Text:

(Act 4:31) And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Topic: Apostolic Boldness

Prayer: Lord empower us to walking in the boldness of Your Spirit

Introduction

We have come to find that, as a people of God, we are sent with power into the earth to proclaim God’s truth.

There is a whole generation that it seems have not heard the truth of God or that it seems have not wanted to hear the truth of God.

There are dignitaries, princes, homeless and jobless….there are business professionals and custodians…those that work with their hands and those that work by design that need to hear the gospel truth.

Harvest

And one of the most awesome things about this group is that Jesus refers to them all as the "harvest field."

Now let me tell you what harvest is. Harvest is the product of a season of labor. You see harvest is the thing that is produced after a season of planting and cultivation has occurred.

Jesus said that the harvest field for the gospel is ready to be harvested. In other words, Jesus said that the time for the harvest in now.

• I believe that it is time for us to move out into the fields and reap the harvest of the Lord.
• I believe that it is time for us to move from being a Sunday and Thursday Christian and become a witness for the Lord in the:
  • market place,
  • in the streets,
  • in the highways and
  • the byways.

…And one of the reasons that I believe this is because we are sent to the harvest by the Lord of the Harvest Himself.

You’ve got to know that you are sent!

Take your Bibles and turn over to (Luk 10:1) :

Now notice, the Word says that Jesus sent seventy also. Now remember this word "sent" in the new testament is the word "apostoello" which is where we get our word, "apostiolic". It means that Jesus sent them on a mission.

The word also says that He sent them "also". Jesus like He had sent the 12 on a mission… He also sent these 70 others.

Now why is that important. It is important because it causes us to understand that the twelve were not the only ones that were sent to the harvest. Jesus sent (apostello) seventy also. This number "seventy in the bible is the number that represents "a multitude."

It is also the number that proceed harvest. For example: When the Children of Israel went into Egypt the were seventy people but when they can out there were 3 million men!

Notice, the harvest is great. In other words, the harvest is ready. Jesus told His disciples the harvest is "white" meaning it’s ready to be harvested…it’s ready to be brought in. So if the harvest is ready, why isn’t the harvest being brought in?

The problem is not in the harvest. The issue is in the laborers. The holdback, was in the number of laborers in the field (somebody say uh oh).

The laborers needed to be sent into the field. So look what Jesus tells them to do. He says, "Pray that the Lord of the harvest send laborers into His field…and then He sent them."

Listen Jesus is the Lord of the harvest and the Lord of the harvest is purposing to send laborers into His field. He is purposing to send you…

You are to go into the world with the Gospel message. To tell the world that Jesus Christ Lives! That He is alive and that through relationship with Him one might gain eternal life. You are the "sent ones" in this generation to declare God’s truth. You are sent. Tell your neighbor, you are sent. It is time to go.

Disciples

Jesus also sent His disciple with a similar message.

Flip over to (Mat 9:35) And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

(Mat 9:36) But when he saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

(Mat 9:37) Then saith He unto his disciples, The harvest truly [is] plenteous, but the labourers [are] few;

(Mat 9:38) Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.

The reason that Jesus is sending us into the harvest field is because of the compassion of Christ on the lost. Because the world is like sheep without a shepherd. Wondering through life without purpose or direction.

We’ve all seen it. You’ve seen it. Wandering sheep in our families, wandering sheep in our communities, wandering sheep in our churches.

Jesus had compassion on these people when He saw them. Jesus had compassion on me when He saw me wandering through life.

And now He is calling us to have compassion on the lost just like He did.

Apostolic Boldness

Now in order to fulfill this apostolic commission of Christ it is going to take some apostolic boldness.

How many of you understand today that the apostles got bold when it came time to declare the message of the kingdom. They would not let anyone or anything stop them from speaking the name of Jesus.

They were bold…even in the midst of opposition…they got bold.

We are in need of boldness. We have to get bold when it comes to speaking the message, just like the disciples were:

• The messages has to be a message of the love of Christ but the desire to speak the truth of God has to press beyond fear.
• The message has to be saturated with compassion but we need the boldness to move out with confidence in the power of the Spirit to speak His truth.

The disciple of Jesus had apostolic boldness.  They understood that they were on an important mission and they would not let anything stop the message of God…it was too important.

Flip over to Acts 4:1

In this verse Peter and John have healed a man and crowds began to assemble. So Peters starts preaching an apostolic message the gospel.

Now look at verse one" (Act 4:1) And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

(Act 4:2) Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

(Act 4:3) And they laid hands on them, and put [them] in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

Now notice, the thing that they did not like was that they were teaching the people and preaching that those that accept Jesus would one day rise from the dead…and they put them in jail.

They came a questioned them saying, "by what power or what name have you done this." Or how did you heal this lame man and what gives you the authority to do these works and preach this message.

And Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost (or empowered by God: verse 8) began to preach the gospel to these people starting from the question they asked.

Look at verse 8-12

(Act 4:8) Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

(Act 4:9) If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

(Act 4:10) 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.

(Act 4:11) This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.This Jesus, whom you rejected, has become the most important.

(Act 4:12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

With Apostolic boldness Peter declares…"there is no other name given under heaven whereby men must be saved!"

What an awesome message…spoken to authorities. This man Jesus whom you crucified is the Foundation Stone of God. There is no other way to receive salvation other than through Jesus Christ.

There is no other name whereby men may be saved…there is no other way. Salvation is through Jesus Christ. Peter is boldly telling them, "You must accept Jesus Christ."

Have you accepted Jesus Christ?

Reaction

Now look what happens. In verse 13.

(Act 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.

They saw the boldness of these apostles. Peter and John had apostolic boldness. In other words, because they had a commission or had been sent by Jesus to preach the gospel they were able to speak with boldness in the city.And when the rulers saw their boldness it cause them to marvell.

"How did these men get so bold…they don’t have any education that we know of…they are unlearned…they are ignorant."

Ah but guess what…they have been with Jesus.

They were taught by the greatest teacher that ever lived!

So this is what they decide to do. The tell them not to preach in the name of Jesus.

(Act 4:18) And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

(Act 4:19) But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

(Act 4:20) For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

Things haven’t changed that much, have they? Can’t speak the name of Jesus in the schools, on the work place. We are removing the Ten Commandments from Federal buildings. Things haven’t changed that much.

Peter said, look I cant help it. I have to speak of the things that I’ve seen and heard…I can’t help it.

Threatenings

And they were threatened again and let go.

They enemies plan is intimidation. Don’t give in to intimidation. Keep your eyes steadfastly upon Jesus.

Closing

And so, they let them go and they when to their own company and rejoice in all that god had done. And they prayed for more boldness.

(Act 4:29) And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

(Act 4:30) By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

(Act 4:31) And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

As a people sent by Jesus Christ into the harvest field we must be empowered by the Holy Spirit, motivated by love, commissioned by Christ and bold enough to speak the Word of God.

Lord, I pray that Your people would walk in Apostolic Boldness in the earth!

Apostolic Boldness

Pastor Jimmy R. Davis, Jr.

Copyright © January 23, 2005