That’s good preachin’….Craig Groeschel kept saying that all through his message during his BOLD Series and to tell you the truth….IT WAS GOOD!! It is probably a message that I will go back and refer to over and over again. Here it is four months later and I am still going over and over the notes.
BOLD
Amazing Boldness ~ Boldness is behavior born out of belief.
Acts 4:8-10 ~ Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, empowered by God. He was not about to take the credit, but give all to the Glory of Jesus Christ.
In verse 13, people were amazed at the Boldness of Peter and John, they were ordinary men, with no special training in scripture. God gives ordinary people extraordinary Boldness.
Your boldness should amaze the word!! When was the last time someone was amazed by your boldness?? Spiritual boldness comes from knowing Christ, and knowing Him intimately.
Remember, time with Jesus builds your faith; which leads to boldness that produces spiritual results. “We cannot stop telling everything we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20 NLT
Bold Obedience in Prayer
What you pray reflects what you believe about God.
We must learn to pray BOLD prayers! Sovereign Lord, you are in charge! (Acts 4:24a)
Two Bold Prayers
Pray for Boldness
Pray for the benefit of someone to lead them to Jesus. Reveal yourself to those who don’t know you!
Pray for Miracles. Acts 4:30
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Acts 4:31.
God showed up, God showed off and God gets all the glory!!
Use me today for Your glory!!
Bold Speaking
We speak boldly about what we believe deeply!!
Acts 4:16-20 vs. 20
“For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Not a religion, but FREEDOM!
If you knew my transformation, you will know why I am so passionate about Jesus!!! Jesus is that good! He has that much forgiveness!! I speak boldly because I believe that deeply!
Because I believe so deeply:
~I can’t help but speak boldly to myself. 1 Samuel 30:6 KJV
~I can’t help but encourage you. Hebrews 3:13
~I can’t help but lovingly correct you. Proverbs 27:6
~I can’t help but lead you toward Christ. Acts 4:20
Bold Obedience
In Acts 5:17-20, it tells the story of the Apostles being arrested by the Sadducees and put into jail.
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!”
~Usually triggers Opposition
~Often releases God’s Miracles
~Always requires Faith
** If you’re not ready to face opposition for your obedience, you’re not ready to be used by God. **
When you walk in obedience, you will not be surprised! Remember, delayed obedience is disobedience and partial obedience is disobedience.
Rick Warren talks about obedience in his YouVersion.com Bible study.
Biblical Obedience: Love + Trust + Action
Today, the word obey has a negative connotation. We view obedience as a forced, unwilling decision to do something we don’t want to do because we’re afraid of punishment.
But that’s not the kind of obedience that’s in God’s Word. Obedience in the Bible means this: love + trust + action.
It starts with love, as Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (NIV) Obedience comes from knowing that God loves you and you love him in return.
A lot of people think obedience is about fearing God, but God wants us to see obedience to him as a relationship of love. And out of love comes trust. If you trust what God is saying to you, and you believe that he loves you, then that will lead to action.
You need to have all three because action without love is just rote religion. And love without action is just mere talk.
God smiles when we obey him wholeheartedly. That means doing whatever God asks without reservation or hesitation. You don’t procrastinate and say, “I’ll pray about it.” You do it without delay. Every parent knows that delayed obedience is really disobedience.
God doesn’t owe you an explanation or reason for everything he asks you to do. Understanding can wait, but obedience can’t. Instant obedience will teach you more about God than a lifetime of Bible discussions. In fact, you will never understand some commands until you obey them first. Obedience unlocks understanding.
Often we try to offer God partial obedience. We want to pick and choose the commands we obey. “I’ll attend church but I won’t tithe.’ “I’ll read my Bible but won’t forgive the person who hurt me.’
Wholehearted obedience is done joyfully, with enthusiasm. The Bible says, “Obey him gladly.” (Psalm 100:2 LB)
This is the attitude of David: “Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord. As long as I live I’ll wholeheartedly obey.” (Psalm 119:33 LB)
James, speaking to Christians, said, “We please God by what we do and not only by what we believe.” (James 2:24 CEV)
God’s Word is clear that you can’t earn your salvation. It comes only by grace, not your effort. But as a child of God you can bring pleasure to your heavenly Father through obedience. Any act of obedience is also an act of worship.
Why is obedience so pleasing to God? Because it proves you really love him. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” (John 14:15 TEV)
If you’re not ready to face opposition for your obedience, you’re not ready to be used by God. My prayer~God use me Boldly to make you known in this world!
Just Love 