I am going through my sermon notes and found these notes on Boldness. This kind of relates to the Colossal Coaster World VBS theme Facing Fears, Trusting God. In that you learn about Saul and his conversion to Christ and becoming Paul. You learn how he was bold about preaching and sharing what Christ had done for him.
So I want to share my sermon notes with you …
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
The above quote is from Acts 4:13. It is true you can tell when you have been with Christ. One of the recent examples is, Me and Jerry took the youth to Grotto Falls on a hike. We had a devotion while we were there. One the way down the trail. One group of people told us that we the happiest bunch of people coming down the trail. No one else ways. I stated that is because we had a Devotion and we were Praising God. So it does show when have been with the Lord.
If you see in the verse, both Peter and John were uneducated and untrained. Even with out that, the still had boldness. We need to be brave and be hold. If we are bold, we will be heard. It doesn’t matter your talent, your education, intellect, etc. God can use you the way you are. You just have to face your fear and be bold. The showed boldness because they knew who they are with Christ.
To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:27 tells us that God wills those to make Him known. We cannot do it on our own, but with Christ. That is because Christ is in us, when Christ is in us, we are a new creation. We have no hope on our own. Only Jesus can give us the hope. If we do it on our own power, we will fail! We get great power being transformed by Christ. A Boldness with humility. Lowering yourself shows humility.
When we show boldness, we show wisdom, we show love, we are being unusual. All that comes from God. It is Truth beyond experience. We are not to live by sight, but through trust in God.
Boldness = Convection Communication. Being with Jesus Brings Convection. Don’t be afraid! Be bold and witness to the lost. The Holy Spirit helps to give us this boldness. Holy Spirit also helps and gives us the wisdom too.
When we do it, we must do it ALL in His name. When we speak, pray and preach. We must unlock all the resources of God.
- Way, Truth & Life
- The Vine
- Resurrection
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12 is clear! There is no other name where we must be saved! The name of Jesus Christ is powerful!
The World Seems to have lost it’s boldness. That is one reason why the churches are declining. Churches are not narrow minded enough. Remember the Bible tells us the path is a narrow path is the path that gets up to Heaven. The board path leads to destruction. We need to be more narrow minded. (See Matthew 7:13-14). Churches today are also conforming and accepting instead of sharing what the truth is. Churches have also lost their voice for Jesus. They becoming accepting, like they accept homosexuality, believing in false believes, believing in only parts of the Bible, picking and choosing what they want to believe, accepting abortion, premarital sex, etc.
It is Jesus! Jesus is the only way! Christ is all or not at all! Remember Jesus came to save!
Remember we must watch for false profits, these false profits at Matthew 7:15 tells us they are like wolves in sheep clothing. They blend in with us and look like us. They will make us think things are okay when they aren’t and they go against God’s Word. That is why it is important to study God’s Word and look things up for our self.
Boldness also leads to prayer. We need to have a change of heart, not a change of name. The difference is change of heart makes us more determined. Acts 4:31 shows us after they prayed the Holy Spirit filled them and they were speaking God’s Word boldly.
When we spend more time in prayer, it will also show. Prayer is a communication with God. It will show when we are with God. In my studies for my theology degree, I have been reading Exodus. Mose talked with God, the Bible says his face was radiant, you can tell he was talking with God.
We shouldn’t be afraid to take a stand for Jesus! We must take a stand for what is right in Jesus Christ name.
Finial note churches need to be both offensive and defensive at the same time. Not be accepting but of preaching and sharing what the Bible says! You as a Christian need to be in a Bible believing, Bible preaching church!
Post to check out that relate to this blog entry:
- We Change Like the Butterfly
- Be Loud, Be Proud, Be Bold about your Witness
- Standing Up for Jesus!
- Light Shone for Saul
- Using Social Media to Share Your Faith
- Wolves in Sheep Clothing
- Plus there are tons more you can find. Feel free to search my blog and you may find what you are looking for.
Sermon notes from Pastor Bob Neal, Piedmont Baptist Church from April 22, 2012.
First published June 15, 2013. Republishing September 2, 2015.
Amen! thanks for sharing brother! hugs
I am fascinated by your use of the word convection. =) Also, there is so much truth here. I have been studying this very thing. God chooses the uneducated and untrained; therefore HE receives all glory. I Corinthians 1:17-21