Prayer · Allgemein · NB

Prayer for Boldness in Witness (Acts 4:29-31)

Original Prayer

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.

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.

Context (Old Covenant)

Prayer of the early church (Acts 4:29-31), pure New Covenant: boldness through the Holy Spirit for witness.

What it teaches

Courage; dependence; power through the Spirit.

Realization in the New Covenant

Acts 4:29-31 is a prayer of the early church AFTER Pentecost, clear New Covenant:

  • ›They pray for boldness (parrhesia), not for permission. The Spirit gives courage.
  • ›Signs and wonders happen through the name of Jesus, authority, not petition
  • ›"They were all filled with the Holy Spirit", Filling is repeatable and experiential
  • ›Witness is not "evangelizing" in the old sense. It is: Living who you are and talking about it.

Prayer in the New Covenant

Father, fill me with your Spirit. I receive boldness to testify about Jesus clearly and lovingly. Open hearts and give fitting words. Let signs of your goodness happen in Jesus' name. Amen.
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