𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 (𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿) 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲

Peter and John were arrested and thrown into jail for preaching in the temple about Jesus Christ. This was after God had used them to heal the lame beggar at the beautiful gate. The crowd who saw the miracle happen had become Peter and John’s followers and this didn’t go down well with the Jewish rulers.  So, they got them locked up and tried to intimidate them. Peter and John, however, wouldn’t be intimidated, they boldly replied their captors: "Whether it's right in God's eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there's no question — we can't keep quiet about what we've seen and heard." (Acts 4:19-20, MSG) Since the Jewish authorities, couldn’t find any reason to continue to hold the disciples, they had to let them go—but not without some more threats. 

However, it appeared the authorities’ threats didn’t do much in wearing out the courage of the apostles. After their release, Peter and John headed back to their friends and fellow believers to let them in on what had happened. It felt good to be in good company and to unburden their trouble. They were not alone in this. Being in the company of their friends, who shared their sufferings boosted their courage to hold on to their conviction. A friend in need is a friend indeed. 

It wasn’t just about the company. It was also that they knew the right thing to do when there was trouble. They prayed. They prayed together. They prayed aright. They didn’t go into a panicky frenzy at the threats of the authorities. They acknowledged that God was greater than the difficulty they were faced with. They were more confident in the majesty of God than to be confounded by the mess they were in. Their courage was bolstered by the word of God and by the testimonies of those who had walked the journey of faith before them. 

In their prayers, they weren’t bothered about self-preservation or the destruction of their enemies. They saw the threats of the authorities as being against God’s purpose for which they lived— the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This was the purpose that motivated them to pray. For this same cause, Herod, Pilate, the power of Rome and of the Jews put together had tried to stop Jesus, but they failed. In the face of threats, they prayed for boldness to be committed to the purpose of God for their lives— preaching the Gospel. No power could scare away the purpose of God in and for their lives. It wasn’t just about them, it was about purpose!

As they brought their prayers to a close, they prayed for the miraculous to happen in their ministry of the Word. This line of the prayer is indicative of their faith in the supernatural workings of God. As they participated in God’s purpose, they also wanted to experience God’s power being manifest through them. For sure, when the power of God becomes apparent in and through their lives, just as it happened in the case of Peter and John in the healing of the lame beggar, they couldn’t be bothered about the hostilities of the authorities. 

The fact that we are identified as children of God and followers of Christ, targets us for challenges that would want to shake the very core of our conviction. However, in the place of prayer, not motivated by fear, vengefulness, or despair; but by absolute trust in God, and in the joy of the company and fellowship of our God-given friends and family, we should take courage in the purpose for which we have been called and the power of God to back this purpose and to preserve us in Christ for the hope of our calling. God's purpose for our lives, his power, and his promises to us are greater than our predicament. 

#sundayhomily