Acts 23-31 (31) 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.

 Can you imagine someone getting in trouble for doing something good?
That is exactly the case you have with the Apostles and the history we
have before us.  The history part we have heard over the last few
Sunday's but let's just review for ourselves the events.
 Peter and John were headed to the Temple at the time of prayer and on
the way there they came across a man who had been crippled from birth.
He had been put where he was in order to make a meager living by begging.
 As Peter and John walked by he begged them for money and this is what
the Scripture records, "Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have,
but what I have I give you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
walk."  The text goes on and records, "Taking him by the right hand, he
helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.  He
jumped to his feet and began to walk."
 One would think that such a thing would just bring awe and wonder and in
a way it did and then again it didn't.  The people in the Temple who saw
this man walking, jumping and praising God, when they recognized him as
the crippled beggar we are told, "they were filled with wonder and
amazement at what had happened to him."  The people gathered around and
Peter took the opportunity to preach about Jesus.  But the Temple
officials disturbed by this hubbub, arrested Peter and John and because
it was late threw them into prison.
 The next day they brought Peter and John before them and questioned
them.  Of course, since everyone knew the crippled man had been healed
their questions centered on how this had been done.  The answer was
simple.  "It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you
crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before
you healed."
 The people were excited but the "religious leaders" of the Jews didn't
like this at all.  Despite the fact that they couldn't explain the
miracle or deny it they didn't like it.  Despite the fact that Jesus had
fulfilled everything their Scriptures had said and promised, including
rising from the dead, they didn't like it.  Despite the fact that
overwhelmingly their lack of faith in the wonders and goodness of God was
clearly exposed these leaders stood opposed to the whole idea of this
Jesus and any kind of faith in him.  The Scripture records how they dealt
with this.  "They called them in and commanded them not to speak or teach
at all in the name of Jesus."
 The attitude of the Apostles was simple.  They replied, "Judge for
yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than
God.  For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
The wonder and marvel of Jesus, the wonder and marvel that the Jewish
leadership thought they had squashed and ended, was still there.  The
disciples who had been filled with fear were now bold and zealous for the
name of Jesus.  It is because of moments like this that you and I have
had the opportunity to hear and believe in the name of Jesus.  How
wonderful to see that though the world thinks they win, Jesus keeps on
gaining the victory and His kingdom continues to grow.
 Our text shares with us the prayer of these believers following this
circumstance.  It is a wonderful prayer that can teach us many things.
Just as important the prayer has a response that can also teach us many
things.  Let's consider the words of our text under the theme: A PRAYER
OF FAITH AND THE ANSWER OF GOD.  1st. It is a prayer of thanks.  2nd. It
is a prayer of petition.  3rd. It is a prayer that is answered.
 Listen again to the prayer of these believers in Christ.  "Sovereign
Lord, you made the heavens 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 rise 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.
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.'"
 There are a few things to note about this prayer.  First note that the
majority of the prayer is one of thanks and praise to God for his
blessings and goodness!  The prayer gives praise to God for who and what
He is, that is, God is the Sovereign Lord who made the heavens and the
earth and everything in them.  In other words, these Christians clearly
grasp that God is ruler over all and that God is the one to whom all
things belong.
 The prayer goes on and says even more.  They go on and speak of the Holy
Spirit and how that Holy Spirit has spoken through David.  They view
David's word in Psalm 2 as being fulfilled in the life of Jesus.  The
world, the rulers of the world and the people of the world, plot and work
against God's Anointed One.  Despite the plotting it is pointed out that
what happened with Jesus was exactly what God wanted to have happen.
They thought they were winning when they put Jesus to death.  Little did
they realize that they weren't putting an end to Jesus but rather they
were fulfilling the very promises of God concerning Jesus.  They helped
to make Jesus the atoning sacrifice for sins.  They made it possible for
Jesus to die for our sins and then rise from the dead just as God had
foretold.  Even in the midst of their hatred of God they were doing what
God decreed should happen.  Even those in rebellion against God serve his
name.
 I always take comfort in this revelation of God.  It is just one more
place in God's Word where we are reminded that God is in control.  Add to
that such promises where God tells us that everything will work for the
eternal good of those that love him and you realize that there is nothing
to worry about.  There is nothing to get bent out of shape over simply
because God says He is in charge and that everything will and does go
according to His plans.  Since God planned and carried out our salvation
in Jesus don't you realize that he also plans and carries out the
necessities of our lives too!  No wonder these Christians spend so much
time of their prayer giving thanks and praise to God for his goodness and
love.
 Then we can talk about the fact that this prayer contains some
petitions, things that the believers pointedly ask the Lord for.  They
actually ask for two separate things.  Those things are found in verses
29 and 30.  We read, "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."
I kinda like what they ask for but then I must confess that I am aware
of the answer.  First, the part that I like is that first petition.  They
want the Lord to give them "great boldness," a boldness to stand forth in
the midst of the threats and dangers of the world and still to proclaim
Jesus Christ and his truth.  Don't you find it interesting that they
don't ask that the threats end!  That's because of what Jesus had told
them.  Jesus had told them that since the world hated him the world was
also going to hate them.  In other words the threats and dangers of the
world to God's children would be something Christians would have to deal
with.  So they ask for the boldness to speak God's Word even in the midst
of those threats!  In essence they are asking that the Lord give them the
strength, wisdom and courage needed to stand firm in the faith and in the
truth of Jesus.
 We still need this same petition today.  The world has not changed in
its view of Jesus.  They think Jesus nothing, a waste of time and effort,
a foolish thing for anyone to center their life on.  Yet such is not
true.  Though the world attacks and belittles in every way it can our
faith and our Savior, do remember that He is the Sovereign Lord who rules
over all things.  He is our God, the only true God and his salvation is
the only true way of eternal life.  We can ill afford to turn away from
Jesus and his Word.  We will lose the victory should we water down and
back off of the wonder of our risen Savior.  We still pray today for
"great boldness" to speak the word of our God, his true Word that brings
life and salvation to all who hear.
 The second petition they ask for I don't like.  They ask for the ability
to perform miraculous signs and wonders in the name of Jesus.  I think
they have the right to ask, don't get me wrong there.  I just think that
asking such a thing is not for the best.  I think that because though
Jesus performed miracles beyond count please note he was still hated and
still crucified!  I don't think miracles are the answer to how to get to
the world.
 Evidently God doesn't think so either.  Please note that this prayer is
answered.  Verse 31 records this, "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."  They experienced an
earthquake, at least an earthquake that shook the place where they were
gathered.  In other words God does a miracle among them to help them
grasp he is answering and that's it.  Most important they were filled
with the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity of God whose job it
is to call, gather, strengthen and keep God's children in the faith.  The
Holy Spirit comes upon them and they are motivated not to miracles and
wonders but rather to speaking the word of God boldly.  God gave them the
boldness.  God gave them his truth.  God gave them the wonder of Jesus by
the power of the Holy Spirit.  Please note, God did not give them the
power of miracles.
 I think that rather telling.  Actually if you read the whole of New
Testament, especially those things that occurred after the Ascension of
Jesus, you will find relatively few miracles done and you will find a
definite lack of emphasis on miracles.  You find the emphasis on
preaching and teaching the Word.  You find the emphasis on the truth of
Jesus and his victory.  You find the emphasis on the proclamation of
Jesus as Savior and Lord.  I find this answer to their prayer telling and
I think the rest of the world should pay attention.
 Those people who think that in order to be a Christian I have to do
miracles or there have to be miracles clearly have missed something.  I
believe they miss the wonder and marvel of Jesus.  I believe they miss
the importance and necessity of God's Word and what it says.  Notice that
Scripture declares, "Faith comes from hearing the message and message is
heard through the word of Christ."  Faith is through the gospel not
miracles, signs and wonders.  Faith is to be in Jesus and his Lordship,
his victory on our behalf.
 May we as a group of God's children also have that gift of boldness!
Boldness to proclaim the redemption of Jesus and his gift of eternal
life.  It's the thing that truly counts.  Amen.