Bold Confidence

After the resurrection Jesus appeared to the saints and “they worshiped him.” He “said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” that authority and power is why you can “therefore and make disciples of all nations. Jesus ensured us that his presence anoints the faithful with authority; in turn we can be bold and live with confidence because “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:17-20)

As the church grew, the saints prayed, asking our Lord God “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.” What a request!  They prayed with confidence to be bold witnesses and enabled to reveal God’s power to heal and His Spirit’s work by signs and wonders.  It was undoubtedly an answer of yes from God, because after “they had 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.” (Acts 4:29-31)

The presence of Christ ensures the enabling of the Holy Spirit with us—this reveals strength not of this world.  The Holy Spirit within and upon us is Christ’s presence, the endowment of authority “to heal” and witness Christ with “signs and wonders.”  In the same way, we have confidence to bring the Word of truth.  God’s power enables us to be bold.  Christ’s presence brings authority by his Spirit’s ever present enabling, makes each follower of Christ a conduit of God’s power—that is why you and I are confident, therefore, bold in your witness and prayer—“Such is the confidence that we have through Christ” (2 Corinthians 3:4).

Bold, confident in Christ’s authority,

Owen <><