Somewhere along the way I heard a statement that went something like this: “Before you talk with someone about their sin, talk to God first.” With my words, I have seen God do miraculous works and I have also seen the negative effects of angry, self-righteous words. Above all parts of the body, none should be feared or mistrusted more than the tongue.
James the Apostle and half brother of our Lord stated: “…no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:8-10, ESV) What makes the difference in which kind of words come out of our mouths? Prayer.
In Acts 4, there is no records of rioting, protests, or online petitions for the release of Peter and John, as they were arrested due to their teachings about Christ. No Christian militia was formed or grassroots campaign for a new governor or high priest. The people who followed Jesus simply prayed.
Prayer emboldens God’s people. Peter and John were told not to proclaim the name of Jesus anymore by the religious leaders. Serious threats were invoked. So what did Peter and John do? First they went back to the other Christians and prayed. Then they continued to preach Jesus.
When examining the prayer that is recorded in Acts 4:24-30, there are several clues to their focus. First they acknowledged the sovereignty of God. In prayer, we recognize that God is greater than any enemy to the Gospel. Nothing happens outside of His control. The Lord had a purpose and even led Peter and John into the hands of the religious leaders. Today, we must speak of the Gospel because God is sovereign and tells us to speak.
A second observation of this prayer is the content of their request. They did not pray for the persecution or even the threats to cease. They prayed for boldness in their speech. If persecution brought more people to Jesus, then the followers of Jesus seemed to say, “Bring it on!” Maybe the church in America prays too much for comfort rather than boldness.
Lastly, Jesus’ followers prayed for blessing and not curses. They could have prayed for lightning to strike the rulers or for a plague to infest the Temple food. Perhaps an earthquake could swallow up the Sanhedrin. Peter and John, instead, joined their friends in praying for healings and miraculous blessing to be poured out as they sought to remain faithful to the Lord. Today, our speech should reflect a genuine concern for others. Prayer that connects with God empowers us to connect (and bless) others.
Prayer connects God’s people with His heart. It is difficult to harbor anger, bitterness, and the desire for revenge when one is praying for those who oppose us. If we are walking in God’s Spirit, we can live at peace with those who seek to discredit Jesus and question our motives and faith in Christ. God will judge and punish those who oppose Him. The Lord is calling us connect with Him in prayer, pray for those who persecute us, speak the Gospel with love and boldness, and allow God to use our lives to be a blessing to others.
Is prayer your first response when someone opposes or slanders you?
How does prayer help us to “tame our tongues?”
How did Jesus handle persecution?
What would you do if threatened with imprisonment for speaking out about Christ?
In the next post, we will look closer at the topic of one’s testimony. If you missed the introduction to this series, you can click on the link below:
Shepherding Well 