Let's Approach God Boldly!
A. Pray for power (23-31)
1) There is no need to fear other people (23-28)
On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: "`Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. ' Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. (23-28)
2) The purpose of praying for power (29-31)
Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 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. (29-31)
B. If we do not love one another, we cannot share love with others (32-37)
1) Unity in our faith (32, 33)
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. (32, 33)
2) How to become a church where no one is poor or lacking (34-37)
There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet. (34-37)
Summary
The early church got a lot of attention through the miracles of the apostles and people began to think that God was with these apostles rather than with the religious teachers. On the one hand, the apostles prayed for opportunities to share Jesus' power with greater boldness through miracles, but in doing so, they didn't neglect the common and simple acts of love for one another. Unless we love one another, we cannot say that we love God or other people. Let's pray for Gods strength and power so that we can love one another and share Jesus' love with increasing boldness.
For Discussion
1) What do you want from God now?
2) What does God want us to do now?