Unseen
BOLD LIVING
We have been in a series called “Unseen”. We have been discussing the Unseen spiritual disciplines that lead us to live a bold life of faith. If we want to make a greater impact on what is seen, then we have to have a deeper connection to the unseen.
Week 1: Bold prayers.
(Our prayers never die!).
Week 2: Bold Words.
(Our words must support our prayers!).
Week 3: Bold Obedience!
(Faith always leads to fruit).
Week 4: Bold Worship.
(Come early, Come often, Come ready).
All of those things put together to bring us to what we will talk about today, Bold Living. When we pray bold prayers, speak bold words, take bold steps of obedience, and have bold worship, it produces a bold life. A bold life is a life that is unashamed and free to live for Christ and share his word. We are called to live bold lives for Christ.
Charles Stanley: His voice leads us not into timid discipleship but into bold witness.
Unknown: Be bold in what you stand for, and careful what you fall for.
Unknown: The highest courage is to dare to be yourself in the face of adversity. Choose right over wrong, ethics over convenience, and truth over popularity.
Hebrews 13:6 So we can boldly say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
1. God has called us to boldly and confidently be his witnesses.
2. Remember, the mandate Jesus gave before he ascended. He commanded us to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit., teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.” – Matthew 28:19
2 Corinthians 5:10
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (ESV)
Our bold life could be the difference in how long someone stays broken or where they spend eternity.
Your bold life will reverberate for generations if you will let it.
Our Boldness comes as a result of our confidence in Christ.
Isaiah 66:1
1 Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? (ESV)
1. The more you learn about and experience God, his word, and biblical principles, the greater your confidence. The greater your confidence, the bolder you will be.
2. This world needs our boldness: We live in a culture and climate where living boldly for Christ seems to open us up to ridicule, backlash, and persecution. We are made to feel stupid or ignorant for believing and sharing basic biblical truths such as creation, so we allow ourselves to be silenced. Not realizing that God has given us the answers through creation and science, that supports our position.
3. We may be praying for God to give us more confidence and boldness, but I believe God is saying I have given you the access, you just have learned. The more you learn, the more confidence you gain. The more confidence you gain, the bolder you will be.
4. Our boldness should not be rooted in our abilities but in HIS availability. Jesus said he would never leave or abandon us, THEREFORE we can Boldly say “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. He told the disciples at the end of the Great Commission “I am with you” – Jesus is saying, hey Have confidence. You are not alone. God is saying to you- Have confidence, I am with you!
What does living a bold life for Christ look like?
1. Trusting and loving him enough to have priority in your life.
Luke 12:7
7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. (ESV)
2. Making yourself available even when you doubt your ability.
Joshua 2:1-7
1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. 2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3 Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” 6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. 7 So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out. (ESV)
3. You have to be willing to lose it all to gain it all.
Acts 3:1-19
1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. 17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, (ESV)
Acts 4:5-12
5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (ESV)
CONCLUSION: I believe as I was preaching this morning, the Holy Spirit has been speaking to hearts and saying “It’s time”. It’s time to start being bold for me. It’s time to stop limiting yourself. It’s time to draw closer to me and learn my ways, so you can walk in greater confidence and boldness.
1. God needs to be the priority.
2. Stop focusing on your ability and recognize HIS.
3. What are you holding onto? What’s getting in the way of fully surrendering?