The Holy Spirit Emboldens

Good morning, it is such a privilege to be together.

I have been loving our series about the Holy Spirit so far .

This morning we are looking at how the Holy Spirit emboldens us, and to be quite honest I didn’t even know what that word meant before this message but now I can’t get it out of my head.

I have been actively looking for ways to be used by the Lord to share the love of Jesus by responding to the Spirits calling.

For some people it is just natural to walk in life this way, however for most of us we won’t see a God moment until after we have missed it.

My desire this morning is to encourage us as well as get us looking for opportunities to respond to the Spirits leading.

The word EMBOLDEN simply means to impart boldness or courage or resolution enough to overcome timidity or to rise to our highest potential.

Have you ever been in a situation where you feel something welling up inside of you and you can’t help but to take some kind of action.

Often times that is the Holy Spirit trying to guide us in a certain direction or situation.

For instance,

A few weeks ago, after the rioting started, I was sitting in the ferry lane waiting for our boat to load, and I watched as truck after truck pulled into the lanes next to me. As people got out of their trucks it occured to me that they were all policemen and one guys shirt even said bomb squad.

At first my thought was why are all these officers going to Orcas island?

As they all gathered around talking something in me began to stir. I felt as if the Lord was telling me to go and pray for them. I almost said to myself out loud, can’t I just pray from here? What if they say no? It would be more convenient to sit in the truck and pray from here.

I felt like I was having a conversation with myself. Then the thought occured to me that if I didn’t offer to pray for them and one of them got hurt it would be somehow my fault.

So I got out of my truck and walked over and asked if I could pray for them. They were quite receptive, and I felt like I could have prayed forever.

That is what it means to be embolden or to have the courage to overcome timidity.

The Bible is full of stories of how people in the midst of some very difficult situations to do what the Lord was wanting them to do.

This morning we will be looking at Acts 4 but before we get there lets pray together.

PRAY

In Acts 3 Peter and John come across a lame man begging on their way to the church, and he gets healed, and they have an opportunity to speak to the crowd about Jesus.

Acts 4:1–12 ESV

And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Here we have 2 groups of people, they both heard the same message but only one group really listened.

those who believe and repent and those that just get annoyed.

I find it interesting that the ones that get annoyed are usually the ones in perceived power with the fear that they might lose it.

The thing that really catches my attention in these verses is how in verse 1 Peter and John were speaking to the people and get arrested, but when they are questioned about what power or by what name did they do this, verse 8 says that Peter was filled by the Holy Spirit and boldly proclaims the name of Jesus as the only way to salvation.

I can just imagine the power and passion of Peter as he spoke

Acts 4:10–12 ESV

let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

One of the ways to check if you are being led by the Spirit is, who is exalted by what you say?

Jesus was talking to the disciples on the night He was betrayed, and as they were walking Jesus said that they would all fall away

Mathew 26:33-35

Peter answered him, Though they may all fall away because of you, I will never fall away. Jesus said to him, Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times. Peter said to him,Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you! And all the disciples said the same.

What is the difference in Peter between Mathew and Acts 4?

The Holy Spirit

Peter went from pride [even if I must die] to humility [look what Jesus has done]

Peter was on fire telling people what Jesus had done to the lame man, so much so that verse 13 says;

Acts 4:13 ESV

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

This verse gives me so much hope and it should you as well. these guys were uneducated, common men, but they also recognized that they had been with Jesus.

When the leaders said that they were uneducated and common, what they were really saying was that they had no formal training in the Law of Moses like them.

However they couldn’t help but notice they had been with Jesus.

I absolutely love hearing people give testimony about what Jesus has done for them. There is passion, excitement, and transformation, and all the glory goes to God. Sometimes the hearer [ even the not yet saved] are even motivated to take a step closer to Jesus.

In Alaska we had a celebrate recovery group that we led, and every other week was a lesson, and the next week would be testimony week when someone would speak testify about what Jesus had done for them.

These were my favorite weeks because as they began to speak you could literally see when the boldness of the Holy Spirit came upon them and the timidity would disappear.

So let me ask you a question

When was the last time that someone recognized that you have been with Jesus?

Our story continues as the leaders try to stop them from talking about Jesus and Peter has the perfect response.

Acts 4:17–21 ESV

But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of 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, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.

For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.

The same is true for us. What you seen and heard the Lord do in your life, The Holy Spirit will empower you to tell others.

One time while in Alaska I went out for a long walk and as it began to get dark I noticed that the lights on the trail didn’t come on and I felt this alertness come alive inside of me. I had seen many moose on these trails and I didn’t want to come across one in the dark because they were so unpredictable.

If you have ever had somebody walking behind you in the dark you know what I am talking about.

Once I reached the main road and the street lights were on that feeling began to subside but it made me sad.

You see while on that walk, I was also asking the Lord about this alertness that I felt because I so desperately wanted that alert feeling when it came to the things of the Spirit.

My prayer is that today you would have that same desire.

Let’s finish our story for the answer.

Acts 4:23–24 ESV

When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,

Acts 4:29–31 ESV

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 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.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 4

In reaction to the opposition to the gospel they experienced, the apostles gather to pray. Like previous prayers, this one points to the Church’s dependence on God’s strength. Their prayer once again asks for the name of Jesus to be exalted through the word of God and the power of the Spirit (vv. 30–31).

How often have you asked or are you seeking the Holy Spirits awareness?

I challenge you this morning to pray asking… giving the Holy Spirit permission to give you the awareness for each person you meet to be bold in sharing what God has done in you.

Lets pray

Lord I pray that people would know that we have spent time with Jesus, let our words and our actions reflect on our dependence upon You and what you have done.

Holy Spirit I ask that we would be bold and not timid when it comes to sharing the things you have done. I pray that You would make us receptive and alert when it comes to the things of the Spirit.

May we be like Samuel and say speak Lord for your servant is listening, and may we not let any of Your words fall to the ground.

In Jesu Name, that Name that is above every other name