Boldness is a spiritual strength, not a physical one
Over and over in the Word of God you’ll see examples of men and women whom God used in amazing, powerful ways and they are always the underdogs! Joseph, Gideon, Moses, David, Mary, Daniel, Elijah…the list goes on. The most unlikely heroes are the ones in whom God sees something other people can’t see. (1 Samuel 16:7) We see them as heroes of the faith, but they way they saw themselves was much different. That’s how we all are! We see the worst in ourselves and then use those things to disqualify what God could do through us. When we see others being used by God, we mistake their boldness for confidence. You don’t have to be anything for God to use you- except willing!
You don’t have to be naturally bold or have all the right things to say- get filled with the Holy Spirit and let Him speak through you!
In Acts 4, Peter and John were in the early stages of building the early Church after Jesus’ death and resurrection and they were facing tremendous resistance and persecution as they testified. Acts 4:13 says they were both “illiterate and uneducated” and yet they were confounding the most “intelligent” men in the room with their bold proclamations. Were they afraid? It would be natural to presume so, yet they were bold. Being bold doesn’t have to do with the absence of fear. Boldness is a spiritual strength. Acts 4:8 says that what emboldened Peter was that he was “filled with the Holy Spirit” when he spoke! You don’t have to be naturally bold or have all the right things to say- get filled with the Holy Spirit and let Him speak through you!
In Acts 4:23, early Church believers struggled with boldness just like you and I do today. Yet, as Peter and John said, “We cannot help but declare what we have seen and heard.” They were compelled to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, but were they all naturally bold? No! How did they overcome their fears? They sought the Lord to empower them praying, “Now, Lord, look on their threats and grant that Your servants may speak Your word with great boldness,Β by stretching out Your hand to heal and that signs and wonders may be performed in the name of Your holy Son Jesus.” Then, this happened, “When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:29-31)
Thought for today
If you see things around you, in the news, in your life, or hear things that show what an evil, desperate world we live in, that means the Lord has opened your eyes to see specific areas in which the world needs a Savior. The Lord didn’t show you that for no reason! He wants you to do something about it- beyond prayer! But that’s going to take boldness. If you don’t have that kind of boldness, or if you’ve told yourself any other number of excuses why you can’t share the Gospel – it’s a lie of the enemy! If God has shown you an area of need, it’s because He needs you out there being His “kingdom come” and His “will be done on earth as it is in heaven”! If you lack boldness, ask the Lord to empower you and to fill you with His Holy Spirit, then go speak the word of God will boldness – not confidence – boldness, a spiritual strength that will ensure your words to the lost are effective and fruitful!
#thatswhyIworship
