25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,
‘WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE,
AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS?
26 ‘THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND,
AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER
AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.’
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 purpose predestined to occur.
29 “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence,
30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:23-31.
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Our situation today may appear dangerous and chaotic as the situation in Acts Chapter 4 may have seemed dangerous and chaotic to Peter and John. But, we can focus on God and His sovereignty as Peter and John did in this Scripture for today. We are reminded by verses 27 and 28 that God orchestrates even hostile men with evil intentions to accomplish His purpose.
Today, we can pray as Peter and John did pray then. God chooses to use our prayers, and we are honored and pleased to pray. “Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him.” Psalm 32:6 And yet, we must also notice here that Peter and John did not primarily pray for safety; although they asked God to take note of their threats, they primarily prayed that they would speak God’s Word with all confidence.
There is a certain logic that helps us believe and pray in “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the true Reformed Doctrine of Salvation. For example, if we truly are “totally depraved” and dead in sin (the “T” in “TULIP”), then our only “chance” for salvation is God’s “unconditional election” (the “U” in “TULIP”). As another example, if Christ died for everyone, then everyone would be saved. We know by Scripture that not everyone is saved, therefore, Christ did not die for everyone (“limited atonement”, the “L” of “TULIP”).
There is also a certain logic in this prayer in Scripture today that may have helped Peter and John believe and pray. The prayer starts with a focus on God and His sovereignty. Here is how I choose to state these points.
1. “O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM,”
2. Because God created heaven, earth, and all that is in them, God is sovereign over all men and all their actions.
3. Because God is sovereign over all men and all their actions, God is sovereign over even hostile men who intend to do evil.
4. Likewise, because God is sovereign over all men and all their actions, God is also sovereign over His servants who want to carry our God’s will.
5. Because God is sovereign over His servants who serve God, God is sovereign over what His servants speak and how they speak it.
6. Because God is sovereign over what His servants speak and how they may speak it, Peter and John was led by this logic to believe and pray that God could and would grant their request that they speak the word of God with all confidence.
7. “And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:31.
In conclusion, we certainly should not and can not manipulate God by logic. But, we should and can “order” our prayer. We should and can start the order with the confession even if it is as simple as God hates the wicked and punishes them and God loves the righteous and blesses them. From that point, we can continue the prayer logically with faith that God will grant our prayer request.
“3 In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice;
In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.
4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil dwells with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
You hate all who do iniquity.
6 You destroy those who speak falsehood;
The LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.
…
12 For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD,
You surround him with favor as with a shield.” Psalm 5:3-6 and 12.
“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32. Logical!
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 