A Witness in Suffering

Bold Witness in Life & Death (Acts 4:23-31)
Intro
Review: 5 prisoners of Lyons. 'Whether we live or die, we are the Lord's', Rom 14:8

Exposition
The apostles are threatened not to speak in 'this name.' So they meet to pray. How do they pray?

1.Address: Sovereign Master & Ruler of Heaven & Earth
a.Lord/despotes, master, slave owner
b.Creator of heavens, earth & their inhabitants
c.King who est. his Christ in the midst of enemies
d.Sovereign ruler who uses actions of enemies to fulfill his holy will

2.Prayer: Grant us boldness to speak your word
Not comfort or end to affliction, but great boldness to speak God's word

Conclusion
'It is true that one can have some knowledge of Scripture & can... discuss it a great deal; but this is like playing at charades. We therefore praise God... & give Him undying thanks that He has been pleased to give us... not only the theory of His Word but also the practice... & granted us this honor...
By bringing us out to be His witnesses & giving us constancy to confess His Name & maintain the truth of His Holy Word... us who... were afraid to confess the truth even to a poor labourer who would have heard it eagerly...
We are so far... from wishing to regard our affliction as a curse of God... rather as the greatest blessing ... For in our affliction we are made true children of God, brothers... of Jesus Christ... & are conformed to His image; & by our affliction the possession of our eternal inheritance is confirmed to us.'