Boldness for the Gospel

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, (Act 4:29)

It is not that we lack opportunity to spread the Gospel but fearing what people think. Boldness is what we need to pray for and God will faithfully provide (Acts 4:31). In the natural we are bold for the things that we are confident of, for example in our gifting, wealth or even character. Some are bold to sin, not fearing man or God. Believers in Jesus Christ who have been freed from sin and condemnations carry a powerful message of liberty and love (Rom 1:16). In other words, we have the key to setting man, women and children free; deliverance from sin, hell and the devil.

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: (2Ti 2:12)

To ask the Lord for boldness is also to ask that ‘we be dead with Him’, hence the issue is not about about preaching the Gospel, it is the reason behind preaching the Gospel (Phil 1:15). The negative motivation is obvious, the other motivation of preaching out of 'good will' is also not honorable. We preach the Gospel as 'dead' man and woman denying anything to gain from it, except that we fall in line with God's willingness that none should perish (2 Pet 3:9).

Psalm 104:31-34 "I Will Be Glad in the LORD"

Psalm 104:31-34
New King James Version (NKJV)
31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
May the LORD rejoice in His works.
32 He looks on the earth, and it trembles;
He touches the hills, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34 May my meditation be sweet to Him;
I will be glad in the LORD.

Effectual Prayer

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. (Mat 6:7)

Jesus is not telling us about repetitions but about vain repetitions. One certainty is that He asks us to be tenacious in our prayer life (Matt 18:2-5). The issue then concerns vain request not about fervent prayer. Vanity involves self-ward desires and tenacity involves ‘Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done….’. We shouldn't and cannot afford offering same prayers as the heathens. As children of God, our asking is that which is above and not below. It concerns Father’s business. If it’s doesn't concern Father’s heart, our prayers would be considered vain repetitions. Knowing our stature as those sitting with Christ in the heavenly realms, we pray down God’s will and not begging for perishable temporal things.

The evidence of an intimate relationship is to bear fruit. As with making disciples and outworking of Christian character, so is prayer. From time to time we should consider and weigh why our prayers have not been answered by the Lord. We shouldn’t excuse ourselves that perhaps it is not the Lord’s will or the timing isn’t right, if it was so we would have been at peace and not recoil into passivity and fatalism.  Prayer is about relationship with the Father and confident thankfulness. He will take care of every minute detail of our daily needs while we concern ourselves with His desire.

The Face of God

And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.(Gen 33:10)

A saint that has been dealt by God looks at people and offenses from an elevated view. Without spiritual discipline we will see these as with the face of the devil. Spiritual discipline will quickly expose our hypocrisy and reveals those who major in speck picking (Matt 7:5). God’s discipline exposes our heart condition and His Word like a mirror reveals what we are through His eyes. How often we have offended the Lord by our pride and disregard the Royal Law (James 2:8). Could it be because ‘self’ taken a position that is larger than life?

And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.(Exo 33:20)

As God chastised Jacob to become His prince with a heavenly capacity of a greater to bless the lesser, even Pharaoh. Blessors are ones that have ‘died’ deep inside evident by their meekness and humility. In order to regard others better than ourselves, we have to die to self. How do we see others, even those we have offended or we think deserve to be offended?