Bold Before Bullies

I have a friend who didn’t know when to be quiet when we were in college. It wasn’t uncommon for him to make comments that would probably get him beat up if they wrong person heard it. I remember one time in college he started making fun of some people, shouting stuff at them from a distance. One of our other friends said to him, “One day you’re going to get beat up and I’m not going to help because you’re probably going to deserve it.”

There’s a good chance that you’ve got a friend like that! They’re a little too bold and you have to tell them to chill out. I think Peter was that friend with the apostles…

But when Peter had no chill it was because people needed to hear truth and he wanted them to understand the Gospel. We’ve seen that already and we’ll see it again in this story. He and the other believers set an example for us of how to be bold when facing persecution for being witnesses for Jesus.

And we are in a world that is more and more against being a witness for Jesus’ Gospel…

So what I believe the message is from this story is very important for you if you are a Christian…

We've got to be prepared to be bold witnesses for Jesus even when the enemy opposes us.

PRAY

Remember what happened in ch 3…

read verses 1-22

Peter and John are bold

We need to boldly be his witnesses.

Don’t be dumb like my friend. Be bold with purpose, even when it can bring you suffering.

Baseball and softball seasons are all getting going. I’m helping to coach all these little kids. Some of them are bold and some of them aren’t. Some of them are afraid to get in front of the grounder or under the fly ball because they may miss it and it may hit them. Some of them are bold enough to get in front of it for their team even at the risk of them missing it and it hurting them. That purpose of keeping the other team from scoring pushes them to boldly stand in front of that risk.

Christians need to boldly stand in front of the risk, as Peter and John do, for the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel for lost people to be saved.

They’ve been arrested and they are standing before the religious leaders being questioned. Some of the same men who had Jesus killed.

You know when Peter started talking John had to be thinking “don’t do it Pete, don’t do it man!”

Jesus is the only name.

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

They threaten Peter and John and they’re just like, “Nah we’re going to keep on so do what you need to do.”

They were ready to be persecuted for following and proclaiming Jesus. Jesus had warned them.

John 15:20 ESV

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.

Peter warns us.

1 Peter 4:12 ESV

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

Peter also encourages us.

1 Peter 4:13 ESV

But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

If you are living for Christ and being a witness for Him, you will have people who don’t like it. You will upset some people. You will offend some people. That shouldn’t be your goal, but it will happen. We must speak truth and show grace and love to those we speak to.

You will upset friends. You will offend family members. Those things aren’t fun. We don’t want to do those things, but they will happen. You will have people tell you to be quiet, keep it to yourself, don’t be hateful, don’t be a bigot. But your goal Christian is not to make people feel good, it is to honor God by proclaiming his truth. Some people will receive it, some people won’t. The religious leaders were afraid of it.

The religious leaders were afraid

Don’t fear this world. Truth is better than this world.

Restaurant menus stress me out. Especially places with a bunch of food. I like trying different things. I want all the flavor. Some people find one good thing at a restaurant and that’s the only thing they ever order. How do you live like that?! You could be missing the greatest meal you’ve ever had because you are afraid to lose what you have.

The religious leaders were only afraid to lose the power they held in the society to Jesus and his Gospel. They didn’t even ask if it was true.

Jesus is worth far more than whatever worldly thing you may have to give up to follow Him.

Philippians 3:8 ESV

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

To follow Christ, to be a faithful witness for Him, you may have to lose or back away from some things this world has taught you to place a high value on. But I promise you Jesus is better. Jesus is your greatest reward, what your heart is searching for.

Let me explain why…

present Gospel

Don’t be afraid of how this Gospel will interrupt your life like these religious leaders were. Ask the more important question: Is it true?

If it is, you must believe and you must tell others. But know that there will be people who will never ask if it’s true because they are afraid and they will stand against you as you try to be a witness of this good news. You will need boldness from God to be on your mission.

The church prays for boldness

read verses 23-31

They focus on the Word.

They focus on God’s sovereignty.

They focus on their mission.

They don’t focus on themselves.

Having this focus, praying this way, God will grant to us the faith to be ready to boldly be his witnesses even in the face of opposition!