"Pray for Boldness"
"Pray for Boldness"
LaDonna 0:00
Welcome to Healing Waters – The Podcasts!
I am LaDonna Sanders, here to remind you that God wants you well in your mind, body, soul, and spirit!
III John 1:2 says, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."
Join me as we check out what good news our creator has to say in today's Healing Waters Devotional!
LaDonna 0:27.6
Healing Waters - Day 51
Acts 4:29-31- Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your Word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." And when they prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.
The miracle performed on the man at the gate called Beautiful in Day 50's devotional text, and Peter and John's preaching about Jesus and the resurrection has caused many people, approximately five thousand men in Jerusalem, to believe in Jesus. This activity is disturbing to the Jewish rulers, elders, and scribes. They are determined to stop Peter and John because their presence and influence in the community have become a threat to their established order. When we reach today's devotional text, Peter and John have been taken into custody and held overnight for preaching, teaching, and healing. After being questioned, they are released and threaten by the Jewish rulers. Acts 4:18 says, "So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus."
Acts 4:19 says, "But Peter and John replied, "Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." The Jewish leaders continue to threaten Peter and John but eventually are resolved to release them. First, because they could not agree on a punishment, and because the miracle they performed on the man at the gate called Beautiful was public and has resulted in people praising and giving glory to God.
Upon release, Peter and John returned to share their story with their people, other believers. After the group of believers hears what has just happened to Peter and John, the gathering turns into a Praise and prayer meeting. Bringing us to today's devotional text: Acts 4:29-31- Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your Word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." And when they prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.
This group of believers did not run for fear of what they had heard, and Peter and John did not return complaining or asking God to retaliate against their opposition. Instead, they praised God and ask Him to give them even greater boldness. They asked God to continue to stretch out His hand to heal. They asked God to continue to use them as tools and instruments of healing. They asked God to confirm His Word, with signs and wonders in the name of Jesus!
God graciously answers their prayer. The devotional scripture says, "And when they prayed, the place where they were assembled together, was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness."
I want to remind you today first that God hears and answers prayer. Secondly, God is aware of the opposition you and I face each day, and He has promised never to leave or forsake us. He has not only promised to be with us, but we can ask God like Peter and John to give us the boldness we need to stand for righteousness and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus in our circle of influence. We, too, can ask Him to use us as instruments of healing and believe Him to confirm His Word with signs and wonders. We are to proclaim His Word over people and situations, not our words but His Holy Word. As believers, we too can ask God to fill us again with the Holy Spirit and grace us with boldness to speak His Word.
Psalm 107:20 says, "He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." There are people in this world, in your city, and perhaps even your house that needs deliverance. My friends, let's not be deterred by what we see but pray for Holy boldness and declare the Word of God over them!
Psalm 37:5 says, "Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass." God wants you to win; He is on your side, and by His Holy Spirit, He will coach you and guide you through the rough places. He will, by His Holy Spirit, give you strategies to overcome the opposition in your life. So, don't hesitate to go to Him if your path seems foggy and difficult.
As believers in Jesus, let's decide every day to believe, do our part, deliver the message of Jesus, and trust God with the rest. Mark 16: 16-17, 20 says, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name, they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; Verse 20 says, "And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord was working with them and confirming the word by signs that followed."
Let's Pray
Lord, I thank you that you do hear me. Lord, I thank you for your Holy and unchangeable Word. Thank you, Father, that you sent your Word to heal us! We declare today, based on your Word, that you are Savior, Healer, and Deliverer! Father, today we ask first that you would forgive us of our sins and then help us only to believe! Lord, God, in Jesus' name, we recommit our way to you. Guide us, protect us, and fill us again with the Holy Ghost and fire. Give us the boldness and grace in this hour to do our part in sharing your love and the message of your Son, Jesus Christ. Lord, as we speak your Word, confirm it! Heal Lord, Deliver Lord, Save and restore O God! Confirm your Word, O Lord, with signs and wonders and grant great deliverance to your people, in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen!
LaDonna 00:09:01.0
You have been listening to Healing Waters – The Podcasts.
You can follow Healing Waters on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcast, Deezer, and Spotify.
If you have not yet, go to one of them and Subscribe, Rate and Review.
Join me, LaDonna Sanders, tomorrow for another Healing Waters Podcast.
Thank you for listening, and remember that God loves you and wants you well in your mind, body, soul, and spirit. God Bless!