Gospel of Boldness
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Acts 9:27, 29
But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists; but they were seeking to kill him.
Romans 10:17
So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ.
There were many more verses I read about being bold and wanted to share them with you! I am in the midst, though, of severe carpel tunnel. My hands are almost worthless to me, so I will keep this short today, as my hope is that I will feel better if I use my hands as little as possible over the next few days.
The book of Acts is full of instances where the apostles spoke boldly of their faith. They endured imprisonment and beatings for their “blasphemy.” They were shunned by the religious leaders because they preached about a God who had come to earth to save them. And that contention defied everything the religious leaders taught--they were no longer needed as intercessors or mediators of salvation! Each person now had direct access of his own accord--simply by believing in The Christ.
Our responsibility as Christians is to boldly preach the Good News -- not only to those is our own church -- they’re already seeking! We are to go out into the world and boldly preach with our words, with our actions and by how we live our lives. We are defy the nay-sayers and the detractors. We are to be Christ for our world. And we are to do so boldly-without apology!
I must end my mini-sermon. My fingers are failing me. My message is not a new one -- but one that is over 2000 years old and has been preached my many who are far more articulate than am I. Jesus is the one and only way to heaven. He bore our sins; became our sins; and won us eternal life. No other gospel. No other truth. Only Jesus. Jesus.
My prayer today is that you preach the gospel of Jesus Christ with boldness. And if you are asked about the source of your boldness, you respond, “Jesus.”
Mary
