Be Bold For Christ

AW Tozer said, “The true follower of Christ will not ask, "If I embrace this truth, what will it cost me?" Rather they will say, "This is truth. God help me to walk in it, let come what may!" How many times have you had the chance to witness to someone about Christ and failed to do so because of fear of rejection or being mocked or worse? I have. So how do we gain boldness in Christ to witness without flinching? How to we stand up and proclaim to lost people the name of Jesus Christ our Lord in this fallen world? How do we become emboldened disciples? How do we as Christians keep from backing down? How do we fight for what we believe in when our society tells us to stand down?

It starts with allowing the Holy Spirit full access to your life. The Apostle Peter denied Christ three times as Jesus said he would, but what happened after the indwelling of the Holy Spirit into the Christians at Pentecost?

Please turn to Acts 4:8-20: “Then Peter, 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. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 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. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” 18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 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. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

Confidence in Christ! Peter would never again deny his Savior no matter the cost. Peter, John and the other Apostles would not back down. Neither should we. Whom do we have to fear? Whom do we have to fear? We had better start fearing God in this country! Because we are only in the beginning of judgments for turning our back on God as a nation. Right now, Christians in the Middle East, Africa and Asia are dying every day as martyrs for Jesus Christ. American Christians are starting to be persecuted and silenced for their faith in the One true God.

We still have first amendment protection in this country but we are quieter about Jesus than Christians in countries who will be imprisoned or killed for just mentioning His name or carrying a bible!

No wonder we are watching our freedoms erode and give way to sinful, godless people taking over this nation. The Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage is a prime example of what happens in a Christian society when the church is passive and tolerant. Something else that really bothers me is that Christians will defend to the teeth their doctrines or traditions of men that they believe in when they debate points with other Christians, but where is this same passion and fervor when going against false religions and haters of God? Or even just standing up and telling someone about the love of Jesus? Where is the passion for Christ!? Forgive me church but this angers me and I fear for my country!

A Chinese Communist, who delivered many Christians to their execution, came to a pastor and said: "I’ve seen many of you die. The Christians die differently. What is their secret?" Lost people want to know our secret. Let’s give it to them! We have to take every opportunity to give it to them. Even if they will not acknowledge it – give it to them anyway! Plant a seed of truth. As Christians we all suffer major and minor persecutions. We must witness boldly to spread the message of Christ and give God glory. The Holy Spirit gives us the muscle to be unflinching in the declaration and defense of our Savior. We just need to move ourselves out of the way and let Him do it! We have to become submissive to God and obey God by obeying His Word. Then true discipleship happens in your life.