“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying, ‘What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.’ So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.’ And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.” Acts 4:8,10-13,15-21
Before Pentecost the disciples were, in many situations, inconsistent. Great passion, vehement denial, confused waffling. But once the Holy Spirit rested on and in them in supernatural power, they could not not speak for Jesus. His physical-absence-become-spiritual-indwelling was an undeniable force. In the wrangle of buts and quandaries, it was evident to all that they had been with Jesus, His imprint deep on their lives. The previously reluctant observers now boldly healed and preached in His name and unstoppable power. (Matthew 8:23-27; 16:22-23; 26:69-75; John 20:24-28; Acts 3:1-12,15-16)
When God saves us, we are sealed with His Spirit and imbued with spiritual riches that unless we discover and put into practice, go unknown and unused. We can be cautious about speaking up, passive about getting involved, and miss being a conduit for spreading God’s treasures to the world. (Ephesians 1:3,13-14)
What opportunities to witness or work for the Lord Jesus do we neglect or dismiss due to spiritual enervation? What distractions, what frenzies, crowd out a free flow of God’s Spirit into and through us? Do we daily ask for His filling so we overflow with gratitude, awe, and words of truth?
Lord, do what You must to get me to where I cannot help but speak of You and for You, that You be known and praised.
As the rain and snow 