Acts 29

Earlier this year I went to a New Wine's Women's Conference in Harrogate and the lady speaking asked us to turn to Acts 29 because she wanted to share something with us. As the pages rustled throughout the auditorium, searching through our Bibles, after a minute or so a wave of chuckling and laughing swept through the thousands of women who were there. There is no Acts 29!! And the presenter then proclaimed that we are Acts 29!

Chris encouraged me to read the book of Acts as I go through this difficult time. And I must admit, it is so encouraging and challenging to read. When I was reading Acts 3 these thoughts came to me:

After the lame man was healed by the Beautiful Gate and people saw that it was Peter and John who were involved. Peter saw it as an opportunity to address the crowd. And he told them about Jesus and how they can be saved and have a relationship for eternity with Him! And this really challenged me. I continue to pray to God for boldness and that I will always be ready to speak of Jesus. That I will not miss and opportunity because of fear of embarrassment. But this boldness can only come from God.

When I was telling this to Chris he asked me a question that has stuck with me ever since -'What will silence me?'

When Peter and the apostles were arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin because they were preaching about Jesus. The response was "We must obey God rather than human authority..." And Peter goes on to preach about the very thing they were arrested for! (see Acts 5).

Their boldness! Their assurance of faith! It's amazing! I want it! I crave it!

So I prayed for it. And God told me I have to be in it for the long haul - good or bad.

The disciples were arrested, whipped and most eventually killed for proclaiming the name of Jesus. Yet people lined up in the streets hoping that Peter's shadow, his shadow, would fall on them so that they can be healed. But the apostles were 100% committed to following and trusting God. Their faith did not waiver. They weren't in it to be liked. They were in to proclaim the truth so that "people could turn from their sins and turn to God so their sins would be forgiven".


What will silence me?