A Prayer For Boldness…

Text: Acts 4:23-31

Files

• 
  250126 001
  
• 
  January 26th, 2025
  
• 
  Ascension 1 26 25
  

Acts 4:23-31

Jonah Albrecht
Epiphany 4
January 26th, 2025
Acts 4:23-31
A Prayer For Boldness

Grace, Mercy, and Peace be unto you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

INJ in whose name we boldly proclaim the kingdom of God, DFR:

One of the most gifted speakers in church history was John Chrysostom—the name comes from a Greek word meaning “golden tongued.” John was sent from Antioch to what was then Constantinople where he preached fearlessly in the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. His denunciation of the lavish extravagance of the rich and ruling class and his condemnation of excess infuriated many, including Empress Eudoxia who arranged for him to be exiled.

When he was told of his fate, Chrysostom responded: “What can I fear? Will it be death? But you know that Christ is my life, and that I shall gain by death. Will it be exile? But the earth and all its fullness is the Lord’s. Will it be the loss of wealth? But we brought nothing into the world, and can carry nothing out. Thus all the terrors of the world are contemptible in my eyes, and I smile at all its good things. Poverty I do not fear. Riches I do not sigh for. Death, I do not shrink from.”

The boldness John Chrysostom had to make this proclamation in the face of punishment over his faith is the same boldness that was burned into the hearts of the Apostles in the beginning of the new testament church. It was a boldness that didn’t come from the will of their own, but rather a power granted to them by the Holy Spirit. The same power that is granted to you through prayer and the Word.
Today I would lay on your hearts the theme: A Prayer for Boldness. Boldness to do what the Lord has called us to do. Boldness that comes from Him alone.

Prior to our text this morning was the very familiar account of Peter and John going to the temple to pray. They happen upon a man who was lame from birth begging at the gate. Upon asking Peter and John for money, you might remember the response Peter gave from the children’s song: Silver and gold have I none, but what I have I give to thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, rise up and walk.
Rise up and walk the man did, but so much more. He ran around the temple praising God for the miracle he had just received and letting everyone around know exactly who and how he gained the ability to walk. It was a big deal because the people recognized him as the one who was always at the gate asking for alms. It was then that Peter took the opportunity to proclaim the power behind this man being healed: Jesus Christ.
In doing so, he convicted them of their sin:

14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
But he also offered them free and unconditional forgiveness:
19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus

It was this preaching that caught the attention of the priests and Sadducees who were in the temple. They arrested Peter and John because they were teaching the people about Jesus, which, in their eyes, was blasphemy. But when they brought Peter and John in to be questioned by the high council, they could not bring any charge against them. Why? Because their preaching worked! The people were rejoicing because they believed God fulfilled His promise through Jesus the Christ. It was the same reason the Chief Priest and Pharisees could not arrest Jesus in a legal manner – they were afraid of the people revolting.
This, however, didn’t stop the council from threatening Peter and John. They were told strictly not to preach anymore about Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

This is what brings us to our text this morning, the prayer of the brethren. The context is important here because it sets the stage for this prayer. Peter and John were just arrested and threatened for doing exactly what Jesus had told them to do. And this happened among their own brethren, their fellow Jews. If this was the reaction they received here, how much harsher of a reaction would there be in Gentile lands?

That’s the natural thought, isn’t it? It would be easy to focus in on the threats and punishments that come as a result of proclaiming the faith. Who wants to be arrested, or persecuted for telling someone about Jesus, let alone rejoice about it? Well, these disciples did. Not because they felt they were getting their 15 minutes of fame, or that they were gluttons for punishment. Rather, it was because it fulfilled Jesus’ words!

He told them in Matthew 5, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” And also in John 15, Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

They rejoiced because they were deemed worthy to be persecuted for the sake of Jesus. They were happy to bring the Gospel of repentance and forgiveness to their kindred people. Even though they knew they would be rejected and hated by some, it was worth it since they also knew the Holy Spirit would use their work to create faith, saving their fellow Jews from an eternity in hell.

This is the motivation behind their prayer. The prayer the said can be broken into two parts: What God does vs. What those against Him do. “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’ 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

Whether it was the Gentile nations threatening God’s people Israel in the time of King David, or whether it was their fellow Jews, Roman overlords, and other Gentiles in the days of Jesus; there were always those who set themselves against the God the Father and against Jesus. They even went so far as to kill the Son of God, the one they should have been expecting from days of old. And it hasn’t slowed down now that Jesus has arisen and gone into heaven. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,

The same threats that were levied against Jesus are being thrown at His disciples. For many of them, it would eventually cost them their lives in martyrdom. But this they were willing to endure if the Lord would grant them boldness.

But again, the question is why? Why would they persist when the odds are so stacked against them? Because the message they carried was just that important. 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Wonderful things were happening in the name of Jesus. The suffering were being healed, people lost in sin were brought to the light of salvation, the alienated found a home and a community in Christ Jesus. It was the power of the Gospel at work. They disciples got to see face to face how Jesus’ forgiveness could change the life of every single person the Gospel reached. That was reason enough for them to ask God for more boldness to continue proclaiming the message of salvation to the ends of the earth.

The question I have for you today is this: Are you ready to ask God for boldness? Are you ready to lay it all on the line in order to proclaim repentance and forgiveness? I’m not talking about going to our overseas mission field, though that is a wonderful opportunity to proclaim God’s grace. I’m talking about a mission field that is a lot more daunting and possibly unforgiving. Your own backyard. Your family or friends who don’t know their Savior. Are you ready to ask God for boldness to bring the message of salvation to them?

It might just be the most difficult mission field you will ever face. You don’t want to stir the pot, or offend someone that you are close to. The idea is to keep the peace now and maybe an easier door will open up in the future. It makes sense and it sounds reasonable, but is that what our Savior has called us to do?

The question you need to ask yourself is this: Is that person across from me loved by God; does He want them in eternal life? If that answer is yes, which it is for all people, then the door can never be more wide open. Just like the disciples faced rejection by their fellow Jews, we too will face rejection in preaching Christ crucified. That is what Jesus meant when He said, 34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

This is not a reason to be fearful or discouraged, but a reason to ask God for courage. It means that there are those right near to us that need to hear the message of salvation through Christ alone, the same message that was brought to your own heart. You were once an enemy of God and so was I. But the blood Jesus shed on the cross was paid to cover your sins. The Holy Spirit entered your heart to create faith and deliver you from your sin. God never stopped loving you, even when you were against Him. He continuously sought to bring His grace into your life. Now, He is using you to do that for the ones you love.
This doesn’t mean you leave here this morning, barge down your friend or family member’s door and shove a Bible in their face. That’s not boldness, nor being a messenger of peace. Having boldness to do what God has called you to do is simply letting your light shine. When opportunities arise, share the joy that Jesus placed in your heart, whether they have heard it a million times or not. When crossroads are before you, chose the path that will show forth the love your Savior has for you. When fear and uncertainty overwhelm your heart, remember to pray for boldness. Remember that the Lord’s hand goes before you and He will guard, defend, and prosper you according to His will.

I pray that you do not face such an extreme case of exile like John Chrysostom. But let each of us pray that God would continue to grant you the same boldness to proclaim your faith. The same boldness that burned in the hearts of Jesus’ disciples and led them to testify their faith without knowing how it would affect them. Let our prayer be that God would remind us: You have at your fingertips and message that can bring eternal life. He will give you that boldness. Amen.