Sometimes Christians are tempted to batten down the hatches and ride out the storm. But sometimes Christians need great boldness to turn the world upside down. In the words of that great theologian Kenny Rogers, “Every gambler knows That the secret to survivin’ Is knowin’ what to throw away And knowin’ what to keep.” Please keep these verses close to your heart to strengthen your boldness in the Lord.
And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, “You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and all his servants, and to all his land; the great trials which your eyes have seen, those great signs and wonders. Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear. (Deuteronomy 29:2-4 NASB)
- 2 religions of the world illustrated by Invictus vs My Captain – Two religions: I am the master of my fate, I am captain of my soul versus Christ is the captain of my soul
- Christian vs. the bunker mentality – God never intended for Christians to become weird introspective hermits living in a ghostly religious bunker separated from the world.
- God has promised to deliver you – No matter the pain, God has promised to deliver you. He may not deliver you out of the trial, but he will definitely deliver you through the struggle.
LORD, there is no one like you!
For you are great, and your name is full of power.
Who would not fear you, O King of nations?
That title belongs to you alone!
Among all the wise people of the earth
and in all the kingdoms of the world,
there is no one like you. (Jeremiah 10:6-7 NLT)
O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. (Psalm 96:1-4 KJV)
I will give You thanks with all my heart;
I will sing Your praises before the gods.
I will bow down toward Your holy temple
And give thanks to Your name for Your mercy and Your truth;
For You have made Your word great according to all Your name.
On the day I called, You answered me;
You made me bold with strength in my soul
All the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, LORD,
When they have heard the words of Your mouth.
And they will sing of the ways of the LORD,
For great is the glory of the LORD.
For the LORD is exalted,
Yet He looks after the lowly,
But He knows the haughty from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will reach out with Your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.
The LORD will accomplish what concerns me;
Your faithfulness, LORD, is everlasting;
Do not abandon the works of Your hands. (Psalm 138:1-8 NASB)
Being let go, they came to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard it, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, “O Lord, you are God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them;
who by the mouth of your servant, David, said, ‘Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take council together, against the Lord, and against his Christ.’
“For truly, in this city against your holy servant, Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen. Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.” When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:23-31 WEB c.f. Psalm 2)
With great power, the apostles gave their testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Great grace was on them all. (Acts 4:33 WEB)
Paul, as was his custom, went in to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” Some of them were persuaded, and joined Paul and Silas, of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women. But the unpersuaded Jews took along some wicked men from the marketplace, and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people. When they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers before the rulers of the city, crying, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here also, whom Jason has received. These all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus!” (Acts 17:2-7 WEB)
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV)
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:25 KJV)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power [1411 dunamis : physical power, force, might, ability, efficacy, energy, meaning] 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. (Romans 1:16-17 KJV)
- The power of biblical meditation – When God is involved in your meditation, things change. The world changes. Circumstances change. You change. Everything changes. Even if they are the same.
- Living by the power of God – Living by the power of God; literally, in power of God. “For the kingdom of God is not only in word, but in power.”
- The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead – I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead.
Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech, and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face, that the children of Israel wouldn’t look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away. But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains, because in Christ it passes away. But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. But whenever one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:12-18 WEB)
Now I desire to have you know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News; so that it became evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my bonds are in Christ; and that most of the brothers in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear. (Philippians 1:12-14 WEB)
Servants [Deacons], in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless. Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 3:8-13 WEB)
For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you wasn’t in vain, but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much conflict. For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception. But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts. For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness), nor seeking glory from men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children. Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not the Good News of God only, but also our own souls, because you had become very dear to us. (1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 WEB)
But remember the former days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings; partly, being exposed to both reproaches and oppressions; and partly, becoming partakers with those who were treated so. For you both had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an enduring one in the heavens. Therefore don’t throw away your boldness, which has a great reward. For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:32-36 WEB)
- It is time for the church to awaken and grow up – The church has been asleep for too long. It is time to awaken and grow up before it is too late. The night is over, the day is approaching.
- Don’t become tired and weary in doing what is good – If you are tired, remember “Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up.” (Gal 6:9)
- I commend you to God and to the word of his grace (Acts 20:32) – I want my last words to be: I commend you to read my 7 favorite books: John, Acts, Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians