WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.519 I want to draw your attention to Acts 4, and I was looking at your slides, your announcement slides, 00:00:12.780 --> 00:00:16.800 and saw that you guys are going to be doing some evangelism training. 00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:20.839 And what I'd like to do, I didn't know that until today, 00:00:21.320 --> 00:00:27.900 what I'd like to do is go through just one of the lessons that I brought our church through when it comes to witnessing. 00:00:27.899 --> 00:00:34.780 Because we're talking about being bold, and we saw it in the life of Elijah Friday night. 00:00:35.379 --> 00:00:42.219 And then looked at, I mean, you know, if you think about it, Caleb was a pretty bold guy, you know, and I'm thankful for him. 00:00:42.579 --> 00:00:44.679 But, you know, we need the boldness in witnessing. 00:00:47.019 --> 00:00:50.420 I'm going to tell you this, I'll just be a little, I'll be vulnerable to you. 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:53.820 I need it. I struggle with it. 00:00:53.820 --> 00:00:58.320 You know, there are times where the Lord says, you need a witness to him. 00:00:58.460 --> 00:01:04.379 Like, yeah, but Lord, you know, it's, you know, Lord, it's, you know, and we, all right, am I the only duck in the pond? 00:01:04.960 --> 00:01:07.180 Okay, we, do you struggle with that? 00:01:07.540 --> 00:01:09.620 And we all do, and we all need that boldness. 00:01:09.620 --> 00:01:14.560 And so, it'd be a good reminder. 00:01:14.700 --> 00:01:19.620 We're going to talk about some of the aspects here in verse, or chapter number four. 00:01:20.420 --> 00:01:26.100 And, but we got to remember that when we're witnessing with people, you're going to get some training here. 00:01:26.219 --> 00:01:30.219 And man, just jump into it and get yourself equipped. 00:01:30.219 --> 00:01:34.000 And I know the pastor will do a great job with that. 00:01:34.459 --> 00:01:40.959 But, you know, when we think about witnessing, some of the things, our objectives is to expose the curse of religion. 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:45.459 You know, reality is, is that everybody's following a religion. 00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:48.259 Everybody is. Yes? 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:48.980 Yes. 00:01:49.099 --> 00:01:49.280 Okay. 00:01:49.280 --> 00:02:02.340 And, and then what we need to do is, and once we expose that, and what we need to then bring about, by the spirit of God does this, ultimately, of course, is to establish a conviction of sin. 00:02:02.740 --> 00:02:04.140 Why do they need Jesus? 00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:09.639 Why do they, so that they could, and then the third part is to experience new life. 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:19.259 And, and I'll tell you this, I know some of you are probably working with the kids, but when I led that young lady to Christ in that Bible study, 00:02:19.280 --> 00:02:23.120 on the UCM campus, pagan, pagan, pagan, most universities are pagan. 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:32.240 And, but University of Central Missouri also at one time ranked fifth in Missouri for party schools. 00:02:32.900 --> 00:02:39.840 There are people in Kansas City that know a street in our town, Little Warrensburg, called Pine Street. 00:02:40.199 --> 00:02:41.439 That's where all the bars are at. 00:02:42.120 --> 00:02:44.900 They leave Kansas City to come to Warrensburg. 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:45.900 I don't get that. 00:02:45.900 --> 00:02:55.319 And, but anyhow, but we want them to, leading her to Christ, and the sweetest thing is hearing her pray and ask Christ to save her. 00:02:56.520 --> 00:03:05.939 The tears and the, and the joy and just, you could see in her, in her eyes just this, ah, this relief from sin. 00:03:06.460 --> 00:03:07.980 It's just, it's just amazing. 00:03:07.979 --> 00:03:11.859 And, and, and here's the thing that, you know, God gives us all divine appointments. 00:03:13.479 --> 00:03:15.280 God sets things up for us. 00:03:15.519 --> 00:03:19.000 You know, with, and we interact with people on our path. 00:03:19.099 --> 00:03:22.099 You know, sometimes we don't have to create a situation. 00:03:23.019 --> 00:03:30.280 There was one, me and one of our deacons, we're, we're at the truck stop, um, about 15 minutes north of the church. 00:03:30.280 --> 00:03:31.640 We went to Subway. 00:03:31.780 --> 00:03:33.280 We're sitting there talking Bible. 00:03:33.740 --> 00:03:38.300 A guy, a trucker walks by us, hears us, stops, starts talking to us. 00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:39.800 And he wasn't saved. 00:03:39.900 --> 00:03:42.180 We witnessed to him and led him to Jesus right in Subway. 00:03:43.520 --> 00:03:48.280 I mean, we weren't praying, dear God, you know, nothing like that. 00:03:48.740 --> 00:03:50.599 God just had this guy walk by us. 00:03:51.240 --> 00:03:52.840 People on our path. 00:03:54.099 --> 00:03:56.340 Walmart, grocery stores, wherever it may be. 00:03:56.759 --> 00:03:58.259 And God has someone for you. 00:03:58.360 --> 00:04:01.039 And so that's why we guys say, okay, God, I need to be bold. 00:04:01.140 --> 00:04:03.700 But here's the first point we're going to look at if you're taking notes. 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:04.719 Boldness is biblical. 00:04:05.480 --> 00:04:11.259 I'm sure you already understand that, but let's be reminded of the, um, of the fundamentals. 00:04:11.620 --> 00:04:15.520 Boldness is something that is going to be biblical. 00:04:15.980 --> 00:04:19.100 Again, as I mentioned Friday night, it's not an issue of personality. 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:25.199 Now there's some people, I, you know, I have guys in my church, they could talk to a wall and have a good time. 00:04:26.339 --> 00:04:27.339 They'll talk to anybody. 00:04:28.599 --> 00:04:33.239 And, uh, they'll just, boom, start a conversation and, and so forth. 00:04:33.379 --> 00:04:35.799 And, uh, and some of you, some of you are not like that. 00:04:35.859 --> 00:04:38.620 So it's a little bit more, it's a little more difficult, isn't it? 00:04:39.159 --> 00:04:42.000 And, uh, but that doesn't relieve us of our responsibility. 00:04:42.579 --> 00:04:43.919 But boldness is biblical. 00:04:44.259 --> 00:04:45.319 Uh, look at Acts. 00:04:45.319 --> 00:04:49.599 We'll get to four, four in a, here in a minute, but let's go to Acts chapter nine and verse 27. 00:04:49.719 --> 00:04:55.359 If someone, uh, preacher, I didn't ask permission, but is it okay for them to read the Bible? 00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:55.800 Yeah. 00:04:56.020 --> 00:04:56.240 Okay. 00:04:56.340 --> 00:04:56.600 All right. 00:04:56.960 --> 00:04:57.300 Okay. 00:04:57.520 --> 00:04:58.460 I thought it would be. 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:02.780 If someone could read Acts chapter nine, verse 27 and 29. 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:06.900 Acts chapter nine, 27 and 29. 00:05:08.060 --> 00:05:09.980 Someone, who wants to read that? 00:05:11.879 --> 00:05:12.280 Anybody? 00:05:12.540 --> 00:05:13.020 Okay, brother. 00:05:13.180 --> 00:05:13.460 Go ahead. 00:05:13.560 --> 00:05:13.939 Thank you. 00:05:14.699 --> 00:05:15.180 I'm sorry. 00:05:15.340 --> 00:05:16.139 You all have to tell me again. 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:17.020 29 and 29. 00:05:17.500 --> 00:05:21.120 Acts nine, 27 and 29. 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:23.879 And you could, you could read 28 if you'd like, but you could skip it too. 00:05:23.879 --> 00:05:24.160 So. 00:05:24.780 --> 00:05:27.680 But Marvus took him and brought him to the altar. 00:05:28.019 --> 00:05:31.420 And he declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way. 00:05:31.939 --> 00:05:33.379 And that he had spoken to him. 00:05:33.620 --> 00:05:38.139 And how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:39.899 And he was with them. 00:05:40.120 --> 00:05:42.540 And he spoke boldly before Jesus. 00:05:42.819 --> 00:05:47.459 And disputed against the Grecians. 00:05:47.459 --> 00:05:51.799 All right. 00:05:51.879 --> 00:05:53.779 So we see, is this still holy water? 00:05:54.239 --> 00:05:54.680 Okay. 00:05:54.979 --> 00:05:55.299 All right. 00:05:55.779 --> 00:05:56.219 Okay. 00:05:56.339 --> 00:05:57.120 Excuse me. 00:05:58.159 --> 00:05:58.539 Okay. 00:05:58.680 --> 00:05:59.539 Thank you so much. 00:05:59.599 --> 00:06:01.620 Look at Acts 13, 46. 00:06:01.819 --> 00:06:04.019 Acts chapter 13, verse 46. 00:06:05.299 --> 00:06:06.899 And someone wants to read that for me. 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:08.899 Acts chapter 13, 46. 00:06:08.899 --> 00:06:14.620 Then Paul and Marvus waxed boldly and said it was necessary that the word of God first 00:06:14.620 --> 00:06:15.859 have been spoken to you. 00:06:16.479 --> 00:06:20.959 That seeing you are worthy and judge yourselves unworthy, you have ever left in life. 00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:23.179 Though we are the Gentiles. 00:06:23.399 --> 00:06:23.899 Okay. 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:27.339 So again, very, everyone is familiar with this basic. 00:06:27.919 --> 00:06:28.919 Boldness is biblical. 00:06:29.879 --> 00:06:35.979 But at the same time, being brash and being rude is not biblical. 00:06:35.980 --> 00:06:41.740 You know, so I think sometimes we interpret boldness as, you know, being brass and so forth. 00:06:42.220 --> 00:06:43.960 But, or being, even being rude. 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:44.720 That's not biblical. 00:06:44.840 --> 00:06:47.060 The Bible says a soft answer turneth away wrath. 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:49.680 But grievous words stir up strife. 00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:56.920 You see, when people witness, oftentimes, unfortunately, there's a tendency to stir strife up. 00:06:57.860 --> 00:07:01.060 And now understand when you're given the message, guess what's going to happen? 00:07:01.100 --> 00:07:02.259 You're going to stir some things up. 00:07:02.259 --> 00:07:09.399 So, I'm talking about those who purposely, or maybe sometimes unintentionally, but, because 00:07:09.399 --> 00:07:15.339 what I have found is a lot of people will reject the message because they reject the messenger. 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:19.819 It's really, it's not the message, it's the messenger. 00:07:20.680 --> 00:07:25.019 And, and you know how it is, you know, you watch these talk shows and they bring these 00:07:25.019 --> 00:07:28.139 people up that represent biblical Christianity. 00:07:28.139 --> 00:07:30.539 And I'm like, where did they get these people from? 00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:33.839 They, they must have been living in a cave, right? 00:07:34.419 --> 00:07:37.479 And, and that's not, that's not what God wants us to do. 00:07:37.740 --> 00:07:43.819 And the Bible says in Matthew 10, he says, I send forth, he says, behold, I send you forth 00:07:43.819 --> 00:07:44.240 as sheep. 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:45.199 Now think about this. 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:47.879 I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. 00:07:49.019 --> 00:07:50.779 Boy, that doesn't make sense, does it? 00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:52.560 Meh, right? 00:07:53.479 --> 00:07:53.879 Wolf. 00:07:54.419 --> 00:07:54.819 Lunch. 00:07:55.079 --> 00:07:55.800 Are you with me? 00:07:55.800 --> 00:08:01.840 But Christ, he says, and therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 00:08:02.300 --> 00:08:08.960 Now the reality is, is that, you know, when I was witnessing to this young lady, boy, there 00:08:08.960 --> 00:08:11.620 was, there, I was truth, truth to her. 00:08:11.780 --> 00:08:14.780 I was trying to get a feel of where she was at and so forth. 00:08:14.980 --> 00:08:16.540 And, but I wanted to be wise. 00:08:16.780 --> 00:08:18.580 So there's questions I asked. 00:08:18.660 --> 00:08:19.519 I had to listen. 00:08:20.139 --> 00:08:20.660 All right. 00:08:20.660 --> 00:08:26.860 And there, and, and even if they make some outlandish statements, don't go, you see, 00:08:26.939 --> 00:08:28.900 because body language says something, doesn't it? 00:08:29.340 --> 00:08:29.640 Right. 00:08:29.840 --> 00:08:36.860 And it may sound crazy to you and you shouldn't be surprised by that because they're what? 00:08:37.860 --> 00:08:38.960 They're lost. 00:08:39.700 --> 00:08:40.340 Right. 00:08:40.340 --> 00:08:45.840 And we are not living 50 years ago or however long ago. 00:08:46.780 --> 00:08:49.360 There, maybe, maybe even further than that. 00:08:49.500 --> 00:08:55.060 There used to be a biblical kind of foundation, whether people believe the Bible or not. 00:08:55.259 --> 00:08:59.220 We are dealing with people that have no Bible foundation. 00:09:00.899 --> 00:09:01.660 At all. 00:09:02.200 --> 00:09:02.480 Right. 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:08.740 So there's, we still got to preach the gospel, but we have to understand there, some people, 00:09:08.820 --> 00:09:09.600 you got to start in Genesis. 00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:12.039 Yes. 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:13.820 We're getting to that point. 00:09:14.580 --> 00:09:18.639 And so understand that Missouri's kind of a year in the Bible belt. 00:09:18.720 --> 00:09:20.539 We lost our buckle a long time ago. 00:09:21.259 --> 00:09:21.700 Okay. 00:09:21.879 --> 00:09:23.240 It's not what it used to be. 00:09:23.420 --> 00:09:27.220 It's even changed in the 23 years we have been in Warrensburg. 00:09:27.220 --> 00:09:33.480 And so the thing is, is that, you know, the Proverbs says, now think about this. 00:09:33.540 --> 00:09:34.600 Let me, let me ask you this question. 00:09:35.220 --> 00:09:39.379 There, there are only two basis for religion, right? 00:09:39.639 --> 00:09:41.600 Two ideas of religion, two. 00:09:42.160 --> 00:09:43.779 What do you think they are? 00:09:44.620 --> 00:09:46.800 It's only two types of religion. 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:49.420 What do you think they are? 00:09:51.420 --> 00:09:52.300 Fake and real. 00:09:52.460 --> 00:09:52.680 Okay. 00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:54.759 That, I like that one. 00:09:55.440 --> 00:09:56.680 Works and grace. 00:09:56.679 --> 00:09:57.319 Fake and real. 00:09:57.799 --> 00:09:58.699 You just said it differently. 00:09:59.199 --> 00:09:59.319 Okay. 00:10:00.719 --> 00:10:03.159 They're either, it's either works or grace. 00:10:03.199 --> 00:10:05.719 I don't care what title they put on their religion. 00:10:06.620 --> 00:10:06.919 Okay. 00:10:07.319 --> 00:10:09.879 Now, I don't, I'm not in a religion. 00:10:10.939 --> 00:10:12.579 You guys aren't, we're not in a religion. 00:10:12.699 --> 00:10:13.539 We're in a relationship. 00:10:14.179 --> 00:10:15.620 Religion dams people to hell. 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:17.359 Let's just be honest. 00:10:17.379 --> 00:10:17.659 Okay. 00:10:18.179 --> 00:10:19.099 I think I could speak. 00:10:19.359 --> 00:10:20.199 We're all family, right? 00:10:21.939 --> 00:10:26.079 And the reality is, is that everybody's either in those two categories. 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:27.240 Works or grace. 00:10:27.780 --> 00:10:35.360 So your approach to that is to get them to understand boldly that their works are wanting. 00:10:36.900 --> 00:10:38.200 It's by the grace of God. 00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:39.780 Doesn't matter what religion they are. 00:10:39.860 --> 00:10:40.800 It's either works or grace. 00:10:40.799 --> 00:10:46.199 So it makes, to me, when I step back and look at it that way, it makes things a little more simpler. 00:10:46.779 --> 00:10:48.500 Not that it's easier, but it's simpler. 00:10:49.019 --> 00:10:49.179 Okay. 00:10:49.719 --> 00:10:55.539 And so boldness is biblical, but also, again, trying to ram in this idea home again. 00:10:56.079 --> 00:10:58.439 Boldness is not an issue of personality. 00:10:59.579 --> 00:11:02.879 We could, there's a lot of different personalities in this room. 00:11:03.199 --> 00:11:03.859 And guess what? 00:11:04.359 --> 00:11:04.979 Praise God. 00:11:04.980 --> 00:11:05.460 God. 00:11:05.539 --> 00:11:07.440 I'm glad everybody's not like me. 00:11:08.920 --> 00:11:10.259 I'm going to change my message. 00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:11.180 Let's go to Ephesians. 00:11:11.820 --> 00:11:11.940 Right? 00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:15.480 But boldness, okay, think about this. 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:20.060 It carries the idea of confidence. 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:24.360 Of course, openly and plainly. 00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:34.320 So it's having that confidence in God that, listen, what God has entrusted me with since I've been saved, that's what people need to hear. 00:11:35.180 --> 00:11:36.360 Listen, think about it. 00:11:36.539 --> 00:11:38.659 We have the answer the world needs. 00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:44.700 Boldness is not about being introvert or extrovert. 00:11:45.320 --> 00:11:48.519 Boldness is about being confident in God Almighty. 00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:52.379 And when we think about, look at Matthew, let's go to the Great Commission. 00:11:53.079 --> 00:11:59.419 And again, I'm not going to give you anything earth-shattering today, but just a reminder of the fundamentals. 00:11:59.579 --> 00:12:01.899 I remember I played a lot of baseball growing up. 00:12:03.199 --> 00:12:12.319 And because of decisions I made when I was a teenager, I got saved when I was 10, got out of church with my parents, 00:12:12.539 --> 00:12:15.319 and just kind of went the way of the prodigal for a while. 00:12:15.320 --> 00:12:22.379 But if I would have remained in baseball, I probably maybe could have got a scholarship, not a Division I or anything, 00:12:22.520 --> 00:12:25.220 but I was good enough for maybe a two, definitely a three. 00:12:26.140 --> 00:12:32.560 But I can remember every spring training, coach would have us do the same fundamentals over. 00:12:33.160 --> 00:12:35.000 It's like, we're tired of this. 00:12:35.480 --> 00:12:38.980 And he goes, until you get this and dream about it, you're not done with it. 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:40.200 That's how he was. 00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:46.960 And so, but Matthew 28, verse number 18, because sometimes we just go to 19, right? 00:12:47.379 --> 00:12:48.879 But Matthew 28, 18, it says, 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:51.720 All power, okay, so there's your boldness. 00:12:52.060 --> 00:12:52.900 You got all power. 00:12:53.700 --> 00:12:55.420 It's given unto me both in what? 00:12:56.040 --> 00:12:58.220 Heaven and earth. 00:12:58.580 --> 00:12:59.420 Go ye what? 00:13:00.280 --> 00:13:01.560 In that power. 00:13:01.559 --> 00:13:08.019 So I have the power of Jesus Christ to go and tell people about the gospel. 00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:10.319 It's not my own power. 00:13:11.019 --> 00:13:15.979 It's like, pray the silent witnessing prayer. 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:16.979 Lord, help me. 00:13:17.119 --> 00:13:18.139 I am so scared. 00:13:18.239 --> 00:13:19.459 I feel like I'm going to die. 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:21.939 And he's going to give us power. 00:13:22.919 --> 00:13:24.339 And he said, I give you power. 00:13:24.500 --> 00:13:25.139 Go ye therefore. 00:13:25.500 --> 00:13:27.779 Let's look at Acts chapter number one, verse number eight. 00:13:28.779 --> 00:13:30.419 Acts chapter one, verse number eight. 00:13:30.419 --> 00:13:31.759 Someone read that, please. 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:34.399 Acts chapter one, verse number eight. 00:13:34.579 --> 00:13:35.839 You shall receive power. 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:43.319 After that, be the Holy Ghost to come on you, and you shall be witnesses unto the people of Jerusalem, all of you. 00:13:43.699 --> 00:13:44.199 Yeah. 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:46.839 Samaria, the only place of the earth. 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:54.040 So God, so listen, God's power is in every place, no matter where we are witnessing. 00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:58.200 Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and unto the uttermost. 00:13:59.080 --> 00:14:01.840 You know, you think about what he's saying there. 00:14:01.899 --> 00:14:04.399 He says, and ye shall. 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:05.580 Is that a promise? 00:14:06.200 --> 00:14:07.740 Is that definitely going to happen? 00:14:08.139 --> 00:14:08.580 Okay. 00:14:08.580 --> 00:14:11.400 So again, there, it comes in that, that trust. 00:14:11.520 --> 00:14:12.460 I got to trust. 00:14:12.800 --> 00:14:13.820 Okay, God, I know. 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:15.580 Well, I've been praying for a family. 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:17.580 And by the way, family members are the hardest to reach. 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:18.740 Amen. 00:14:19.280 --> 00:14:27.139 And, and so, but we still got to, still got to keep praying and searching and, or praying and witnessing and so forth. 00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:32.460 But, but what, what, what do you think replaces boldness? 00:14:32.740 --> 00:14:33.080 What is it? 00:14:33.740 --> 00:14:34.139 Fear. 00:14:34.819 --> 00:14:35.179 Absolutely. 00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:42.000 And then we go to 2 Timothy chapter, I think it's 2 Timothy chapter 1 verse 7. 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:43.679 God has not given us the spirit of fear. 00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:46.220 So where's that fear coming from? 00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:49.399 It's not coming from God, so it's coming from. 00:14:50.019 --> 00:14:51.480 And what does he want to do? 00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:57.379 He wants to keep the eyes of the lost blinded. 00:14:58.700 --> 00:14:59.039 Right? 00:14:59.159 --> 00:15:00.639 So I don't know about you, but I want God to win. 00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:10.420 And, and the reality is, is that I think sometimes we're afraid because sometimes in witnessing, we're afraid we won't say the right thing. 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:12.259 Yes? 00:15:13.060 --> 00:15:13.539 Okay. 00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:16.220 Think about the Samaritan woman. 00:15:16.560 --> 00:15:18.139 Did she have any evangelism training? 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:20.519 Uh-uh. 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:25.360 She went to the, hey, come and tell, come and see a man that told me. 00:15:26.419 --> 00:15:26.779 Right? 00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:28.759 That's all, that was her witnessing thing. 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:32.740 But we're afraid we're going to say the wrong thing or not enough things. 00:15:33.439 --> 00:15:34.679 And then we're also afraid of what? 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:36.559 Rejection. 00:15:37.559 --> 00:15:37.799 Right? 00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:39.519 So let's just say John. 00:15:39.579 --> 00:15:42.960 I met John and he likes pierogies, man. 00:15:43.059 --> 00:15:43.799 So he's my buddy. 00:15:44.299 --> 00:15:48.100 And so I introduced my wife to John. 00:15:48.100 --> 00:15:50.299 John, this is my wife and, and so forth. 00:15:50.299 --> 00:15:53.079 Now what John does with that introduction is up to John. 00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:57.759 It's not my responsibility for them to like each other. 00:15:59.359 --> 00:16:01.299 But she is, you wouldn't like her. 00:16:01.439 --> 00:16:02.000 I'm sure you would. 00:16:02.439 --> 00:16:02.659 Okay. 00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:07.539 So I introduced John to my wife and then he does with it what he wants to. 00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:11.219 If he doesn't like my wife, he's not rejecting me. 00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:13.199 He's rejecting who? 00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:14.559 My wife. 00:16:15.419 --> 00:16:17.879 So what I want to do is I want to introduce people to Jesus. 00:16:18.839 --> 00:16:20.759 And what they do with that is up to them. 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:24.860 And it's hard because we feel, walk away, I'm defeated. 00:16:25.059 --> 00:16:26.200 No, here's the thing. 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:28.919 Isaiah 55, what does it tell us? 00:16:28.980 --> 00:16:31.340 That God's word will accomplish its purpose. 00:16:33.100 --> 00:16:38.360 Now, I always want his, I always want people to come to Christ. 00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:40.980 But there are people that are not. 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:44.220 And when they stand before God, they're going to be reminded. 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:48.220 You remember that day that Rich shared the gospel with you and you rejected it? 00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:52.320 I don't like that part because they spent eternity in hell. 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:56.820 Who are some of the people in the Bible that feared? 00:16:58.379 --> 00:16:59.419 Anybody think anybody that? 00:17:01.180 --> 00:17:01.580 Joshua. 00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:02.200 Okay. 00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:03.100 Who else? 00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:03.659 Peter. 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:05.099 Yeah. 00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:07.120 I wasn't thinking about him, but yeah, Peter. 00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:07.920 Who else? 00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:09.980 David. 00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:11.599 Jonah. 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:13.120 Right. 00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:14.160 Who is it? 00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:15.039 Moses. 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:16.299 Okay. 00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:19.220 These are all main Bible characters. 00:17:20.620 --> 00:17:21.920 So we're in good company. 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:23.759 Yes? 00:17:24.180 --> 00:17:24.660 Yeah. 00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:25.539 Right. 00:17:25.940 --> 00:17:27.440 Do you think they got it right all the time? 00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:28.620 Nah. 00:17:30.620 --> 00:17:32.860 But the issue is, is that they kept moving. 00:17:32.859 --> 00:17:37.099 So boldness is not an issue of personality, but here's the source for our boldness. 00:17:37.099 --> 00:17:38.419 This is going to get us back in our text. 00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:40.099 Go to Acts chapter number four. 00:17:40.939 --> 00:17:41.339 Okay. 00:17:41.419 --> 00:17:42.319 Verse number 13. 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:43.419 Okay. 00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:45.879 Acts chapter four, verse number 13. 00:17:45.919 --> 00:17:51.959 Again, the church has just started just kind of spreading its wings, if you will, and so forth. 00:17:51.959 --> 00:17:54.159 And so forth and so on. 00:17:54.619 --> 00:17:58.859 And God is working and it was empowered there in Acts chapter two. 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:00.759 And now it's moving forward. 00:18:00.959 --> 00:18:04.500 So, you know, it's facing persecution. 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:06.579 And this is exactly what was going on here. 00:18:07.380 --> 00:18:15.940 And it says, and in verse number 13, it says, now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John. 00:18:15.940 --> 00:18:18.500 So they saw their boldness. 00:18:19.620 --> 00:18:23.640 It says, and they perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men. 00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:33.380 So it's not based upon our, our boldness, not based upon our, our, our background or our education or learning and so forth. 00:18:33.380 --> 00:18:39.420 It says, they marveled and they took knowledge that they had been with. 00:18:40.360 --> 00:18:40.860 Wow. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:44.880 You see, I love the simplicity of Christianity. 00:18:46.100 --> 00:18:49.280 Is they didn't hear about the boldness, by the way. 00:18:50.040 --> 00:18:51.620 They saw the boldness. 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:55.060 Boldness is something that's supposed to be seen. 00:18:55.059 --> 00:19:02.460 That tells us that boldness is not how loud you shout, but rather the life you live. 00:19:04.119 --> 00:19:10.559 There's some people that are, I have some folks that work in specific, specific jobs. 00:19:10.659 --> 00:19:11.399 And I'm going to tell you this. 00:19:11.679 --> 00:19:15.819 It's tough to be a Christian where they're at, but they're bold and they're witness. 00:19:15.819 --> 00:19:21.579 There, there are guys that, you know, that, um, some, some retired now military. 00:19:21.579 --> 00:19:25.619 We have a lot, we have some military retired and active in our church. 00:19:26.439 --> 00:19:32.439 And, uh, there's one guy who, uh, honestly, his career, uh, really came to a halt. 00:19:33.079 --> 00:19:39.759 Uh, he, he was a, um, uh, security forces guy and he just didn't go to the bar after work. 00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:41.359 Amen. 00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:41.559 Amen. 00:19:42.959 --> 00:19:46.659 And because of that, he didn't get certain assignments. 00:19:46.879 --> 00:19:49.119 He, you know, and all these things that could have helped his career. 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:53.559 But he said this, my walk with God is more important than getting promoted. 00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:59.599 And when he came to our base, white men, his career went to a screeching halt. 00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:03.000 Oh, you're not going to go hang out with us. 00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:06.139 You're not going to go, Hey, let's just, let's go crack one and throw one back. 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:06.859 He goes, no. 00:20:06.939 --> 00:20:09.019 He goes, I, he goes, I'm going home. 00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:11.379 That's boldness. 00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:16.740 You know, and, and he didn't go, he didn't lay out Romans road, did he? 00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:21.160 No, he just said, Hey, listen, I'm going to stand firm on the word. 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:22.720 Boldness. 00:20:23.819 --> 00:20:27.700 Bold, biblical boldness is something that comes from being with Jesus. 00:20:28.819 --> 00:20:32.180 And even those religious laws, religious leaders understood that. 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:35.519 And these men, they were commercial fishermen, uneducated. 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:42.240 Here they are standing in the city of Jerusalem in the presence of powerful, educated Jewish leaders that day. 00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:45.920 And that should, that should have intimidated them. 00:20:47.180 --> 00:20:48.240 But they were not. 00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:54.879 It kind of reminds me, you ever see those, you know, those little dogs, you know, little dogs. 00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:55.819 They just have an ad. 00:20:55.879 --> 00:20:58.660 If you have one, don't be offended by what I'm about to say. 00:20:58.700 --> 00:20:58.920 Okay. 00:20:59.319 --> 00:21:01.579 But they just have this attitude about them, right? 00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:03.659 No one's going to mess with them. 00:21:04.919 --> 00:21:05.899 Are you following me? 00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:11.659 It's kind of like, you know, you see some of these commercials, this little yapper is at this big dog. 00:21:11.699 --> 00:21:14.139 And it's like, this dog's looking at him and going, you're a toy. 00:21:15.679 --> 00:21:17.279 You're a toy in my mind. 00:21:18.619 --> 00:21:24.179 And so understand that, again, at no point were they rude or were they crude. 00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:27.799 They were respectful, respectful, yet firm. 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:35.980 You know, you all know the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, right? 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.660 We all know that. 00:21:37.460 --> 00:21:38.640 And they were firm, didn't they? 00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:41.620 They said, Lord, we don't know what the Lord's going to do, but we're not bowing. 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:43.060 And you know what? 00:21:43.080 --> 00:21:44.620 They didn't bow, they didn't bend, they didn't burn. 00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:46.299 And they came out and they got promoted. 00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:52.220 And so in Acts, the enemies of Peter and John, they knew their source of boldness. 00:21:52.220 --> 00:21:53.640 They said they had been with Jesus. 00:21:54.559 --> 00:22:00.279 And I want people to look at my boldness and identify it, not with, well, you've been in 00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:03.700 the ministry for a long time, or you have this much education, or you have this. 00:22:04.100 --> 00:22:08.460 No, I just want them to know that, hey, that guy's been hanging out with Jesus, spending 00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:11.000 some time with him, getting to know him. 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:14.839 You know, Proverbs 28, verse number one, let's take a look at that. 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:17.779 Proverbs 28, verse number one. 00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:23.680 Again, going back to these fundamental truths, hold your finger in Acts 4, we're going to 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:24.720 be there after this message. 00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:28.180 But Proverbs 28, verse number one, if someone could read that for me, Proverbs 28, verse 00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:28.480 one. 00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:34.399 The wicked flee when no man pursue it, but the righteous are bold as a lion. 00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:35.599 Right? 00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:37.059 Talk about a roar. 00:22:37.539 --> 00:22:38.319 Because of who? 00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:43.339 The lion, because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. 00:22:43.420 --> 00:22:44.980 Now notice what it says, the righteous. 00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:50.360 Those who live by righteous commandments of God, they're relying on God's grace, they're 00:22:50.360 --> 00:22:57.740 using his grace as God would have it to be intended, as God would intend for them to use 00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:57.880 it. 00:22:58.200 --> 00:23:03.759 And we can live, we can never live boldly when our life is filled with carnality. 00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:05.819 We can't do that. 00:23:06.819 --> 00:23:10.480 And so the thing is, is that, I mean, think about it, what am I afraid of? 00:23:12.120 --> 00:23:13.420 What am I afraid of? 00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:16.560 If someone kills me, okay, that's going to be bad news. 00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:18.200 Understand that. 00:23:18.600 --> 00:23:19.539 But I get to go to heaven. 00:23:20.080 --> 00:23:21.759 Are you going to threaten me with heaven? 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:25.380 And so what am I afraid of? 00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:31.259 And so the reality is, is that, so spending more time with Christ and walking with him 00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:37.620 and getting to know him more, it's going to give me that boldness of being able to speak. 00:23:37.619 --> 00:23:42.879 Now understand by getting in the word, knowing the word more, we're going to have more knowledge 00:23:42.879 --> 00:23:46.759 and we're going to be able to give more word out. 00:23:48.679 --> 00:23:53.739 It was, and I'm not saying this is the exact time for everybody, but it wasn't until I was 00:23:53.739 --> 00:23:54.279 40. 00:23:54.399 --> 00:24:00.979 For some reason, when I turned 40, things that I've been studying for years, 20 something 00:24:00.979 --> 00:24:03.939 years, all just kind of gelled together. 00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:05.259 I don't know what it was. 00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:06.620 It just all came together. 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:10.940 And, and now it's, it's, it's gotten even better. 00:24:11.580 --> 00:24:12.580 But what is that? 00:24:13.660 --> 00:24:18.279 Continually marinating my life with God's word. 00:24:19.880 --> 00:24:24.180 Marinating, meditating, thinking about, okay, how does this connect with this? 00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:25.180 How does this connect with that? 00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:28.840 How does this, you know, and I don't have all the, I am not good off my feet. 00:24:28.839 --> 00:24:31.339 If I was ever to get in debate, I'd lose. 00:24:32.599 --> 00:24:33.500 They say, you want to debate? 00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:34.240 No, I lose. 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:36.220 I'm not good at that. 00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:36.859 I'm really not. 00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:40.399 But it's amazing to see what God could do with me. 00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:41.659 Sometimes I'm, I walk away. 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:43.059 I go, Steph, did you hear what I said? 00:24:43.099 --> 00:24:43.599 She goes, yeah. 00:24:43.919 --> 00:24:46.299 I said, did it sound okay? 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:47.319 Yeah, it was awesome. 00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:49.519 I'm like, I don't know how that happened. 00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:50.539 Cause I'm not good at that. 00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:52.599 Not good at it at all. 00:24:53.159 --> 00:24:55.899 That's those, hey, he's been with Jesus, right? 00:24:56.220 --> 00:24:57.119 And so guess what? 00:24:57.119 --> 00:24:58.259 You could do that as well. 00:24:59.019 --> 00:25:00.319 And so what are we afraid of? 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:06.699 And let's go back to Acts chapter four and verse number 16. 00:25:07.899 --> 00:25:09.699 Acts chapter four, verse number 16. 00:25:10.399 --> 00:25:13.539 And when they were talking about the, you know, the miracle that took place, 00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:16.319 this is saying, what shall we do to these men? 00:25:16.899 --> 00:25:24.500 For that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifested to all them that dwell in Jerusalem. 00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:25.700 And we cannot deny it. 00:25:25.700 --> 00:25:27.680 What miracle are they talking about, class? 00:25:29.079 --> 00:25:29.339 Here. 00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:33.859 The lame man, right? 00:25:34.140 --> 00:25:36.460 Remember, he was lame and he ended up leaping. 00:25:37.180 --> 00:25:37.680 Remember that? 00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:39.480 I mean, he interrupted a church service. 00:25:40.339 --> 00:25:40.440 Okay. 00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:44.480 And here's the thing. 00:25:45.859 --> 00:25:48.160 Nobody can argue with a changed life. 00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:49.540 Amen. 00:25:50.380 --> 00:25:52.779 That's an apologetic you can't argue with. 00:25:54.540 --> 00:25:54.940 Right? 00:25:55.480 --> 00:25:57.000 And so that's what they have to see in us. 00:25:57.080 --> 00:25:57.740 Not that they're perfect. 00:25:58.140 --> 00:25:58.860 Not that we're perfect. 00:25:59.060 --> 00:26:02.600 I, you know, I got a little side gig that I do. 00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:06.180 I drive bus for a school district in our area. 00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:08.380 And I do that for several reasons. 00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:12.460 One, most importantly, is I'm able to interact with a lot of lost people. 00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:14.700 I need that. 00:26:15.120 --> 00:26:19.340 Because, man, I could lock myself up and study and do, you know, stuff. 00:26:19.400 --> 00:26:21.160 But I need to be among the lost. 00:26:22.039 --> 00:26:26.759 And I get kids and I slap a big old Bible on a dashboard of the bus. 00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:30.000 And, you know, holy Bible, King James, right? 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:32.980 And I had kids go, wow, I like your Bible. 00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:34.299 I'm like, yeah, that's cool, isn't it? 00:26:34.660 --> 00:26:37.160 And they'll stop and they'll look at it. 00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:39.740 And they'll walk away and get off the bus. 00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:47.079 And, but what it does, it gets me out to reach people. 00:26:47.539 --> 00:26:49.220 I want them to see a changed life. 00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:52.039 I want them to see someone that's different. 00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:56.480 Someone that's nice, right? 00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:59.220 There's two little, there's twins. 00:26:59.220 --> 00:27:02.740 When they first came on my bus, their backpacks were bigger than them. 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:07.000 And mom and dad were not Christian by any means. 00:27:07.100 --> 00:27:10.339 I had them for three years because all my, all my routes on base. 00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:13.140 And I impacted these folks so much. 00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:16.380 They buy me gifts and this and that. 00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:17.200 I mean, you name it. 00:27:17.380 --> 00:27:18.140 And they're lost. 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:20.240 And, and they know I'm a Christian. 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:26.000 So I'm praying that one day, now I can't, you know, get on the loudspeaker on the bus, 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:28.680 go, okay, sit down and here's the gospel. 00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:31.799 But the reality is, is that they know. 00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:34.799 And understand people don't get saved by observation. 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:37.400 They get saved by proclamation. 00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:41.380 But they want to see a real Jesus in a real world. 00:27:42.380 --> 00:27:42.740 Right? 00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:46.060 And I can remember one time she, she asked her, her name was Kate. 00:27:46.180 --> 00:27:48.380 She said, Mr. Richie, just, you looked at, you okay? 00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:52.320 You know, I'm like, ah, I said, I'm just struggling through some things right now. 00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:59.439 I pull on base and in the mornings and there's nobody on my bus and the guard will check. 00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.460 He'll check my pass. 00:28:00.539 --> 00:28:02.659 He goes, is it only you on the bus? 00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:03.799 And I said, just me and Jesus. 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.940 And they just look at me. 00:28:06.619 --> 00:28:08.839 You say, well, that's corny. 00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:10.639 No, but I want him to think about Jesus. 00:28:11.159 --> 00:28:11.399 Yes. 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.579 That makes sense? 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:17.379 So we look at, I remember one time I was in an elevator and got on and there was a lady there. 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:18.099 She goes, going up. 00:28:18.099 --> 00:28:19.839 I said, one day it got quiet. 00:28:22.199 --> 00:28:24.199 You see, you know, just using these opportunities. 00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:27.259 And I'm not that, I don't have that much ingenuity. 00:28:27.399 --> 00:28:28.279 I can't even pronounce the word. 00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:34.439 And, but the reality is God just gives us these moments and you never know what that moment's going to do. 00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:35.339 Okay. 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:39.519 And, but he said, there's a notable, notable miracle. 00:28:40.179 --> 00:28:46.980 Also, we see that you need to know that boldness is born out of a prayer life. 00:28:48.099 --> 00:28:50.119 Now, look at verse number 24. 00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:51.879 Okay. 00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:52.980 Verse number 24. 00:28:54.199 --> 00:28:55.659 It says, and Acts 4, I'm sorry. 00:28:56.159 --> 00:29:00.899 It says, and when they had heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord. 00:29:01.399 --> 00:29:02.599 Now, let me ask you this question. 00:29:03.939 --> 00:29:13.399 If every, every prayer on your prayer list was answered, how many people would be in heaven? 00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:14.219 Right. 00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:22.519 And I, and I just, I don't think, I just don't think we pray enough for people to get saved. 00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:27.480 Because the Bible says in 2 Timothy, God would have all men to be saved. 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:30.900 Now, they got a free will and they got to make a choice. 00:29:30.900 --> 00:29:38.440 So, and we know what, here's the thing that the, that the early church learned right away. 00:29:39.820 --> 00:29:40.259 Right. 00:29:40.940 --> 00:29:46.560 In Acts chapter one, they were in the upper room in one accord, wasn't a Honda, but one accord. 00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:47.700 Okay. 00:29:47.860 --> 00:29:49.000 And they were praying. 00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:52.200 They were with one accord in prayer. 00:29:52.360 --> 00:29:53.060 That's all they had. 00:29:53.059 --> 00:29:55.480 Listen, they had no political clout. 00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.460 They had nothing. 00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:58.179 They had no money. 00:29:59.139 --> 00:30:01.519 They were broke and without a politician. 00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:04.839 But they had prayer. 00:30:05.919 --> 00:30:08.539 And that's what you'll see consistently through the book of Acts. 00:30:08.619 --> 00:30:09.119 They prayed. 00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:09.799 They prayed. 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:10.500 They prayed. 00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:11.279 They prayed. 00:30:13.139 --> 00:30:14.720 Is that all you got, Pastor Rich? 00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:17.339 That's all I got because that's what God gave us. 00:30:17.339 --> 00:30:18.079 That's good. 00:30:18.539 --> 00:30:20.019 We got to get to this. 00:30:20.399 --> 00:30:21.179 So, how did they pray? 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:25.819 Well, they prayed recognizing, number one, here's, here's their prayer list, if you will. 00:30:26.339 --> 00:30:30.279 They prayed recognizing God's control over everything. 00:30:31.139 --> 00:30:33.799 Verse 23, it says, and, and let them go. 00:30:33.939 --> 00:30:35.500 They went to their own company. 00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:39.699 So, they got out of prison and they reported all that the chief priests and elders had sent unto them. 00:30:39.879 --> 00:30:43.099 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voices to God in one accord. 00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:46.599 And I said, Lord, thou art God. 00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:47.799 Notice here it is. 00:30:48.339 --> 00:30:54.539 Thou art God, which hath made heaven and earth and the sea and all that. 00:30:54.699 --> 00:30:57.740 You see, they went back to Genesis and said, God, you're the God. 00:30:57.819 --> 00:31:01.859 If you can control all this, you could take care of these piddly people. 00:31:03.299 --> 00:31:06.500 They prayed recognizing God's control. 00:31:06.939 --> 00:31:10.699 They also put the situation into biblical perspective. 00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:16.319 One of the things, listen, that has helped my life so much is when I'm reading, 00:31:16.599 --> 00:31:20.279 it's not just, when I'm, when I'm reading, I'm praying. 00:31:20.419 --> 00:31:22.019 It's not just a one-way conversation. 00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:23.740 Did y'all catch that? 00:31:24.059 --> 00:31:27.759 When I'm reading, God's speaking to me and I'm reflecting back. 00:31:27.819 --> 00:31:29.480 Okay, God, how does this work in my life? 00:31:29.699 --> 00:31:30.799 What do you want me to do with this? 00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:33.399 So there's this, I'm praying the word of God back to him. 00:31:33.599 --> 00:31:33.959 Why? 00:31:34.059 --> 00:31:35.500 Because these are promises of God. 00:31:35.500 --> 00:31:41.599 God, you tell a five-year-old, hey, we're going to go, we're going to have McDonald's 00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:42.559 after lunch today. 00:31:43.859 --> 00:31:48.819 That five-year-old won't remember anything else you told them, but they're going to come 00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:53.299 to you and say, hey, we're going to McDonald's after church, right? 00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:55.359 And you're like, how in the world did you remember that? 00:31:56.359 --> 00:31:57.940 They forgot everything else you told them. 00:31:57.940 --> 00:32:03.279 But they were, see, it's not demanding, but it's saying, hey, you made a promise, God. 00:32:04.259 --> 00:32:08.460 That, you know, holding God, and he doesn't mind being held to his promises at all. 00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:12.920 And so that a biblical perspective, look what it says. 00:32:13.400 --> 00:32:18.640 It says, verse 25, who by the mouth of thy servant David has said, why did the heathen 00:32:18.640 --> 00:32:20.340 rage, he's quoting from where? 00:32:20.500 --> 00:32:20.940 Psalm 2. 00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:22.820 He's quoting Psalm 2. 00:32:23.259 --> 00:32:25.900 Why did the heathen rage and the people imagine vain things? 00:32:25.900 --> 00:32:30.640 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and 00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:31.500 against his Christ. 00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:39.640 And it says, for of a truth against thy holy child, or thy holy child Jesus, whom thou has 00:32:39.640 --> 00:32:43.340 anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were 00:32:43.340 --> 00:32:49.860 gathered together for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be 00:32:49.860 --> 00:32:50.120 done. 00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:52.540 They had a biblical perspective. 00:32:52.539 --> 00:32:58.299 They put, also, another aspect of their prayer, they committed their situation to God's care. 00:32:58.819 --> 00:32:59.779 And notice what it says here. 00:33:00.259 --> 00:33:05.339 And now, Lord, verse 29, behold their threatenings. 00:33:06.159 --> 00:33:08.619 They said, God, we don't know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. 00:33:09.059 --> 00:33:10.680 That was in 2 Chronicles 20. 00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:12.200 Peter tells us what? 00:33:12.299 --> 00:33:14.279 Casting all your care upon him. 00:33:15.659 --> 00:33:20.740 They also prayed, listen, they prayed for boldness, not for protection. 00:33:20.740 --> 00:33:21.779 Isn't that interesting? 00:33:23.099 --> 00:33:30.839 It says here, and grant unto thy servants that with all protection we may speak. 00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:32.220 Is that what your Bible says? 00:33:32.799 --> 00:33:35.960 If it does, just scratch it out and let me give you a better word. 00:33:36.920 --> 00:33:40.880 But it says, and that with all, what? 00:33:41.819 --> 00:33:42.220 Boldness. 00:33:42.220 --> 00:33:44.980 Now, they knew if they were going to preach, what would have happened? 00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:47.400 What could have happened? 00:33:48.400 --> 00:33:49.900 They just got let out. 00:33:50.720 --> 00:33:51.600 What could have happened? 00:33:52.100 --> 00:33:52.960 Put back in. 00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:53.940 Right? 00:33:54.039 --> 00:33:54.720 Frequent flyers. 00:33:54.940 --> 00:33:55.039 Right? 00:33:55.220 --> 00:33:56.519 They didn't say, oh, God, oh, God. 00:33:56.620 --> 00:34:00.460 They said, God, we just want to declare the name Jesus. 00:34:01.500 --> 00:34:04.519 We want to declare the name Jesus. 00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:17.559 So understand, when we begin to start praying for boldness, when we begin to start seeking God to witness, it's amazing what God will do. 00:34:18.519 --> 00:34:19.219 It's amazing. 00:34:19.759 --> 00:34:29.619 I have led, last year, I led one or two or three people, all at fast food restaurants, just going to have lunch. 00:34:29.619 --> 00:34:32.539 Say, hey, tell me about how you got saved. 00:34:34.519 --> 00:34:42.659 And one guy was in our church as a child, got out of church, came back, led him to Christ at Arby's over curly fries. 00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:44.259 Oh, praise God for that. 00:34:44.359 --> 00:34:44.480 Amen. 00:34:45.679 --> 00:34:48.079 And led another guy to Christ at a fast food. 00:34:48.219 --> 00:34:49.719 And I think there was three of them. 00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:52.219 But all it was was conversation. 00:34:52.559 --> 00:34:56.500 Listen, understand, you could eat your way through the book of Luke with Jesus. 00:34:56.500 --> 00:34:56.940 Amen. 00:34:59.099 --> 00:35:04.179 He spent time with people, getting to know them, hearing their stories. 00:35:05.300 --> 00:35:09.739 Because in a day and age in which we live, man, people got to really trust us before they hear us. 00:35:09.880 --> 00:35:11.639 But we have to be bold at that point. 00:35:12.400 --> 00:35:16.380 We pushed aside the Arby's sauce and the curly fries for a moment. 00:35:16.920 --> 00:35:18.460 Walked this kid through the scriptures. 00:35:18.739 --> 00:35:21.460 And man, he got gloriously saved, got discipled. 00:35:21.840 --> 00:35:23.860 And we baptized him, got discipled. 00:35:23.860 --> 00:35:28.400 And man, he's one of our key young men in the church in my Sunday school class, the college ministry. 00:35:29.200 --> 00:35:29.900 It's awesome. 00:35:30.099 --> 00:35:35.920 But it doesn't come because we have this knowledge necessarily, although that helps. 00:35:36.079 --> 00:35:39.500 But it comes because we're with Jesus, spending time with him. 00:35:39.740 --> 00:35:40.760 So we could all be bold. 00:35:40.760 --> 00:35:54.820 And then we're with Jesus. 00:35:54.820 --> 00:35:55.440 And then we're with Jesus. 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:55.440