THE GOSPEL PRODUCES BOLDNESS
Acts 4:1-13
INTRODUCTION:
A. Random Houses Webster’s College Dictionary defines “bold” as 1) not hesitating or fearful in the face of danger – courageous; or 2) scorning or ignoring the rules of propriety; forward; impudent
1. In one manner of speaking boldness can be a good thing, but in different circumstances it could be a bad thing
2. To have the boldness to rush into a burning building to save a life would be a good thing
3. However, Husbands when your wife tries on a new dress and asks, “Does This make me look fat? To say, “Yes, like a barn” would in deed be bold but utterly stupid, as well!
B. So I ask you, “Have you ever just wanted to be bold about something?”
1. I watch these folks bungee jumping or base jumping and I think, “That looks fun.”
2. But I don’t think I could do it – I don’t think I could get up that kind of boldness – the kind that over turns fear, and sets one free, so to speak.
C. In our Scripture passage this evening I see both ends of the spectrum when it comes to boldness: the good and the bad.
1. Lets read Acts 4:1-13 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, [2] Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. [3] And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. [4] Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. [5] And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, [6] And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. [7] And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? [8] Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, [9] If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; [10] Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. [11] This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. [12] Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. [13] Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
2. Here I saw three things I want to share with you
a. In the Proclamation of the Gospel its enemies become bold
b. In the Proclamation of the Gospel its messengers will be made bold
c. God given boldness will be a witness for Jesus
D. May God give us a boldness to be a witness for Him.
PRAY
Jesus had said, But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them (Mark 13:9) so it should not have been a surprise to Peter, nor should it be a surprise to us when in the process of
I. THE PROCLIMATION OF THE GOSPEL ITS ENEMIES BECOME BOLD, Acts 4:1-7 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, [2] Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. [3] And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. [4] Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. [5] And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, [6] And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. [7] And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
A. What Was Said?
1. Here is Peter’s message - Acts 3:13-16, 19, 26 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. [14] But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; [15] And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. [16] And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all…Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,… (for)Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
a. Peter preached the gospel of Jesus Christ
b. Peter told the people that the reason the lame man could walk was because Jesus had healed him.
2. Jesus the risen Christ was the power and name by which physical healing and spiritual healing could take place!
3. And in the process 5000 accepted Jesus as the Messiah and their Savior
B. The Reason For Their Anger
1. If you read the complete narrative of today’s passage you will find that the Sadducees were not upset about the healing, but rather the NAME used in the healing – JESUS
2. They had thought they got rid of that scoundrel that was making a mess of their pretty self righteous social status
3. They could do what they wanted and how they wanted and that was fine with them & at the same time they could claim to be “religious”
4. They did not like being told that they were a bunch of vipers, sinful and unclean and they thought they had taken care of the “problem”
5. Now these two, Peter and John, show up filling the peoples heads with this nonsense of them being sinners and in need of a Savior whom they had killed but God had raised from the dead.
6. The healing was not a big deal, but the fact that 5000 became followers of this JESUS, angered them and embolden them to arrest them and question them.
7. But it is no different today.
C. The Message of the Cross is An Offense To Sinful Society
1. It should not surprise us that when we start preaching the message of the cross and proclaiming salvation in the name of Jesus it angers and emboldens the enemies of Christ!
2. Jesus had told his disciples If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. John 15:18
3. In a world where anything goes, if it feels good do it, if it works for you it okay, priority number 1 is yourself we can understand the dislike and hatred of Christianity
4. Folks the message of the cross is one that pushes all the limits: die to self, pick up your cross and follow Jesus!
- We are all sinners, there are absolute rights and wrongs, God is the decisions maker!
- And when you add the exclusiveness of Jesus - I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me…Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. It will infuriate the fledglings of this world!
D. We can see the assault in every venue
1. Medical, educational, social, even religious
2. According to a recent Gallup Harris Poll 3% of Americans who were interviewed said they were bothered by stores specifically referring to Christian holidays – who care what 3% think!
3. Only in a hostile environment would 3% dictate norm!
4. And it will only get worse 2 Thes. 2:3-4 states Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; [4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5. Hence we are told to put on our armor and endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ!
That’s the bad news but here is the good news. Man can only be as bold as humanly possible – not so for the Christian! For
II. IN THE PROCLIMATION OF THE GOSPEL ITS MESSENGERS WILL BE MADE BOLD, Acts 4:8-12 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, [9] If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; [10] Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. [11] This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. [12] Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
A. The Key - …filled with the Holy Ghost…
1. The world knows nothing about the power that resides in the Holy Spirit, to say nothing about the power that God can give to a faithful saint who is preaching the gospel in the midst of a hard situation
2. Jesus had told His disciples, as recorded in Matt 28:18-20, that all power was His and then gave them the command to go out and make disciples, baptize them and teach them the word of God.
3. In that passage the inference is “my power is your power so go forth without fear”
4. That power is resident in us by the abide of the Holy Spirit of God!
5. But we must be “filled”
a. We can’t be going half way, ¾ way committed it must be all the way!
b. Willing to die to self, the world and physically from the world if necessary!
B. The Message: Jesus Crucified and Raised
1. It is a simple message to simple for some but it is the power of God!
2. 1 Cor. 1:18 says For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
3. I think that each of you need to get a copy of John MacArthur’s book Hard to believe
a. The whole book is Good but chapter 2 is especially good – entitled The Hard Truth
b. It lays out the unbelievable truth of the cross of Christ in a great way!
C. The Foundation – God’s Word
1. Every Christian needs to KNOW God’s word and have portions memorized for quick usage.
2. Our passage has become the Word of God, but Peter used what he had from the Old Testament: Psalm 18:22
3. In the original message in Acts 3:12-26 he referred to the prophets on many occasions
4. With this knowledge of God’s word we can understand Christ’s admonition as found in Luke 12:11-12 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: [12] For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
D. We have nothing to fear in speaking the truth of the gospel, for if Christ be for us who can be against us? NO ONE!
1. Not even the gates of hell can prevail!
2. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!
Yes the enemies of the cross will be emboldened against the message, but the messenger of the cross will be given much more boldness. And in the process of this our desire is that the
III. GOD GIVEN BOLDNESS WILL BE A WITNESS OF CHRIST, Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
A. Our Desire is to glorify God
1. 1 Cor. 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
2. Whether in life or death our boldness for Christ can be a witness for Him
3. I think every Christian should read the Foxes Book of Martyr – it shows the bold witness God’s children can and should have.
B. Our Desire is for Others to Take Note of Jesus: …they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus…
1. They saw the characteristics in them that they saw in Christ – to include their boldness in the face of great odds
2. They could say nothing of the healing, it was visible in sight of all
3. They could not deny the miracle – he stood before them
4. They could not deny the testimony, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth this man is made whole.
C. Our Desire i for Others to Come to Christ
1. 5000 came that day to Christ
2. But others, even in the light of such truth and proof, denied Christ the very next day
3. Brothers and Sisters in Christ our duty is to boldly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and leave the salvation of souls to God!
4. Who knows if your boldness in the gospel will provide the catalyst for someone to come into a life saving relationship with Jesus
5. I echo the words of our brother Paul found in Eph 6:10, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
CONCLUSION: In closing
A. Any time the gospel message is preached with power and authority in a public forum there will be those who will accept and those who will reject the message
1. Furthermore, there will be those who will be emboldened to standup against the message – even to the point of violence
2. We need not be afraid or ashamed
3. Jesus is Lord and Savior and He will give us strength to stand for Him!
B. Christian stand with me for our Lord!
1. Proclaim the gospel message with love and fervency
2. Be not afraid or dismayed for our God, your god, my God is with us!
3. And may the gospel of Jesus Christ give you boldness in the day of witness for His glory!
