When Boldness Comes and Shakes Things Up

1. The prayer for more boldness.

Acts 4:23-31 (ESV) 23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they 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.

1.1. Boldness is needed to withstand those who oppose the hand and plan of God.

1.2. “Look upon their threats.”
1.3. Grant your servants continued boldness.
1.4. The privilege to continue to speak the Name with boldness.
1.5. Boldness: free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, assurance

2. The shakings of God.

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken,

2.1. Shaken
2.1.1. a motion produced by winds, storms, waves,
2.1.2. to agitate or shake
2.1.3. to shake thoroughly,
2.1.4. of a measure filled by shaking its contents together

2.2. The Lord is in the shaking business.

Hebrews 12:26 (NKJV) whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.

2.3. Being shaken is multi-faceted.
2.3.1. There is a shaking that is getting us out of our comfy space. 2.3.2. There is a shaking to get us into the right place.
2.3.3. There is a shaking loose everything from our life that needs to be removed.
2.3.4. There is a shaking that happens to make room for the new.
2.3.5. Ela… how else will we release things.
2.3.6. There is a shaking that comes with the infilling with the Holy Spirit.
2.4. They prayed for boldness and what they received was being filled with the Holy Spirit.
2.4.1. Many of these people were there on the day of Pentecost, which lends to the be ye being filled continually Theo. 2.5. When the Holy Spirit is poured out so comes boldness.

3. With the shaking and boldness came…

Acts 4:31 And when they 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 4:32-37 (ESV) 32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

3.1. One heart, one soul.
3.1.1. What does one heart and one soul community life look like.
3.1.2. I can understand this from a family perspective.
3.1.3. But they accomplished this for some period of time within a Church community
3.1.4. One of the benefits of being in intimate community is that we all share the burden.
3.2. They continued to speak and learned to live boldly for the Lord.

3.2.1. Great things followed
3.2.2. Great and powerful testimonies. 3.2.3. Great grace was upon them all.

3.3. There was not a needy person among them.
3.3.1. They all lived at a comparable living standard.
3.3.2. They sold possessions other than make sure all were cared for.

3.4. Possessions were being sold to meet the needs…

4. The bold gift of Joseph.

Acts 4:36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

4.1. Joseph was Barnabas.
4.1.1. Jospeh who was noted for giving a significant offering, was Barnabas.
4.1.2. As in Barnabas & Paul.

Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
4.1.3. The calling of Paul we know.

4.1.4. When did the calling of Barnabas happen? 4.2. Come, follow me.

Matthew 19:16-22 (ESV) 16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

4.2.1. Could this story being the calling of Barnabas?
4.2.2. Even if is not an a random person we can still apply aspects to the making of the Great Missionary and Minister Barnabas? 4.3. The making Barnabas.

4.3.1. Boldness filled his life as well as many others with this encounter with the Holy Spirit.

4.3.2. Barnabas was a Levite, a carer for the house of God.
4.3.3. A shaking was happening in Barnabas’ life to shake free a few things that had accumulated.
4.3.4. Levites were not to possess land, as their inheritance was the Lord.

Deuteronomy 18:1-3 (NKJV) 1 “The priests, the Levites—all the tribe of Levi—shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and His portion. 2 Therefore they shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the LORD is their inheritance, as He said to them. 3 “And this shall be the priest’s due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, whether it is bull or sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder, the cheeks, and the stomach.

4.3.5. Somehow and sometimes as we move forward in life we seem to accumulate possessions that we were never suppose to have.

4.3.6. Barnabas’ sale of the property and gift to the Church was a part of His getting right with God and being set apart for the ministry. 4.3.7. Ela… we can identify in the early years making radical decisions for Christ and ministry – selling two houses to pursue the call – gave away multiple cars – lived for nearly 20 years without owning much – the Lord has repaid times over.

4.3.8. Boldness in the Holy Spirit – a willingness to do what you must do to achieve what Jesus has set you apart to do.

Conclusion:

4.4. Barnabas is not remembered as being a wealthy property owner but rather as one of histories great missionaries, ministers and the one who trusted Paul and opened the door for him.

4.5. The ministry of Barnabas began as *Barnabas and Saul* but by Acts 15 it became *Paul and Barnabas* and trust me Barnabas did not mind that Paul became who he became.

4.6. Because boldness came when they were filled with the Holy Spirit.