Boldness

The first Christians were persecuted for their faith.


Professing Christians were forbidden, then ordered by government and religious officials to not speak in the name of Jesus (Read Acts 4:1-31). Sounds a lot like 2023 in America.


If your head is not stuck in the sand as many are, you know how the name of Jesus and those who profess Him are under attack. Publicly and privately, believers in Christ are ridiculed, mocked, laughed at, shouted down, smirked at, vilified, demonized, marginalized and ostracized. Dare to talk openly about Jesus, then watch how “mainstream” people will respond to you. Cancel culture will swing into high gear.


So how did our first brothers and sisters in Christ respond to their persecutors? With boldness! 


“And 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.” Acts 4:31


No pity-poor-us party for our Christian ancestors. Banding together, they prayed for boldness. Every time I read this scripture I get spiritual goose bumps.


The meeting place was supernaturally shaken. What was that like? I have not experienced our church building shaking when we pray. How about you and your church or small group Bible study? Everyone praying was filled with the Holy Spirit. Refreshed and recharged with resurrection power, the Spirit-filled Christians exited the prayer meeting to speak boldly for Jesus.


Acts 4:33 states “And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord, and abundant grace was upon them all.” I would love to have been part of their Spirit-anointed, Spirit-empowered evangelistic outreach. How about you? 


Christ’s followers could not and would not stop sharing what they had seen and heard. How could they possibly deny the Savior who loved them and gave Himself for them?


Thank you 1st century Christians for setting the standard for courageous, winsome witnessing for Christ. Shouldn’t you and I follow their example today?


My fellow Christians, if you have not noticed, the devil’s crowd is bold. Obnoxiously so, mocking our Savior and the faith we have in Him. But I have good news. Awesome truth. Jesus’ crowd can be BOLDER. Why? “Greater is He (Jesus) who is in you, than he (Satan) who is in the world.” I John 4:4. The Holy Spirit overwhelms, overcomes, overpowers and soundly defeats the devil every single time. Praise the Lord!   


So, what are you and I going to do when we are told to be quiet or silent about Jesus? I suggest we SPEAK BOLDLY! When we are ordered to sit down and shut up, STAND UP AND SPEAK UP BOLDLY!


Choose to refuse to be bullied by unbelieving, spiritually lost, worldly people. When the law of the land contradicts the law of God, you and I must choose who we will serve. Joshua declared. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)


As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father’s kingdom, BE BOLD. Never, never, never cower in fear or cave into oppressive opposition. Stand firm in faith. Courageously share the good news of Jesus Christ that people who are spiritually blind and morally misled need to hear.   


Christians, Pastors and churches, gather together. Pray for courage to stand up and speak up for Christ. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Be anointed with fresh oil (See Psalm 92:10). Then speak with fiery, passionate boldness that comes from heaven above.   


Maybe, just maybe, if we prayed a little less about personal prosperity and a little more about being bold to share our faith, our lives would be truly rich and satisfying.
    
Could it be that you and I who confess Christ need shaken up? How about personal revival and renewal? A fresh, daily dose of the Holy Ghost would set our lives on fire to be courageous for Christ.


Now my friends, not someday down the road, is the time to be bold. Now is the time to be heard. Now is the time to be confident and courageous in Christ. Now is the time to turn an upside down world right side up in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.


If you and I do not stand up boldly for the Lord, who will?   


“And do not get drunk with wine for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Holy Spirit.”  Ephesians 5:18


A Word For Your Week: Be bold about your beliefs.