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If you have watched even a little of the news lately, you have heard about the instability of our economy, our national debt, town hall meetings gone bad, who is for or against the health care plan, the war on terror, and the list goes on. This is in no way a political blog and you won’t hear my stance or opinions on what we should do politically as a country. What I do want to communicate and put in the forefront of your mind is that SALVATION IS ALL AROUND US.
Have you recently heard of a friend or family member leading someone to Christ, or have you led someone to the Lord lately? I believe we are on the verge of a big move of God! Can you feel it? About a month ago in my prayer time, I began to pour out my desperation to the Lord asking Him to use me in the harvest of salvation. Not long after that I had the opportunity to lead a 16 year old girl to the LORD. Then just this week my Mom led a lady to the Lord. I have heard story after story of Christ followers leading friends and neighbors to the Lord. In my lifetime I have never been surrounded by so many salvations going on all at once. Our church has seen over 65 salvations in the last three months. Can you say with me that SALVATION IS ALL AROUND US?!
I recently heard a powerful message on ACTS 4 and I have been meditating on it. This is a powerful passage filled with the message of salvation, healing, boldness and persecution. If you would, please read this powerful passage:
Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin
1The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4But many who heard the message believed and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
5The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family. 7They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11He is
” ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized thatthey were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16″What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
The Believers’ Prayer
(The Message Translation)
23-26As soon as Peter and John were let go, they went to their friends and told them what the high priests and religious leaders had said. Hearing the report, they lifted their voices in a wonderful harmony in prayer: “Strong God, you made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. By the Holy Spirit you spoke through the mouth of your servant and our father, David:
Why the big noise, nations?
Why the mean plots, peoples?
Earth’s leaders push for position,
Potentates meet for summit talks,
The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers! Acts 4:1-26
Have you found yourself asking questions like this recently? The disciples realized the sovereignty of God. They had heard the prophecies of Jesus’ coming, his death and resurrection. Boy, did they understand the sovereignty of God as they had watched the fulfillment of prophecy of the Messiah first-hand. The light clicked on for them after their little run-in with the Sanhedrin…and there it was. So rich! So good! So powerful!
This portion of the passage is where my blood starts pumping, my heart starts pounding, and my spirit is ready to burst.
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. Acts 4:29-31
As I read and began to meditate on this passage over and over…the more I thought, the more God began to speak and show me things. I saw the earth covered with ice and the hands of God were covering the earth. Then I saw the Father’s almighty powerful hands gently moving back and forth as if He was giving the lightest, most gentle, shake of the earth….and then…the ice began to fall off in giant cubes.
God is breaking down walls in the heart of the lost. His Holy Spirit is drawing the lost in with His lovingkindness. People of God, be ready! I believe this boldness is ready and waiting for you to take. All we have to do is ask with BOLDNESS , SNATCH it, and watch what God will do!
No one knows the hour or the day our Savior will meet us in the air on chariots of fire to take us home. I don’t know if you believe we are living in the end times, but I know this…He will return! What if we pray as the disciples prayed..(Acts 4:29) “Now, Lord, consider this”… Consider all that is happening in our world today, people losing their homes and living in campgrounds, men and women are jobless and searching for a way to provide, our nation is in economic trouble and the national debt is at an all time high and we have a divided government. CONSIDER THIS LORD! And enable your servants to SPEAK YOUR WORD WITH GREAT BOLDNESS. (Acts 4:30) “Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
Until my final day, I want to live in the fullness of Christ and all that He has called me to do on this earth. We are to live every day like it’s our last. Do you have unsaved family members and friends? My prayer for you is that you would be filled with BOLDNESS to share the message and hope of Jesus. In my own life, I feel God saying the time is short, stir up your faith, walk in boldness, take the opportunity to share the Good News of the Gospel when God provides the opportunity… for the fields are ready and ripe for harvest.
May you be richly blessed and be filled with BOLDNESS!
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