bold in speaking the word of God, especially when you consider the following passage.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
     and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
(Proverbs 9:10 (NIV))

I think that it is also safe to say that it also leads to boldness in sharing what you understand.

With that in mind, I have one more question for you as you look at the boldness of the early church.

Does this happen when you pray?

Copyright 1998 - 2026 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
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