Praying for Boldness (Acts 4:23-31)

The apostles, Peter and John, were arrested for healing a man who was lame and giving credit to Jesus. After spending a night in jail, they boldly claimed that the religious leaders who imprisoned them were murderers. They tell the religious leaders to their face that Jesus, whom they crucified, is the fulfillment of God's promises. He is the Messiah who provides salvation. There is no other name by which we must be saved.

These statements were bold enough to offend the religious leaders, but they could not harm these apostles because they had just healed a man who was lame in front of the temple for the last forty years!

The Release and the Reaction

Today, I want us to take some time to look at what they say in response.

Acts 4:23--24 (ESV) --- 23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,

Peter and John went to their friends to let them know the details about what happened. Imagine how you would feel after going through this. Would you be excited to be set free? Would you complain about how you were treated? Notice that they don't turn to their friends to complain. They aren't angry or rebellious. They and their friends lift their voices together to God. What do they say?

God is Powerful

Acts 4:24--28 (ESV) --- 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’--- 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 plan had predestined to take place.

When they speak to God, they don't begin with a request or accuse God of being unfaithful because God let them be arrested and threatened. They start out talking about how good God is. He is Sovereign, meaning that he is in control of everything. He is the master of masters. He created everything, everywhere. It's interesting how they start recognizing and proclaiming the nature of God to whom they are lifting their voices. They recognize that He knows everything that has happened and is in control of what will happen in the future.

What has happened to them resembles what happened to Jesus, and the murder of Jesus is the fulfillment of Psalm 2. This Psalm points out that the nations will rage against God and his anointed. It points out that God expected their resistance to His will. This is how the world always reacts and responds to the truth about God. There is a global resistance to the truth. Men want to be in control of their lives. They want to gain power and authority over God's anointed king. What the disciples are going through is no different. Resistance is not new.

Verses 27 and 28 tell us that this resistance to Jesus was a part of God's plan. **God was not surprised by this. He used it to accomplish his will. Consider the importance of this concept. Because they look at the world through this lens, the disciples are ready to make their requests.**

Requesting Boldness

Acts 4:29--30 (ESV) --- 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

In these two verses, the disciples make a request. Do they ask for God to stop the persecution? Do they want him to destroy their enemies and make their lives easier? Do they ask for great physical blessings? They don't ask for any of these things.

They say, "Now, Lord, look upon their threats." That's the extent of the revenge that they call for. They want God to handle it as he deems best. Their request is primarily focused on boldness. They want to continue to speak God's word despite these threats.

Have you ever been threatened? Have you ever been pushed around and commanded to be silent for speaking about Jesus too much? If you have been, how did you respond? It's really easy to cower. But these men didn't do that. They came together and prayed for God to work inside them to give them boldness. They prayed for God to work in a way that is miraculous and obvious to none believers. They want God to heal in this way again. They want God to do what he did through Jesus.

God Responds

It's amazing how resilient the disciples are at this time. We spoke about how they devoted themselves to prayer, study, fellowship, and the Lord's Supper. Now we see that they are entirely devoted to spreading the truth about Christ. They don't want to stop. They want to press on, and they ask God for help. The most amazing thing happens after they say, "Amen."

Acts 4:31 (ESV) --- 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Their meeting place shook, and God again filled them with the Holy Spirit. They went out from that place, speaking boldly about Christ. Those threats did not affect them or slow them down. They were more like fuel for the fire. God was with them and filling them with boldness to share the truth.

Prepare Yourself

When the world around us rejects the truth of the gospel, do we act surprised? God told us over three thousand years ago that this would be the case. If we tell people about Jesus, they will reject him. It doesn't matter how much evidence we can provide. They don't care that everything happened exactly as God foretold thousands of years beforehand. Hundreds of witnesses testified that he was raised from the dead. The apostles even healed a man who had been lame for forty years right in front of them. But people don't believe it because they don't want to. They resist and reject it.

Romans 1:18--21 (ESV) --- 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

In John 3, we read that they do this because they love to live in darkness rather than see the light.

John 3:19--21 (ESV) --- 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

When we look at people living for the world, we can see how much they love it. They would rather stay in the darkness than come to light. In the darkness, they enjoy their idols and the pleasures of sin, but they have no idea how deceptive it all is. The truth is that Satan is slowly eroding their conscience. Pretty soon, they won't recognize themselves. They will experience tremendous pain, suffering, and hopelessness without God being there to help them. They will cause pain and suffering to those whom they love. Life in the dark is not a great life. It's a miserable life.

In 1 Peter, we read about how the people around us are often surprised when we refuse to do what they do.

1 Peter 4:3--6 (ESV) --- 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

They do not understand who God is and what God wants, so they are surprised. Are we ready to stand out like that and endure the rejection that comes with it?

Then, we learn that we shouldn't be surprised when they punish us for our beliefs.

1 Peter 4:12--19 (ESV) --- 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

People will reject us and reject our savior. It doesn't matter how much proof we throw at them. People will reject us if we believe the truth and try to give it to them, but compassion drives us on.

Don't be surprised by the world's rejection. It's not new. It wasn't new in the first century and won't be new later this week. There are tons of unchurched people out there who have no idea who Jesus is. They live in the dark, and only the light of truth will give them life.

Do you feel resistance?

How do you feel when you want to talk to someone about Jesus? Do you feel an internal resistance and struggle to speak? We are afraid. Do you see that the disciples were afraid as well? We need boldness and courage. Instead of shifting away from the hard work of spreading the truth about Jesus, we need to press in. Work Jesus into the conversation, and don't get distracted from having hard conversations with people we love. But our love for them should motivate us to speak the truth.

I suggest that if you don't even think about speaking about Jesus, you are entering the dark. If there is no resistance in you because you don't want to speak the truth, your heart is hardened. That's not compassion and love for your neighbor. The world hasn't stopped raging against our savior. We can't be innocent bystanders because God has given us the gospel to share. When we see people dying, we must at least try to give them the medicine God has prescribed. We have to engage in spiritual warfare.

Why Should We Speak?

So often, we refuse to speak. Why? Is it because we know that the world is going to reject it? Do we think telling people the truth will destroy our relationship with them? If we speak the truth in love, their rejection is their fault. If we stay humble, they shouldn't be proud. They will be proud and reject the truth, but that's not on you! Please don't feel guilty because people reject the truth. Please do not be surprised by this or disheartened by this. Look at the disciples. They understand that this is to be expected.

But did you know that you will fail to reap if we refuse to spread seed?

Ecclesiastes (Spread your seed)

Luke (Cast your nets on the other side)

Romans (The power is in the gospel)

In Nehemiah, there was an excellent resistance to building the wall. The greatest thing a church can have is a few people who are bullheaded about evangelism, like Nehemiah was bullheaded about building the wall. We build anyway.

Conclusion

Before we close, please understand that God will accomplish his will through evil people. He will spread his word, whether it's through us or someone else. He will create a love for him, his word, his people, and the lost world in someone. It will be with a denomination up the road if it's not you.

If you lack boldness, ask for it. If you are afraid, I understand why you are afraid. But don't pray for people to stop resisting the light. That's not going to happen. Instead, let's ask for boldness to speak the truth in the face of resistance. Let's be bullheaded about God's mission for us. If the government tells us to be silent about God, let's speak out courageously, even if it means people won't understand what we are doing.