The Spirit of boldness and wisdom

Acts 4:13-14 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. (14) And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

Peter and John had completed their reply to the questioning of the leaders.  Now it was for the leaders to respond.  As we observe this event, we can imagine what was taking place.  The leaders began in a threatening manner towards the disciples but now found themselves speechless and shocked. 

They saw the boldness of Peter and John.  They knew that the disciples of Jesus were Galileans and were fearful, like most others, of the religious elite of the Jews.  This exclusive group of leaders had gathered to question the disciples, in their full strength, but the disciples were not scared by them. 

Before the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the disciples were frightened men, who gathered in closed rooms for fear of the leaders. John 20:19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

The Lord had risen and had appeared to them, yet they were afraid of the Jews.  John 20:26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!”_

We know what took place with Peter, how he was fearful and denied Christ. Matthew 26:75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly._

All the disciples had said that they would not leave Jesus, but when the Lord was arrested, they all forsook Him and fled. Matthew 26:55-56 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. (56) But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

This was the calibre of the disciples. All of this dramatically changed after they were baptised with His Holy Spirit.  Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.

These words from Peter and the rest of the disciples now give us a new story.  A new work of God had begun and this was the era of His Holy Spirit. 

This was prophesied in the Old Testament. Isaiah 40:9 O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”

The Holy Spirit brings boldness into us for we now have a fresh realisation that we belong to the family of God. Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Paul is asking Timothy to stir up the gift of God in him, which is not a spirit of fear but the Spirit of power, love and a sound mind.  II Timothy 1:6-8 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. (7) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (8) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,

This is what the Lord said would happen when the Holy Spirit would fill a person.  John 7:37-39 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. (38) He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (39) But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

This is our witness.  We witness in the fullness of His Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of boldness.  This boldness of His holy Spirit is not foolish but a boldness mingled with wisdom.  Stephen and the apostles demonstrated this unique combination of boldness and wisdom. Acts 6:10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

As God’s people, we are His people with boldness and wisdom, which is by His Holy Spirit.

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