The theme of our journey through Acts is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to empower the Apostles and spread the Word to all the ends of the earth. Today, we see the first time someone tries to build a dam to stop that outpouring. Yesterday, we saw how the council tried to silence the Apostles. Today, we see how they respond. Not with fear, hate, anger, or violence, but with prayer, trust and unity. Together they pray to the Sovereign Lord to grant them to continue to speak with all boldness, while He heals what is broken. How does God respond? By filling them with the Holy Spirit. Scripture says the place where they were was shaken. The first dam is broken before God, unable to hold back His will. The Holy Spirit continues to pour out into the Apostles and overflow into the world. They move forward, speaking with boldness.

This was the first time something attempted to stop the outpouring of God’s love into the world, but it wasn’t the last. Today, we as the modern Church still face obstacles to God’s Great Commission, things that want to stop God’s love from pouring into the world, whether it be society, the enemy, or our own fears and shortcomings. God has given us an example on how to respond through the Apostles; Prayer, trust, unity. Prayer that God will fill us with the Holy Spirit, trust that He is Sovereign, and unity with one another as God’s people.

[Acts 4.23-31]

4.23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the seas and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,

“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,

And the peoples plot in vain?

26 The kings of the earth set themselves,

And the rulers were gathered together,

Against the Lord and against his

Anointed’-

27for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 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.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ In v. 30 what distinction do they make about healing, signs, and wonders?

+ Why is that distinction important?

+ Read Psalm 2. How does it relate to today’s verse?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Is there an obstacle that is preventing you from overflowing with love?

+ Where in your life are you trying to speak God’s word with boldness?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ Who can I show God’s love to?