Holy Boldness

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Holy Boldness

Acts|4:13  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and
perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and
they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.  
Acts|4:14  And beholding the man which was healed standing with them,
they could say nothing against it.

Acts|4:29  And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy
servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
Acts|4:30  By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and
wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
Acts|4:31  And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were
assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and
they spake the word of God with boldness.

2 Corinthians|7:4  Great is  my boldness of speech toward you, great is
my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in
all our tribulation.

Philippians|1:20  According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that
in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so
now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or
by death.  
Philippians|1:21  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Strong's dictionary---
Boldness(3954): parrhesia:
from 3956 and a der of 4483; all outspokenness
ie: frankness, bluntness, publicity; by impl. assurance
Bold(x -ly - ness, -ness of speech), confidence, x freely,
and openly, x plainly (-ness).

Webster's dictionary---
Boldness: "courageous, intrepid(fearlessness),impudent(cocky boldness
	disregard for others), steep(having a very sharp slope)
	daring, dauntless, brave."
frankness: "Marked by free, forthright(straightforward, direct)
	and sincere expression"
Bluntness: "Lacking in tact."  (tact: sense of what to do or say 
	to keep good relations with others or avoid offense.)
Publicity: "public attention"
Freely: "open, frank"
Plainly: "lacking beauty, candid, blunt"

Growing up, I remember hearing the phrase, "Fire-and Brimstone."
Back then I believe it was the Baptist preachers who carried this label.
Their sermons were not with enticing words, nor
were their messages "feel-good."  No, they were labeled "fire
and brimstone" for a reason.  What they preached was straightforward
and pretty much to the point.  They were not respecter of any particular
person in the room.  No favor was given, no special considerations.  If
a unsaved soul sat among the congregation during one of these
"fire and brimstone" messages, they got the full force treatment like
all the rest.
Here we are in the 90's.  Many things have changed.  No longer do I hear
the phrase, "fire and brimstone."  Instead, I hear a lot of people say,
"watered-down"  In other words, the sermons have become diluted.
Like I said, this is the 90's.  We are to be politically correct.  We are
to
"accept" people just as they are.  Many people recently applauded
Ellen "Degenerate" when her fictional character and her real life self,
stepped out of the closet and proclaimed to the world "I'm a Lesbian!"
Because those who stand against homosexuality are considered
"homophobes", they keep quiet.  Their keeping quiet has helped the
world in accepting this vulgar lifestyle.  It is now considered normal
among many people of this world.
I have been told that because we have a different culture around us than
say
20 years ago, we must now preach/teach in a different manner.  We must
not offend anyone in fear of losing them from the church. We must not
preach
long in fear of upsetting someone.  
Even the Government has shut down religion in many ways.  "Don't bring
that
Bible to school!"  "Don't you dare witness at school, or in the
workplace."
In place of the religion, we are force fed scientology, psychology, etc.

In another spectrum, we have become more worried about filling the pews,
than preaching the Gospel.  Knowing that preaching the truth may hurt,
offend, upset, someone, they change their strategy.  The messages become
"feel-good" messages.  The saints are able to sit back and relax, take in
the
sermon, and feel good until the next service.  Pretty soon, the standards
become
laxed, layed back.  The church needs to conform to the visitors needs so
that we
can attract a big crowd some think.  

Scenario comes about.  You find yourself in a crowd of "Christians" and
they are 
discussing their beliefs, one comes out and remarks, "I can go to heaven
while
smoking my 2 packs a day."  Knowing they are in error, or danger you want
to
say something, but hold back.  You don't want to offend that fellow
Christian.
They would only reply to you that you need to show love, since you too
are
a Christian.

Let's back up just a little now.  We have went from Boldness, fire and
brimstone,
to watered down, politically correct, and "lets show some love."

What exactly is showing love???

Is love accepting and standing silent while one is in error?  Is love
watering
down a message so that you do not offend that person with the truth?
NO!  I don't believe it is or ever will be that!  

Love is a preacher standing boldly at His pulpit, preaching the Truth
100%
Love is standing up for the Gospel and correcting error of judgement.

Love is exactly what Paul showed to the Jews!
Was he happily accepted?  NO  Was he loved in return?  NO
Paul was persecuted beyond belief. He was Beat, thrown in jail,
kicked out of cities, hated by many!  All of this because
he went back to His Jewish homestead and told them they had been
taught wrong!

He did not preach a "feel good" message.  He probably did not keep His
message short.  He did not have a choir backing him up, or a drama 
presentation to add flavor.  He simply spoke.  His speech was not
excellent,
nor was his wisdom.  He did not use enticing words of man's wisdom in his
speaking or his preaching, but of that of the demonstration of the spirit
and the power.

Now Acts 4:31 says that when they assembled together and were filled with
the Holy Ghost, they spoke the word of God with 'boldness'.
Paul said he spoke in the demonstration of the spirit(Holy Ghost)
Does this mean he spoke with Boldness?  I believe so.

We are in a time where watering down the message to please everyone is
endangering our very own soul.  We cannot look to please man and God.
One has to give place for the other.  Holy Boldness means that there
are no retreats when preaching/speaking/teaching/defending the gospel!
Somewhere along the line, toes will be stepped on, possibly even breaking
that toe.  If we go and tippy-toe around trying to be careful of where we
walk
while speaking, sooner or later we will lose concentration on what the
main
point was.  That main point is, not all will receive your message.  Not
all will
receive God, you must preach the Gospel no matter the consequences. 	

Acts|13:49  And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the
region.
Acts|13:50  But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and
the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and
Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.  Acts|13:51  But they
shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
Acts|13:52  And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy
Ghost.

Paul "shook off the dust."  They did not receive him so he shook off
their replies,
attacks, and went on to let others hear the Gospel.

In luke, we find a warning that was given unto those which did not
receive
this Bold message that was preached.

Luke|10:10  But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not,
go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,
Luke|10:11  Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us,we do
wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the
kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

No one can run from the judgement of God.  There will come a time in
where the
we will come face to face with God.  You will have to answer to God for
your own
actions.  Those which did not receive the Word, and those which sat back
silently
accepting the world.  

I ask this of all of you...are you using the boldness in which the Holy
Ghost
has implanted within your heart?  Is your pastor preaching the truth with
Boldness or watering it down to tickle the ears?  Are you standing
silently
while someone is in error and  in great danger?  Do you realize their
blood will
be on your hands if you fail to attempt to reach them?  

I ask, where is the fire and brimstone of yesterday?  Where is the Holy
Boldness
which made bodies tremble and hearts fear?  

God did not ask for us to build big churches and fill the pews!  He only
asks of us to take up our cross, spread the Gospel, shake off the dust
of those which disagree, and move on!  People will be offended by the
Gospel!
There is no way around it!  

Brothers and Sisters, God is not looking for a soul which is compromising
in
these last days!  Compromising is the act of settling differences by way
of 
reaching mutual concessions.  This means that We are conceding, or
allowing,
an act to be made.   A compromising soul is leaving open a gateway for
 the Devil to creep in!  

God is looking for someone one to stand up and preach the Truth,
no matter the persecution they might receive.

2 Timothy 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ
	 Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Don't be afraid to preach the Gospel with Holy Boldness!
Don't be afraid to stand!
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-----    Chris Sterrett        sterrett@juno.com    -----
-----           If you wait until you are sure,         -----
-----you will never take off the training wheels.-----
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