Bold?

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness…. And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:29, 31)

Are you an accurate witness of who the Lord is? Or do you feel that you do not know people well enough to be witnessing in depth about Him in your life? Sometimes you are called to be bold, adventurous, extending healing prayer, words of knowledge over strangers, perhaps challenging presuppositions about spiritual things. Other times it is to share the day-to-day realities of life in a fallen world with closer friends.

The Lord is saying ‘I have boldness available to those who will bear witness of me. My boldness is not human-like, where teeth are gritted to achieve a new thing. It comes from my people laying down their lives before me and asking for increased boldness for that minute, that conversation, that stepping out in faith. Church, do not hide yourself away behind doors, be more visible on the earth.’

Reflection: Boldness is contagious. When we are bold for Christ, enduring hardships for our faith, others are provoked to do the same. Talk about these things amongst your friends and consider finding someone to be accountable to in this regard. Speak words of increasing boldness and faith over each other.

Psalms 138:1, 3 (NIV)

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; before the ‘’gods’’ I will sing your praise. …When I called, you answered me; You greatly emboldened me.

Philippians 1:14 (NIV)

And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.