Daily Worship

Speaking God

Gordon Kennedy June 27, 2015 0 0

Acts 4:13-22

13-14 They couldn’t take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, but with the man right before them, seeing him standing there so upright—so healed!—what could they say against that?

15-17 They sent them out of the room so they could work out a plan. They talked it over: “What can we do with these men? By now it’s known all over town that a miracle has occurred, and that they are behind it. There is no way we can refute that. But so that it doesn’t go any further, let’s silence them with threats so they won’t dare to use Jesus’ name ever again with anyone.”

18-20 They called them back and warned them that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John spoke right back, “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.”

21-22 The religious leaders renewed their threats, but then released them. They couldn’t come up with a charge that would stick, that would keep them in jail. The people wouldn’t have stood for it—they were all praising God over what had happened. The man who had been miraculously healed was over forty years old.

Speaking God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
speak to us as we pray today.

We thank you
that you made your Pentecostal presence known
in the words spoken by a restored apostle
in the words spoken inspired by a poured out Spirit.
Fill us today and every day
with your speaking Holy Spirit.

Speak to us,
our speaking God,
that we may speak to others.
Let us not be silent
    in the presence of your grace,
    in the joy of your salvation,
    in the fullness of your Spirit.
Let us not be silent,
let us tell of your glory to all who will hear.

When we are charged not to speak,
fill us anew with your Spirit that we may speak.
When we are afraid to speak,
fill us anew with the courage of your Spirit.
When we are weary and distracted,
when we forget to speak,
prompt us, urge us, drive us
to speak through your Spirit’s presence in us.

Strengthen us,
our speaking God,
that we may speak of you today. Amen.