Weekly Soap

Hey Everyone and Happy Autumn! The holiday season is quickly approaching with the change of weather. But before we get into the giving spirit, I wanted to talk about something new to me.

BOLDNESS.

Yes! Boldness is completely new to me. You’re probably thinking, “Wait, doesn’t she run a whole blog and share it with tons of people?”

And yes, you are completely right! Yet, I struggle in person to talk about what God has done for me. Let’s think naturally first, shall we?

Think about a time where you found out this awesome secret. You couldn’t contain it and you told your best friend, who then told their friend, who told their friend, and so forth. Now, this secret is not so secret anymore and everyone knows about it! Just as rumors, gossip, or news spread easily by word of mouth, the Good News of Jesus Christ can too! And that’s what is expected of us in faith!

So, I invite you as you read the Weekly Soap, ask God to show you how and when to speak boldly about His Word.

Let’s Dive In!

ACTS 4

*Although we are not reading the entirety of Acts 4, I encourage you to do so!*

Scripture:

29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 

30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

Acts 4:29-31 NLT

Observation: If you read Acts 3, there is a series of events leading up to this. Peter and John heal a man who cannot walk and begin to preach the gospel to the crowd. However, they were jailed by priests and Sadducees for teaching the gospel. They asked them under what authority could they preach, to which they answered. They were threatened to not preach the truth by the council, but let go from prison. When they returned to the other believers, verses 29-31 occurred. Instead of being fearful of what the council would do next, they prayed for strength to endure. Not just strength, but boldness! They trusted God to go before them, and that the work of the Lord would be done. After they asked for it, it was given to them.

Application: So what does this have to do with us? Maybe you aren’t in the same situation as Peter and John. But have you felt fear or anxiety wash over you when led to speak to someone about God? Did you feel like the person wouldn’t be receptive? Would others hear and make you an outcast? More often than not, this can be you (it’s me) at some point in your walk of faith. However, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:7) Peter and John understood that it wasn’t by their power that they could do the work, but it was by the Holy Spirit that was within them. Even the ultimatum from the council didn’t shake them! I can imagine that Psalms 118:6 replayed in their heads as they endured threats. But, this boldness didn’t come overnight. In their time of trouble and need, they, and the other saints of God, cried out for boldness. They prayed in the Spirit that God would go before them, that no matter what happened, the work was going to get done. This prayer of courage is one we needed to be reminded of in this age. Although some of us are not in life or death situations because of our faith, we must pray for our brothers and sisters who are. We must pray for one another to not be fearful, to speak about the Word, and be obedient to God. If you desire boldness in God, ask for it. If you want courage, ask for it. Psalm 37:4 (ESV) says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Prayer: Father, thank you for choosing me to spread the Good News to everyone around me. Show me how to stand tall in you and do not fear. Lord, I pray that I decrease and your Holy Spirit increases so that I may walk boldly in faith for all my days. Father, I receive your boldness right now. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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