Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.' "Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs." (Luke 11:5-8 NIV)
Jesus told this parable about a man, who had unexpected company in the middle of the night. The man does not have the appropriate provision to feed his friend, so he goes to wake up his neighbor to ask for bread to feed his guest.The neighbor doesn't act in a kind manner toward the man. He is bothered by the intrusion. Yet, Jesus says that the neighbor will get up and give the man as much as he needs because of the man's boldness.
Solomon said, The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. (Proverbs 28:1 NIV)
I think boldness is something that is often missing in the church. Certainly, we should always act in wisdom and in the love of God, but the church should boldly proclaim the Word of God, and demonstrate the works of Jesus in this generation.
Why aren't individual Christians, and the church as whole, more bold in advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ? Here are three reasons.
Believers fear rejection. Believers fear offending someone. Belivers fear failure. Do you seem a common theme? Fear is the enemy. The Bible is full of commands and exhortations to God's people to not fear. Paul said, For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (II Timothy 1:7 NKJV) God spoke through the prophet Isaiah saying, So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 NIV) Jesus said, Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27b NIV)
- We fear rejection. Perfect love casts out fear. We must develop in the love of God to the point, where we love people enough to share the truth with them, even if they do reject us.
- We fear offending someone. In our society political correctness has run amuck. The church has become timid. We don't want to say anything to offend anyone. Well, the goal should never be to offend. God can give us creative ways to share the truth. However, Jesus offended many people in his earthly ministry. Paul also offended many people. We should strive to walk in the love of God at all times. We should strive to obey the Word of God, and the Spirit of God at all times. Some will be offended, but our responsibility is to please God, not man.
- We fear failure. Every man or women, who has ever succeeded in any venture in life, has failed on numerous occasions. So, what if you do fail? Get up! Let the Holy Spirit teach you new lessons through that failure, and continue to move in bold obedience to God.
Fear is an enemy to whom we should never submit.
When Peter and John boldly ministered the healing power of God to the crippled beggar at the temple gate, they caused quite a stir. They were arrested and put into jail. The authorities released them, but they instructed Peter and John to no longer teach or preach in the name of Jesus. Peter and John returned to their church and a prayer meeting followed. Look at the content of this prayer.
"Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (Acts 4:29-31 NIV)
Peter and John ministered boldly to the crippled man. They preached the gospel with boldness. That ministry offended the Jewish authorities. So, did Peter and John draw back in fear? No, they asked God for boldness to continue to preach the Word. They asked God to heal even more. They prayed for miraculous signs and wonders to be performed in the name of Jesus.
May God help the church of today to rise up in faith to boldly proclaim and demonstrate the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Recently, the Holy Spirit quickened the following verse to me. "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." (Matthew 11:12 NKJV)
I believe that men and women, who accomplish great things for God, are believers who refuse to be denied. There is a certain something within them that refuses to settle for defeat or mediocrity. They refuse to be stymied by the schemes and trickery of Satan. They refuse to shrink back in fear, when persecution arises. They love God and people enough to speak the truth, even if rejection and offense occur. They refuse to be motivated by fear of failure. If they stumble, they get up and keep pressing toward the will of God. I think these men and women of God know something about the violent take it by force.
I want to become such a person, who is bold in God. I want to be a man, who is violent in spirit when it comes to obeying God. I want to be an intercessor, who doesn't quit until the victory comes.
May God help us in these critical days, to possess a boldness and violence in spirit, which is born of God. May we become men and women of God, who accomplish great things in the kingdom of God!
Wayne L. Williams
September 9, 2005
Atlanta, Georgia
wayne@fotwm.org
Wisdom From the Word
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