Boldness from Above

Acts 4:23 ¶ And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. ²⁴ And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: ²⁵ Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? ²⁶ The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. ²⁷ For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, ²⁸ For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. ²⁹ And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, ³⁰ By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 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.

They looked to the right God (23-28)

•         de,spota, Sovereign Lord
•  Creator
•           The one who foreknew the opposition
•  Psalm 2
•           The one who foreordained the plan 
•           When in need make sure you call on this God

Confessing their dependence (29-30)

•           They asked for boldness
•  Even though they had just boldly defied mighty authorities
• Paul asked the saints to pray that he would speak boldly (Eph 6, i.e. after 20 years in Christian ministry)
•           God gives grace to the humble, even asking requires a bit of humility
•         Try to heal and do miracles on your own?
•           Remember that you need this God

And received the Spirit

•           When they asked for boldness they received a fresh filling of the Spirit
•          The Spirit still causes boldness
•          We have every reason to be bold (read Psalm 2)

o   God planned all along that opposition would be defeated

o   He planned all along that his Son would be slain

o   That death was the victory

o   We can have boldness regardless of the circumstances – we will be victorious no matter how it looks

-          Be bold in the Spirit of this God – the God who won through death