Scripture Union Daily Guide 20th July 2020 – Consider Their Threats? Stretch Out Your Hand, Lord!
Scripture Union Daily Guide 20th July 2020 – Consider Their Threats? Stretch Out Your Hand, Lord!
TODAY’S TOPIC: CONSIDER THEIR THREATS? STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND, LORD!
OPENING PRAYER: May my heart, O Lord, be receptive to your word as I meditate on it.
SCRIPTURE: Acts 4:23–31
Prayer for Boldness
23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who [a]by the mouth of Your servant David have said:
‘Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.’
27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
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.
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Scripture Union Daily Guide 20th July 2020
Reflection
• Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
• Is there any prayer for me to remember?
TODAY’S MESSAGE: DAILY GUIDE 20TH JULY 2020
After being set free by the Sanhedrin, Peter and John went directly back to where the believers were meeting and reported what had transpired (v.23). How would we react after such threats? Instead of complaining or being fearful, notice the immediate response of the believers (v.24a) and the content of their response (vv.24b–30), especially their request in vv.29–30.
Observe also how God responded to such a prayer that focuses on him and his glory (v.31). Let us be encouraged and assured that the Lord will also answer our prayers that are focused on his glory and mission. May the Lord help us to turn first to him when we get into trouble, not only for our faith but in any kind of trouble. God hears us when we pray but the way he answers our prayer is neither always the same, nor is his response always immediate as it is in this case. We must never put God in a straight jacket. He does what he knows is right and best for each situation.
⁂ Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Practice/Word Application
• What next? How supportive are we of believers suffering for their faith around the world? Can we be trusted to faithfully uphold them in prayer when asked to do so? How long do you continue to support them in prayer ─ once only, for a week or continuously?
Today’s Prayer
• Make vv.29–30 your prayer for yourself and the many persecuted Christians who are seeking to make Christ known.
• Pray for CAPRO, CMF and other missionary organizations for provisions and fruitful missions.
• Offer a prayer of faith in line with Deuteronomy 20:4
Read the Bible in one Year: Psalms 29–30; Acts 15:22–41
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