IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

A Powerful Prayer

Date: Jun. 30, 2025

Passage

Acts 4:23-37 (ESV)

23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,

  “‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
    and the peoples plot in vain?
26   The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers were gathered together,
    against the Lord and against his Anointed’—

27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 4:29-30

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

After being released, Peter and John went back to all the believers and reported what happened. The believers knew that this was not merely earthly opposition but a spiritual battle. They raised their voices together in prayer.

Their prayer reveals their faith and shows us how we can pray when spiritual forces try to intimidate us and shut us down. God is sovereign over the heavens, the earth, and the sea. God allowed this opposition against the believers to arise. He already revealed that the authorities in the world rise up and band together to oppose God. The believers saw that Jesus crucifixion only confirmed Psalm 2, all according to God’s will. As they recognized God’s complete control and sovereignty, they did not pray for God to destroy the opposition. They prayed for 1) great boldness to speak God’s word and 2) God to heal and perform signs and wonders in the name of Jesus. How do you respond to spiritual adversity? Will you pray in faith to participate in God’s will, even at a cost?

Filled with the Holy Spirit, the believers continued to speak God’s word boldly. God worked wonders among them, creating a beautiful church in Jesus’ name. No one was needy. God was glorified.

Prayer: Father, you are sovereign. Help us to testify to the resurrection of Jesus. Please make our church a sign of your power and love.

One Word: Pray, speak, and love

Daily Bread

A Powerful Prayer

Acts 4:23-37

Key Verse: 4:29-30

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

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