Developing Boldness and Faith
Boldness and Faith: the result of expectation
Boldness and faith are essential as with every other aspect of receiving our inheritance in Christ. When we admire these attributes in another, it is because they are visible. To excel in boldness and faith, they must be incorporated into your every-day life. To live a life of boldness and faith is a developed lifestyle, and therefore needs daily practice.
Certain things make faith go to work on your behalf. It is different to believing, or what we call saving faith. Certain criteria are needed for faith to work. God is not sitting in heaven waiting to act upon our faith. When we put our faith to work, new creation laws are activated. What are some of the factors necessary to produce boldness and faith?
One of the workings found within faith is: expectation and anticipation. Boldness and Faith works from a place of rest. Faith rests on the results of work previously completed.
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool (Heb 10:12-13).
In the above verse it shows us Jesus as having completed the work that He came down to carry out on earth. He then sat down.
He sat down at the right hand of God. This is in the place of authority, privilege, and power. Likewise, we are seated together with Christ, at the right hand of God. Living, active faith is expectant, hopeful, and full of anticipation.
When doing the work of the evangelist we look for signs in peoples’ lives that point to some proof that they are in expectant faith. Where faith, hope and love are we will find expectation. These three, act as confident indicators, announcing that something is up ahead. Though not visible, they nevertheless are present and act like markers, supplying a focus for the seeker’s faith. Virile living faith is visible, tangible, and contagious. Such signs of faith should also be visible in you for the sake of the seeker or the new convert.
Sometimes, people are not able to discern if a person they are sharing with has been born again. Many people talk religious. They may be well read. They may know religious sayings. They may have an argument. Look for what is holding them back. Is there unforgiveness? Are they holding a grudge against another? Are they judgmental? Is there a lack of grace?
If they are there will be no sign of peace, and no visible faith. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Ask them if they would pray a prayer with you. Lead them in a prayer of forgiveness for themselves and others. Include yourself in the prayer. Take the lead.
For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God?
Boldness and Faith comes from nurturing an intimate relationship with God.
Another essential found in active faith is an intimacy with God through prayer. Boldness means ‘free utterance’. The book of Hebrews encourages the believer that God accepts them. We are exhorted to have boldness to enter God’s throne room, because of the finished work of the cross.
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus Heb 10:19-20.
Believers who are full of expectant faith are eager to pray. They are confident of the Lord’s acceptance. Faith and boldness are demonstrated by our freedom of speech. How we pray is a sure sign that the fear of God’s judgment has passed.
Fear cannot be quenched when the Word has full reign, and gains supremacy in our minds.
He will keep thee in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusts in thee. ?
Knowledge and acceptance of God’s love for the believer casts out all fear of condemnation.
‘Fear has torment’.?
In the Hebrew Scriptures, there is a breath-taking story of two men who survived the forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Their names were Caleb and Joshua. The people of Israel had arrived at ?. Twelve men were chosen from the tribes to climb up to the ridge of Mamre ? to view the land (Num 13). This is where the Giants of Arba dwelt.
The men climbed up to the ridge and viewed the land. However, when they saw the giants, ten of them were afraid and took back an evil report. Joshua and Caleb were not afraid. They encouraged the people to enter the land. As a result of this, only these two men and their families of that generation entered Canaan. The other ten and their generation that had expressed fear of the giants and of entering the land died out. The meaning of these two men’s names is significant to our study. Caleb’s name means ‘impetuous and boldness’. Joshua’s name means ‘God is Saviour’.
What we learn here is that to know that ‘God is Saviour’, Redeemer, Rescuer, Deliverer, Liberator, Protector, and to have ‘impetuous, spontaneous, bold, confident, faith’, will enable us. To arrive here in our walk of faith is to see into the other realm, beyond what faith-less people see. Boldness and Faith will not look at the surrounding circumstances, but rather, will look beyond the circumstances and see God.
In the work of evangelism, Boldness and Faith, are yoked together. As we see the invisible, our faith in the promises of God are kindled. It is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit who produces this kind of faith. Where evangelism is successful, the gift of faith is in operation.
Those who need a Saviour are sick. When we preach the gospel, we experience the presence of the Lord to heal the sick. This is the work of evangelism. It is the working of miracles. ? When a person is born again, the faith of the witness to the saving power of the gospel is there.
“And the presence of the lord was present to heal the sick”
The fear of people, what they think, what they might say, what they might do, brings a snare to the gospel worker. The fear of people stops them from exercising holy boldness. Fear of people is a sure sign of insecurity. It acts as a trap, holding the witnesser back.
This same fear is present when one allows another to have dominion over their faith. When we give our total allegiance to God alone, by obeying the Word of God, we will be the meekest of people: bold, courageous, and fearless. Then the fear of people will go Paul said,
‘not that we have dominion over your faith, rather we are helpers of your joy’..
Boldness and Faith: The result of assurance
Full assurance of faith is necessary to convince people of their need of a Saviour. This kind of faith comes from the work of righteousness in the believer’s life. People can pick up on your peace. This is the peace of God that passes all understanding. There is a work and an effect: peace is the effect from living right.
‘And the work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness is quietness and assurance forever’.
This is a way of life. It is a fitting way of life for every believer. Assurance of faith comes as a result of believing in the finished work of Christ. Believing in what Jesus accomplished on the cross. Believing Godraidsed Jesus from the dead. Believing Jesus is seated t the right hand of God. Believing we are seated there with Him,
Script ‘ seated far above all ??
And having a high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. Heb 10:21-22
Boldness and Faith: The result of peace.
The faith filled witnesser will possess full assurance of peace with God. When we have taken hold of this confidence in and of God’s love and acceptance, we start to minimise, in the light of this wonderful knowledge, our own and other’s failings and faults.
God’s grace and love flows through God’s grace and love experienced by the believer. The Holy Spirit works in us and through us. This confidence we have in Gods grace brings hope to others.
Successful evangelism cannot be carried out in any other way. It acknowledges, firstly, in our own lives, God’s grace and love. The work of righteousness turns us into the bearer of God’s peace.
This will convey to the hearer the confidence, joy, and peace they long for. The shed blood of Jesus cleanses our conscience from dead works. It imparts this full assurance of faith and confidence, courage, and boldness, so that we in turn may serve God.
Such assurance in God’s love will carry our witness of reconciliation beyond where other less spirited people are willing to go. Going in this spirit, will take you where they are, right into the very homes and hearts of people. It is the ‘spirit of faith’ so necessary in the work of evangelism.
(Ps 116:10),
Boldness and Faith: The result of steadfastness
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promised (Heb 10:23).
The word ‘profession’ is the Greek word ‘lomeligia’ which means, ‘saying the same thing’. James teaches on this organic unity of words and actions. It is in keeping with the whole of Scripture.
We are to align our words with God’s Word. We are to say the same thing about ourselves as God says about us. In this way, We partake of the divine nature. In so doing it serves to build us up in our most holy faith.
Doubting, wavering people will not find the success they may long for in the work of evangelism. One cannot exercise strong faith when all the time vacillating from one position to another, ever doubting God’s word of reconciliation.
You may not even have very much bible knowledge to begin with, but your faith can be strong nevertheless, based upon what you have read in the Word of God, and what you have experienced of God’s forgiveness and love.
Boldness and Faith: The result of confidence
Faith and boldness come from having confidence in what God says in God’s Word. We must believe God’s promises and act upon them. God’s power is contained in God’s Word. It will do its part when released. It will grow, multiply, and prevail. Boldness is faith in action. Boldness believes that the Word will produce what it claims. God’s Word makes a bold claim concerning salvation.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith (Rom 1:15-17).
The Gospel is the ‘power of God’ unto salvation to anyone who believes it.
Contained within the words spoken by you about the gospel’s message is ability and strength to make people whole.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
The gospel is able to produce salvation in any that believe its message.
I believe therefore I speak?
We believe, We therefore have received the full power that is contained within the gospel? When the believer acts upon the promises of God, they go to work and that word we speak produces. It produces souls born into the kingdom of God.
Examine our own selves, to see if we are in the faith?
Take an inventory. Asess our faith. Make sure we are ‘in the faith’. Ensure that our faith is active. Mental assent without corresponding action is dormant and passive. James says this is the ‘doctrine of devils’ (1 Tim 4:1).
Pure faith requires corresponding works. God the Holy Spirit who dwells within us is bound to respond, Faith in God’s Word will produce boldness. Faith-filled boldness is shown by free utterance, before God, in prayer, and towards people.
Boldness is confidence in God to live up to His promises at any given moment. Like electricity, you tap into the source of power and it never fails. No blackouts! We can have that confidence in God, that same persuasion, assurance, and trust.
Confidence in God must be built into the foundation of our lives. Confidence and boldness are interchangeable words. Paul taught with all confidence or all boldness.
Do you believe in a miracle working God? Bold believers do. They believe that God can still do the same miracles as are spoken of in the book of Acts. They believe the Scripture that says, ‘Elijah was a man with a nature like ours and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain and it did not rain’. And ‘he prayed, and the heavens gave rain’. They agree with Paul, ‘I am a debtor to the whole world. They confess with Paul, ‘I am ready to preach the gospel’.
Boldness and Faith: The result of living without compromise.
Wherever there is compromise in the life of the believer, absoluteness and strength of character and integrity, (virtue), is lacking. Let me give you an example. Where there is compromise in the life of the witnesser, she, or he, will not speak out for righteousness sake. They will not be able to come alongside people, in the work of evangelism, and lift other persons up onto higher ground, because they themselves are in the slough of compromise.
The wicked flee when no man pursues: but the righteous are bold as a lion (Prov 28:1).
When living in compromise, the believer has lessened the value of their own salvation. This, then, becomes an obstacle and a snare. This leads us to another probable reason Christians do not witness.
Having shown oneself as a believer, they must live the life. If there is slothfulness, slackness, and undisciplined living, these will surface. The distinctive qualities of a Christian character are recognisable, and necessary for the believer to be a bold witness, produced by right living in the sight of God.
Boldness and Faith: The result of forgiveness
Faith and boldness manifest when we know we are forgiven.
‘S/he that is forgiven much loves much’.
Once saved our lives take on a new stability; we begin to take root in God’s soil of love and forgiveness; Only then can we grow up into all things.
To be ‘rooted and grounded’ in God’s love, means to accept that 2,000 years ago Jesus carried away the sins of the world on the cross. We will believe and experience the joy and peace that comes with salvation. We receive full forgiveness of past failures. It means to forgive oneself and others of any wrongdoing, to repeat Jesus’ prayer,
‘Father forgive them, they know not what they do’. ?
Stephen, the church’s first martyr, prayed,
‘Father, do not lay this sin to their charge’. ?
This kind of attitude in prayer allows a full flow of God’s love. It allows freedom and boldness a fullness of faith to speak. It is motivated by God’s love for you and the rest of humanity. It results in Free utterance, glory to God! The man or woman who feels guilty, or who is harbouring un-forgiveness, or self-righteousness, is hindered from overflowing in the joy and love of God in the work of evangelism.
Boldness and Faith: The result of serious study
The knowledge and understanding of who we are in Christ aids our growth. We need to daily remind ourselves of our position in Christ.
‘Write it on the doorposts of our mind’.?
To have our minds fixed, trusting in the ‘imputed righteousness’ of God, ‘we are justified by our faith’. We have a High Priest who lives forever. He has reconciled us to God; He has reconciled us to God: our Propitiation.
He is compassionate; our Mercy Seat. Jesus’ allows us to come before a Holy God without condemnation. He negotiates on our behalf. Jesus and only Jesus is our Intercessor: our go-between. Jesus is our referee: He is our Mediator. Jesus has rescued us: He is our Redeemer.
Jesus is the one who appears before God on our behalf, as our family member and friend. There is a human being in heaven, one that succeeded, that beat death and sin.
Death had no power over him;?
death has no power over us who believe what Jesus did at the cross! Carry the message
‘all things are possible through the resurrection power of Christ – only believe’!
Boldness and Faith: the result of prayer
Assurance of answered prayer produces boldness. This assurance comes from “asking and receiving” (Mt 7:7)
Make your requests known to God (Phil 4:6).
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight 1 John 3:22.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need Heb 4:16.
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us 1 John 5:14
Have confidence to ask God, in prayer, to save the one we are witnessing to. Ask God to meet their needs. A loving and a concerned God will meet their needs.
We can be bold in sharing with them the Scripture, where Paul wrote to the community of the faithful, who first met together in Lydia’s house in Phillipi, assuring them of God’s provision
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus Phil 4:19.
Preach the good news in and by faith, Preach and practice the goodness and the love of God. The Holy Spirit has work to do and so we have ours to do. Let us obey.
‘buy up the time’;
Recognise that ‘the days are evil’, and, ‘work while it is still day’.
Do the work of an evangelist.
The night is coming when no one shall work.
Boldness and Faith: The result of courage
Do you think it was easy for Abraham, Sarah, and their household of seventy people, to leave their homeland and go on a journey that finally led them to Canaan and Sarah to pitch her tents and dwell amongst the same giants mentioned above? (Sarah: order rwvm.online)
Look at Ezra. Do we think Ezra was any different to us? He was settled in Babylon. Sixty years previously, Jews had returned to Jerusalem. Ezra began to prepare his heart to seek the law of the Lord. This demanded courageous action on his part. Ezra rose up, along with his wife and children, and led a second expedition to reinforce the struggling colonists in Palestine. Here is the courage of Ezra and the confidence he had in God Almighty.
They left all and travelled through the land of the enemy without a band of soldiers or riders to guard them. They carried silver, gold, as well as the vessels, and the offering for the building of the temple.
Have you ever thought about the courage and conviction of Queen Esther, while still a young adolescent girl? She went to the king unannounced, pleading on behalf of her people. She had as much, if not more to lose than you or I have.
Indeed, few of us are asked to risk our necks for the sake of God’s people. Faith, as do all the gifts of the spirit, works through love. Love produces the fruit of the spirit. Paul, after teaching the Corinthian church about the exercise of spiritual gifts says:
Boldness and Faith: The result of God’s love
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way (1 Cor 12:31).
Love, the scripture assures us, never fails. Love will find a way. When we are motivated by God’s love, the Holy Spirit can flow through us unhindered. Faith, working and activated, by and through love, will produce the boldness to speak, and the freedom to say what needs to be said, for people to hear the good news.
People are attracted to faith and boldness. When we see faith in action and its results, we want it for ourselves. The Scripture encourages us, to covet earnestly the best gifts. Ask God, in faith, to give you boldness and faith, that you might preach His uncompromising Word, with signs following, pointing the way to Jesus and the cross.
Then the judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness and assurance forever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places Isa 32:16-18.
Finally: Watch out for unbelief
You will never be an effective soul winner if you listen to other Christian’s opinions concerning your methods of soul winning, whether it is effective or not, by their standards.
If you are going to serve Jesus, then you are going to have to accept criticism. I find sometimes it is easier to witness in the company of an unbeliever than it is to witness accompanied by some Christians. Sometimes, their attitude is bad, they are embarrassed to mention the name of Jesus other than in church. You can tell by their comments if they are with you when you are witnessing, reveals their total lack of faith in the gospel as the power of God to salvation for those who believe.
A man once said to Mr Torrey, an effective soul winner, earlier last century, ‘I don’t agree with your methods of soul winning. ‘Can you offer me some advice?’ The man replied, ‘No, I don’t believe in this type of evangelism’. Mr Torrey said, ‘Then I like my method of ‘doing ‘better than your method of ‘not doing’’. That about sums it up.
The Gospel is the Power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes
Be bold, be strong, for the Lord they God is with you.
Faith is courage.
Love in Jesus
Patricia Px