Boldness
What a beautiful morning! God is looking for volunteers. God is looking for boldness, no hate but boldness. I was reading His word this morning and I was reading Acts 4. So Peter and John are arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin. And here we find in verse 7 what they were convicted of. 7- And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?" Now lets take a close look at verse 8. 8- Then Pete, FILLED with the HOLY SPIRIT, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9-If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10- let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole." The Holy Spirit gave Peter the boldness to speak before the rulers. And Peter didn't argue, he didn't yell, he didn't call people names. He stood filled with God's gift and spoke the truth. He didn't need to give a lengthy explanation, he spoke the facts and answered the question. Do we have this boldness? Now lets jump over to verse 13- Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. Now the leaders saw their boldness. And in the eyes of man, these standing before them did not have the education or background to know such things. Because scripture tells us they marveled at Peter and John. But because they were filled with the Holy Spirit and full of God, they had the boldness to speak the truth and stand on it. Now the Sanhedrin have to punish them and they forbid them to speak the name of Jesus. Lets look at Peter's response verse 19- 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. They pretty much just asked them, "Do you think you know more than God?" And then threw back at them for them to answer. Now I do want to look at the prayer of boldness these men prayed and pray that we all pray this on daily, hourly or every minute of every day. 23- And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24- So when they heard that, they RAISED their VOICE to God with ONE ACCORD and said, "Lord, You are God who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25- who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain 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 against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28- to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29- Now Lord, look on their threats and grant to Your servants that with ALL BOLDNESS they may speak YOUR WORD, 30- stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant, Jesus. 31-(The best part) And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were ALL filled with the Holy Spirit, and they SPOKE THE WORD OF GOD WITH BOLDNESS. Guys that is what it is going to take. Praying and letting the Holy Spirit fill us and then with study, the Holy Spirit, we all come together and stand on the word of God TOGETHER! This goes with yesterdays, no division. Satan has us right where he wants us. It is past time that the Child of God rise up and stand on His Word. Have a blessed day and RISE UP CHILDREN OF GOD, RISE UP!!!!!