Acts 4:31, 33 – “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness….And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”

Peter & John had performed a great miracle which opened an opportunity to preach the Gospel to a large crowd. However, not everyone appreciated their witness. The Jewish religious council felt their teaching was very problematic and dragged these men in for questioning. The council went further and before letting the men go, vehemently threaten them with the hope of silencing their witness. Afterwards, Peter & John brought back word to the church regarding the hostilities they experienced. Instead of being silenced through these fear tactics, the church began a prayer meeting, asking God for boldness to proclaim the Gospel. Our text picks up with God’s answer; the sending of the Holy Spirit and the power they received to witness and maintain their faithfulness to Christ.

Regardless if we are facing the pressures of persecution or the pull of our sinful nature, we need God’s power upon our lives to remain faithful and steadfast for the Lord. The Christian life cannot be lived right without the assistance of God’s power. Christians cannot be fruitful for the Lord without God’s power enabling their service. How do we get God’s power? Take the example from our text and other passages that clearly communicate that we must seek it through prayer. We must ask God to strengthen us to fulfill His will and obey His precepts. Without a consistent prayer life, we are going to have an inconsistent Christian life. Have you “powered up” today by spending time with God in prayer?

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