THURSDAY, APRIL 11
Scripture: Acts 4:18-22

In Acts 4:18 the political leaders of the Jews, the Sanhedrin, came against the apostles, commanding silence. In verse 18 it says, “So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.” Their directive was against what God said. God had told them to stand and preach the issues concerning this life. The political leaders commanded them not to speak under penalty of jail and persecution. Did the disciples bow to their demands? They did not! They resisted! Acts 4:19-22 says, “But Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.’” What the disciples declared publicly they did. And privately they agreed in prayer asking God for boldness, the anointing to heal and for the judgments of Egypt. Their private prayer was nuclear. God honored what they prayed privately by executing Ananias and Sapphira. We can declare our freedom to serve God publically. Praying judgment is best done privately. In Acts 4:18-22 the apostles resisted unrighteous rule. We are not to bow to unrighteous rule, we resist it! If the judges on our Supreme Court champion what God hates, let’s pray God removes them! God knows how to terminate the rebellious and cripple the darkness they hatch! Psalm 2:8-12 is a great prayer to pray for judges and best done privately.