My devotional: Pray then what?

By Liz Omondi | Email: timestodayke@ gmail.com | Image credit: navigators.org

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Acts 4:31 (NIV)

As I sat there listening to the Word of God being preached, my mind drifted a bit to one direction where I began asking, how do they do it? How does the preacher manage to stand in front of a huge crowd on a raised pulpit where there is nowhere to hide and speak so boldly every Sunday and on some days of the week?

I argued in mind, O well, they have gone through the training, learned the skill of public speaking coupled with their God-given gift of preaching. But still, where do they get the guts from? Perhaps only introverts like me are the only ones who wonder and shudder like a youngster just out of a freezing cold swimming pool at the thought of standing in front of crowds.

Then I wondered, did God consider our different personalities when He commanded us to go and preach the gospel to all generations. Did He have me in mind who is scared of crowds?

Well, God sent Moses to deliver the children of Israel out of Egypt in Exodus 3:10-12a “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” Moses’ first response in verse 11 was that of a scared man, “But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?””

Even after God assured Moses that He will be with him to help him in verse 12, “And God said, “I will be with you…” Moses went on and on and on giving excuses why he is the wrong person to be sent for such a task. In fact, at the end of that exchange of words with God in Exodus 4:13 Moses said, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.”

Moses actually made God so angry. We are told in the next verse

“14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him.

Turning to Peter in the New Testament, an extroverted individual, impetuous in nature, three times in one night denied Jesus Christ his friend whom he had walked with for three years. Realising his error, he was so disappointed with himself crying bitterly. But Jesus Christ, after his resurrection lovingly restored him and gave him tasks to do in John 21:15-17. Jesus tells him, if he loves Him, to feed His lambs, to take care of His sheep and to feed His sheep.

Well, before He was taken up to heaven, Jesus told his disciples in Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” The Holy Spirit touched down on Pentecost day in Acts 2 and Christ’s disciples who were gathered together in one place were filled with the Holy Spirit began speaking in other tongues as enabled by the Spirit.

It was time to go and obey God’s command. This time around, Peter did not cower. In Acts 2:14 and verses 40 to 41 the Scripture says,

“Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say…. 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Where did Peter get the boldness to speak like that? Does that mean there no longer trepidation whenever these disciples wanted to address crowds especially about Jesus Christ considering the threat of persecution that they were facing at the time?

In many instances in the Bible whenever there was the threat to danger in doing a God given task, prayer was the answer. Esther asked the Jews to pray and fast for her for three days to gather courage to speak to the king when there was the threat to annihilate all Jews. Esther 4:16

Even Paul, writing to the Ephesians, asked them to pray for him, “19 and pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:19-20

Jesus Himself, at the garden of Gethsemane prayed in Luke 22:42-44 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”

Jesus Christ gave us a task to do that is outlined in Matthew 28:18-20 “18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Being first hand witness gospel of Jesus Christ, the first church still needed the courage to carryout this job. So what did they first do? They prayed. Then what? Acts 4:31 says,

“After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

Whatever your personality, extroverted or introverted, tempted to make excuses like Moses why you should not go and carryout LORD’s command and hoping against all hopes that there is another Aaron who could do the task for you on your behalf, it is about time we first prayed to God.

Ask for filing with the Holy Spirit and to be given the courage to speak. Then what you may ask? Then see God carryout His will through you as you wholeheartedly surrender to Him. God promises to be with us always!