The Faith that Empowers Us to Witness

When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 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 sea and everything in them, 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? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— for 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, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 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 4:23-31).

Peter and John’s boldness incited the Jewish authorities to charge them… “not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:18). The disciples were arrested, threatened, and warned. After making it clear that they chose to obey God rather than man, they were released. Upon their return to the other disciples their report of this encounter inspired an outburst of praise to the sovereignty of God in these events. They recalled the prophetic words of David about the rebellion and rejection of nations and authorities to the true authority of Christ. Their hearts were inspired to continue to… “speak the word of God with boldness” despite the threats of men. We find encouragement here to share the gospel in our resistant generation as we examine the faith that empowers us to witness.

The disciples had faith in the sovereignty of God. They were not blind to the reality that both Jewish and Gentile authorities and people had raged against Christ and crucified Him, but they knew and believed the Word of God that clearly showed that it was all His plan. The Holy Spirit inspired David to write about these events in the Psalms hundreds of years before. This is an affirmation of the complete sovereignty of God in the affairs of mankind… “the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men” (Daniel 4:17). Believing that God rules over every circumstance and person we encounter every day inspires us to use every moment to share Jesus Christ with someone.

The disciples had faith in the name of Jesus. Peter and John had seen the healing power of the name of Jesus in action… “let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well” (Acts 4:10). They gave all the credit and glory to God who performed the miracle through the name of His precious Son. The Spirit reminds us that Jesus promised disciples in all ages that there is great power in His name that will always bring glory to His Father… “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). Whenever we trust in the name of Jesus to meet our need, He responds in God-glorifying ways.

The disciples had faith in the Holy Spirit. God was pleased that Peter and John had chosen to obey Him rather than men. He was blessed by the praise and affirmation of the other disciples in the face of the rejection of the Jewish authorities. He responded by confirming His pleasure with a mild earthquake and with a fresh outpouring of His Spirit. The father loves to fill His faithful disciples with the gift of the Holy Spirit… “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13). Like the early disciples, we too can… speak the word of God with boldness” when we ask and receive the filling of His Holy Spirit.

As we grow up into Christ, we become more earnest and effective in sharing the gospel through…

The Faith that Empowers Us to Witness.