Boldness in the Spirit: Confronting Challenges with Faith
Summary
In the power of the Holy Spirit, we have been called to a boldness that is not of this world. As we gather in the name of Jesus, we are reminded that the early church, filled with the Holy Spirit, did not shrink back in the face of opposition but instead prayed for boldness to continue to speak the name of Jesus and perform signs and wonders. This is the same boldness we seek today, not to escape challenges but to meet them head-on with the authority given to us through Christ.
We must recognize that modern Christianity often lacks the potency it ought to have. It should be so full of the life and power of Jesus that it becomes beautifully offensive to the world, challenging the status quo and shaking the foundations of religious and political structures that seek to confine and control the people of God. We are called to a life of humility and brokenness, giving all glory to God, yet when the moment arises, we must stand with the boldness of the Holy Spirit to speak truth and life into the lives of those around us, especially the younger generation.
The book of Acts shows us that the church grew rapidly from a small gathering to a powerful movement as the apostles preached and performed miracles. However, this move of God was not without resistance from the religious and political authorities of the day. We are reminded that any authentic move of God will face opposition, often from those who view it through the lens of religion and politics. But we must not be deterred. Our response to threats and persecution must be to pray for boldness and to continue to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Our commitment to prayer is paramount. It is the primary fuel for a move of God. We must hunger for more of His glory, and from that place of encountering His presence, we are empowered to minister with ease. When we pray, we invite God to look upon the threats against us and to grant us boldness to continue His work. The early church did not retreat when threatened; they roared back with the power of the Holy Spirit.
We must also be aware of the spiritual battle we are engaged in. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers. The spiritual darkness over regions can only be combated with the light of Christ. As we pray and seek God's face, we can expect to see His kingdom come in power, transforming our communities and bringing deliverance to those bound by confusion and deception.
Key Takeaways:
- The church is called to a boldness that is rooted in prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. When we face opposition, we must not retreat but instead pray for greater boldness to continue proclaiming the name of Jesus and demonstrating His power through signs and wonders. [38:33]
- True Christianity should challenge the norms of society, not through arrogance but through a beautifully offensive proclamation of the gospel. This requires a commitment to humility and a recognition that our boldness for Christ may be misunderstood as arrogance. [53:48]
- Opposition to the move of God often comes from the religious and political realms, which seek to control and confine the work of the Holy Spirit. We must be discerning and understand that criticism through the lens of religion may hinder the new things God is doing. [19:51]
- The potency of our faith is demonstrated when we live out a radical love for Jesus that affects every aspect of our lives. This should cause society to take notice and question what to do with individuals who are so transformed by the power of God. [25:15]
- Our battle is not against individuals or political affiliations but against the spiritual forces of darkness. As we pray and seek God's glory, we must be prepared for spiritual warfare and trust that God will shake the very foundations of our communities for His glory. [55:24]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Acts 4:29-31 (NIV)
> "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."
2. Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
> "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
3. Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)
> "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
#### Observation Questions
1. What did the early church pray for when they faced threats and opposition? (Acts 4:29-31)
2. According to Ephesians 6:12, who or what is our struggle against?
3. How does Isaiah 43:19 describe God's new work among His people?
4. In the sermon, what were some of the challenges faced by the ministry team at the Eastern Mississippi Correctional Facility? ([08:11])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the early church prayed specifically for boldness in the face of threats? How does this reflect their priorities and faith? (Acts 4:29-31)
2. How can understanding that our struggle is against spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:12) change the way we approach challenges and opposition in our lives?
3. What might be some "new things" God is doing today that could be challenging for us to perceive or accept, similar to the new work described in Isaiah 43:19?
4. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of spiritual warfare, and what can we learn from the ministry team's experience in the prison? ([08:11])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflecting on Acts 4:29-31, how can you incorporate praying for boldness into your daily prayer life? What specific situations in your life require this kind of boldness?
2. Considering Ephesians 6:12, identify a current struggle in your life. How can you shift your perspective to see it as a spiritual battle rather than just a physical or emotional one?
3. Isaiah 43:19 speaks of God doing a new thing. Is there a new direction or change in your life that you feel God is leading you towards? How can you be more open to perceiving and embracing it?
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of prayer as the primary fuel for a move of God. How can you deepen your commitment to prayer in your personal life and within your small group? ([36:44])
5. The pastor mentioned that true Christianity should challenge societal norms in a beautifully offensive way. Can you think of a time when your faith has challenged the status quo? How did you handle it, and what was the outcome? ([53:48])
6. The sermon highlighted the need for humility and brokenness while standing boldly for Christ. How can you balance humility with boldness in your interactions with others, especially when sharing your faith? ([53:48])
7. Reflecting on the spiritual battle described in the sermon, what practical steps can you take to engage in spiritual warfare for your community, family, or personal life? ([55:24])
Devotional
Day 1: Boldness Through Prayer and Spirit
The early church exemplified a boldness that was not of their own making but was a direct result of their reliance on the Holy Spirit and their commitment to prayer. When faced with opposition, they did not cower but instead sought a greater measure of boldness through prayer. This same boldness is available to believers today, enabling them to stand firm and proclaim the gospel with confidence, regardless of the challenges they may face. It is a boldness that empowers believers to perform signs and wonders, not for their own glory, but to bear witness to the power of Jesus Christ. This boldness is not a natural trait but a supernatural gift that must be earnestly desired and pursued through a prayerful relationship with God.
Acts 4:29-31 (ESV): "And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Reflection: How can you actively seek the boldness of the Holy Spirit in your life to overcome the fear of sharing your faith with others? [38:33]
Day 2: Beautifully Offensive Gospel
True Christianity should not conform to societal norms but rather stand out, even if it means being misunderstood or rejected. The gospel, when genuinely lived out, is beautifully offensive; it challenges the status quo and calls for a radical transformation of the heart and mind. This kind of Christianity provokes a reaction from the world, as it is not passive or lukewarm but active and fervent in love and truth. Believers are called to live in humility, attributing all glory to God, and when necessary, to stand boldly for the truth, even if it is perceived as arrogance by those who do not understand the source of their conviction.
1 Peter 2:12 (ESV): "Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."
Reflection: In what ways can you live out your faith so that it challenges the norms of society while still reflecting the love and humility of Christ? [53:48]
Day 3: Discerning Opposition
The move of God often encounters resistance, especially from established religious and political structures that feel threatened by the freedom and power of the Holy Spirit. This opposition can manifest as attempts to control or confine the work of God, using the guise of religion or politics. Believers must be discerning and recognize that such criticism may be an attempt to hinder the new things God is doing. It is essential to understand that the true move of God will always provoke some level of opposition, and this should not deter but rather encourage believers to press on in faith.
Acts 5:29 (ESV): "But Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than men.'"
Reflection: How can you discern and stand firm against opposition that seeks to confine or control the work of the Holy Spirit in your life and community? [19:51]
Day 4: Radical Love Transforms
The potency of one's faith is most evident when it results in a radical love for Jesus that permeates every aspect of life. This transformation is so profound that it cannot help but affect those around, causing society to take notice. When believers live out their faith with such intensity, it raises questions and often leads to opportunities to share the reason for the hope that is within them. This radical love is not a passive feeling but an active force that compels believers to live differently, love deeply, and serve selflessly.
Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV): "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."
Reflection: What is one tangible way you can demonstrate radical love for Jesus in your daily interactions that might provoke curiosity or conversation about your faith? [25:15]
Day 5: Spiritual Warfare and God's Glory
The battle that believers face is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of darkness. This spiritual warfare requires a deep commitment to prayer and seeking God's glory. As believers engage in this battle, they can expect to see God's kingdom come in power, bringing transformation and deliverance to their communities. The light of Christ is the only force that can combat the spiritual darkness, and it is through the faithful prayers and actions of believers that this light shines brightest.
Ephesians 6:12 (ESV): "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
Reflection: What are some specific ways you can engage in spiritual warfare through prayer and action to bring God's light into the areas of darkness in your community? [55:24]
Quotes
1) "We're not backing up, we're not slowing down, we're not shutting up, we're not going to be told to mind our own business to keep us confined into a building." [39:54] (Download | )
2) "Prepare your heart, prepare your family, prepare your own life for opposition and persecution and when it comes, we cannot back down, retreat, pull away, but we need to say, 'Lord, here's their threat and we're just letting you know God, we recognize this threat but grant to us boldness.'" [38:33] (Download | )
3) "The potency of our faith is demonstrated when we live out a radical love for Jesus that affects every aspect of our lives. This should cause society to take notice and question what to do with individuals who are so transformed by the power of God." [25:15] (Download | )
4) "Our battle is not against individuals or political affiliations but against the spiritual forces of darkness. As we pray and seek God's glory, we must be prepared for spiritual warfare and trust that God will shake the very foundations of our communities for His glory." [55:24] (Download | )
5) "The only fuel to a move of God, that is the primary fuel, is prayer. Not more services, not another event, not another outreach, not anything that just keeps me busy doing the king's work." [36:44] (Download | )
6) "I want our church to be as humble and broken as it possibly can be, with no stench of arrogance in any way from everything that we do, all glory goes to him, but there will be times because of your boldness that it will seem like it's a little bit of arrogance." [53:48] (Download | )
7) "When the church stood up and said we're going to lay hands on people not in church but outside of church, and we're disrupting the status quo, we're going to upset some people's enterprises." [40:30] (Download | )
8) "I want our culture to have to ask that question about our lives, 'What are we going to do with these individuals?' I want to be a part of something that at any moment Kingdom explosions may happen." [27:04] (Download | )
9) "I'm hungering for more, not more things to do but more of His glory, and it is from the midst of that glory that we're now able to do. We don't do and ask for glory, we receive glory and then do." [37:46] (Download | )
10) "I want to see it, I want to experience it, Lord. I want to watch it, I want to observe it, God. I want to be in the middle of it. I don't want to read about it, I don't want to watch it from a distance." [01:00:02] (Download | )
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