Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, got together to put a stop to these healings, like the 40 year old lame man that Peter and John prayed for. “So they called them and commanded them NOT TO SPEAK at all NOR TEACH in the name of Jesus.” (Acts 4:18) Peter then said, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God…For WE CANNOT BUT SPEAK THE THINGS WHICH WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD.” (Acts 4:19-20) So, they were warned by the priestly council to stop preaching and let them go.
On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them and then they prayed, “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with ALL BOLDNESS THEY MAY SPEAK YOUR WORD, by STRETCHING OUT YOUR HAND TO HEAL, and that SIGNS AND WONDERS MAY BE DONE through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together WAS SHAKEN; and they were ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, and they spoke the word of God WITH BOLDNESS.” (Acts 4:29-31)
This would be a very good prayer for US TO PRAY:
- With great boldness we will speak the Word.
- That God would reach His hand out and heal.
- That signs and wonders would be done.
We need to expect and receive these amazing promises of Jesus, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will DO THE WORKS I HAVE BEEN DOING, and they will do EVEN GREATER things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do WHATEVER YOU ASK in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I WILL DO IT.” (John 14:12-14)
WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT THIS PROMISE???
-Bill Stockham