Our Favorite Bible Stories (pt 2)
Editor’s Note: All Scripture is “God-breathed and useful” for us (2 Tim. 3:16), but there are passages that seem to stick with each of us in special ways for various reasons. Our Arrowhead Church staff has been asked to share their favorite Bible stories or passages and write about why that portion of Scripture is so meaningful to them. Today’s entry is from Harrison Nasekos.
LIVE BOLDLY
Scripture is filled with great stories, each one pointing to the Lord in some form or fashion. They convict, encourage, direct, shape, discipline, and lead us in our walk with the Lord. The stories woven throughout Scripture are so much greater than any other story we could read and meditate on. Not only are they amazing and complex stories but they are true. They are breathed out by God, have His handiwork on display, and work to bring Him glory. The Lord uses the stories in Scripture to communicate magnificent truths, high callings, beautiful lessons, and His glorious promises. We can and should listen to, learn from, and apply these lessons and truths to our lives. I want to share one of my favorite Bible stories in the hope that it will encourage and embolden you.
In Acts 4 (I recommend reading it), Peter and John are arrested by the Sadducees for teaching the men of Israel after healing a lame beggar. When they are questioned as to what power or name they healed by, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, declares in verses 8-12, “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.”
What boldness! Peter is in captivity being questioned by those who rejected Jesus and are persecuting Christians, and he responds to their questions with incredible bravery. He does not cringe or cower as he once did when he denied Jesus three times on the night of His betrayal. Filled with the Spirit, he proclaims the truth. Not only does he answer the rulers and elders’ questions, but he proclaims salvation through Christ alone. The text reads in verse 13 that “they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Oh to have that declared of you and I, may it be so!
The elders and rulers realize that these men have been with Jesus and are astounded by their boldness. They resort to charging them not to speak anymore in the name of Jesus, but Peter and John continue with courage declaring, “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.” They do not shrink back from speaking in the name of Jesus! The leaders once again threaten them, and then finally let them go as the people all around were praising the Lord due to the miracle He had worked in the lame beggar.
When Peter and John are released they go to their friends and report what was told them by the chief priests and elders. Rather than resorting to despair at the command to no longer speak or teach in the name of Jesus, they turn to the Lord in prayer saying, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’… look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” They did not resort to despair but to prayer, trusting in the Lord and requesting Him to give them boldness to continue to speak His Word while He worked in marvelous ways.
In verse 31, following their prayer, it says “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” The Lord answered their prayers! He granted them the boldness that they had put on display throughout the passage through the power of the Holy Spirit. My hope for you, is that you would see the courage of Peter and John and respond in the same manner.
Pray and ask for the Lord to grant you fearlessness, trusting in Him, and His sovereign power. May you be like Peter and John and proclaim salvation in Christ alone regardless of your situation. Do not cower, do not quiver with fear, but hope in the Gospel, trust in the Lord, pray for the Spirit’s emboldening, and then live boldly, declaring the Word of God with courage! Meditate on this story and let it lead you to a boldness that comes from the Spirit and the hope that you have in the Gospel! Live boldly by the Spirit proclaiming the Word of God!
Do you have questions about what it means to live boldly for the Lord? Contact one of our pastors for prayer and counsel.