Christian Boldness

As Christians, we are called to share our Faith in Jesus with others. Sometimes though, we let fear, doubt, insecurity, and anxiety prevent us from sharing or defending our Faith. Fortunately, if we ask Him as the disciples did in Acts 4, God will grant us boldness through His Holy Spirit!

An Attempt Was Made

During my high school years, I encountered an arrogant and belligerent classmate who delighted in belittling the faith of others. He would often ridicule those who trusted in the providence of God and the power of prayer. Fueled by a desire to defend my Faith, I confronted this "atheistic bully" without adequate preparation. I declared that I knew God was real because "He lives in my heart," a defense I learned in youth group. Unfortunately, it only resulted in laughter from my classmate and the rest of the class. Feeling defeated and embarrassed, I vowed to find a better way to defend my faith and began my journey into apologetics. You can find this story in much greater detail HERE.

Sure, I could have let the embarrassment prevent me from ever speaking out in defense of my Faith again. But that wouldn't be very Christian of me. In fact, in 1st Peter 3:15, we are commanded always to be prepared to defend our Faith.

God calls us to declare our reasons for the hope that is within us. This can be an intimidating prospect, but rest assured, He has given us the tools and the ability to stand up for the Truth with confidence and boldness.

Supernatural Boldness - The Transformation of Peter

Boldness is not just about being confident; it's about standing firm in our convictions and fearlessly proclaiming Jesus Christ. It's about having the courage to share our Faith with others, regardless of the consequences. It's about being effective witnesses and impacting our culture with truth and love.

When it comes to boldness, I often think of Peter in the Bible. He was undoubtedly a bold guy. Remember how he jumped out of a boat in the middle of a storm to walk toward Jesus? That takes some serious boldness. He even boldly declared Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, in Matthew 16:16.

However, Peter's boldness wasn't always enduring. When Jesus was arrested, he denied knowing Him three times out of fear. But things changed drastically after the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit filled the early disciples.

In Acts 2, we read about the incredible moment during Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon them like a rushing mighty wind, and tongues of fire rested upon each of them. This filling of the Holy Spirit transformed Peter's boldness from being situational to enduring. How so? Well, we see that grand transformation where this fisherman, Peter, becomes a mighty preacher and leader in the formation of the early Church. In fact, shortly after Pentecost, we see Peter preaching with authority, and 3,000 souls were saved that day.

As we continue reading in Acts, we see Peter and John healing a lame man at the temple and boldly proclaiming Jesus as the source of the miracle. They were arrested and brought before the religious leaders in the Sanhedrin. This time, Peter didn't deny Christ; he stood firm, unyielding in his boldness, declaring their actions were done in the name of Jesus Christ. Acts accounts that Peter's boldness came from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit:

“By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit..."

Peter goes on to give an excellent overview and defense of Christ. This defense was so profound that Acts 4:13 records the observation of the Jewish leaders:

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus." (ESV)

This echos back perfectly to the assurance that Jesus gave in Luke 12:11-12

"So you can anticipate that you will be put on trial before the synagogues and religious officials. Don’t worry how you’ll respond, and don’t worry what you should say. The Holy Spirit will give you the words to say at the moment when you need them." (ESV)

Boldness is not about our own strength or eloquence; it flows from the work of the Holy Spirit within us. We can trust Him to give us the words to say. The early believers prayed for boldness, and God responded by filling them afresh with the Holy Spirit. They spoke the Word of God with renewed confidence and authority.

You Can Have Christian Boldness!

Today, we also have access to this Christian boldness through the Holy Spirit. We can pray

and ask God to grant us boldness to share His truth, regardless of the situation. With the Holy Spirit's empowerment, we can become effective witnesses, shining the light of Christ in a dark and confused world.

After the ordeal in the Sanhedrin, the Apostles praise God and pray:

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

We, too, can pray and ask God to give us this supernatural boldness! As we reflect on Acts 4, we recognize that Christian boldness is a transformative quality that empowers us to impact the world around us. Peter's journey from situational boldness to enduring boldness exemplifies the significance of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. Through prayer and reliance on the Holy Spirit, we can walk confidently in our faith, fearlessly proclaiming the Gospel and being effective witnesses for Christ. May the spirit of Christian boldness continue to shine brightly through us as we navigate life's challenges and share the message of God's love and grace with a world in need.

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