Holy Boldness, the mark of the Spirit on believers’ lives.
13 When THEY SAW THE COURAGE (Something Visible) of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, THEY WERE ASTONISHED AND TOOK NOTE THAT THESE MEN HAD BEEN WITH JESUS. Acts 4
Peter and John were standing before the Jewish Sanhedrin because of healing a crippled man, but something in their behaviour was different.
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness … 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, … that this man stands before you healed. Acts 4
Peter spoke to the whole ruling body and the people under the anointing of the Spirit and they didn’t understand how this was happening, but ‘knew that they’d been with Jesus’.
Three times in Acts 4 it speaks of the Boldness amongst believers;
29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with GREAT BOLDNESS. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God BOLDLY.
There are some seven references in the Book of Acts to the believers testifying Fearlessly/Boldly. Miracles were done in the Lord’s name but these ordinary, unschooled men and women were filled with great boldness for their Lord.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had PREACHED FEARLESSLY preached in the name of Jesus. Acts 9
3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, SPEAKING BOLDLY FOR THE LORD, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. Acts 14
It’s apparent that the outpouring of the Spirit filled the new believers with supernatural power at the birth of the Church in Jerusalem. Then Paul met Christ on the road to Damascus and was radically changed, preaching the Good News to the Gentiles. He spoke the Word to different people in different cultures and many came to Faith.
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing and forceful people lay hold of it. Matthew 11:12
Our Father has no thought of backing off from this battle, He’s never going to let up until His son’s Bride is fully formed and all creation is under Christ’s rule. The Church that brings this about will have Boldness and Power unknown today.
The last recorded words of Paul in Acts 28 still show a determination to spread the Good News of Christ;
30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with ALL BOLDNESS and without hindrance!
A last quote from David, Psalm 138 who acknowledged that it was God who’d made him BOLD;
3 When I called, you answered me;
you greatly emboldened me or MADE ME BOLD AND STOUT-HEARTED.
God will have a Bold and Fearless Church to work out His plan and purpose and we’re called to be a part of it, Hallelujah.
God bless and keep you today.