Tonight, in bed, I was dreaming about how to start my blog. It was so clear I didn’t put pen to paper, I thought, I’d remember that in the morning. Well, the long and the short of it is... I didn’t remember one bit of it. Now it has been a couple of months since I started this blog, and I have shared on 2 more occasions, God’s message of boldness.
So here goes, boldness, the hardest thing about boldness is doing it. Talking the talk is easy, walking the walk is not so easy. Watching someone else do what you want to do is easy, not so easy to do it ourselves. Does this resonate with you, then read on. We can strengthen our resolve to be bold, when we read about the characters in the bible who displayed boldness, through the strength of the presence of God in their life.
BOLDNESS
“The willingness to take risks and act innovatively, confidently and courageously”
and
“The quality of having a strong, vivid, clear appearance”.
… having the willingness is the state of being prepared to do something;
readiness and Innovative (of a person) introducing new ideas; original and
creative in thinking.
Oh my – I almost cried when God gave me this word to speak on, the definition resonated with my heart and soul.
My heart is to take risks, to step out into my own unique identity, boldly, living life and not watching it pass by. To release creativity (innovation and strategies) into my sphere of influence and the courage to do it!
There are many bible characters that demonstrate boldness. We can be inspired, with the boldness they carried, to do what God asked of them. We often read over these things, thinking they are just characters out of book, rather than real life people, with real life emotions and character flaws.
Gen 2:19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.
Let’s take a look at Adam, the first man God created. After my most recent trip to South Africa and going on Safari, you soon come to realise the magnitude and diversity of animals God created. Adam had the awesome opportunity to stand before each of God’s creations and name them. Have you really thought about that. Actually, thought about that. Standing before a lion and saying in the name of Jesus I call you LION, in front of a snake, a rattle snake for that matter. Never alone trying to get a mouse to stand still and declare, “I call you mouse”. I know, I’m stretching this a bit, you could say that all animals were tame then and became wilder. But I really don’t think that’s the truth. I think God gave Adam dominion over the animals and that’s how he named each animal. However, it's my blog today. I guess I wanted you to have a feeling of the boldness it would have taken Adam to name the animals.
So God creates all the animals and the birds and brings them to Adam to see what he will call them and, “whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name” (Gen. 2.19). Adam named all the birds and beasts, but no partner was found for him.
So where was Jesus bold? Where did he stand before the enemy? I know Jesus displayed boldness on many occasions, but none more so than when he was tempted in the desert. When Jesus was at His weakest, Satan offered him the food and the world. He knew that He had to stand on what He knew to be true. His God will sustain him.
Gen 7:1 The Lord then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.
Noah, can you imagine how crazy he must have thought it was to build an ark. To spend days and night pondering if he had heard right, let alone the years to complete the ark. There wasn’t really a bible to read and testimonies of miracles that God had already done. He was pioneering “boldness”, to do the things God lays on our heart. In the midst of his peers, teasing and mocking him, he pressed on, boldly, to build the first ever boat, that would save himself and his family. Okay, I haven’t really answered what made him bold. Here it is…… Noah was found to be righteous, and he found favour in the eyes of the Lord (Gen 6:8). Boldness comes from knowing that God is on our side, he called us, nothing else matters, we are single-minded about God. Boldness comes from God himself, giving us the strength and the courage to carry on.
Okay so you might be asking, how can we today be seen as righteous. It says in 1 Corinthians, because we are in Him, Christ made us right with God.
1 Sam 17:34 -37 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”
David, his boldness was built on his experiences over many years, it does not always begin with the first encounter. It builds inside of us. “Who we are, when no one is watching”. Let me tell you what David was doing, killing lions and bears. He possessed a boldness, but its source is available to us, too! The Bible tells us, as a young shepherd, David killed both a lion and a bear (1 Samuel 17:34-37). There can be no question about David's bravery. When it came time to face Goliath, to demonstrate his boldness, he knew who he could call on. The one who had stood beside him in the paddocks as a shepherd boy. His Lord and saviour. He called on God himself, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head.” It’s in the practising, the alone space, when no one is watching, we can build up our boldness, relying totally on God.
Who are we when no one is watching? Are you building strength and boldness in the secret place with Holy Spirit. Jesus often retreated to a quiet place to connect with His Father.
Esther 4:15-16 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
Esther, okay girls this one is for us. Brave, she stood before a King, when uninvited the King could choose to kill you! But she was one smart lady. She was prepared. How, she put strategies in place, she knew she couldn’t do this herself. She rallied her intercessors; she asked them to pray and fast for her to succeed... For her boldness did not come from her alone, but a team of like-minded people. She took the risk, regardless of the outcome of stumbling, failing, or dying.
Esther asked, “Fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days, either day or night. I and my maids will fast with you. If you will do this, I’ll go to the king, even though it’s forbidden. If I die, I die.’”
Esther 4:16 (The Message) For such a time as this…
Even if I stumble.
Even if I fail.
Even if I die.
Her boldness came from being prepared and taking the risk, knowing God had called her to save her people. What has He called you to do, that requires you to build a team of intercessors, who cheer you on and hold you up, when you go into battle.
When Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane, he too asked his disciples to pray for Him whilst he confronted death. We are not built to do things alone, God not only wants us in relationship with Him, He has sent the Holy Spirit to inhibit us, ready to empower, encourage and equip us to walk boldly into who God has created us to be. That is to take the gospel into our sphere of influence.
Jos 1:7-9 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua, he had no choice in the matter, he was commanded by the Lord on many occasions to be bold and courageous. God was calling out his potential, knowing that his natural state, was not to be bold and courageous. God, however, didn’t just leave it to words. He gave him instructions on what it would take to increase his capacity to be bolder and more courageous. The first was to keep the Law’s of Moses, to follow through and complete the word given to Moses to possess the land. This one is a no-brainer; study and meditate on the word of God continually. Is it no surprise to us that 1000’s of years later, we are still encouraged to meditate on God’s word. See, it’s the testimony of the people who have gone before us, that gives us courage that God will do it again. When He speaks to us, He will come through for us. It’s not a coincidence, that our boldness today comes from the word of God.
Strong - an adjective – describing a noun
Strong - having the power to move heavy weights or perform other physically
demanding tasks.
"she cut through the water with her strong arms"
able to withstand force, pressure, or wear.
"cotton is strong, hard-wearing, and easy to handle"
Courageous - not deterred by danger or pain; brave.
There are so many miracles Joshua performed; refresh yourself on the courage and boldness of Joshua. He was a man who understood, the power of the Word of God in his heart.
Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
I guess we need to move on to the New Testament. I picked Peter, yes it was good for my heart to reflect on a mighty man in the bible named Peter.
So what made Peter bold. He waited, yes that right, he waited, in fact quite a long time, he waited. In that upper room praying with his peers and friends, they waited, not quite knowing what for, but they waited. And BAM! It hit them, as it states in Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished, and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. They were in unity, together of one accord and waited...
IN SUMMARY
Boldness, it’s not just about you, it's about your relationship with God.
1. Stand, Before the enemy. STAND above all else STAND
2. Get right with God, do what you can do, to become righteous, then allow God
to do the rest, because in the new covenant we are righteous,
Jesus died on the cross for your righteousness.
But it doesn’t mean we go on sinning.
3. Practise, practise, and practise when no one is watching.
4. Gather your team, your intercessors, those who cheer you on, who will stand
with you, when you’re called to be bold.
5. It’s a given, study and meditate on God’s Word.
6. Wait for His presence and stay in His presence.
7. Then DO/ACT give it a go, step out in boldness, strength and courage,
watch it grow.
The Holy Spirit is the one who leads us and guides us, we become aware that He is moving us towards a courageous act, we know our preparation over the years has prepared us for such a time as this.
Ask God, where am I missing my boldness, courage and innovation in my life?
Remember whom we belong to…
The world will not know Jesus as a conqueror,
if we don’t walk around as though He has won the battle,
our identity is in Him. Not what we do, say, or think.
FINISH WITH KNOW WHO YOU ARE
Such a great lesson... "A father said to his daughter, “You graduated with honours, here is a car I acquired many years ago. It is several years old. But before I give it to you, take it to the used car lot downtown and tell them I want to sell it and see how much they offer you". The daughter went to the used car lot, returned to her father and said, “They offered me $1,000 because it looks very worn out.” The father said, "take it to the pawn shop". The daughter went to the pawn shop, returned to her father and said,”the pawn shop offered $100 because it was a very old car.” The father asked his daughter to go to a car club and show them the car. The daughter took the car to the club, returned and told her father, "some people in the club offered $100,000 for it, since it’s a Nissan Skyline R34, an iconic car and sought after by many.” The father said to his daughter, "the right place values you the right way”. If you are "not valued", do not be angry, it means you are in the wrong place. Those who know your value are those who appreciate you. Never stay in a place where no one sees your value.
Start with what’s in your hands...
place them out in front of you...
Ask God again, what do I have?
If you don’t know what to do..
share you testimony with people ….
Invite people to your home..
The way we go about our daily lives, is our testimony of boldness.
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