Courageous Prayers Pt 1

Our world is witnessing war. And with a majority of the world’s population having access to media on all of their handheld devices, 24/7, we can watch in real time, as events take place.

Israeli’s watched and are watching as Hamas live streamed and is now continuing to post horrific images of Israeli’s being persecuted, attacked, taken hostage and worst of all murdered.

You’ve no doubt seen some of those images. You’ve heard the reports. You’ve listened to the interviews of family members who are hoping with all they have that their loved ones are still alive.

Evil.

Sometimes life becomes comfortable…not easy..or completely peaceful…but there are times when we forget about evil…or lessen our view of evil.

And then something happens in the world, and it takes us back with such force that some of us are now in fear.

We wonder whether or not these are end times events. We read and watch and listen to different people trying their best to decipher all of the news, Bible passages…coming to conclusions…or more questions.

Does the Bible talk about end times? Yes.

Does the Bible talk about end times that the original readers were going to witness themselves? Yes...

We have to be very careful and remember that what we’re reading was originally for those people....many times they were records of Jesus’ words to his very disciples of that day and age.

But we’re living now, and if it is something huge (a sign towards end times) or it is just the next war on a planet where people can’t get along with each other, we can still follow Jesus as Lord. Living with His peace…living as Kingdom of God citizens with no fear of the evil around us.

And…we as the church family…the called out ones as Jesus and Paul both state, we can continue to speak and live and share truth in boldness.

So today we’re going to begin a three week series on courageous prayers. Today’s is this, a prayer for boldness.

The question is, how can we live in a world such as today’s with boldness? What would that look like?

Often times when we think of the word bold…in today’s terms…we think about someone shouting someone else down either in person or on social media. Someone who’s loud and proud. And lots of times we’ll see someone do something outrageous…or maybe without any forethought....and we’ll say…wow that was bold.

There’s a few events that take place just after the church has started. These are recorded for us in the book of Acts by Luke.

These are from Acts 3-5....

Now this is just after Pentecost. John and Peter were walking to the temple in Jerusalem…and they walk by a guy who’s been crippled. He asks for something…looking for money and they say they have none but what they have is Jesus. Then they say in His name stand up? He stood!

All the people around were amazed and started running to the scene there in the temple and Peter and John are like whoa, why are you surprised? This is what Jesus does…and they went on to explain that the Jesus they saw crucified…and probably many who saw raised and alive…they told them about him…about 2000 people came to believe that day…but then the religious leaders came out and wanted to stop Peter and John. They threw them in jail and then met the next day to talk about this.

The next day they brought Peter and John before the group and asked questions…By what power do you heal? We didn’t do this, Jesus, whom you recently crucified…but God raised from the dead, did this…they went on a bit more explaining some things....

The leaders looked at each other and were astonished at how bold / courageous these guys were. And then they noted here that these guys had spent time with Jesus.

They then threatened them. And when we say threatened…remember, this is roughly the same group that put Jesus on the cross to be killed. The guys give a response....

Here’s Acts 4:20

Acts 4:20 (NIV)

As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.

Then the leaders, after some threats, let them go because they didn’t know what to do with them…because all of the other people were praising God for what had happened.

Peter and John went back to be with the disciples and the new believers. And they prayed this...

Acts 4:29–31 NIV

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Boldly - They prayed to be bold.

Now, picture this....do you think that Peter and John are now, being filled with the Holy Spirit, looking at these leaders…looking at their followers…and shouting them down…telling truth but as bullies…telling them truth but in a way that is demeaning? Raising up themselves, “See what we know? We have the truth…and you don’t.” Bringing a riot against the leaders.

Or…are they speaking in truth, without fear, confident…speaking in a way that doesn’t demean but that gathers attention…like…there’s more too…would you like to know?

Now before they told the soon to be new believers…as well as the leadership...

Living in Truth…without fear.

Remember, there were threats given if they still kept on talking publicly about this Jesus.

And here…boldly means this. Without fear, with confidence (knowing truth), with wisdom, without malice or anger. Just speaking truth, living in truth. We might even say living boldly in the face of evil.

And I would say this…it was all about the Holy Spirit being in them and with them.

I think about the athletes who get that spotlight after a win or a big game and immediately…right away…boldly…they say something like…I first want to praise God for who He is.

It’s not a “And God helped me win today!” It’s that humble approach…that they would probably say even if they lost.

I remember the ESPN sports analyst last year who prayed immediately right on live TV for Lamar Hamlin…the Buffalo Bills player who collapsed right there on the field. In the midst of media really not liking Christian stuff…here we have a guy who is praying live on TV. And he didn’t say…now I don’t care what the higher ups think about this or what those watching think about this…I’m going to do it anyway.

No…he just prayed. Sincerely…as though God is real…is present…is aware of what’s happening…to bring peace.

BOLD

Bold, confident, without fear, surrounded by wisdom…through the Holy Spirit…meaning it would be something the Holy Spirit would probably say.

How can we be bold, even when evil is very present around us?

Well, I think we first consider why be bold. What is this boldness for. We know it isn’t just for the sake of being bold. Be bold so you can be bold.

So you can look better than the next guy…better stronger…bolder...

That will of course draw more people to Jesus...

No…that will just make you look like you’re ego chasing.

If we go back to our historical account…that happened right there where there have been protests and more even the last couple of days…right there on the temple mount.

Think about this…in that day, there were thousands of people coming around Peter and John…

The leaders, they were nervous....fearful…they wanted to shut down John and Peter. They threatened them, and then let them go.

Peter and John then pray....give us boldness. Lord help us be bold.

Here’s what happened next after this prayer...

Peter and John (and the others as well) are continuing to pray over people, miracles are taking place…and they also continue to tell people about Jesus.

And not only are people still at the Temple listening to them…there are people who are now afraid to go to the temple…because of the threats…but they meet the disciples in the streets. People are also coming from out of town to begin meeting with these believers.

This is no small gathering…thousands upon thousands of people are now beginning to follow Christ.

The leaders are becoming more and more jealous and they have Peter and John thrown in jail yet again. Not only them but it says the apostles were thrown in jail.

Ok…here we go…lesson number 1...

We pray to be bold. God helps....yet we are still thrown in jail. I can imagine at a moment or two…someone bringing this up to these guys...

Guys do you see a patter forming?

You ask for boldness, people respond to Jesus, and then you’re thrown in jail…this is twice now.

Ok…there’s a truth here that we need to look at.

There’s no where in scripture that says life will be completely awesome once you ask Jesus into your life. In fact Jesus says at one point…you will have trouble in this world...

When you ask to be bold, please remember that you will often have push back. Whether that’s through your own thoughts, reservations or fears. It might be through someone else. It might be that feeling of the world pushing against you. It might even be a threat.

But a courageous prayer is…Lord, help me be bold. To live out loud in truth.

Lesson two - What happend with the apostles? They are thrown in jail for living boldly (remember that means following the spirit of God, with all of His wisdom, in truth, even in the midst of push-back…even in the midst of evil).

What happened.

Luke kind of just slides this in...

Acts 5:19....an angel of the lord opened the doors and brought them out.

Luke just slides that in…as if it’s nothing out of the ordinary. Listen…these guys, weeks ago, saw a dead man walking around alive...

Seeing an angel at this point is probably second nature now. They might even be on a first name basis....who knows.

Lesson two…you’ll probably see God involved when you’re living boldly. God enables us to be used through His holy Spirit…through us being reborn....and He doesn’t stop there. Living boldly means living with God present in your life…you will see, feel, sense, His presence, strength, peace.

Three - Operate in faith. Living boldly will test your faith. I think this one is a no brainer. The guys needed to follow the angel out…and then follow instructions…obey…that’s what they were asked to do.

The angel says something as they’re going out of the jail. And to be honest, this has become…even this week, amidst all of the evil that we’re being confronted with…this has become a go-to verse for me.

Acts 5:20 NIV

“Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”

Here we have the “why” behind being bold. We have the purpose…this isn’t about us. If you’re in Christ, you have new life. Jesus just wants us to share it.

To share this new life will require boldness.

New Life.

This is the biggest news ever. This is what creation has been waiting for ever since sin entered the world.

This is what Satan wants to push back on…squash…fight against.

So I think we can add to this courageous prayer: Lord, help me be bold…so others can see the life you want to give them.

This is all about new life.

In the middle east we see people fighting for life. Even a way of life.

Hamas is fighting to bring a global presence of Islam all over the world…and they don’t care how it happens. That’s why they can kill indiscriminately…if Jewish people (zionists) or Amercicans or even Christians are in the way…take them out. We’ve heard and read that this is their intent…to bring to light the next “age” as their faith requires. They receive a badge of honor for killing like this.

Those who are living in that region…The Israelis, the Palestinians who are just trying to live peacefully…those who are trying to live peaceful lives in the countries surrounding Israel…they are all chasing life in their own ways...

What do we have as followers of Christ? We have the words of Life.

What does this look like for you?

It might look like you, offering to pray for someone. Boldly ask, “would you like me to keep you in my prayers?”

It might mean inviting someone to a worship time.

It might mean keeping silent about something that you really want to go off on....boldness might be people seeing you in control rather than being out of control with thoughts and words and mood.

It might mean you actually telling people your story…your testimony…how you’ve gotten to know who Jesus is.

It might mean you sharing life with someone in a discipleship relationship.

I don’t know what the spirit will do…but praying this prayer is inviting the spirit to take hold of your life…in the end…we need to follow, obey, be willing to walk through tough stuff…why?

Because we have the words of life…we have what the world needs.

The courageous prayer. Lord, help me be bold.

Goal this week…pray for boldness. Pray for strength to follow and obey. Pray that you keep your eyes open to see God working. And know, without a doubt, you have what the world needs. You have the words of Life. You have Jesus… In world where many are chasing life in all the wrong places and in all the wrong ways…even evil ways…you have Jesus. The creator of everything and the one who is re-creating everything. Amen?

Here’s another selfish prayer…in the midst of what happening. I’ve read a couple of stories, articles, that talk about muslims who have found Jesus and become Christ followers.

Many times this is what happened. They went in search of someone who knew Jesus because of this…they were having dreams they couldn’t understand. Recurring dreams where this man named Jesus was coming to them…introducing himself to them.

Let’s pray that things like that happen in the middle of this war. Pray for the Christians over there who are in harms way…who are serving and sharing and giving their lives would be bold with the life they have.