Peter and John had healed a man in his forties who had been unable to walk.  As a result, many people began praising God.  This event allowed them to share their faith which resulted in 5,000 people getting saved.  However, this event led to Peter and John being arrested and spending a night in jail.  After their release from prison, they went back to their friends and reported what happened, and then they prayed.  In their prayer, they asked for courage and for God to continue to heal and perform signs so that others would believe in Jesus Christ.

Notice that the disciples did not pray for the persecution to end.  Instead, they prayed for courage so that others could learn about Jesus.  Are you fearful of talking about your faith?  Maybe you fear what people will say about you? Or maybe you are fearful of the threats? Many people are simply afraid to talk about their faith because they question their knowledge and their ability to say the right things.  Notice that Peter and John stated earlier in verse 20 that they cannot help but speak about what they have seen and heard.  And that simple statement should give us courage!  You do not need to have the knowledge of a Bible professor to share your faith.  You only need to be willing to share what you have experienced in your life.

Notice that the disciples did not pray to remove the problem.  Instead, they asked for boldness to continue to speak about Jesus despite the threats they were facing.  They focused on the mission, not the problem. How often do we pray for God to remove the trials in our lives, when we should be praying for God to use us during our struggles.  Also, notice how the filling of the spirit was not a one-time event at Pentecost.  The work of the Spirit is a continuous daily need in our lives. Therefore, when you feel timid about your faith, understand that the Spirit is with you!  Learn to change from a self-centered prayer life to a prayer focused on seeking God’s will in your life.  Ask the Holy Spirit to work through you so others will see God’s promise of grace and salvation!

Read Acts 4:1-31