A Coward Has No Power — Shane Idleman

A Coward Has No Power Without the Holy Spirit

The message this morning is a coward has no power and I've been chomping at the bits on this one a coward has no power and A confession. I am a coward minus the work of the Holy Spirit if you remove the Transforming work of the Holy Spirit in my life.

I would never come to this pulpit. I would never speak to you the way I'm going to speak to you this morning or the way I've been speaking to you. I wouldn't stand for Christ actually looking back in my 20s.

I think I was a believer a prodigal. I don't know if I ever mentioned Jesus for years. I Was a coward and if you remove that boldness of the Holy Spirit you will be a coward and Just a confession that I am a coward without that.

I am afraid of persecution without the Holy Spirit. I'm afraid of what is happening in our nation without the Holy Spirit. I'm afraid to raise kids in this type of environment. And where we live in our culture without the Holy Spirit.

I'm afraid to lead this church and to preach without the Holy Spirit. I am a coward and there's so much going on a Tuesday, which you all know I'm preaching to the choir. But off often when we see the direction of our nation when we have candidates that say yeah.

You can basically kill a child as long as it's not born yet. It's like am I even am I am I alive Lord? Is this a is this am I am a nightmare? We actually Help me God. But see sorrow often produces action.

That's one benefit of sorrow. Is that it produces action? You'll do things that you wouldn't normally do. When I'm sorrow like Nehemiah, why should I not be sad when the place of my father's tombs lies in waste?

We have become one nation above God versus one nation under God and because of that sorrow many of you feel you can Feel it you can what is and that sorrow should actually drive us to action. That's the point of it not to go.

Oh my goodness, we're going to hell in a handbasket. Let's just walk around miserable. No, but that sorrow produces and It actually sorrow is a result of ministry. Many people start ministries because of sorrow and I'm all for encouragement.

Don't it's not doom and gloom. But we have to use this sorrow and lead it to action. Lead it to prayer lead it to fasting leading lead it to seeking God versus Facebooking everything in the world's coming to an end.

It's it's it's this godly sorrow that produces results. Just this week. I hadn't thought about this quote for years and I was I was driving Benjamin Franklin who it's some doubt. He was even a believer.

He listened to George Whitefield and I don't know how you cannot become a believer after listening to George Whitefield in the first Great Awakening Of America, but Benjamin Franklin said he stopped a prayer meeting in Congress.

They used to have that. Did you know that? Forming the Constitution they quoted the Bible four times more than any other source. They they said hold on this is not going anywhere if a sparrow. Cannot fall to the ground without his notice.

Is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? He's saying if God notices the sparrow that falls. Is it probable that we're going to create an empire without his aid and Abraham Lincoln? I believe for fasting proclamations for the nation to go into prayer and fasting and proc.

See, this is that was commonplace. Now we think oh you we're Christians how why are you know? We're just trying to go back back to the foundations if the foundations be destroyed. What can the righteous do choose the old path the old way that is right?

And it is good, and we will have a new president this time next week. And we need power like never before. I don't know what the results will be. But I know that we need to be filled with the Spirit of God again.

Spiritual Power Versus Fearful Leadership

So a coward has no power. What I'm talking about is a coward has no spiritual power. Because a coward does have power to transform his family for the worse. And I see many men they're getting their kids and their wives so so afraid about what's going on our nation.

They're sleeping with guns under their bed, and they're stocking up on food and water and they're so worried about what's happening. And they're they're leading their family. I believe now those things are funny.

You have a gun you have extra food good. Nothing wrong with that, but where is the focus? Where is it where's our heart and a coward can lead people stray in the wrong direction so a coward has no Spiritual power.

The church is looking the church throughout America is looking for better methods but God is looking for better men and Women. He's just looking for men and women filled with the Spirit of God the eyes of the Lord go to and fro throughout The whole earth to show himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are Loyal to him.

Acts 4 and the Boldness of Spirit-Filled Disciples

He's looking so with that as our as our foundation a coward has no power. We're going to turn to Acts 4 we've been in the book of Acts. Acts 4 I'm reading from the New King James Version. Now as they spoke to the people now remember Peter.

And then the disciples were filled with the Spirit of God and once they're filled the Spirit of God now. They're a trouble now. They're causing damage now. They have authority now. They have power. Jesus said don't go out and do anything.

Don't even start a ministry until you receive Power so now they're filled with the Holy Spirit now. They're filled with power. God's power, and if you're not a believer, or you're not an under stirring Understanding what this is the Holy Spirit isn't some ghost some mystical little force that floats out there.

You God when we become a believer the Holy Spirit. God's Spirit actually dwells within the believer now. You want to do good, but you don't know why you do bad now. You love the things of God, but you're torn over the things of the world.

You have this power of the Holy Spirit. Residing in you as a believer and many churches if I like what a W Tozer said. And I hope I don't misrepresent or misquote. I didn't write it down, but if we were Half as eager to prove that we can be filled with the Spirit to prove that we can't the church would be crowded.

Because we are so eager to no no no not the Holy Spirit. Don't mention anything about the Holy Spirit. Don't talk about the Holy Spirit. That's weird. It's don't don't go in there. Don't even talk about him.

If we were just half as eager to be filled with the Spirit as we are to prove We can't be the churches would be crowded. So what you're seeing in the book of Acts plain and simple I could sum it all up men and women on fire with God.

John they asked John Wesley how in the world are you getting so many people to come to the church and in these revivals? He said he said basically you set yourself on fire and people will come to watch you burn and That's how you that's this this this overwhelming presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

So if you don't have that how how do I know you know? You know either you're dead and dying spiritually or you're a full of spiritual life. You fall into one of those camps and if you are dying and with the things of God.

You're not filled with that passion and that presence of the Holy Spirit this morning. You can be you can change that because as you empty yourself, you're filled with the Spirit. That's how it works.

The more we empty ourself The more we're filled with the Spirit of God. So acts 4 now as they spoke to the people the priests the captain of the temple and The Sadducees came upon them Being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and they preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

So to preach Jesus the resurrection from the dead they have they had to talk about sin. They had to talk about a Savior they had to talk about all these difficult things and They laid hands on them and they put them in custody until the next day for it was already evening however, many of those who heard the word believed and the number of the men came to be about 5 ,000.

That's church growth. How do you grow your church you're filled with the Spirit of God and you pray and you fast and you know really Shane? How do you? God grows the church. God God grows the church so The Sadducees were upset because they preach in Jesus name the resurrection from the dead.

The Sadducees were a religious sect who did not believe in the resurrection. So they're actually religious leaders who don't believe in any resurrection not Jesus let alone Jesus. But no resurrection from the dead at all.

They didn't believe that someday we would be resurrected. So they were very upset. And it's interesting when the people heard the word they were added to the church. They were converted. So the unadulterated untarnished Word of God Converted the people repent and believe was the main message that they were preaching.

Repent and believe and I don't think things need to change. I Don't think anything need to change at all. Repent and believe was the main message that grew the church and it can be the main message today.

The Church, the World, and Difficult Truths

So this begs the question based on what we just read does the world love the way that we do Church. This is mainly for pastors listen to this are people going to other churches to does the world love the way we do Church.

Do they appreciate that we never challenge or we never call things into question. Do they like the fact that we never make people feel uncomfortable or offended if so. You may want to reconsider Jesus's words that true disciples will be hated by the world.

There's no way around that. We want to get around that. But there's no way around that and you'll read in the article that you have in your bulletin today that I wrote an article the Christian Post and a lot of different news organizations are picking up and people are not happy about it.

But a best-selling Christian author came out in support of gay marriage and and how we should come alongside and help them raise their kids and be supportive of this and that one of the main reasons is being wanting.

She wanted your view she wanted to be liked by the world and Wanted the world to appreciate and understand but churches should be welcoming loving accepting friendly warm hospitable places of worship.

See that's the challenge the world's gonna hate me, but I have to be welcoming. I have to be loving and accepting and friendly and warm and hospitable because I accept I'm welcoming. We should be accepting people to come as they are but you're going to hear the unadulterated Unpolluted Word of God that convicts and changes the heart and then if you choose to stay wonderful, if not, that's okay.

We can't we can't wonder if we're pleasing to die. Please did I plead the world? What did Jesus say when he said the world will hate you? How can they hated me first because everybody thinks the sinners just love Jesus not all of them.

No, no, not all of them entire cities didn't repent. They would you get out of here Jesus? He healed a demonic man. Cast out a legion full of demons and the whole city came and said, please leave. Please leave get out of here so those who love him love Repentance.

They love to be in right relationship with God. They love the message and those that rejected his message did not they hated him. They hated it. Just just look at the news. Just look at the world will hate us when we follow Christ.

I've not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. Jesus said so the first point a coward a coward has no power. A coward avoids the difficult truths of the Bible. But someone filled with the Spirit of God must declare them.

So you see that the the first Disciples they were not cowards anymore. They declared the difficult truths that people didn't want to hear so they could help set them free and. Then we move into verse 5 and it came to pass on the next day that their rulers elders and scribes as well as Annas the high priest.

Sorry Annas the high priest. I'll skip his name talking remember how to pronounce it. I just had this morning John Alexander many as were of the family of the high priest Caiaphas. There we go. We're gathered together.

Jerusalem and when they had set them in the midst they asked by what power or by what name have you done? This both Caiaphas and Annas were high priest. I believe Annas came first and then Caiaphas followed but he still had a position of authority in the church.

So they are both high priests and all the rulers. Said by what power or by what name have you done this and this is a little interesting because they knew the answer. They've been telling ever since Peter's first sermon, but way back when we read weeks ago He said you put Christ on the cross.

You must repent in Jesus name. You must be baptized. So they knew what this was all about. But they asked him how are you doing this. This man is is is clearly healed that we read about last week. We knew he's healed but how and why and could you do this.

They were hoping for a different answer is. What happened they kept saying Jesus resurrection. Jesus resurrection. Jesus resurrection. God is moving. God is is disrupting the entire religious system that they built.

So they're saying what what and how are you doing this? They wanted a different answer and that doesn't that remind you of today? When God moves people often look for another answer. When God moves when God truly brings revival or when caught God truly builds a church.

That's on fire for him and for his presence. You don't think there'll be opposition. Oh Come on, they're just telling people what they want to hear. They're to this. They're to that they deny a true work of God.

You better be careful in this area. Because spiritual people are offended that God is not move. God is moving without them. Spiritual people when God is moving, but what why not me? Why aren't I so spirit why aren't I as spiritual and they begin to put down everything about God?

This goes back to what I talked about earlier if you want to go back you can listen to the message. But we talked about the power of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit very controversial topic.

But I've noticed that those who are upset about the gifts. Oh Holy Spirit have not experienced them. Plain and simple. They're spiritual some of them are godly men and women but because they have an experience they say no God isn't moving today like that anymore.

That can't be of God. They can't be of God. They can't be. Because it doesn't make sense. We're offended that God is not moving with well. Why haven't I experienced them probably because you have a spirit of doubt and you're not open to what God wants to do.

Anytime we would know no Jesus left there because of their unbelief. And I if I were you I'd say God. I want everything you have for me, I'm not gonna be weird. I'm not gonna be fanatical. I'm gonna be filled with your spirit Lord.

What does that mean? I want you to show me Shane's irritated the heck out of me these last two few weeks. But I want what you want and it's interesting on this on this topic of the Holy Spirit it offends people.

They don't like to talk about the Holy Spirit. It's like the Father the Son and the Holy Word. I'll talk about that right the Father the Son and the Holy Word. Why is that because it's a Holy Spirit that grips our heart it's a Holy Spirit that brings me to my knees.

It's a Holy Spirit that convicts and draws. It's a Holy Spirit that might make you do this. It's the Holy Spirit that might make you shout for joy. It's a Holy Spirit that might make you change every single radio station on your in your vehicle to things that glorify Christ.

It's a Holy Spirit that's going to redirect your Facebook post. It's a Holy Spirit that moves in all areas of the church. Well, all these people are these people coming from the Holy Spirit moving and guiding and directing and pulling and releasing.

That's why have you ever thought the enemy might not like the Holy Spirit as much as he doesn't like God the Father and the Son because the Holy Spirit is God's agent to redirect an entire nation or a church or a group of people.

Without the power of the Holy Spirit. You just have a dead formal legalistic church and. That's why this topic is so upsetting. Thank God I got claps first everybody being quiet or I think we'd be in trouble and the hard part for me is like I said before Seeing people die spiritually you're dying spiritually.

But I talked to pastors there. There's just no life in their church. They're young girl. And they're just shame damn you need the power of the Holy Spirit. Oh, I don't want that weird stuff, but weird stuff.

Well as acts weird see if acts is weird to you. There's a problem there. If acts if the books of the book of Acts I read and go praise God. Oh My lord, if we would just have that spiritual power and that that anointing from the Holy Spirit.

Because that's the book of Acts. It actually doesn't end at Acts 28 29 33 it's an ongoing book of the Christian Church. There's no reason. There's no reason any church cannot experience a lot of what they experience in the book of Acts.

There's just no reason for it now. We don't see healing to the same degree. You don't see signs what I agree. I don't have a good example. I mean, I don't have a good reason for other than I don't wonder.

I wonder often if we're not hungry for it enough. I Mean if God God you're gonna heal me or am I gonna go to Kaiser? Man, my tooth really helps. Do we have any Vicodin left? I Mean God, he's always the last and I don't mean to you know, poke fun, but he's often the last resort instead of the first.

See on the mission field that the eagers will probably tell you I don't in Africa talking to Sylvester. You don't have health care. You you don't have you don't have. Yeah, I've seen pictures of they've made they've made flip-flops out of water bottles and leather straps.

So you can't just go take this or do that. They've got God or they don't have anything. That's it's either God or nothing. And so when you see God God you're everything I need, you know, of course, you're gonna see more things happening.

Of course a coward makes excuses a Coward makes excuses, but someone filled with the Spirit does not they cannot. Verse 8 then Peter filled with the Holy Spirit my goodness. I cannot get away from this topic.

Why would why would the Bible say that it doesn't say in Peter breathing? Of course, he's breathing. Peter eating, of course, he's eating Peter Alive, of course, he's alive. But Peter was filled again with the Holy Spirit.

That's why there are subsequent feelings fillings of the Holy Spirit curse that word sometimes. People can can be so depleted That they need a fresh feeling they need to be filled again with the Holy Spirit or maybe not in Peter's case.

But he spoke mightily. He was filled with the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Maybe days had went by he's he's ministering. He's talking to people. He's doing these things not in sin. Nothing and and then and here comes this call of God again to address these religious leaders.

You're going to jail. You're going to you're going to jail. You're gonna be locked up. You better be nice. You better be this and then Peter being filled with the Holy Spirit. So this endowment this epi that we talked about the preposition of the Holy Spirit that comes upon Someone and the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus the Holy Spirit came upon Peter the Holy Spirit came upon Paul.

And I pray often God if you don't come upon me this morning I do not want to walk to that pulpit because if you don't come upon me and I'm just gonna try to get through this. It's not gonna work. I Mean we could say and Shane filled with the Holy Spirit Spoke and Peter and you filled with the Holy Spirit at home in and this it's just it's just ongoing Filling of the Holy Spirit.

Here's why this is so important. Dio Moody said we are leaky vessels. So I leave here feeling great in about four hours. Like what happened it's like the sess the world's a cesspool. It's just it's just it's just oh and and and something happens.

I get bitter I get upset this happens. I get negative. Oh this happens. I'm at something break. So and now here comes Tuesday. I'm just a man I don't want to preach again. I can't prepare my sermon. What happened?

Drained. I was drained. So finally Brethren Paul says whatever things are pure and noble renew your mind do not be conformed to this image, but be renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit renew your mind and It gets back into the word back in prayer back into worship.

Not what fills us with the Spirit so Peter being filled with the Spirit said to them rulers of the people and elders of Israel if We this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man. By what means has he been made?

Well. Let it be known to you all and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth Whom you crucified? That's filled with the Spirit. Because what those today you see on TV you're gonna see I'm on TV later today or or we cowardly Pulpits they say you know what?

We're so sorry. We didn't mean to offend. Did we offend you? How can we come along just have a conversation and try to better understand where we're coming from and if I could just understand your Dialogue and your tribe and your camp and you can just understand mine and then we kind of week.

But please don't get. I'm not in trouble. Please. I'm not trying to start anything. That's what cowardness does. You see the difference? That Peter said These guys can kill him. These guys can put him in jail for a lifetime.

He said you crucified Whom God raised from the dead see you can be filled with the Spirit of God and and you fear God more than man. How can William Tyndale and John Huss be burned at the stake? By simply declaring the truth of God.

Martin Luther when he was faced with possible execution, they said recant all of your works. He said here I stand. I can do no other. That's filled with the Holy Spirit of God. What is driving Isis crazy right now?

These people will not recant true believers. Kids are ready to go see their Savior. Parents are ready to see their Savior filled with the Holy Spirit. Church, that's what we need. We don't need more methods.

We don't need more programs good. Lord knows we don't need more studies. We need men and women filled with the Spirit of God. That's how you change the nation's not changed on Tuesday. It's changed on Sunday.

That's how you change the nation you change the church filled with the Spirit of God. Just think just think if all of us now I'm being unrealistic but just think just think if oh goodness. Let's just think of all of us.

What could leave here filled the Spirit of God. You go in to eat restaurant. You see your waitress has a certain look probably in Desperation the yesterday the guy went to he's sitting on the edge of the aqueduct.

It says everything. Okay? So, yeah, just contemplating and meditating. I said praying too because no I need you that my wife and marriage issues and talked about church. An open door and open door and open door.

I was sitting at the post office and and invited a girl two months ago to church. I don't know if she's here this morning. So I'm not gonna just say too much about it. But she was giving her testimony about how Jesus saved her out of a certain Lifestyle in front of other people in the post office.

See people filled with the Spirit of God and then the lady next to me goes. Oh, I'm looking for a church. I've just been delivered off PCP and I moved here a year and a half. I've been set free up. My kids are looking for a church here here and it's just see God's move.

It's everywhere. You can't get away from it when you're filled with the Spirit. It's not changed. You just walk around kumbaya walking on flat walking on clouds. No, of course not. But there's opportunity everywhere we go.

I Saw if I had more time I saw a guy pulled over on right before the 60th West pulled over just sitting there like this. His wife was probably had the door open look like she was throwing up, huh? Saturday night.

Hmm. Wonder what that could be from alcohol hungover. Right, if I had more time I'd pull over and say who knows it might because when your spirit led your spirit directed and God. There's divine appointments.

God opens those doors. And that's what we need we need to church we need believers filled with the Holy Spirit of God. So Peter said whom you crucified God is raised from the dead and by him this man stands here before you hold.

This is the stone which was rejected by you builders. Now. You might go. That's that's history. No that that was offensive. Because Jesus already told them that I am the cornerstone and you are rejecting me and they wanted to kill him.

Because they knew exactly what he was talking about. Nor is there a salvation in any other Name, there's not salvation in any other name for there's no other name under heaven. Given among men by which we must be saved.

This is interesting to people who go on television. They'll go on talk shows and know whether it's Oprah or Larry King or dozen of other people and they'll tiptoe. Is Jesus the only what. Well for me that for me, that's what I believe.

You know for me, that's not I don't know for you. What about this group? What about that group? I don't know. Mmm, are they sincere. I Mean God's got a lot of different, you know. Tribes out there and he's just you know, what is that?

Coward a coward has no power a coward has no spiritual power. He this is so clear. Nor is there salvation in any other for there is no other name under heaven. Given among men by which we must be saved and this is an interesting point.

Because anytime this is where people get offended. I'll talk to people the church down the street. No, it's not bring him young. It's not Joseph Smith. It's Jesus Christ. Roman Catholic Church. Mormon Church over witness.

You don't have to be part of their group to be saved. You have to look at the only name that says is Jesus Christ. That's the only name and here we go. It's not Allah. It's not Buddha. It's not Harry Krishna.

It is Jesus Christ and there's power that name. That's why people don't want to proclaim that name often is because they don't know that name. Because that if that name is near and dear to you. That you will proclaim that name there is salvation in no other name.

And it's okay to say that because what happens when you say that you just planted the seed now God will deal with them. You don't have to chase him around. See what I tell you see what I tell you try to win them an argument try to Facebook them and email them and hey, this is for you.

This is no just plant the seed. Just plant the seed and let God do the work. Without the Spirit Peter would have been apologetic. Correct without the Spirit. He would have been apologetic. A Coward apologizes.

That's number three about a coward. A coward apologizes. Someone filled with the Spirit reinforces God's Word. Now, I'm not discouraging apologizing apologizing. It's it's good to do if you've done something wrong you apologize.

But when we've got in this Apollo, I know the new test. I mean, you know, I know the Old Testament's hard. I know this and and it's like it we're just apologizing often for God's Word, but someone filled with the Spirit reinforces what God's Word says.

Spirit-Filled Boldness and Authority

Then Peter filled with the Holy Spirit before I get off this point I want to remind you that God strengthens you by indwelling you the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. That's where the power comes from.

So God will strengthen you to the degree. You are filled little filling little strength. Fully filled full of strength. A Good analogy. I actually I love men's conferences. You know, I spoke at Hulme Lake because I can wear flannel and in tennis shoes and you know.

It's it's just a men's conference. You don't have to worry about a lot of things and right before my message. It was I couldn't believe I was in heaven. God this is wonderful. How I couldn't plan this better.

They're giving away a brand new 12-gauge shotgun. Full choke don't happen. I don't know if I have three-inch Magnum capacity. I didn't know but I just I was like holding it and I can I be in that drawing too, you know.

It's I couldn't because I was leaving but it's just nice 12-gauge shotgun. So what he did though he left it right here. So I'm up here preaching. I'm like, can I grab this? So and I don't have anything that's gonna work.

Because I actually asked a few sheriff sheriffs if I could use this analogy he said I'm probably not a good idea. It works up there, but probably not gonna work here. So imagine this 12-gauge shotgun.

Imagine if I had let's say I had a 12-gauge shotgun, but oh, that's nice Shane. Isn't that interesting? You know, that's cool. I'm not sure how I feel about guns. But what about if I Grab the three-inch Magnum Shell buckshot, let's say put it in there close the magazine and now it's loaded.

What would you there be exit doors quietly be exiting? Sheriffs would even be going. I'm not sure where this is going. Did I bring mine today? And secure I mean people. What's but folks? What's the difference?

What's the difference the gun without that ammunition is empty. That's why I often say you can be straight as a gun barrel theologically, but just as empty. See many people have the word they know they go to church, but they're just as empty.

They're just the shotgun can't do anything. But when I put that three-inch Magnum load in there now it has authority now, it's going to cause damage. Now people are going to run for cover. Now. You've got the respect now people will listen.

That's the difference. That's what the Holy Spirit comes in. He comes in and he fills your life with this power with this unction of the Spirit of God's presence. That's the that's the power of the Holy Spirit this thing that everybody's afraid about.

See the the very thing you're worried about is the very thing you need. The filling and power of the Spirit. The name of Jesus was forbidden now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and Perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men.

They marveled. Why did they marvel? They've never went to our schools. They never went to our seminaries. They don't have a PhD in theology or a master's degree in church history. Has he ever studied Greek.

Has he ever studied Hebrew. Does he know anything about pneumatology and eschatology and theology? It was his sermon prepared correctly as homiletic hominetics and hermeneutics and all these wonderful things.

How how is this possible if they don't know any of that? Because when you know Christ, that's where you speak from. You speak from a position of authority experiencing theology and that's why I often say that's why I often say a degree from the master is far more valuable than a master's degree a A degree from the master is far more now.

Though big disclaimer in there so people don't get the wrong impression. Please study get an education. I study all the time. I look to what Calvin said about this passage this morning and Norman Geisler and Theology and Martin Luther and you look to you you bring in that but when they they see I know now he that he didn't go To seminary.

He didn't go to the seminary. He went to the school of hard knocks where God broke him and drove him to the cross and drove him to his feet now. Out of that experience now, he preaches the gospel and we can tell he didn't come from Pepperdine.

He sure didn't come from the master's seminary. He didn't come from the Talbot's theological seminary. He came from the prayer closet where the Spirit of God spoke through him and drove people to the cross and repented.

My goodness a coward is timid. Someone filled with the Spirit is bold. That's the defining difference. This is the defining difference someone Filled with the Spirit of God is bold about their faith. Someone who's not is very timid.

They're not going to talk much about it. Then they're not going to talk about their faith. Actually, the sad fact is they're embarrassed about their faith, do you know that's why teenagers and young adults don't talk about Jesus.

The majority. The majority of them do not talk about Jesus. Because they don't want their friends to think weird of them. They'll post Katy Perry and and Beyonce at the country music awards. What's he talking about?

Well, it's good then. They're they're they're all about that but when it comes to Jesus, uh-huh I'm a coward, right. Because you're not filled with the Spirit of God. You cannot be filled with the Spirit of God and be a coward.

It's it's impossible. Because it's the Holy Spirit working through you now. Be gentle. Be understanding be compassionate. With that boldness comes the fruit of the Spirit. See with boldness comes love and joy and peace and contentment long-suffering jealous and kindness and self-control.

You get all that. So with boldness comes love and joy and peace and contentment. Understanding gentleness kindness self-control all those things come with that boldness. That was verse 14. We're gonna pick up a little bit next week.