Grace to be BOLD

Text of Focus: ACTS 4:23-31
Topic: Grace to be Bold

Introduction: It has never been the will of God that His children be; timid, fearful, unadventurous nor stagnant. The truth of God concerning the demeanor of His people is the exact opposite, in reality it is the purpose of God that His servants operate as those who are; intrepid, confident, audacious living in a spirit of BOLDNESS.

For far to long the enemy has projected this image of believer as those hunched over from the weights of life on one shoulder and on the other shoulder the burden of their past sin & present short comings. In reality there is only one thing that God has called us to carry and that is the cross of Christ; which is no longer a sign of guilt and shame, but now is a symbol of power and victory.

The truth of the matter is God has called his followers to be bold, regardless of the situation or opposition. Such is the case with today’s text.

In order to fully understand the response that is highlighted in our text of focus we must go back to chapter 3 of the book of Acts to view and understand the cause.

Acts 3:1-10 tells us that as the Apostles Peter & John were on their way to the temple to pray a lame man cries out them begging for alms, instead of granting his request they through the power of the Holy Spirit, give him something far greater, the ability to walk. As a result of this miracle, those who witness this phenomenon, filled with wonder and amazement, respond by praising God.

{Parenthetical note I:
The appropriate response to acts of God done through anyone is praise to God, not accolades to man.}

Pressing on to the commencement of chapter 4 of Acts, we find the Priests, Temple Guards and Sadducees so disturbed by what the Apostles did and how the people responded they place Peter & John in jail. On the following day a trial is held for the two “insurrectionist.” In verse 7 the question is asked of them; “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” Being filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter replies in such a confident way, the prosecutors immediately realized that what this man knew came, not from schooling but, from God Himself.

{Parenthetical note II:
When you are doing great work for the Lord opposition will come, but you have to have the confidence to know that the same God that empowered you to do the work, will empower you to defend it.}

Fearing that this uncontrived, uncontested boldness would spread to all the people of the region, in verse 17 the Council orders them not to speak to anyone in the name of Jesus. As a testament their faithfulness to the call of God desire to see God’s kingdom advance they reply in verse 20, facing threats on every hand, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

{Parenthetical note III:
Preservation of self and resources must never trump your passion to please God.}

Now to the text of Focus

Acts 4:23 When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
The people spoken of in this verse were the believers who followed Peter & John’s ministry. It is awesome to note that they did not respond to the judgement of the Council or the threats to their leaders with violence, instead they peacefully at shared the news with those they confided.

{Parenthetical note IV:
Use wisdom in unfavorable situations and know who to confide in.}

4:24-30 24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 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.”

In response to the judgements and threats that had been made towards their leaders, the Church unified themselves a prayed to the Lord. This reveals the secret to personal and corporate boldness through the grace of God, its all about the proper acknowledgement, lets take a look;
They acknowledged the Trinity and its ability.
They acknowledged the futileness of the enemy.
They acknowledged the sovereignty of God.
They acknowledged the power of the word of God.

4:31And 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.
As a result of the unity, specificity and potency of their prayer, the Lord revealed himself in two awesome ways
He Shook the place where they were. This was a symbol of sifting; removing the thing of lessor value to reveal the thing of greater value.
He filled them with His Holy Spirit. This speaks of being endowed with supernatural ability to face and do all that God has set forth.
They used His Spirit to speak His word with with boldness, and time you use the Spirit of God to to the will of God, you can stand bold and know that you will be successful.