Standing Boldly and Speaking Truthfully

They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. - Acts 4:2

Yesterday, I asked the question, “Can people tell by your actions that you’ve been with Jesus?” We talked about how if you are serving with humility and compassion, then people will be able to tell you’ve been with Jesus. But that’s not the only thing that’s true about you if you’ve been spending time with Jesus. Other facts are true as well. And it’s those facts we’re going to discuss today. Let’s dive in.

The second thing that will be true of you when you’ve been with Jesus is that you will have the courage to stand boldly. When they faced opposition as recorded in Acts chapter 4, Peter and John took a stand. They said there is only one word of salvation and that is the name of Jesus. There is only one way of salvation and that is the death of Jesus. There is only one work of salvation and that is the resurrection of Jesus.

Nobody would have liked this back in that day. The Romans wouldn’t like it with all their gods. The Greeks wouldn’t like it with all their gods. The Jews wouldn’t like it because they didn’t even believe Jesus was God. But these men didn’t care what the world thought. They didn’t go along to get along. They had the courage to stand boldly because they had been with Jesus.

Finally, the third thing that will be true of you when you’ve been with Jesus is that you will have the conviction to speak truthfully. I want to point out that the real reason Peter and John got in hot water was not because of the miracle they performed, but because of the message that they preached. “They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead” (Acts 4:2).

The world has no problem with Jesus as long as He is not on a cross or not out of a tomb. If you put Him on that cross and once you bring Him out of that tomb, then you have to say there is no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved. There is no other way to God except through Jesus. He alone is the way, the truth, and the life, and therefore every religion is false, and no other religious leader, teacher, or preacher should be followed except Jesus.

But this is the truth we will have the conviction to speak with no hesitation when we have been with Jesus. No matter how much backlash we get, we can have confidence in speaking the truth when we are spending time in the presence of the Lord and becoming more like Him.

Dear Lord, I want to stand for you boldly and speak truthfully about what your Word says. Please give me opportunities to practice these things and help me to stand strong on my faith and trust in you, even if I receive backlash. In Jesus’ name, amen.