Daily Devotional for December 16, 2015
Acts 4
Scripture:
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: ” ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. ‘ 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Observation:
Peter and John were rejoicing with the believers over all God had done while they faced persecution and hardship. They were praising and praying for God to be glorified in their lives. In the midst of persecution, they prayed for greater boldness to do greater works for the cause of Christ. Because they wanted to do more, God filled each one with boldness in the Holy Spirit. Have you ever faced trials, troubles, or persecution for obeying the Lord or doing right?
Have you ever wanted to shrink back because of the pressure and hardship? Learn from the disciples and make prayer your power. When you pray, acknowledge that God is in control even if the opposition is strong. Raise your voice in praise and ask God for Holy Spirit boldness. A Spirit-empowered man who prays with God’s eternal purposes will experience His glorious power.
Application:
- Personal Application: This is one of the core beliefs of a Spirit-empowered man. Being filled with the power and boldness of the Holy Spirit is essential for Spirit-empowered living. Seek God daily for His power and boldness to fulfill the call He has placed on your life.
- Family Devotional: Read this chapter to your family. Ask them if anything spoke to them as you read. Talk about their answers and show them that one important aspect of this chapter is that the Holy Spirit will give us the boldness and power to do what God has called us to. Pray for them.
Prayer:
- Personal Prayer Focus: Ask The Holy Spirit to fill you with boldness and power to accomplish the tasks He has called you to.
- Family Prayer Focus: Pray that your family will have a desire to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit as they travel this discipleship journey.
Three-Year Reading Plan for Sunday, December 13 – Sunday, December 20:
- Sunday, December 13: Acts 1
- Monday, December 14: Acts 2
- Tuesday, December 15: Acts 3
- Wednesday, December 16: Acts 4
- Thursday, December 17: Acts 5
- Friday, December 18: Acts 6
- Saturday, December 19: Acts 7
- Sunday, December 20: Acts 8
—TOM GROOT is National Director of Men’s Ministry and Christian Education. Connect with Tom on Facebook or Twitter @TomGrootJr.
Portions of this devotional are adapted from God’s Word for Today, November 17, 2014.
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