Be Bold
Life is challenging, at times it chews us up and spits us back out. Then there are the moments where things are well and its smooth sailing. This is true in our faith as well. We face times that are good and we can easily see God’s grace and mercy and are thankful for what He has done for us. Then there are the times when our faith is challenged, in these moments we can choose to either bow down to the challenger or remain bold and proclaim the truth in the Word of God.
The fact of the matter is that as Christians we are not called to be timid when discussing our faith, in fact a timid spirit is something that we should not have. “7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 God has given us a bold spirit, it was entrusted upon us from the moment that we placed our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. “On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul” Psalm 138:3 But this knowledge doesn’t always make it easier when we are faced with an opportunity to share the gospel or faced with someone challenging our faith. Too often we worry that this isn’t the time or place to share our knowledge of the true and living God or we are concerned with the repercussions that we could face when we share the gospel. Today I want to remind us all that we are called to stand firm in the faith and in doing so we are called to be bold when we are faced with these challenges.
Sometimes we mistake the definition of being bold as being in your face, bow down to me or face the consequences type of ideology. This is not the case and shouldn’t be for the Christian who are faced with an opportunity to share the gospel. To be bold is defined as the ability to take risks, to be confident, to be courageous. In the case of sharing the gospel this means that we need to hold the spirit that God has given us mentioned in 2 Timothy 1:7. We are given a spirit of power, that is to say authority. When we know the Word of God as the absolute authority that it is, we have greater understanding. In order for this to be however, we need to actively be studying the Word. We need to know what the Bible actually says, how else can we take a stand against those who are questioning it if we do not know what the Bible teaches? For me this was made evidently clear in my own upbringing. Growing up I had some misguided ideas of what the Bible teaches and as such there was a time that I wanted nothing to do with God. It wasn’t until I was placed around those who spoke with authority of the knowledge of the Word of God that these misconceptions were corrected. They were able to Biblically show me how my ideas were not Biblically sound and by the grace of God, I was saved. We need to have the knowledge of the Word so that we can speak with authority on what the Word teaches.
We are also given a spirit of love. To have authority does not mean that we do not have love, and to have love does not mean that we do not have authority. One of the common sayings in our house in regards to sin is this, “If you see a person drowning are you going to stand on the shore and say ‘Don’t worry! You are loved!’ or are you going to point out to them the life preserve that is next to them?” This is how a bold spirit with love is. We love the individual enough to point out that they are drowning (in sin) and also show them how they can be saved (Jesus Christ). People are bold in their sin, we need to be bold also in our love for people to not let them continue.
According to 2 Timothy we are also given a spirit of discipline. Again this is a mistaken concept that a Christian does not have the authority to point out that others need Christ. A timid spirit would say to a person in sin that God loves them no matter what. A person with a bold spirit with love and authority would would tell the person that God loves them enough to rescue them from what is eternally hurting them. Titus 2:11-15 is a great example of this, “11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, eager for good deeds. 15 These things speak and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. No one is to disregard you.” When we come before someone in a bold spirit we have with us all authority. We have God Himself standing with us! If that doesn’t give us an encouragement to boldly proclaim the Word of God I don’t know what will.
For those of you who may be reading this and wondering what to possibly say when thrust into these situations, remember Christ’s on words to His disciples. “16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Matthew 10:16-20 We are very much sheep among wolves in this day and age, but this is not to cause us to cower. Instead, we need to be wise and gentle in our approach. When we are placed in these situations, thanks to the Holy Spirit, we will be given what to say. A great example is Acts 7 with Stephen. He volunteered to wash tables of widows but when the time came, he was given the words to preach a sermon.
It is important to remember that our strength is not of ourselves but of the spirit that God has given us, namely the Holy Spirit. We are called to share the gospel but it is the backing of this Spirit that allows us to break down the barriers when we speak God’s truth to others, and it is the Holy Spirit who shows us the scripture that we need to use when faced with a challenger.
Seek the truth and encourage one another,
Alex