Building Boldness

Introduction:

Don’t stir the pot. Don’t ask for trouble. Etc

Some people have an irrational attachment to the status quo

According to the scriptures, Christians are known to be upsetters of the status quo (Acts 17:6).

The world boldness or some variation of this word is used in a positive manner roughly 27 times in the Bible.

But how does one become comfortable with this? How do we become bold in our faith (Ephesians 6:18-20).

Discussion:

Know the Truth

One cannot be bold unless they are first sure.

Confidence, as defined is this text, means the openness or courage (American Dictionary of the English Language).

The principle for us is that we should be developing this level of openness.

Christ spoke of us that if we are afraid to proclaim Him, He will not speak of us (Matthew 10:32-34).

The Bible is not written in such a way as to confuse us but rather to give us confidence (1 Corinthians 14:33; 2 Timothy 1:7).

The apostles knew what they had seen (Acts 4:20; 1 John 1:1,3; 1 John 4:14).

If the apostles were knowingly lying, which they would have to be, why speak with such boldness?

What benefit was there for their commitment?

They spoke, not based on their own authority, but the authority of Christ (Acts 4:10).

We cannot speak boldly for Christ if touting our own opinions (Matthew 15:9; Titus 1:14).

God specifically commanded us what to speak and what to teach, and anything outside is not from Him (Galatians 1:8-9).

They identified Jesus as the only source of salvation (Acts 4:12).

Pray to the Lord

It was evident to those of that day where the apostles boldness came from (Acts 4:13-16).

What evidence does the world have that you are a Christian?

According to our examples in scripture, it was plain to see when one was a follower of Christ (John 13:35; 1 Peter 2:12).

The apostles recognized that the source of their boldness could only come from the Lord (Acts 4:29-31).

What does it take for me to rely on God?

We pray to the Lord when things go wrong but do we thank Him for the skills He’s provided?

The apostles here give us a pattern to follow in the event of struggle.

Publicly stand with the Lord

Rely on your brethren

Pray to the Lord

Then go

Get to Work

Why is this necessary?

There will never be a convenient time to do what needs to be done.

The law of intertia states that an object in motion tends to stay in motion but an object at rest tends to stay at rest. We tend to do what we have always done, but faith is meant to shake up, to motivate, to change.

Similar to muscles growth and atrophy, if we use our faith, feed it, it grows. If we starve it, it fades (Romans 10:17; 1 Peter 2:2).

After praying, the apostles and Christians unified and got to work (Acts 4:32-35).

They allowed the struggles and their faith to bind them, rather than divide them.

Often people want to use things like this to say that we divide too easily and to a degree that is correct. However, this was not an attitude of let’s just keep the peace because things are hard but rather let’s all work together to meet the expectation because that is what will get us through.

The Lord told us to be doers of the word and not hearers only (James 1:22).

He identifies our purpose as doing good works (Ephesians 2:10).

Solomon said it best and it is familiar but worth repeating (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Conclusion: