Pray for Boldness

Feb 20, 2019

By Patty Petersen

“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to Your servants to continue to speak Your word with all boldness.” (Acts 4:29 ESV)

I used to read verses like this and be amazed at the faith and courage of these early Christians. Acts 4:29 is part of a group prayer following the release of Peter and John from jail. They know they face future arrests (and beatings or death) if they keep proclaiming the gospel of Jesus openly, yet they pray that God will grant them the confidence to speak openly without fear. Even the Apostle Paul, after years of missionary work, asked believers to pray for him to be able to speak the gospel boldly, “as I ought” (Eph. 6:19). Would I ever get to a place where I would ask God to make me bold in speaking the gospel message?

In 2007, on a short mission to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (Rez Connection ministry), we were trained in an evangelistic method called, “The Way of the Master.” I liked that it gave me a series of questions to ask so there was a dialogue. My preference is to talk with people in private settings, but this training included approaching people in parks and on sidewalks. What heart-pounding fear when we first went out! Yet I wanted to be like those early believers who sought to obey the command of Jesus to preach the gospel to all (Mark 16:15). I was relieved when our efforts were received with kindness.

I felt convicted to share the gospel more, so I started going out once a week during my lunch hour to pass out tracts and see what God might do. Was I scared? Yes! Did I pray for boldness? Yes! How did God get me to go despite my fears? My greatest motivator at the time was simply a desire to be obedient. I knew the Great Commission. I knew I had information that was critical to every person’s eternity. I wasn’t very skillful at presenting it, but I was confident the Holy Spirit would help me and that I would learn and get better.

Once a young man asked me if I was aware that other men before Jesus had claimed to be God, been killed and returned from the dead? Uh, no. I asked him to tell me more, then went home and looked up those myths, so I’d be ready the next time.

Another time I was talking with a homeless man about his beliefs and I said something about how he must think XYZ (I don’t remember exactly what it was). He turned angry and said, “You know nothing about me! Don’t tell me what I think!” Thankfully I was able to backtrack and he accepted my apology. Street evangelism is a school of hard knocks, but worth it to learn how to reach people.

A favorite memory is of a street vendor from Africa who said he was a Muslim. I talked about how the gospels tell the life of Jesus, whom they consider to be a prophet. When I got to the resurrection, he was amazed. “But no one has ever come back to life!” It was exciting to think he was hearing this for the first time and might continue to explore the life of Jesus from the gospel of John booklet I gave him.

After a few years of regular outreach (and conversations with coworkers, neighbors, and family), my primary motivation became compassion for the lost. More and more I see every person as someone made in the image of God, someone He loves and wants to save. That gives me a love for them beyond my human ability. I keep in mind that the reality I see so clearly is veiled to them. I still feel fearful in witnessing situations but that frequent prayer for boldness does not go unanswered. It’s also best when I go with at least one other person. We are support for each other and lend confidence.

You might think that, being mostly an extrovert, initiating conversations about spiritual beliefs would come more easily to me. Not so. Religion is a tricky subject in our culture. People may have strong opinions or have been hurt in a religious context. Where extroversion helps is that I usually enjoy engaging with people, even strangers, to get to know them and look for ways to be a blessing. When you give your full attention to people and listen well, they feel respected and often respond by opening up. My challenge is to let them do more talking than I do. Still learning that lesson.

Is it harder for introverts to speak the gospel boldly? Not “harder,” as we all deal with fear, but they may prefer non-public spaces for having spiritual conversations. My daughter, Ana, is an introvert yet very motivated to share the gospel. She suggested that introverts can pray boldly, especially supporting the work of evangelism through prayer. Also, it takes boldness to ask a probing question hoping to discuss spiritual things. She said it is bold to take a chance and invite someone along when you would prefer to be alone: out for coffee, or for a walk or to an exercise class. That’s sacrificial love in action, for the sake of the gospel!

Ana said she likes doing table ministry, even though it is on the streets, because the people who approach are interested in what we are offering, like free Bibles, gospels of John and tracts. Sometimes also water or candy. She likes the one-on-one conversations and opportunity to hone her skills in answering spiritual questions.

Pastor John Piper gave a very helpful mini message about introverts and the temptation to excuse themselves from speaking up for Christ. He believes that every spiritual gift, and every personality type, can be used in some way for the work of evangelism.

He suggests we ask ourselves, “How do I make my peculiar personality serve, by God’s power, the extension of grace into other people’s lives for the glory of Christ?” He described an introverted friend who found a way to support gospel work within his natural personality bent by becoming a Bible translator among a remote people group, for 30 years!¹

I hope you will pray for boldness in speaking to others about Jesus and His gospel message. Pray for your pastor to have this boldness. Pray for all in your local church to have this boldness. And I will be praying for you to be empowered by the Holy Spirit with this boldness, for the sake of the lost, for your joy, and to the glory of God.

¹ “Ask Pastor John” podcast 12/2/18, “How Do Introverts Guard Against Selfishness?”