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Finishing up this batch of Profiles In Courage episodes, we are looking at Paul. In Acts 16:16-40, Paul and Silas have an encounter in Philippi that leads to them being beaten and thrown into prison. As we observe the reasoning behind their imprisonment, we can easily see why this was unfair and unjust. Yet Paul praised God while he was in jail. During that time at midnight, God sends an earthquake and the prison doors fly open. Long story short, Paul's obedience to the Lord leads to the conversion of the jailer and his entire family. Through this passage, we learn that sometimes tough things come even we are obedient to the Lord. But through those circumstances we must and should still praise. As we do, we see God is faithful and walks with us through the trials we face.

I hope you will be blessed with this episode and encouraged to go back and listen to this entire series from these past few weeks. Feel free to reach out: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com

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Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13

As we move into the New Testament and look at Peter this week and Paul next week, we see boldness in both men in the pages of Acts. After Christ's ascension, there is something that takes place within Peter. It is apparent through the first few chapters as he preaches and addresses various crowds: from those gathered at Pentecost, to those after the healing of the lame beggar, to the ruling council of Sadducees. In each instance, Peter's boldness leads him to share the Gospel and to connect this same Jesus with prophecy as a fulfillment of the Scripture. Peter's boldness can and should become our boldness. In a world which needs to hear, are we taking the truth with us into the settings we're in each day?

Listen to: Jesus & Peter - Prior To/Following The Crucifixion (ENCOUNTERS) https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/1663204/episodes/8520597-jesus-peter-prior-to-following-the-crucifixion-encounters

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Continuing on in our Profiles In Courage series, we are looking at Daniel. Specifically, we are looking at Daniel 6 -- the famous "Daniel in the lion's den" account. Daniel was a man who was willing to defy governmental orders in order to obey his God. The fact that he ends up in the lion's den attests to his own refusal to bow to man over God. In the process, he gives all praise and glory to God when he is found alive and well after a night with the lions. In this, his stand for God is something the King takes and pronounces to his entire kingdom: the God of Daniel....He is the living God, enduring forever (Daniel 6:26).

What might our stand for God look like in the end? If we are saved from the lions as Daniel was, we give glory to God. If we face martyrdom like Stephen in Acts, we give glory to God. Either way, the Gospel goes forth and God is praised!