Yesterday we had some fun with Peter and John’s discussion with the temple leadership, but Peter hit upon something truly important and worthy of consideration. By telling the rulers to judge if it was better to obey men rather than God he revealed that they were thinking politically rather than biblically and that their integrity was suspect as a result. One cannot put anything in authority over God without committing the sin of idolatry.

Peter’s words have a direct bearing on how we live today. How often do we keep silent about our faith at work because “it’s not the place to discuss such matters”? How many times have we used the excuses of improper time or place to shy away from speaking biblical truth into a situation? In short, how many times have we put someone’s feelings (or even our own) above God’s command to make disciples and become guilty of idolatry ourselves?

We need to repent of our fear, our selfishness, our emotions that keep us from obedience and respond the same way the new believer’s in Jerusalem did. How did they respond? They prayed. Read Acts 4.23-.41, today’s passage.

Their prayer is packed with meaning and we could take a couple days to unpack it all, but we’re going to only examine the most critical points. The first of those points is how they prayed: in one mind. There were no differences of opinion among the thousands of followers on this topic. The second is how the prayed – they petitioned God (for more about prayers of petition see our past post in the Five Forms of Prayer). Finally, they were unanimous in what they prayed for: boldness.

If you have ever attended a Bible study or Sunday school class regularly then you’ve been involved in a corporate prayer time. When it comes time for prayer requests (another form of petition prayer) it is rarely, if ever, of one mind. Granted, the purpose of the occasion is different, but rarely is it seen in church that believers gather to pray for a single request. In fact, with all the issues facing the church today being of “one mind” isn’t how one would characterize the modern church. That could change if we started corporate prayer events that centered on who God is, what he has done, and what we really need to accomplish his work.

If such an event took place, there would need to be agreement on the occasion of prayer. If the occasion, for example, were revival, then no time would be devoted to personal or petty concerns. There would be no disagreement on the importance of the petition, or in how one is to live for Jesus. It would require great discipline.

Furthermore, it would require that all actually pray, petitioning God for his mercy and power to intervene regardless of how uncomfortable it may make our life. Peter and John were arrested and imprisoned overnight. How many believers would risk such consequences? Only those who know their God is so much bigger than any obstacle they might face and consider the cost minimal when compared to pleasing their Lord.

Now more than ever the church needs what the first Christians prayed for, boldness.