The whole book of Acts started with Acts 1:8.

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””
Acts‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Even right now the Gospel is still going out to the ends of the earth.

When we talk about the power of the Holy Spirit, we think about boldness that comes upon a person.

“Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭3:1-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

This account was after the day of Pentecost. Peter offered the only thing he had to the lame man (lame for 40 years) which was healing. The man started leaping and praising God.

How did John and Peter know what to do?

The Power of the Holy Spirit brings about Boldness…

1. To do it!

Peter and John remembered what Jesus had done through the power of the Holy Spirit. They did the same thing because they had boldness to do it with the Holy Spirit, just as they had seen with Jesus.

““These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14:25-26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.”
‭‭John‬ ‭5:8-9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

What are some things that the Holy Spirit is prompting us to do? We should then ask boldness to do what the Holy Spirit says.

2. To stick with it!

The boldness to stick with what the Holy Spirit is doing even in persecution or difficult circumstances. The Gospel is offensive to some who will hear it as it relies on the grace and power of the finished work of Christ. There will be persecution but only through the power of the Holy Spirit can we stick to what He is doing.

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭4:13-14, 18-21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

3. To ask for more

Signs and wonders are part of the move the Holy Spirit but so are persecutions and sufferings. Yet they had the boldness to pray dangerous prayers and ask for more of it. The boldness to go through suffering for Christ’s sake. The Holy Spirit is the one who grants us this boldness; asking for more of His glory even in the midst of the suffering.

“And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’ “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭4:23-33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”
‭‭II Timothy‬ ‭1:8-9, 12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

God is not done yet. What about you? Are you willing to ask for this boldness to ask for more of the Holy Spirit for the mission that He has called us to?