Pastor Slaughter
1-23-2022
Epiphany 3
Theme: A prayer to Proclaim God’s Word
Text: Acts 4:23-31
How many of you are afraid of public speaking? I read online that 25% of people are reported to have a fear of public speaking. Why are so many people afraid? Do they get inside their-own heads so speak and think that if they mess up it will threaten their credibility, their image, or even the chance to reach their audience? Maybe they’re afraid of the circumstance that they are put in, like speaking in front of a new audience or placed in a difficult situation.
Do we have a fear to proclaim God’s Word to people? Are we afraid that it will threaten our credibility, our image? Are we afraid that we aren’t good enough to reach our audience? Are we afraid of circumstances like facing potential persecution? What do we do when those fears come up? Do we hide? Do we avoid proclaiming God’s Word? Or do we welcome it and boldly proclaim his Word?
I wonder as I look at our lesson if Peter and John had a fear to proclaim God’s Word. But instead of running away, giving up, They turned to God in prayer. Today we hear about a prayer that the believers offered to God, A Prayer to Proclaim God’s Word.
The reason why I wonder if Peter and John (and really the other believers) had a fear to proclaim God’s Word was because circumstances that lead to their prayer to God. As Peter and John were going to the temple they came across a beggar who was crippled asking for money. Each day he was placed at the entrance in order to beg to receive some support to live. Peter and John did not have money to give him but what they gave him was far more valuable. Peter told him “in the name of the Lord Jesus to walk!” And that miracle opened a door to proclaim the gospel to those watching.
Word spread and the message about Jesus of Nazareth reached the ears of the Sanhedrin, the priests and even the High Priest. The message Peter and John were proclaiming disturbed the religious leaders. So they had them thrown in prison. They were released the next day but commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus and after further threats they let them go.
That is where our lesson takes place. They went back to their friends and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. They were really at a crossroads so to speak, they could either continue proclaiming God’s Word with the threat of punishment, or they could have given in and stopped proclaiming the Word. How would you feel if you were in their shoes? I would have been afraid! What did they do? They raised their voices to God in prayer!
They began their prayer by proclaiming God’s mighty power, “Master, you are the God who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.” If they were experiencing any fear about what the leaders might do to them, they start off by praising God for his power.
When we are too afraid to proclaim God’s Word what are we saying? That God who created the heavens isn’t powerful enough to help us overcome persecution? That the God who created the earth isn’t powerful enough to stand up against the insults that could come from friends, family, or strangers? Or does fear lead us to forget in that moment about the power of the one who created the seas and everything in them?
When fear grips us, it tries to overwhelm us right? If you are afraid of snakes, and I hold a snake in front of you, fear takes hold. You can seize up, rationality leaves, even though the snake can’t hurt you, because you are afraid you think it can. Does that fear lead us to forget God’s Power as we are given a choice to share or not share his word?
To combat the fears we may have about proclaiming God’s Word, we pray to God and praise him for his power. Because the God who created everything will be with us as we proclaim his Word!
But to address our fears we not only need to hear about God’s Power but the importance of proclaiming God’s Word. To show this importance they recite Scriptures in their prayer and recall what David said in Psalm 2, “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers are gathered together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.”
They recall in their prayer how this was fulfilled. How Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel rose against Jesus. They strove against him, didn’t they? They shouted, they insulted, they beat him. They even nailed him to a cross. And yet with each insult, with each blow with each nail, they gathered together against the Lord but they were really fulfilling God’s plan of salvation… to save us… to forgive us!
In-spite of their best efforts to stand up to God, to stand up against God’s Anointed, they ended up fulfilling God’s purpose, the salvation of sinners. This Sunday focuses on how Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy the anointed one. As we read in Luke, “The Spirit of the LORD is on me, because he anointed me to preach good news to the poor.” Jesus was anointed to preach the good news. That message of forgiveness of sins. That message was fulfilled on a cross! That important message which saved you!
After reporting all that that happened to them, in the face of threats and opposition, Peter and John and the other believers prayed. They proclaimed praise to God, Praising God for his Power, giving them courage to proclaim God’s Word, they then proclaimed God’s promise fulfilled in Jesus reminding them the importance of their message! Then they prayed that bold prayer, “Now Lord, look at their threats and give to your servants the ability to keep on speaking your word with all boldness.” They proclaimed God’s Power, they proclaimed Gods Promise, then they asked for the ability and the boldness to share God’s Word.
I think all of us realize the importance of sharing God’s Word. And I think all of here need to daily pray to proclaim God’s word with all boldness. But how does this look in our lives? Are we going to perform some great miracle like what happened to Peter and John giving them an opportunity to tell people about Jesus? Probably not, but we can show that something is different about us by the way we live our lives and that could provide an opportunity to share our faith. Are we going to be asked to give a testimony like Peter and John did before the religious leaders in a very public way? Probably not. But we could be asked to tell, our friends our family, or even a stranger about God’s love for us. Are we expected to proclaim God’s Word like Peter did? No, but it can be as simple as inviting someone to church on Sunday. Come with me and hear about the Love of Jesus.
Is God asking you to be a Peter, John, Paul? Pastor Bentz, Pastor Slaughter? No. God has allowed you to come in contact with people in your life that need to hear about the One who died for them, that rose for them. Does that mean then you have the most articulate law and gospel presentation? No, but it may require you to step out of your comfort zone and invite them to church with you, step out of your comfort zone with a smile greet that person you don’t recognize or move from the seat you always sit in and maybe sit next them and introduce yourself to them.
We have opportunities to go on new resident visits and give them information about our church and invite them to come as well. Will it involve a sacrifice of time? Sure. Will it involve stepping out of your comfort zone. Of course. Every time I knock on the door my heart skips a beat and I pray that God gives me the words to say. If you are interested in trying something new, contact Pastor Bentz or myself and making the visits with us!
My family in Christ. Pray and pray boldly. Pray that God gives you the ability and the boldness to speak his Word to people. When we find ourselves afraid to share our faith, Pray by proclaiming Gods power, remembering that God who created the heavens and the earth is with you to help you overcome your fears. Pray God’s promises back to him to remember the importance of proclaiming God’s Word. My family Pray to God and ask him to give you the opportunity to proclaim his Word. Amen.