Boldness for Breakthrough

Acts 4:1–31 NKJV

Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, 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 stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 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. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed. And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’ “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

We are living in perilous times (2 Timothy 3:1)

The closer we get to the end of the age, the more it seems Christians will face challenges like they did at the beginning of the age.

The time of popular Christianity has come to an end.

The time of preaching among lambs is over.

Are you ready to preach among wolves?

Matthew 10:16–20 (NKJV) “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 18You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”

Such was the case with Peter and John in the temple.

Peter and John between Christ’s betrayal and resurrection

Fear: They were afraid. Are you afraid?

Weakness: They ran away in weakness. Will we be weak in the day of battle?

Denial: Peter denied that he knew the Lord. Will we deny that we know the Lord?

Isolation: They went into hiding. Will we isolate rather than evangelize?

Peter and John between Christ’s resurrection and ascension

Hope was reborn: Jesus is alive!

Faith was renewed: Jesus is Lord!

Love was reaffirmed: Jesus’ love is real!

Peter and John between ascension and Pentecost

Jesus commissioned them to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations

Jesus commanded them to wait until…they were endued with power from on high.

Acts 1:4–5, 8 (NKJV) “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now… 8But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’”

Jesus gave them authoritybut commanded them to wait for power.

The Difference Pentecost Makes (Acts 2)

They were baptized with fire (Psalm 104:4 He makes His ministers a flame of fire)

They were filled with the Holy Spirit

They spoke with divine unction (tongues)

They preached with divine inspiration

They operated with divine boldness

They ministered in the power of the Holy Ghost

The Difference in Peter and John

Fear replaced with Boldness

Acts 4:13 (NKJV) “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.”

Weakness replaced with Power

Acts 4:14 (NKJV) “And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.”

Denial replaced with Defense

Acts 4:18–20 (NKJV) “So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all or teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.’”

Isolation replaced with Intercession (Acts 4:23-30)

They chose not to isolate from opposition but to intercede for opportunity.

They appealed to the Lord God who created all things.

They laid out the threats made against them.

They acknowledged that the threats were directed toward Jesus Christ.

They prayed for boldness to meet the threats against them.

They prayed for signs and wonders to be done in the name of Jesus.

They believed for a breakthrough.

Spiritual Breakthrough (Acts 4:31)

When they had prayed… Believing prayer motivated to obey Christ’s commission is the key to the release of God’s power to accomplish His work.

The place where they were assembled was shaken.

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit (power).

They spoke the word of God with boldness.

They gave witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Acts 4:33 (NKJV) “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.”