July 8 | Bible in a Year: Job 36–37; Acts 15:22–41

Free in the Spirit

They were unschooled, ordinary men, . . . and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13

READ Acts 4:12–22

Neither Orville nor Wilbur Wright had a pilot’s licence. Neither had gone to college. They were bicycle mechanics with a dream and the courage to try to fly. On 17 December, 1903, they took turns piloting their Wright Flyer on four separate flights. The longest lasted only a minute, but it changed our world forever.

Neither Peter nor John had a preaching licence. Neither had gone to Bible college. They were fishermen who, filled with the Spirit of Jesus, courageously proclaimed the good news: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

The Wright brothers’ neighbours didn’t immediately appreciate their accomplishment. Their local newspaper didn’t believe their story, and said that even if true, the flights were too brief to be significant. It took several more years of flying and refining their planes before the public recognised what they had truly done.

The religious leaders didn’t like Peter and John, and they ordered them to stop telling others about Jesus. Peter said, No way. “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (v. 20).

You may not be on the approved list. Perhaps you’re scorned by those who are. No matter. If you have the Spirit of Jesus, you’re free to live boldly for Him!

By Mike Wittmer

What task or person causes you to feel inadequate? How might you rely on the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to step into that challenge today?

Jesus, I’m Yours. Use me in whatever way You want.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

Boldness or courage (two translations of the same Greek word) is portrayed in Acts as a quality of Spirit-filled believers in Jesus. In chapter 4, Peter is described as “filled with the Holy Spirit” (v. 8) and the religious leaders were astonished with Peter and John’s “courage” (v. 13). In response to the leaders’ threats (vv. 21, 23 ), the apostles met with believers and prayed for God to “enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness” (v. 29). In answer, “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (v. 31).