1 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:05,280 In light of recent events, we will not be going through the 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:10,360 Book of Revelation today. Instead, I have one ambition, 3 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:18,240 one simple desire for you and for myself is that we would 4 00:00:18,240 --> 00:00:24,920 leave here with greater courage, with stronger boldness, with 5 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:30,120 more clarity, and with a sense of supernatural strength. 6 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:36,040 We discussed much on Wednesday night, even more on Friday. 7 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:42,360 But I want to immediately open up God's Word and see what God 8 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:47,120 has to say to us in these trying times for our nation and even 9 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:49,840 for the church. And so I invite you to turn with 10 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:53,200 me to the Book of Acts in chapter 28. 11 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:02,360 Students of the scriptures have noted in the past of a strange 12 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:06,760 ending of the Book of Acts. At first glance, it doesn't seem 13 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:11,800 to have a proper conclusion, doesn't end with a doxology. 14 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:16,200 There is no benediction. There doesn't seem to be any 15 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:21,360 final instructions of any kind. It seems to just abruptly end 16 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:27,160 with a brief comment on Paul's imprisonment in Rome while he 17 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:32,480 was under house arrest. But this unusual closing was not 18 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:37,480 due to Luke running out of parchment or this being the 19 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:39,920 result of the best that he can do under restrictive 20 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:43,720 circumstances. Like every other author of the 21 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:48,440 New Testament of the whole Bible, Luke was under the 22 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:52,680 inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And what we find here is 23 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:57,200 intentional. And the reason why Acts seems to 24 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:01,760 be concluding in an incomplete way is because, in a sense, the 25 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:05,400 story of Acts continues to this day. 26 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:11,960 You see, if the book of Acts were primarily about Peter or 27 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:17,560 Paul, then what we find here in these final verses would be 28 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:21,320 perplexing. But if we understand the book of 29 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:27,920 Acts for what it really is, recording the success of the 30 00:02:27,920 --> 00:02:33,360 spread of the gospel, then this ending is beautifully fitting. 31 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:39,160 What you have here in Acts 28 is the apostle to the Gentiles 32 00:02:39,640 --> 00:02:44,000 arriving in Rome, which at the time was the center of 33 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:47,480 government and trade. And when Paul arrives to the 34 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:51,640 strategic city, we read here that the author wants to 35 00:02:51,640 --> 00:02:55,560 conclude the narrative there. Nothing else is told about Paul. 36 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:58,360 What happens after this? We're going to read it in a 37 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:01,680 moment here. But again, it seems abrupt. 38 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:07,080 But it's meant to leave you and I as the readers of this account 39 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,960 with a sense of anticipation that this mighty evangelist and 40 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:16,120 apostle who has now finally arrived at this place will 41 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:20,560 surely be the cause of the expansion of the gospel across 42 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:24,920 the globe. And we know in church history 43 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:30,160 that it has in many ways. But more than that, it also 44 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:35,920 shows us here that the spread of the good news is ongoing. 45 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:40,800 That it doesn't stop the advancement extends beyond the 46 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:46,560 story and the discerning. I will even see that this is 47 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:52,200 also, in a sense, an invitation to every age and every believer 48 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:57,560 in those different periods of history to be a part of this 49 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:01,200 story, to actually play a part in bringing the gospel to new 50 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:06,760 places and to more people. Let me put it this way. 51 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:12,880 There is no Amen at the end of Acts because in a sense the 52 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:18,320 story goes on and we are part of it because we are the same 53 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:23,000 church that started here. We are part of the same story 54 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,320 that God began writing 2000 years ago. 55 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:29,560 And it's in these last verses, I believe, that we are given a 56 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:34,520 very helpful insight to show us how we as Christians could be 57 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:39,280 effective and continuing with the apostles laid down. 58 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,760 Let's read together in verse 30 of chapter 28 of Acts. 59 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:51,840 He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed 60 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:56,000 all who came to him. Being Paul proclaiming the 61 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:59,280 Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with 62 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:05,480 all boldness and without hindrance, I find it both 63 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:11,640 inspiring and insightful that one of the final words in the 64 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:15,560 book that speaks about the flourishing spread of the gospel 65 00:05:16,840 --> 00:05:20,600 is boldness. Boldness. 66 00:05:21,840 --> 00:05:27,320 Other translations might read openness or confidence, but I 67 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:29,960 want to. I want to use what the ESV 68 00:05:30,840 --> 00:05:34,120 renders. What does boldness mean 69 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:37,520 according to the Bible? Well, the original word simply 70 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:42,960 means freedom and speaking unreservedness in speech. 71 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:47,000 But when you see boldness in action in the Bible, you get a 72 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:48,600 sense that it's deeper than that. 73 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:52,120 You realize that is the act of speaking the truth with 74 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:55,920 confidence, conviction, and courage, even in the face of 75 00:05:55,920 --> 00:06:02,080 opposition. True boldness, by the way, never 76 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:08,600 justifies pushiness, insensitivity, aggression. 77 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:12,040 It never makes an excuse for recklessness. 78 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:20,320 Snarkiness, obnoxiousness should never be confused with rage or 79 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:26,880 profanity or being brash. There are some people who think 80 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:30,480 they're a bold when in reality they are just loud, rude, and 81 00:06:31,280 --> 00:06:36,480 unwise. On the other hand, boldness, 82 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:40,840 according to the Bible, refers to speaking the truth and living 83 00:06:40,840 --> 00:06:47,840 truthfully regardless of the risks because one is driven by 84 00:06:47,840 --> 00:06:52,920 love for Christ and a commitment to his revealed will. 85 00:06:54,840 --> 00:06:58,080 Paul had that boldness. And what we learn here at the 86 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:00,600 ending of the book of Acts is that in order for there to be 87 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:04,760 any hint of success for the spread of the gospel, you and I 88 00:07:05,280 --> 00:07:10,240 must understand that boldness is a non negotiable quality. 89 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:14,800 It is an essential ingredient to the Christian and to the 90 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:19,360 ministry of the church. And that's why I want to speak 91 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:22,440 to you about it today. I want to speak to you about 92 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:25,760 being bold for Christ and my genuine prayer. 93 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:28,520 Because this message, I'll tell you out front, is going to be 94 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:31,440 simple and most likely short. But so be it. 95 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:40,120 Because my prayer behind this is that cowardly Christianity would 96 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:46,760 die. Would die in any of us who are 97 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:50,280 honest enough to say that there is a level of you being held 98 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:56,680 back to be bold with your faith, faithful with the truth, 99 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:02,080 unashamed when an opportunity is presented to you to speak out 100 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,800 about Christ or to present the hope of who He is. 101 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:11,680 My desire is that there would be a new level fearlessness with 102 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:16,080 our testimonies. My true desire is that with all 103 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:21,200 the uncertainty in the air, with all the fear that you and I 104 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:27,800 would be willing to walk in biblical boldness no matter who 105 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:30,760 stands before us or what the outcome of our witness may be. 106 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:36,240 That's my sincere hope, and I pray that this message will be 107 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:39,200 of some help. And together we will prayerfully 108 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:41,480 pursue this by staying in the book of Acts. 109 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:45,080 To learn more about what true boldness entails, look back 110 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:48,440 again at verse 31. See that word boldness there? 111 00:08:48,680 --> 00:08:52,120 In Acts 2831, it appears a total of five times. 112 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:55,080 Throughout the book of Acts, the noun boldness appears a total of 113 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:58,400 five times in the book of Acts. And what I find interesting is 114 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:03,680 that three out of those five times it is concentrated in a 115 00:09:03,680 --> 00:09:05,720 single chapter. There's one chapter where the 116 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:10,280 word boldness appears three times, and I believe that is 117 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:14,160 especially helpful for us because it brings us into focus 118 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:19,320 to seeing early in this book the beauty, the availability, and 119 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:21,960 the necessity of boldness for the church. 120 00:09:23,840 --> 00:09:26,320 And I want us to go to that chapter together in Acts chapter 121 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:28,440 4. So let's turn that to a very 122 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:32,440 well known passage as we discover and rediscover perhaps 123 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:37,200 what happened to Peter and John once they were arrested after 124 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:39,440 demonstrating the healing name of Jesus and preaching the 125 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:41,600 gospel, resulting in thousands being saved. 126 00:09:42,680 --> 00:09:46,000 You know this very well. Peter and John were used by God 127 00:09:46,560 --> 00:09:49,760 to see a man who was crippled by the temple, to be restored to 128 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:54,080 full health and to be an object lesson of the powerful name of 129 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:58,440 the resurrected Christ, and so many were moved by it. 130 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:04,440 Instead, we find that there were others who were disturbed by it. 131 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:08,280 And so you have these religious leader that arrests them, they 132 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:11,600 stay overnight in the local jail and the next day they 133 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:15,040 interrogate them, wanting to know how it was that they were 134 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:19,440 able to perform this miracle. And so this duo give a brief yet 135 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:23,840 powerful explanation. And this is what we read after 136 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:30,080 their initial witness, verse 13. Now when they saw the boldness 137 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:34,200 of Peter and John and perceive that they were uneducated common 138 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:38,000 men, they were astonished and they recognized that they had 139 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:43,680 been with Jesus. The first thing that's vital to 140 00:10:43,680 --> 00:10:47,920 comprehend about biblical boldness, please hear this, is 141 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:50,440 that boldness is not a personality trait. 142 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:56,160 You might think that would be the case if this verse read 143 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:59,440 differently, if the religious leaders saw the boldness of John 144 00:11:00,560 --> 00:11:05,160 and we're astonished by it in comparison to the rest of the 145 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:07,120 apostles. You can argue that John had the 146 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:09,920 most courage for the simple reason that when others were 147 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:13,080 hiding while Christ was dying on the cross, he was the only one 148 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:15,880 who stood by him. That was dangerous. 149 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:20,000 That was risky. So if John was the only one in 150 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:23,320 view here, then you can say, well, you know, that's his 151 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:26,520 personality, that's his disposition, that's his genetic 152 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:29,360 makeup. That's just something that he 153 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:32,720 was born with that made him less afraid of dangerous situations. 154 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:35,840 But you can't say that you know why? 155 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:40,920 Because the boldness here is also attributed to Peter of all 156 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:44,760 people. The one who denied Jesus three 157 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:50,800 times, the one who cowered away, the one who shrunk from an 158 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:53,240 opportunity to stand for the Lord and to live up to his 159 00:11:53,240 --> 00:12:00,000 boast. The very same Peter here, who is 160 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:05,120 fearful to speak out for Christ, is now crowned with boldness, 161 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:11,120 and that should excite any of us who have a tendency of being 162 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:15,400 hesitant to speak up, of standing by the truth, of 163 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:20,840 defending righteousness. If Peter could be bold, so can 164 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:24,200 we. But moreover, notice that the 165 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:29,360 opposition acknowledged their bravery, yes, but before that 166 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:32,880 they also recognized that they were uneducated and common men. 167 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:37,280 What a thought. What a thought. 168 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:40,200 That boldness is not reserved for the formerly trained. 169 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:43,600 It's not a reward for the scholarly. 170 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:48,680 It's not something that one taps into because they are physically 171 00:12:48,680 --> 00:12:52,600 intimidating so they have the ability to muster up boldness. 172 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:56,400 Or maybe because they are outwardly beautiful and so 173 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:58,600 people are more willing to listen to what they have to say. 174 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:05,120 No, these religious leaders stood in awe as they sensed a 175 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:11,440 current of courage flowing out of these ordinary, common 176 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:20,040 looking Jews. They were stunned, which gives 177 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:22,000 us even more reason to rejoice today. 178 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:26,560 Because Christ, like Spirit, empowered otherworldly. 179 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:33,640 Boldness does not discriminate. This reality can be yours and 180 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:35,480 mine. For the same reason it was a 181 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:38,640 reality for these apostles. What does the verse say? 182 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:41,640 That they recognize that they had been with Jesus. 183 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:46,240 There was something about the influence of Christ in the lives 184 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:51,880 of these two that radiated from them in this intimidating 185 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:55,520 situation. And here's what's so wonderful. 186 00:13:55,640 --> 00:14:00,000 Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the living God, He does not 187 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:02,480 discriminate. And because he does not 188 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:06,680 discriminate, he shows no partiality to granting this gift 189 00:14:06,680 --> 00:14:08,720 of boldness to anybody who desires it. 190 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:14,320 So no matter who you are, how you look, how much you know, 191 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:21,720 this boldness can be yours. Doesn't matter what your 192 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:26,960 vocabulary level is, it doesn't matter what your background is, 193 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:32,240 none of that matters. This can be experienced and this 194 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:34,720 can actually have an effect if you tap into it. 195 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:39,600 The second thing to underline from this one verse is how 196 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:43,040 boldness is impactful. There's something attractive 197 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:48,640 about boldness, and that's true in several ways. 198 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:53,960 It's contagious among believers, and even here we realize that it 199 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:58,760 can grip and confound sinners. Notice again in the middle of 200 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:00,920 verse 13. It says here that they were 201 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:03,440 astonished. They were astonished at the 202 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:05,920 boldness of these men. It was unexpected. 203 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:09,600 It was a surprise. And what I take from this is 204 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:13,320 that even the world takes notice when a Christian is unashamed, 205 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:19,640 unmoved, not afraid, composed when they're standing for the 206 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:23,560 faith. And boldness does not 207 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:27,880 automatically guarantee conversions, but it does contain 208 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:33,080 the power to make an impression that sparks curiosity and even 209 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:38,880 conviction. In the case of Paul with the 210 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:42,840 Thessalonians, the boldness he had played a major part in their 211 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:44,800 salvation. I want us to turn there for a 212 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:46,520 moment. Go to 1st Thessalonians chapter 213 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:50,000 2. Look here with me in verse one 214 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:54,640 as he recounts his ministry among this group of believers 215 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:58,600 who are at one point not believers, and notice what he 216 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:01,360 says about the success of his efforts there. 217 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:09,760 First Thessalonians chapter 2, beginning in verse one for you 218 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:13,480 yourselves, no brothers that are coming to you was not in vain. 219 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:15,160 Why wasn't in vain? Paul? 220 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:19,360 Well, he explains in verse 2. But though we had already 221 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:21,960 suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you 222 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:27,240 know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of 223 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:29,160 God in the midst of much conflict. 224 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:33,600 Don't you love that little phrase boldness in our God? 225 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:35,200 You're not going to find it in yourself. 226 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:38,080 I'm not going to find it in myself, not in your gift, not in 227 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:41,600 your charisma. If you want biblical boldness, 228 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:46,240 it only comes from God. We had boldness in our God. 229 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:49,240 And notice here that he attributes to the success of his 230 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:57,720 trip to Thessalonica to a God empowered courage that he and 231 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:00,240 his team demonstrated while they were there. 232 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:06,640 Why was our visit not in vain? In great part because we had 233 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:10,000 boldness in our God to preach to you the gospel even though we 234 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:13,880 were surrounded by hostility and danger and threats. 235 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:25,280 A Christianity void of boldness is vanity, is vain, doesn't 236 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:28,600 amount to anything. It robs you. 237 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:31,480 It limits your impact on the loss by convincing you that 238 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:35,640 sharing your faith should only happen when it's convenient, not 239 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:39,160 when there's conflict. Open your mouth when there's an 240 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:42,800 openness in the culture, not when there's opposition. 241 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:48,720 Please never forget that cowardice will always cost us 242 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:55,360 way more than whatever boldness may require cowardice. 243 00:17:56,240 --> 00:18:02,600 We'll always be more expensive in our efforts for the Gospel 244 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:05,880 that whatever boldness may require of us. 245 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:11,680 And while we're here, why don't we just look at a couple of ways 246 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:14,560 we can prepare our hearts for this Apostolic energy to come 247 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:16,920 alive in US? I want to know. 248 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:19,880 I'm sure you do as well. Look here at verse 3 of the same 249 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,440 chapter. For our appeal does not spring 250 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:25,120 from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive. 251 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:28,160 But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted 252 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:33,800 with the gospel, so we speak not to please man, but to please God 253 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:40,320 who tests our hearts. People pleasing and boldness can 254 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:46,960 never coexist. Incompatible, Paul says, do you 255 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:49,160 know why we came to you with the boldness in our God? 256 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:50,560 Do you know why it was so effective? 257 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:53,120 Because we first determined long ago before we even arrived here 258 00:18:53,120 --> 00:19:00,720 that we will not speak for men. We will not speak with man's 259 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:04,400 opinion in mind. We will not share with the fear 260 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:07,400 of what they have to say about us. 261 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:12,160 You see the secret to Paul tapping into this boldness and 262 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:15,560 how we going to be a success for you in your family, in your 263 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:18,680 workplace, at your school, among your peers. 264 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:23,960 You must train yourself by the grace of God and by the truths 265 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:27,040 of the Scripture to ask questions like what does God 266 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:30,720 want from me? What would make him happy out of 267 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:33,960 this? What would bring most honor to 268 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:38,080 his name? What is it that he longs from 269 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:39,480 me? Not well, not what others have 270 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:43,160 to say. And the more you are consumed 271 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:45,960 with them, the more you are preoccupied by that, the less 272 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:50,840 room there is for people to influence you and to determine 273 00:19:51,360 --> 00:19:53,200 how faithful you are to the truth. 274 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:58,880 And the wonderful thing about Paul's God word ambition is that 275 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:00,680 it brought the greatest blessing to people. 276 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:06,880 When Christians are not bold, they do nobody a favor. 277 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:11,120 You don't inspire Christians and you make no impact on the lost. 278 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:15,840 You're just floating around. You're just on a lazy river 279 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:19,200 called ministry. Just just just wherever it goes, 280 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:23,040 I'm just going to go. That's useless, absolutely 281 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:28,000 useless. This man says no, no, I'll tell 282 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:31,760 you why. We're a bold We've determined to 283 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:37,440 please God with our words, with our message, with our 284 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:40,800 philosophy, but it's more than that. 285 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:45,600 Come down here to verse 5. For we never came with words of 286 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:49,800 flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed. 287 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:55,080 God is witness. So more than his heart being 288 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:59,320 free from people pleasing, Paul's heart was totally 289 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:05,680 liberated from any covetousness. This man had zero financial 290 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:09,800 ambition. Why is that relevant to 291 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:11,840 boldness? Because you couldn't buy Paul 292 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:14,080 and you can't sell anything to Paul. 293 00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:20,440 He could not be influenced by anybody who could profit him. 294 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:25,800 It didn't cross his mind. He didn't manipulate and massage 295 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:31,680 his ministry message, his gospel presentation with other 296 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:34,160 ambitions and motives. I hope I can befriend this 297 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:36,600 person because they'll really contribute financially to this. 298 00:21:37,120 --> 00:21:41,720 None of that. He trusted God to take care of 299 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:43,200 him. He really believed. 300 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:45,080 If I'm faithful to the truth, God will take care of my 301 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:47,640 ministry. Not to play games. 302 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:50,760 Don't have to play Kate, don't have to dilute anything. 303 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:53,520 Don't have to wonder who what soul is soul is. 304 00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:54,400 Are they going to be there Sunday? 305 00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:55,720 I'm just going to preach a very strong word. 306 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:56,720 I don't want to step on their toe. 307 00:21:56,720 --> 00:21:58,480 None of that silliness with Paul. 308 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:07,440 Completely consumed with a faith that God will take care of me. 309 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:12,160 Money has a way of muzzling Christians and not just 310 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:14,360 Christians. Pastors, God help us. 311 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:20,000 If you're doing this thing for money, get out of the ministry. 312 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:25,040 Has nothing to do with money. You really believe God, then 313 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:26,920 preach the Word and let him take care of you. 314 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:34,240 You see, the freer one is from the love of praise and the 315 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:37,840 desire for material grant gain, the bolder we become. 316 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:45,120 You can't hold on to financial, material, comfort, luxury, 317 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:49,040 pursuing that, securing, that nourishing that. 318 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:52,120 You can't hold on to an addiction to people's opinions 319 00:22:52,120 --> 00:22:55,080 about you and expect to be a bold Christian at the same time. 320 00:22:55,360 --> 00:23:00,840 Choose one or the other, But also I'll tell you why I was 321 00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:05,520 bold. I, I determined to speak for God 322 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:09,040 and I determined to do so at any cost. 323 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:16,040 This is just a couple of thoughts from Acts 413, but you 324 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:17,440 know what question I had the other day? 325 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:24,240 What did they see that concluded they were bold? 326 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:30,840 What is it that came out of these two in Acts chapter 4 that 327 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:35,360 proved that they had courage? And I want you to see it with me 328 00:23:35,360 --> 00:23:38,760 because we find it in the verses proceeding. 329 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:45,880 Look back here in Acts 4 and look here at verse 7. 330 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:52,280 This is the following day after they were arrested. 331 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:55,880 And it says here. And when they had set them in 332 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:59,080 the midst, they inquired, by what power or by what name did 333 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:01,640 you do this? Then Peter Phil of the Holy 334 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:08,480 Spirit said to them, Rulers of the people and elders, here's 335 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:11,000 one major property for boldness and a boldness. 336 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:17,920 Boldness blinds you from your audience. 337 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:23,920 You don't see what other men would see. 338 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:26,280 I'm talking about a good kind of blindness. 339 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:30,400 You're not affected by who's standing before you. 340 00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:35,080 You're not influenced by the presence of some influential 341 00:24:35,120 --> 00:24:40,560 figure or powerful man. Notice here that the first thing 342 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:42,040 that they say is they acknowledge who these men were 343 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:45,640 rulers of the people and elders, and they're about to preach the 344 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:52,400 raw gospel in their presence. What boldness does is strip away 345 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:57,160 the fear of man. What boldness does is help you 346 00:24:57,160 --> 00:25:01,400 perceive man the way God does. See, these are rulers. 347 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:05,080 These are these are big names in Jerusalem. 348 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:10,120 And yet, because these men were filled with the Holy Spirit and 349 00:25:10,120 --> 00:25:15,320 as a result driven with boldness, as the context shows, 350 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:19,680 they just saw them as sinners who are under the wrath of God 351 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:25,120 and need to be saved. So the natural they were rulers, 352 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:30,840 sure, but in the spiritual they were in desperate need of the 353 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:34,040 truth. Boldness does that when it's 354 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:38,920 given by the Holy Spirit. It blinds you from the faces, 355 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:44,880 the reactions, the potential ramifications of of those who 356 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:48,800 can do something about you because of what you stand for. 357 00:25:51,280 --> 00:25:55,280 But not only that, look here. What happens next in verse 9 he 358 00:25:55,280 --> 00:25:58,440 continues, if we were being examined today concerning a good 359 00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:02,000 deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been 360 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:03,680 healed. Let it be known to all of you 361 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:06,960 and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ 362 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:12,120 of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead by 363 00:26:12,120 --> 00:26:14,720 him, this man is standing before you. 364 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:18,600 Well, it's not only does this boldness blind you to your 365 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:22,920 audience, but boldness caused you to speak unapologetically 366 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:29,680 and unambiguously about sin. You see what happens here? 367 00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:35,800 He addresses them and he confronts them about their 368 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:37,840 crime. And he doesn't speak in 369 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:44,760 generalities. Whom you crucified. 370 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:49,200 When a preacher, when a Christian is really filled with 371 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:53,320 spirit empowered boldness, They don't tiptoe around 372 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:59,280 controversial air quotes issues. They don't they call it as it is 373 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:04,400 when when they preach, they don't just talk about the wrong 374 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:12,000 that we have all done, how we all have just lost our way. 375 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:14,880 Yeah, that's a biblical phrase. But you also find that the Bible 376 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:21,240 lists sins, puts a language to these things. 377 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:27,360 And so with a holy love but also with a holy boldness, you can 378 00:27:27,360 --> 00:27:31,440 expect somebody who is possessed with this force to actually 379 00:27:31,440 --> 00:27:37,280 addressed things in a way that is meant to address people 380 00:27:37,360 --> 00:27:40,520 personally. Is there wisdom in how we do 381 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:41,640 this? Absolutely. 382 00:27:41,640 --> 00:27:44,280 I hope you hear this as principles and not as just a 383 00:27:44,280 --> 00:27:52,520 black and white blueprint, but so much of what we hear today 384 00:27:52,520 --> 00:28:00,400 just dances around the issues. So much of what we hear today is 385 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:03,480 first introduced with so many apologies from the pulpit, as 386 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:05,760 though what we're saying we don't really want to say, but we 387 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:07,480 have to say it because we don't want to get in trouble by the 388 00:28:07,480 --> 00:28:14,160 actual Christians in the church. It's just powerless. 389 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:20,800 It really is. Boldness calls out sin. 390 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:25,560 Boldness can see the current issues in society and say it's 391 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:27,360 evil. That's wrong. 392 00:28:27,360 --> 00:28:33,560 That's from hell. Finally, look at verse 11. 393 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:41,040 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, 394 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:44,640 which has become the cornerstone, and there is 395 00:28:44,640 --> 00:28:47,560 salvation and no one else, for there is no other name under 396 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:50,120 heaven given among men by which we must be saved. 397 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:54,440 Boldness will make you unashamed to publicly testify the mission 398 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:58,000 and person of Christ. A lot of people have no issue 399 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:05,160 talking about God higher power. That's not what Paul, or rather 400 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:09,280 Peter is preaching like. He brings up the name of Jesus. 401 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:13,080 He brings up the exclusivity of his mission, of his cross, and 402 00:29:13,080 --> 00:29:23,560 he doesn't flinch doing it. Boldness will compel you to 403 00:29:23,560 --> 00:29:26,440 speak about Christ without quivering. 404 00:29:29,920 --> 00:29:35,560 This is what they saw. They saw that they were unfazed 405 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:40,880 by these big names who had real abilities. 406 00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:46,320 I mean, they just arrested them. You know, these two apostles, 407 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:52,600 Stoic, I'm sure. Respectful, absolutely. 408 00:29:53,160 --> 00:30:01,120 But strong, direct, clear, unafraid, unashamed. 409 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:09,480 More can be said about this, but we've only touched on the first 410 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:11,760 time boldness appears in this chapter. 411 00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:13,080 Let's look at the two other times. 412 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:19,760 Look here at the end of this chapter in verse 29 and Acts 413 00:30:19,760 --> 00:30:23,280 429. This is after the two apostles 414 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:26,560 were released being threatened and warned never to speak and 415 00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:30,520 teach about the name of Jesus. So they go to their friends and 416 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:33,360 they have a prayer meeting and this is what we read near the 417 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:39,640 end of their prayer in Acts 429. And now, Lord, look upon their 418 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:42,360 threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak 419 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:47,280 your word with all boldness while you stretch out your hand 420 00:30:47,280 --> 00:30:48,800 to heal. And signs and wonders are 421 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:51,800 performed through the name of your holy servant, Jesus. 422 00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:54,480 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were 423 00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:57,160 gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with 424 00:30:57,160 --> 00:31:02,360 the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with 425 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:05,400 boldness. There were the two other times. 426 00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:09,160 And I want to use this text to end with this thought. 427 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:13,320 How do we get it? How do we get this boldness? 428 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:18,960 And I want to use the letter A to mention at least four ways. 429 00:31:20,960 --> 00:31:23,280 The first is to assemble with God's people. 430 00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:26,080 What's the context of this prayer? 431 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:27,800 Again, it begins back in verse 23. 432 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:30,120 Peter and John were released. They went to their friends and 433 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:33,160 reported all that the chief priests and elder said to them. 434 00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:37,480 God designed Christian community. 435 00:31:38,120 --> 00:31:40,680 God designed Christian relationships to be the fuel 436 00:31:40,680 --> 00:31:46,920 station for our courage. Christ sent them out two by 437 00:31:46,920 --> 00:31:50,360 twos. Clearly there is something there 438 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:53,520 about that companionship that made the more effective in their 439 00:31:53,520 --> 00:31:56,320 gospel witness. And He gives us more than just 440 00:31:56,320 --> 00:31:58,120 instruction how to go out to the loss. 441 00:31:58,400 --> 00:32:02,680 He shows us even here by way of example, that there is genuine 442 00:32:02,680 --> 00:32:08,160 boldness that can be experienced in community when you gather 443 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:09,840 with God's people. Why? 444 00:32:09,840 --> 00:32:13,800 Because testimonies are there. Encouragement is there. 445 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:20,000 Truth is championed there. Think about Paul with the 446 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:21,640 Philippians. You know this very well. 447 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:23,360 A lot of this is just reminders for us. 448 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:27,680 But in Philippians 114, he says, and most of the brothers haven't 449 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:31,480 become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more 450 00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:34,280 bold to speak the word without fear. 451 00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:38,120 They're much more bold now because of my imprisonment. 452 00:32:38,360 --> 00:32:39,960 You would think it would be the opposite. 453 00:32:40,640 --> 00:32:45,120 But again, there's something attractive about boldness, and 454 00:32:45,120 --> 00:32:49,000 all it takes is one person to have it and to pay a price for 455 00:32:49,000 --> 00:32:53,840 it, to set off a movement to take people to a new level in 456 00:32:53,840 --> 00:32:58,000 their faith, to shake off the cobwebs of their own 457 00:32:58,000 --> 00:33:01,080 complacency. If Paul was willing to go to 458 00:33:01,080 --> 00:33:04,640 prison, what are we doing here? If Paul thinks it's worth it to 459 00:33:04,640 --> 00:33:07,680 die for Christ, then let it be true of us. 460 00:33:09,960 --> 00:33:16,000 So God has given us community. For our own personal courage, we 461 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:21,120 assemble regularly, and we need to do that more and more in 462 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:24,600 these times. But more than that, we abide. 463 00:33:25,360 --> 00:33:28,440 We abide in God's Word. Notice that in the middle of 464 00:33:28,440 --> 00:33:31,760 their prayer back in verse 24, what they do says here in verse 465 00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:33,360 24. And when they heard it, they 466 00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:35,960 lifted their voices together to God and said, Sovereign Lord, 467 00:33:35,960 --> 00:33:38,120 who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything 468 00:33:38,120 --> 00:33:40,360 in them, who through the mouth of our Father David, your 469 00:33:40,360 --> 00:33:43,440 servant said by the Holy Spirit, why did the Gentiles rage and 470 00:33:43,440 --> 00:33:46,000 the people's plot in vain? The kings of the earth set 471 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:48,760 themselves and the rulers were gathered together against the 472 00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:54,640 Lord and against his anointed. Here they are in need of a fresh 473 00:33:54,680 --> 00:33:57,720 dose of of courage and boldness and what do they do? 474 00:33:57,720 --> 00:34:02,640 They quote scripture, they bring to mind God's sovereignty 475 00:34:02,640 --> 00:34:04,760 revealed in His Word. They bring to mind God's 476 00:34:04,760 --> 00:34:06,240 Providence. They bring to mind His 477 00:34:06,240 --> 00:34:09,159 character, what He's done in history, how what He said in His 478 00:34:09,159 --> 00:34:11,080 Word relates to their present time. 479 00:34:14,199 --> 00:34:19,639 You want to nurture boldness, feed on the truth, familiarize 480 00:34:19,639 --> 00:34:22,880 yourself with stories. I mean, I was ready to jump when 481 00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:28,800 Pastor Ben opened up about James and John and Steven and how it 482 00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:31,480 how about how in every case their martyrdom made way for the 483 00:34:31,480 --> 00:34:34,080 word of God to spread. I was ready to say Amen and just 484 00:34:34,080 --> 00:34:40,120 go something about the truth. It has power. 485 00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:45,840 You can't rely on your emotions. Even with this recent tragedy in 486 00:34:45,840 --> 00:34:50,239 our nation, don't expect to stay stirred 2 weeks from now the way 487 00:34:50,239 --> 00:34:53,679 you're stirred now. You need to abide in God's Word. 488 00:34:55,199 --> 00:34:57,120 You need to remind yourself of eternal truth. 489 00:34:57,200 --> 00:35:01,080 Events will come and go and God uses them. 490 00:35:03,200 --> 00:35:11,000 But if you want to remain attached to this heavenly force, 491 00:35:11,720 --> 00:35:13,280 you need to stay attached to God's Word. 492 00:35:15,840 --> 00:35:22,320 Thirdly, ask, ask, and ask again. 493 00:35:23,920 --> 00:35:26,840 Boldness is not designed to be permanent. 494 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:30,720 It's not like you get it and you have it forever. 495 00:35:31,920 --> 00:35:36,800 It is subject to vacillation. It is subject to being taken 496 00:35:36,800 --> 00:35:40,400 from you. Boldness yesterday may not be 497 00:35:40,400 --> 00:35:44,720 there tomorrow, may not be there even now. 498 00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:48,720 So these same men who earlier in acts were filled with the Holy 499 00:35:48,720 --> 00:35:52,360 Spirit spoke boldly are now and the chapter hasn't even ended 500 00:35:52,360 --> 00:35:54,360 yet. The story of of this part of the 501 00:35:54,360 --> 00:35:55,720 Scripture hasn't even concluded yet. 502 00:35:55,960 --> 00:35:59,080 And yet they find themselves yet again coming before God and 503 00:35:59,080 --> 00:36:02,080 saying, oh Lord, fill us again. Give us more of this. 504 00:36:04,320 --> 00:36:06,520 It wasn't enough that we had it when we had that meeting with 505 00:36:06,520 --> 00:36:08,720 you. We need it now as we move 506 00:36:08,720 --> 00:36:12,840 forward, and God graciously grants it. 507 00:36:14,080 --> 00:36:15,800 Pray for it in the morning when you wake up. 508 00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:18,400 Pray for it as you are stepping into that meeting. 509 00:36:18,400 --> 00:36:21,160 Pray for it before you go to that doctor's appointment. 510 00:36:21,160 --> 00:36:23,520 Pray for the wisdom to know what to say. 511 00:36:23,800 --> 00:36:26,680 Pray for whether you should say anything at all. 512 00:36:29,800 --> 00:36:45,040 Pray always, finally, act, act. There's no good and asking for 513 00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:47,720 it if you're not prepared to do something with it. 514 00:36:49,360 --> 00:36:52,120 What does it say here at the end of verse 30 of Acts 4 and 515 00:36:52,120 --> 00:36:55,040 continue to speak the Word of God with boldness. 516 00:36:58,840 --> 00:37:03,080 Is there anything in your mind or in mind that is strategic 517 00:37:03,720 --> 00:37:10,720 with the gospel? Let this be a revival in each of 518 00:37:10,720 --> 00:37:17,640 us to actually be mindful of opening our mouths in different 519 00:37:17,640 --> 00:37:21,880 settings or maybe with people who we've known for some time 520 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:24,320 and yet they don't know that we're actually born again 521 00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:30,440 followers of Christ. Sometimes we wait for a 522 00:37:30,440 --> 00:37:33,520 sensation, maybe even what we find here in this testimony that 523 00:37:33,520 --> 00:37:35,800 the walls would shake. OK, we got boldness, now we can 524 00:37:35,800 --> 00:37:39,240 do something. And what you find regularly 525 00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:43,520 throughout Acts is that boldness accompanies the act of stepping 526 00:37:43,520 --> 00:37:49,120 out, that it almost meets you while you are ready to do 527 00:37:49,120 --> 00:37:53,600 something. And so you might sweat a bit. 528 00:37:54,920 --> 00:37:57,040 You might not know how you're going to articulate yourself. 529 00:37:57,920 --> 00:37:59,960 You might not know how this is going to flow. 530 00:38:00,640 --> 00:38:05,240 One of the beauties of this boldness is that it tends to 531 00:38:05,240 --> 00:38:07,680 surprise you as much as it might surprise someone else. 532 00:38:09,640 --> 00:38:14,000 Maybe you've been there where you you're almost beside 533 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:16,080 yourself saying what? What was that? 534 00:38:17,120 --> 00:38:20,280 Or you leave a conversation with somebody over the stranger at 535 00:38:20,280 --> 00:38:21,840 the grocery store, whatever the case may be. 536 00:38:21,840 --> 00:38:23,520 And you think, where did that scripture come from? 537 00:38:23,520 --> 00:38:25,760 I didn't. I memorized that years ago. 538 00:38:25,760 --> 00:38:28,880 I don't remember the last time I read that chapter. 539 00:38:28,880 --> 00:38:32,640 Where did that come from? You have to be willing to act. 540 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:40,000 You have to be willing to act. I'll end it here. 541 00:38:44,880 --> 00:38:51,920 We can't rely on events, surely, but we have to be wise and make 542 00:38:51,920 --> 00:38:53,720 the best use of time for the days are evil. 543 00:38:58,760 --> 00:39:01,520 Now's not the time to be worried about the America that your kids 544 00:39:01,520 --> 00:39:08,520 are going to grow up in. Now is not the time to be overly 545 00:39:08,520 --> 00:39:15,720 consumed by media and news to the point that you're unable to 546 00:39:15,720 --> 00:39:21,360 hear God in His Word. Now is not the time to allow 547 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:24,160 your emotions to just make you angry and sit there. 548 00:39:26,120 --> 00:39:29,680 Now is the time to lift your head, assemble with God's 549 00:39:29,680 --> 00:39:35,160 people, abide in His Word, ask for boldness, and even ask God, 550 00:39:35,160 --> 00:39:36,480 Lord, where do you want me to act? 551 00:39:43,160 --> 00:39:46,200 This is a wonderful opportunity for the church to make an 552 00:39:46,200 --> 00:39:49,320 impact, but it can't happen without boldness. 553 00:39:50,880 --> 00:39:57,320 If you're a preacher here, an aspiring minister, I know 554 00:39:57,320 --> 00:39:59,840 education is important, theological training is good. 555 00:40:00,800 --> 00:40:04,520 But what I've discovered in my short time of ministry is that 556 00:40:04,520 --> 00:40:07,320 you can have letters beside your name and be a coward. 557 00:40:12,200 --> 00:40:16,120 PH DS Do nothing if you're not willing to preach the whole 558 00:40:16,120 --> 00:40:23,960 counsel of God. And so May God empower pastors. 559 00:40:25,480 --> 00:40:28,880 And more than that, May God do something in his people. 560 00:40:30,080 --> 00:40:35,000 So the world at this time would be astonished at the boldness of 561 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:40,680 the church. Father, we ask, though so much 562 00:40:40,680 --> 00:40:49,440 more could be said, we take this simple truth to be bold. 563 00:40:51,800 --> 00:40:54,480 And so though we do what we just learned in Your Word, we ask 564 00:40:54,480 --> 00:40:57,280 for, we ask for, we ask for it. God, please. 565 00:40:57,520 --> 00:41:02,040 We need boldness in our God. We need boldness from the Holy 566 00:41:02,040 --> 00:41:06,360 Spirit. And Lord of these great apostles 567 00:41:07,240 --> 00:41:11,000 sought it more than once. Surely we are in need to 568 00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:16,360 perpetually pray so Lord, we don't make excuses with our 569 00:41:16,360 --> 00:41:24,160 personalities. And Lord, we even choose today, 570 00:41:24,960 --> 00:41:28,280 in a fresh way to confess that we love Your truth more than our 571 00:41:28,280 --> 00:41:32,000 own lives. Show us what to do in this hour. 572 00:41:33,080 --> 00:41:34,840 But Lord, don't leave us to ourselves. 573 00:41:38,760 --> 00:41:44,520 Give us true boldness made in fact, the church may make an 574 00:41:44,520 --> 00:41:49,760 impression on the lost, and may you be glorified and all in 575 00:41:49,800 --> 00:41:51,320 Jesus name we pray. Amen.