Holy Ghost Boldness!

Jesus said that he is "the way, the truth, and the life." (John 14:6) The Bible also tells us in John 18:37 that, Pilate said, "So you are a king?" Jesus responded, "You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true." Jesus IS TRUTH!

Jesus also tells us in John 8:44c that, "He (the devil) has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies." Even in the beginning we see the Devil trying to decieve Eve by planting seeds of doubt in her mind, "Did

We learn very quickly that there is a battle between truth and lies! The devil always has and always will hate the truth! Therefore, when truth is presented he will do whatever he can to oppose it, stop it, and use counterfeit tactis to decieve people to lead them away from the truth.

In Acts 3, God uses Peter to pray for a man that had been crippled from birth. The power of God touched the man who had been crippled for more than 40 years and the man who once was crippled could walk! This presented an opportunity for Peter to preach the no nonsense truth of the gospel to the people. As a result many believed and were saved! But there was another power at work...Peter and John were confronted by the priests and some of the other religious leaders. Peter, who was filled with the Holy Ghost, didn't back down from the confrontation but continued to put the truth out there! In Acts 4: 13 it goes on to say, "The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognzied them as men who had been with Jesus." So why is it these men were so bold? What was their confindence being placed in? Thier own wisdom? Thier own education? No, because they had none! Their boldness was a result of being filled with the Holy Ghost of God and they had spent time with Jesus the Christ! When the council couldn't decided what to do with Peter and John or deny the fact that they had seen a miracle, they ordered the apostles never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. Didn't Peter and John back down? Did they compromise the truth of the gospel? No, they responded with, "Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:19) The council continued to threaten them and finally let them go because they couldn't deny the fact that they had witnessed a mighty miracle of a man who had never walked!

When Peter and John went back to the other believers they had explained to them everything that they had experienced--the miracle and the threats. In verse 29 it goes on to say, "O Lord hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word...After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness."

We live in a time where preaching the truth with boldness is becoming less and less popular. The enemy of all that is true wants nothing more than to shut down men and women of God from spreading the truth of God's Word. But it is the truth of God's Word that does and will set people free and we can never back away from that!

May I encourage you no matter what kind of threats come your way. No matter who the threats are coming from, be filled with the Holy Spirit and spread God's Word with great boldness! We will need that now more than ever!