Wonder Working Power

If you are in the mood for a good action-adventure, just flip open your Bible to the book of Acts. It begins with Jesus’ final words to his disciples:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1: 8)

Jesus was then taken up into the clouds, and as they stood there with their mouths hanging open, two angels appeared and said:

“Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)

In other words, “People, get busy!” and that is exactly what they did.

This book is the history of the early church, and through the stories of Peter, John, Stephen, Philip, Paul, Barnabus, Timothy, Silas, Priscilla, Aquila, and so many others, we see the explosion of Christianity throughout the known world. From the tongues of fire that came to rest upon their heads at Pentecost to Paul’s missionary journeys, these men and women preached the good news of Jesus Christ.

As I read their stories, what always catches my attention is their boldness. For example, when Peter and John were taken before the Sanhedrin because they had the audacity to heal a lame man and proclaim that Jesus Christ was, indeed, the Messiah, Peter, being filled with the Holy Spirit, said:

“It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12)

Like me, the council couldn’t help but notice their boldness:

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13)

Yes, the presence of the Holy Spirit changed everything in this group of ordinary, average guys. They went from being fisherman and tax collectors to preachers who rocked the world.

Literally.

You see, after Peter and John were released, they went to where the church was gathered and they shared everything that had happened to them. The people then began to pray:

“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29-30)

This was a pivotal moment for the early church. When Peter and John told their story, a deep fear and depression could have taken hold of the people as they looked ahead to the troubles which were now bound to descend upon them too. If the Sanhedrin was willing to crucify the Son of God, what would stop them from nailing the rest of them to crosses!

Yet that didn’t happen! Instead, their knees hit the floor asking God for more courage and more boldness so that his name would be gloried, and here we see what the power of the Holy Spirit can do when unleased: “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” (Acts 4:31)

Wow, and I’ll say it again…. Wow!

If I could ever find a time machine, this is a moment I would want to go back and experience. I want to feel the room shaking and see the cups crashing to the floor as they rolled off the rocking table. What an incredible thing to behold, and after that experience, how could you contain yourself? There would be no way that you could ever stop talking about what you had seen and heard (Acts 4:20).

Friends, that’s the fire that I’m looking for - the faith that I want. I want to be willing to go and do what God calls me to. I want rooms across the world to shake when the church gathers to pray, but you may be thinking, “Hold up a minute, Lisa. Did you hear what they prayed? They asked God to help them to be bold in the face of threats. That’s a different story.”

And you’re right. They didn’t cry out to God for protection. They didn’t ask to be delivered from evil; nor did they ask for fire from heaven to destroy their enemies (Luke 9:54). I think that Jesus’ command to go and make disciples was still ringing their ears; thus, instead of praying for their own safety, they asked for God’s power to fill them so they could do his work.

Phillips Brooks, an Episcopal clergyman during the 19^th century wrote, “Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men and women. Do not pray for tasks equal to your power. Pray for power equal to your tasks."

Instead of always looking for the easy way out, we should begin to ask God to give us tasks so far beyond our ability that there will be no doubt in anyone’s mind that it was only by his sovereign hand that we were able to accomplish it. However, I need to state the obvious here: Prayers like this don’t happen by accident. These people could not have prayed this way if their lives had not already been submitted to God’s will and authority. As we have discussed before, a servant does the will of his Master. Thus, to a faithful servant, the sovereignty of God is not some abstract theory, but the living truth that they walk in each and every day as they seek his will for their life.   

Friends, like the men of Galilee, we too need to get busy. The harvest is plentiful, as Jesus said (Matthew 9:37); however, it all begins with prayer. Therefore, ask God to show you the things he has planned for you and to give you the strength you will need to accomplish it. Ask for boldness to go out and share the good news of Jesus Christ regardless of the consequences, and don’t be surprised when the room starts shaking!

For the glory of God our Father! Lisa

Discussion Questions

How would you respond if you were commanded to stop speaking about Jesus?

How easy is it for you to pray for boldness rather than protection?

Jesus’ command to be a witness still applies to us today.  Who is someone that you can share the good news of Jesus with?