Make Me Bold

Introduction

On March 10, 1876 these words were spoken by Alexander Graham Bell, “Mr. Watson, come here. I want you.” These were the first words spoken over the telephone. It changed how we communicate.

On April 3, 1973, Martin Cooper, a senior engineer at Motorola, made the first mobile phone call. He called his rival, Dr. Joel S. Engel at AT&T, stating, “Joel, this is Marty. I’m calling you from a cell phone, a real handheld, a real handheld portable cell phone.”

Today, there all kinds of discussions as to which smartphone is the best: the mighty iPhone or the lowly Android based phone such as the Samsung?

These inventions have changed how we communicate and perform our daily activities. Some say that these inventions have made life better, others would not agree.

These devices have revolutionized how we communicate.

Prayer

Prayer is like having the good old Bat phone connecting us to the Creator of all that there is, yet do we truly understand what can be the result of prayer. I don’t know about you but sometimes a struggle with my prayer life because I don’t think I’m good at it.

A grandfather was walking through his yard when he heard his granddaughter repeating the alphabet in a tone that sounded like prayer. He asked her what she was doing. The little girl explained: “I’m praying, but I can’t think of exactly the right words, so I’m just saying all the letters, and God will put them together for me because He knows what I’m thinking.”

How many of you believe in the power of prayer? Did you know that sometimes prayer can be dangerous?

Peter and John

Peter and John were preaching and praying for miracles. On their way to a three o’clock prayer service at the Temple, they encountered a man that had been born lame. We pick up the story as recorded in the book of Acts 3.

Acts 3:1-7 NLT

New Living Translation Chapter 3

Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”

7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

Now this event cause quite the stir with the religious authorities of the day.

Acts 4:1-22 NLT

New Living Translation Chapter 4

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees. 2 These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. 3 They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning. 4 But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000.

5 The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. 7 They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, 9 are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? 10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,

‘The stone that you builders rejected

has now become the cornerstone.’

12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say. 15 So they ordered Peter and John out of the council chamber and conferred among themselves.

16 “What should we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it. 17 But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.” 18 So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? 20 We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”

21 The council then threatened them further, but they finally let them go because they didn’t know how to punish them without starting a riot. For everyone was praising God 22 for this miraculous sign—the healing of a man who had been lame for more than forty years.

I find it interesting that in the face of possible imprisonment, Peter and John, basically declare war with the Sadducees when they declared, “Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.” The Sadducess did not believe didn’t believe in the resurrection. As well, Peter and John were ordinary men they weren’t very educated yet their boldness did not come from education but from being with Jesus. So the council basically tells them to shut up or else. The or else could include being beaten, being imprisoned, or even worse - death.

Acts 4:23-31 NLT

New Living Translation Chapter 4

23 As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said. 24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—25 you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying,

‘Why were the nations so angry?

Why did they waste their time with futile plans?

26 The kings of the earth prepared for battle;

the rulers gathered together

against the LORD

and against his Messiah.’

27 “In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. 28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will. 29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

Peter and John responded by praying for boldness to stay the course, to continue the mission no matter the cost.

I’m not so sure that I would be that bold. At times, I’m just not a bold person. How bold are you? Sometimes, the shy quiet person can be the one that is the bold spirit and the outspoken, confident person shrinks back when challenged by spiritual opposition.

What did the Apostles Do

They prayed. Acts 4:29-31 NLT: “And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

They prayed and were filled with the Holy Spirit that made them bold. The Holy Spirit convicts, comforts, guides, gifts, draws, and EMPOWERS! Perhaps some examples of what this looks like.

In the early 20th century, a young woman named Gladys Aylward felt called to serve in China. Without resources, she relied on her unwavering faith in God. When she arrived and faced adversity, she started a mission despite the dangers. Her boldness in following Christ not only transformed the lives of countless children but also led her to gain the respect of an entire nation. Her life is a testimony that when we step out in faith, Christ walks with us, emboldening our spirits even in the darkest of times.

In the face of societal pressures, a teenage boy decided to stand up for his faith during a school assembly. While his peers mocked him, he boldly shared a personal experience of how Christ transformed his life. His courage became a beacon of hope for others contemplating their faith. This highlights that our boldness can inspire and challenge others to seek the truth, demonstrating that following Christ is often about making personal decisions in public spaces and standing firm despite opposition.

One day, a shy girl in a youth group was challenged to invite her friends to a church event. Her heart raced, but with prayer, she approached them. To her surprise, they accepted her invitation. That night, they heard the message of Christ and some committed their lives to Him. This simple act of boldness changed not only her life but also touched the lives of others. It reminds us that God often calls us to take small steps of courage that lead to profound impact.

You have no idea what God might set in motion from a single act of bold obedience.

The disciples didn’t stop what they were doing. They continued preaching, performing miracles and leading people to the saving power of Jesus Christ. This infuriated the high priests and religious leaders.

Acts 5:17-20 NLT

New Living Translation Chapter 5

17 The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them, 20 “Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!”

Three Attributes of Boldness

In these verse we find three attributes of being bold for Jesus.

1 - Boldness almost always triggers spiritual opposition. Acts 5:18 - They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. This is the second time in a week that they apostles have been jailed, yet the continue in boldness.

Craig Groeschel said, “If you are not ready to face opposition for your obedience to God, you’re not ready to be used by God.”

During the American Civil Rights Movement, figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. faced fierce spiritual opposition. Despite being met with hostility, he drew strength from his faith, often quoting scripture to call for love and justice. His life illustrates how spiritual opposition can spur us to act with greater determination for righteousness, reminding us that our battles are not just against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces.

In the twelfth century, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux faced fierce opposition from the Church established by its own traditions. He persevered, however, believing God's call was more important than man’s objections. His resolve in the face of spiritual opposition reminds us that standing firm in our faith, despite worldly resistance, can lead to profound change and renewal within the church and the world.

2 - Boldness often releases God’s miracles. Acts 5:19 - But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out.

When you walk in obedience to God, you won’t be surprised by the miracles of God.

Throughout history, there have been countless accounts of miracles that defy explanation. One notable example is the story of the Chilean miners trapped underground for 69 days. Their survival seemed impossible, yet through faith, prayer, and a global outpouring of hope, they were ultimately rescued. This story illustrates how believing in miracles during dire circumstances can lead to extraordinary outcomes.

The story of Daniel in the lion's den is a powerful biblical miracle. Daniel was thrown into the den for praying to God despite the king's decree. Miraculously, he emerged unharmed the next day. This illustrates how God intervenes in impossible situations, helping us to remember that miracles often occur when we stand firm in our faith, even when all odds are against us.

3 - Boldness always requires faith.

Acts 5:20-21 - Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life! So at daybreak the apostles entered the Temple, as they were told, and immediately began teaching.

The apostles basically were told go do what you have been doing that has already gotten you arrested twice before - yet they went and did it immediately.

Dangerous prayer doesn’t make sense - it’s risky - it costs - it takes faith. Boldness always comes with opposition.

What does Boldness look like

Boldness believes God answers prayers.

Boldness loves enough to invite someone to church.

Boldness shares faith.

In the late 1940s, an African-American woman named Rosa Parks made a courageous decision that altered the course of American history. By refusing to give up her bus seat, she stepped out of her comfort zone and ignited a movement for civil rights. Her choice challenged societal norms and inspired countless others to stand up for justice. Parks' story reminds us that stepping out of our comfort zones can lead to profound change, not just in our lives but in the world around us.

We have no idea what God may set in motion when we are bold in praying, when we are bold in loving and when we are bold in sharing our faith. God is challenging us to be bold. If you don’t remember anything else from what I have shared today, please remember this one thing - you will never fulfill God’s calling for your life if you don’t step out of your comfort zone!