Resurrection Boldness and Soundness

I am sure that I am not alone in reading through the Bible over and over and then seeing something I have never seen before. Words on the page that I obviously have read again and again, but for some reason until now, never noticed. Acts 3:16 offered this experience this morning, "And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man (Peter) strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." These words brought so much joy to my spirit. We all know Peter was changed by the Spirit's power, but more importantly he knew it. His declaration was a trumpeting in my soul. He was not being arrogant. He was declaring boldness and soundness of mind that came with the resurrection of Jesus and the descending of the Holy Spirit. Some of the people to whom Peter was speaking may have even been there when he denied Jesus.

Right before this the other disciples and Peter were scattered, by fear. When they all came out of hiding apart, they went into hiding together. Until Jesus appeared and taught them for many days then ascended back to the Father. Days later he would send the promised Spirit of God. The failure of Peter in denying the LORD could have set him up for life long defeat but Jesus wasn't having that and Peter chose obedience to God's purposes. 

All of Scripture is an example that offers hope, yet there is something about the humanity Peter exemplifies that offers us an exhale. He shows us how we can also walk in the boldness and soundness that God gave his disciples through the resurrection and the filling of His Spirit. Peter set folks straight in the aforementioned verse. He declares that it was not him, it was faith in Jesus that they were seeing work in him. Even the Leaders who hated Jesus declared that Peter was "uneducated and untrained... (he) had been with Jesus." They saw the difference made by The Spirit of God.

In Acts 5 we see a complete reversal of fear that overshadowed Peter to a boldness that could only come from God after the resurrection and Spirit filling. Peter and John were thrown in prison for preaching. The Angel of the Lord released them. They go right back where they were arrested to preach again. We see the boldness and soundness not only given to these men, but to all who will have faith and trust the Lord's power to work His work in us.

Why do we still fear? Many of us still behave like the disciples when they were hiding for fear of the Jews, John 20:19. If we need to understand the power given us, just read John 18:25-27; 20- Acts 6 and walk with Peter. We may not have Peter's position, but we, who have faith in the same Jesus have the same Spirit who fills us. We have gone from fear to faith. The question is will you allow God to actualize it in your life through boldness and soundness of mind? God wants to do amazing things through His children. He wants laborers for the harvest. He wants to use us to make disciples. He dispels darkness with the Light he has called us to be. He retards sin and preserves righteousness with our salt.

Our lives can be read as a great story of boldness and soundness in Christ to the next generation. The challenge on this resurrection day 2020 is choosing to come out of fear locked lives and trust God. Trust that he will fill with boldness to speak truth with grace. A key to soundness of mind is that Jesus spent time teaching the disciples. They did not go out in ignorance of his words. After learning they leaned on his Spirit to let the knowledge that filled them come out. You, too, must spend time learning His Word so The Spirit can bring what is in you, out.

The Resurrection lets us know time for fear is over. Be bold! Let The Scriptures give soundness of mind. His Spirit is desiring to use us to say to those who knew who we were, "he has made this man (this woman) strong, whom you see and know." That can be you and me exemplifying Resurrection boldness and soundness.