32. A SPIRIT of BOLDNESS.

Question and answer: “Does this mean that I can be a brave person?”

Yes, with God’s help and the anointing of the Holy Spirit we can have a supernatural confidence, assurance and boldness in Christ Jesus. It will enable us to be more effective when we preach, witness, or testify, Acts 4:27-33. As we trust more and surrender to God, our fears will subside.

Acts 4:13 ‘Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled. And they realised that they had been with Jesus’

1 Corinthians 1:26-29, tells us that ‘not many wise are called’. When we are weak we cannot depend upon ourselves but have to lean more on God to help us, 2 Corinthians 12:9. The wise and proud could say, “Who needs God?” The tower of Babel is a classic example of man’s pride, Genesis 11:4.

Boldness comes from God; the more you surrender to the Holy Spirit the more He will come in and fill you. You will be less afraid of man and have a greater trust in God knowing that He is sovereign. You have to really follow Jesus and have fellowship with Him, John 6:47-66, Revelation 3:20. Daily ‘take up your cross and follow Him’ Matthew 16:24. Daniel’s friends refused to bow down to idols and ended up in the fiery furnace, but God delivered them and then they got a promotion, Daniel 3:13-30.

Wisdom: Give more of yourself to God and be bolder for Christ.

Romans 1:16 ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes’

When you know who you are in Christ, a son and an heir and that the Holy Spirit who is in you is stronger than the devil, (1 John 4:4) then you will become bolder for Christ. Like the prophets who spoke out against sin, rebuked kings and told them what to do. 1 Kings 18:16-19, 22:6-28, Jeremiah 3:6-14, 37:1-19, Micah 2, Malachi 1, Luke 3:7-20, 11:37-54. You can also be zealous and bold for the things of God, Matthew 11:12, John 2:13-17.

Fact: There is a big difference between arrogance and boldness.

Think: Am I bold when it comes to the things of God?

More Info: Exodus 4:10-17, 12:29-36, Judges 6:11-34, 7:7-21, Proverbs 28:1, 29:25, Ecclesiastes 8:1, Jeremiah 1:4-10, Acts 4:13-21, 29-31, Philippians 1:20, 1 Timothy 3:13.

Visit the interactive version of this course online. www.byfaith.co.uk © 2003 ByFaith Media.