BOLDNESS; A PRAYER FOR BOLDNESS.
Boldness does not mean brashness, loudness, overbearing, arrogance or a show of the flesh to receive the accolades of others..
“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your Word with great boldness.” – {Acts 4:29}
Boldness… They has been threatened and instead of fleeing they went to the LORD asking for boldness so they could exalt Him in the fight!
” The Greek word behind “boldness” (parresia) shows up throughout the New Testament. It’s range of meaning includes courage or fearlessness, which is in mind in places like Hebrews 4:16. It also can mean outspokenness or frankness — “a use of speech that conceals nothing.” And interestingly, right along with the several verb-uses, each of the five occurrences of parresia in Acts is connected to speaking (Acts 2:29; 4:13, 29, 31; 28:31).”- {Jonathan Parnell- Desiring God Ministries}.
It takes Boldness, courage to confront the world that is opposed to Jesus Christ. And those who do will encounter opposition as those in Acts 4 did and will suffer. “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. “-{2 Tim 3:12}. It takes Holy Spirit strengthening to courageously speak the Word of God to a society that is opposed to the LORD Jesus Christ! And He imparted them His power!
1.CONTROLLED
by The Holy Spirit. “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you “-{John 16:14}.
2. COURAGEOUS-
“ At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth. ” -{2 Timothy 4:16-18}.
He was abandoned. All alone it would seem, but Paul testifies he was not alone for he was conscious “The LORD Stood with me!” Humanly abandoned, forsaken but not by the LORD. No matter who abandons you be it temporarily or forever , you can count on it He will not who has promised”I WILL NEVER LEAVE OR FORSAKE YOU!”-{Heb 13;5}. And note Paul’s response to Him in regards those who had forsaken and left him, “may it not be counted it against them” like his LORD on the cross and Stephen who was full of the Holy Spirit while been stoned- his was a heart of forgiveness!
The LORD stood with him to specifically STRENGTHEN him to what end? “SO THAT through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear;…” The Gospel may go forth to Paul and God’s enemies! He was STRENGTHENED TO SHARE THE GOOD, THE GOD NEWS!
3.COMPASSIONATE –
“The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. ” -{2 Tim 2;24-26}.
“…Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He *said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”“-{Matt 9;36-38}
“… but sanctify {Set Apart} Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.” -{1 Peter 3:15-17}
“…Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.“-{Col 4;5-6}
4.CHRIST CENTERED –
“For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” -{ 1 Cor 2:2}; “…We proclaim Him,… “-{Col 1;28}. “and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” -{Matt 1:21}; “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”-{Acts 4:12 NLT}; “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, “-{ 1 Timothy 2:5}
5.CALLING PEOPLE TO –
“I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”-{Acts 20:21}
A PRAYER FOR BOLDNESS;
“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your Word with great boldness.” – {Acts 4:29}. Note the ingredients. Prayer is made to THE LORD in the midst of being threatened, they were not looking for deliverance but POWER TO SPEAK… the Word of God… with “GREAT BOLDNESS” And note their position, relationship to The LORD? “… Your SERVANTS.” Servants whose will was swallowed up to do the will of Another, The LORD’S will and His Business was their business, and the means was His Word. They were humble, they were His Servants and in the stress they prayed for Power to Share His Word!
” Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.“-{Col 4:2-5}