Acts 4

So, the Holy Spirit has started a ‘fire’ that is in fact the Church and no one can put that fire out! It’s like a wildfire that we saw last summer in California, uncontainable! The authorities try to stamp it out whenever they witness it! Their plan is to control and contain this ‘fire’ but it has quite the opposite effect!

Key fire starters Peter and John are put in jail. Surely this will help? Instead, the Holy Spirit gives them a sparky boldness before the authorities when they are asked “By what power or what name did you do this?” (the healing of the crippled beggar in chapter 3).

Well the response is bold and very clear “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth! …Salvation is found in no one else!”

The miracle is before them and they can’t argue with the evidence so they tell Peter and John to stop speaking at all in Jesus’ name! The response from these friends of Jesus makes me smile but gives us a challenge in verse 20: “We can’t help speaking about what we have seen and heard!”

They return to their own people full of worship, reporting all that has happened! Surely the prayer they pray next adds fuel to this ‘fire’ in verses 29 and 30:

“Now Lord consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus!”

The result? God answers by shaking the building and everyone gets filled with the Holy Spirit and boldness to speak God’s word! 

The chapter ends with a description of their life as a community of believers where money is distributed to any in need.  They are living as “one in heart and mind.”

This SAME Holy Spirit lives inside each one of us today! When did we last allow Him to start a wildfire? When did we last pray for boldness in our ordinary life?

Let our prayer be:

“Set a fire down in my soul that I can’t contain that I can’t control I want more of you Lord!”