Divine LifeSample

Bold is Gold

What is boldness? Where does it come from? Confidence is another word used to describe boldness. Confidence is simply the result of abiding in Jesus. We can’t help but be confident when we focus on our oneness with Jesus.

When Peter and John stand before the council in Acts 4 and release some heavy revelation, the council is astounded by the fact that these men are "uneducated," and they recognize they had been “with Jesus.” Despite the fact that they seemed unqualified, Peter and John’s confidence to speak up and make an impact came from abiding in Jesus.

Many say that knowledge is power. That is a lie. Fearlessness is power. Who cares what you know if you don't do anything alongside it that requires boldness? At that point, the knowledge is irrelevant. God didn't give us fear, so we should not accept it into our lives and allow it to prevent us from walking out in boldness.

Our intellect will not lead us into places requiring boldness. It will lead us into controllable, manageable, and predictable spaces. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, will lead us into impossible situations that demand boldness. He will take us where we are in over our heads, above our pay grades, and beyond what we are qualified to do (according to the world's standards). This is where we are humbled in our weakness and captivated by His strength.

Love, hope, and faith follow a powerful flow. Everything starts with the truth that we are loved. When we know He loves us, we can confidently hope that He will come through for us. According to 2 Corinthians 3:12, "Since we have such a hope, we are very bold." Boldness flows from hope. It's not about desperation, but about expectation. If we abound in hope, we will abound in boldness. If hope is deferred, then our boldness will be too.

Our hope, or expectancy, opens the door to certainty (faith). Faith without hope is dead. It is the nature of God to believe and expect. Since we have been given His nature, it is natural for us to believe and expect.

When we know we are loved, we can hope (expect), which then allows us to apply faith (certainty) to see the Kingdom of God demonstrated.

As His beloved children, we have been made with the righteousness of God in Christ. Proverbs 28:1 says, "The righteous are as bold as a lion." The foundation of boldness is righteousness. It isn't founded in personal bravery or personality. It is founded in identity. He made us right so we can do what is right.

We have been made righteous, and therefore we have been made bold. We don't have to conjure up boldness. Our gaze is to be set on what He has done. Remember what He has given and forget what He has forgiven. One of the meanings of boldness is "leaving a witness that something deserves to be remembered". If we are going to leave a mark on this world, it will require us to leave safety and predictability behind.

It is time to roar. It is time to leave a legacy that will be remembered.

Speak Up: Declaration

The Father’s love flows toward me at all times. Hope is alive and well. Faith is available at all times. In Christ, I am confident in every area of life. He knows who I am, so I know whose I am. I reject fear, for it is not my portion. I embrace impossible situations knowing I have been given the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. I declare that in Christ I am righteous. Therefore, I am as bold as a lion.

Think Deep: Meditation

Proverbs 28:1, 2 Corinthians 3:12