"Responding to Ugly Threats and Fear – With God's Power"
While preparing for a morning message in a church where we've never ministered before, God led me to the prayer of the apostles in Acts 4:24-33. This prayer was in response to some serious threats and warnings from the religious rulers of their nation. These were not just idle threats. These were the same rulers who prevailed over Pilate's objections and had Jesus crucified. They were also the ones who would later succeed in having James and Stephen martyred for their faith.
We knew nothing about the church we would minister in. One of our dear friends in El Paso, Texas, had connected us with several churches and we let her and her husband make our appointments for us. This church was the only one in which we did not know a single soul. Because of that, we didn't know how many troubles this congregation had seen in the past year. We didn't know how they felt threatened that even more problems would follow. But God knew everything about them and He knew what they needed. And today, God knows what each one of you who are reading this is going through, and I believe this will be a timely word for you as well.
Today, with all the social and political turmoil engulfing America and so much of the world, so many people, including devout Christians, are deeply feeling the threats from our enemies, who want to hurt or destroy us. Security is a big issue in our world, simply because our life is full of things that threaten us, making us feel very insecure. Many of our parents or grandparents were very accustomed to leaving their doors and windows unlocked. Guns were for hunting and not for protection. We got on airplanes with little or no security checks. That has all changed in the past few decades.
On a personal basis, many of us hear the voice of the enemy of our souls, threatening to take us down with attacks on our families and friends, as well as attacks on our own spiritual walk with God. He may threaten us that we'll fall into sin, or our children will die or get sick, etc. But, thank God, He has given us the power to be victorious over these threats, as we can see from this passage in Acts.(Photo via Pixabay)
We don't always think about it, but if we did, we'd realize that we do many things, or we refrain from doing many things, just because we feel threatened by the potential of terrorism, and actually much more often, just because we feel threatened by people's opinions or comments or stares.
So, what is the key to overcoming the power of every ugly threat that our enemies can come up with, be they natural enemies or our spiritual enemy?
Apostles Encounter Opposition and Threats
Following a powerful miracle healing in Acts 3, another surge of Church growth hit the fledgling Jerusalem congregation, which had no special meeting facilities, as far as we know, other than the not-too-friendly Jewish temple, the great outdoors, and people's homes. It was the wonderful flow of supernatural power from the Holy Spirit, sent by the Father at the request of His Son, Jesus, that had gotten them into this unprecedented situation. Not only did they not have a grid for such growth to fall back on, but it seriously angered and frightened the religious establishment, who thought they had solved the "Jesus" problem several weeks before that.
After arresting and jailing the apostles, they brought them to their council and severely threatened them repeatedly not to preach about Jesus any more. Peter and John answered them respectfully, but defiantly, that they must obey God rather than man. Fearing the disfavor of the excited residents of Jerusalem, they threatened the apostles one more time and let them go.
How these early Church leaders responded is exactly how we need to respond today. This is more than a little exciting to me. It is our sure-fire prescription for victory over those who threaten us.
1. Gather Your Intercessors
Acts 4:23-24a says, "And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord..."
The apostles recognized their need for the Body of Christ, and especially those who could pray with them in unity. They didn't say, "Well, we are the chosen apostles. We have apostolic authority and we don't need to tell anyone our problems but God." No, they were humble and needy before the people they served, allowing them to be a part of the solution.
2. Remind God of His Promises
The apostles and intercessors cried out to God reminding Him of His own words in the Scriptures. God loves to hear us speak the truth of His Word back to Him. It allows Him to respond to the faith that stirs our hearts when we repeat His words back to Him. They reminded God of David's prophecy in Psalm 2 about the nations raging against the Lord and His Christ. Then they applied it to their own situation, being threatened by the religious rulers. This is a great key to remember. Tell God what He said, and then tell Him how it applies to you today. (Photo via Pixabay)
3. Ask God to Take Notice of the Threats
Acts 4:29a "Now, Lord, look on their threats..."
Of course, God knew all about their situation, but the apostles and intercessors were following courtroom protocol. They were presenting their case and pointing out their evidence to the Judge of all the earth.
4. Ask God for Boldness to Witness to Others to Expand His Kingdom
Acts 4:29b "...and grant to Your servants that with all boldness, they may speak Your word..."
They weren't asking God just to protect them from personal suffering – in fact, they didn't even mention that at all. They were asking for boldness so they could be strong and keep expanding His Kingdom. It wasn't about them; it was about their King and His Kingdom. This is very important. It means we are seeking first His Kingdom and leaving our needs in His hands, trusting His promises to take care of us if we take care of His business first (see Matthew 6:33).
5. Tell God What He Can Do to Give You More Boldness
Acts 4:30 "...by stretching out your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant, Jesus."
This is the most important point to me for personal and for corporate victory over the threats of the enemy. The apostles had seen Jesus do many miracles, and they have been used to do some themselves, but they knew that faith and boldness would grow every time God showed up in a supernatural way.
God is waiting for His people to realign themselves with the priorities and the heart of the early Church. They humbled themselves and prayed fervently together. They knew God's Word and reminded Him of His promises. They asked Him to pay attention to their situation for His own Kingdom's sake. They asked God to give them more boldness, and specifically asked Him to manifest His power to stir up their faith and courage to witness for Him.
God Showed Up and Showed Off His Power
Acts 4:31 "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." (Photo by Jennifer Page "In Yeshua's Presence" via elijahshopper.com)
Acts 4:33 "And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all."
We don't know exactly what the shaking felt like, or what happened at the time that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit again, but it must have been something powerful to experience. The result was the precise answer to their prayers – they spoke the word of God with boldness. Verse 33 tells us that the apostles witnessed with great power. Based on other passages, great power would mean healings, signs, and wonders, just like they asked for.
Incredible Unity and Unselfish Love
Acts 4:32 "Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common."
This demonstration of supernatural unity and unselfish love was created and increased as a result of the miraculous occurrences in their midst. The excitement of God's presence and power in their midst far exceeded any excitement about earthly possessions. The normally unquenchable hunger in their souls was being satisfied by the power of the Holy Spirit, in a way that nothing in this world could do.
Living this lifestyle is not something that is easy to do without the powerful and fulfilling ministry of the Holy Spirit. Many groups have tried it, but only those who have pursued intimacy and the power of His presence have survived for long. Before we pursue this type of communal living, we must pursue the awesome power of His presence, until we are so consumed with passion for our King and His Kingdom that the power of His love radically alters our desires for earthly goods.
You Are Being Threatened Because Your Very Life is a Threat
Satan knows what God has put in us – various aspects of His own image and character and power. He fears us more than we fear him. He threatens us to distract us from becoming what God made us to become. Let's follow this perfect protocol in Acts 4 and become our enemy's worst nightmare, just like the apostles and the early Church.
I believe God wants to warn us not to submit to any kind of fear or anxiety. He is sending a powerful army of angels to minister courage and miraculous power in this season for His Church. Those who cry out in humility using His own Word and following His Kingdom priorities in their prayers will receive incredible divine assistance from this army of angels. Miracles will begin to manifest in marvelous ways. Listen to that still small voice and you will be prompted to take steps of faith in a new level of boldness and courage. It's for you, saints of God! You are called to be a carrier of His power and glory, for His sake and honor. (Photo via Pixabay)
After finishing the message from Acts 4 in this precious El Paso congregation, I asked God to confirm His Word again, as He had in other churches, with signs following. We began to pray for the sick and, before long, the pastor's daughter, a worship leader and keyboard player, realized that while she was helping us pray for the sick, she herself had been healed. Her pain was gone and she could move her limbs like she couldn't before. It was another proof from Heaven that God's word is true. He touched our new friend in a sovereign way, without anyone laying hands on her. The healing power of God was present and I believe that healing angels had been released to confirm the word of the message He had given me.
This victory over the threats of our enemy is for you! It's for now! Call your intercessors. Quote some promises back to God. Ask Him to notice the threats you face. Ask Him to give you fearless faith and boldness to witness for Him. Ask Him for miracles to embolden you and watch Him shake everything around you and fill you anew with the power of His Holy Spirit to reveal just how awesome a God He is. You can do it! He is with you to help you and guide you through the process.
America, it's your time to cry out to your God. The threats of ISIS and cultural and moral decay can be defeated. Our God is a covenant restoring God. Give Him the opportunity to respond. Let Acts 4 be our guide and template. He will hear us. Amen!
Ben and Brenda Peters have said "YES" to the call of God to challenge, equip, and send dedicated lovers of Jesus into the harvest fields of the earth, including the seven mountains of society. Together they have ministered to tens of thousands of individuals in several countries of the world. After establishing and serving churches and Christian schools for almost thirty years, they began a traveling ministry in September 1999 under the name Open Heart Ministries. This ministry consisted mainly of speaking, teaching, preaching, and prophesying in conferences, camps, retreats, churches, ministry schools, and homes.
More recently, they also founded an Illinois-based ministry called Kingdom Sending Center after hearing a clear word from God during a Heidi Baker meeting in Chicago. Ben began writing revelatory books in 2000, and has published 23 of them since then. His newest book is THE KINGDOM BUILDING CHURCH – Experiencing the Explosive Potential of the Church in Kingdom Building Mode. Ben and Brenda now live near Sacramento, California, close to most of their five children and twelve grandchildren.
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