Acts 4:10 Be it known unto 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 even by Him does this man stand here before you whole.
Peter and John were standing before the Sanhedrin which was the highest court of the land. On the surface, it appeared as if they were there because they healed a crippled man but as we have been discussing for the past several days, that was not at all the case. They were arrested and caused to stand before the high court because they were threatening the power of the religious hierarchy of Israel.
They were asked this question: By what power, or by what name, have you done this? Peter and John both knew they could be put to death but they had totally given themselves over to the Gospel of Christ and a boldness rose up within them that was phenomenal!
As recorded by Luke, Peter’s response was the following: You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; be it known unto 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, even by Him does this man stand here before you whole. (Acts 4:8-10)
The fact is, they could not deny that the man was totally healed. He was standing right there in front of them! For years they had all passed him sitting at the Temple Gate begging for a scrap of bread or a few coins. They knew this man but they did not know the Power in the Name of the Man Who Healed him!
Peter did not mince words in telling them. A Holy Boldness rose up inside him and he spoke the Words the Holy Spirit put in his mouth. You see, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and he was allowing the Spirit of God to totally lead him. Every step he took and every word he spoke was initiated by the Holy Spirit.
This is what Jesus was referring to when He said: And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take you no thought how or what thing you shall answer, or what you shall say: For the Holy Spirit shall teach you in the same hour what you ought to say. (Luke 12:11-12)
More than any time in our lifetimes, we need the Holy Spirit to speak for us. We need Him to rise up within us and give us the Holy Boldness Peter had and Jesus spoke of. That Boldness is there inside you if you close your own mouth and call upon it.
Trust in the Lord and lean not on your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Jesus was bold. Peter was bold. Paul was bold. John was bold. All the Apostles were bold. James, Luke, Timothy, Titus, Mary, Martha, all of them were bold! Give your mouth over to the Holy Spirit and you too will be bold for Christ.
Holy Boldness will……….turn the tide……..in this world.
Speaking boldly, Doreen
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