Are You Happy to be Entertained by Cheap Programs and Silly Plays that make You Feel Good in Church?
"...Grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word." -- Acts 4:29
This is interesting! Please notice that the believers were praying and asking God for the message of divine truth. They asked, "With all boldness they may speak thy word." They placed a high importance on "Thy word." This new Christians sought to hear God's Word acknowledged with unyielding conviction and firm confidence. They clearly wanted to be taught and shown by this message of grace and saving truth. They obviously believed that the Gospel is the power of God to bring the lost to salvation, and it is for every one that believes it.
Look again at what these believers were praying for. They were asking in prayer for the messengers of the Gospel, by asking, "Grant unto thy servants." We must notice that these Christians said, "Thy servants." They obviously acknowledged that the apostles were the servants of God. They were not viewed as servants of an institute, or a business. God had commissioned them to serve His redeemed family, therefore these Christians considered the apostles to be the called servants of God. They were Christ's holy messengers and these godly men could not be hired promoters.
What a blessing it is to find a group of people who are craving to hear the message of redeeming grace. A group that has no need and does not want to be entertained with cheap programs and silly plays that make them feel good in church. But a group of people that are hungry for the bread of life that only Christ can give.
How much moral courage is required to promote a program to entertain a group of nominal Christians in church? Or does it require a lot of courage to give a book review, or speak on current events in Sunday school? Not much when we are around people in our comfort zone. But it does require a great amount of boldness to push the claims of Christ on unsaved people, and insist that they repent of their sins and surrender themselves to Him. That kind of courage can only come from the Holy Spirit and only when we ask for it in sincere prayer.
It does not entail much spiritual stamina to organize a promotion to raise money for the general good of the church; however it does take a lot prayer and faithful preaching of God's servants to have a genuine revival of full salvation in the church.
Please understand that when I bring up these issues it does not mean that I am making a fuss or creating hurtful criticisms of God's faithful people and preachers. It does mean however that I am gravely concerned about the praying of God's people, or I should say the lack of prayer; that is the ones who are members of the body of Christ. These same people who call themselves Christians never pray unless they are in some kind trouble.
When was the last time we prayed to God to "...Grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word." Or how long has it been since you thanked God for your salvation and asked Him for a genuine revival in the church by the faithful preaching of God's servants? When was the last time you asked Jesus to help you to live holy as He is holy? God is waiting for His church to ask for boldness in speaking His Word today so that the lost will hear His Word and come to saving grace through Jesus our Lord and Savor. Are you praying for this today?
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