October 07 Donna Barber

BOLDNESS
VS

Fearfulness Boldness: Confidence that what I have to say or do is true, right and just and it will produce a greater power of love. Acts 4: 31. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. I WILLS 1. I will not be afraid to speak the truth. 2. I will keep a clear conscience. 3. I will support others when they are right. 4. I will be willing to stand alone. 5. I will speak with humility. CONSIDER Recognize the quality Boldness is foundational to: Courage- Having strength to face danger, pain or difficulty rather than shrinking from it. Bravery- Having strength of resolve greater than the force of my fear. Fortitude- Having strength to endure under attack (as illustrated by a fort or fortress). The confidence that is found in boldness gives strength to courage, bravery, and fortitude. Boldness is never a license for rudeness, but it is a willingness to confront compromise humbly and charitably where evident. With confidence you must realize that the greater the investment, the greater the loss if something goes wrong. Before you commit yourself to something or someone, make sure that they are or the thing is true, right and just. Boldness is the ability to stop what you are doing if you find out that it is not the right thing to do. Sometimes it takes a lot of courage to do the right thing! General George S. Patton (hero of World War II) acknowledged that fear still rises in you right along with courage.
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Patton: If we take the generally accepted definition of bravery as a quality which knows not fear, then I have never seen a brave man. The more intelligent they are the more frightened. The courageous man is the man who forces himself, in spite of his fear, to carry on. Some people are more naturally brave or more naturally timid than others. No matter what your natural disposition, however, boldness is equally available (and equally necessary) for all. You cant be led by your feelings all the time because boldness is a choice. EARN Earn the right to speak A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks. Some men are thought to be fools, then they open their mouth and leave no doubt. There is a wisdom that comes with true boldness of the Lord. Boldness: Confidence that what I have to say or do is true, right and just and it will produce a greater power of love. Speaking ones mind: Forthrightness (rashness) or Boldness Forthrightness is characterized by impatience, bitterness, and frustration. But true boldness is characterized by wisdom and discipline, knowing that you have earned the right to speak into the situation because you are not driven by selfish motives. (Example: parents getting into fights at little league games) 5 Principles to distinguish BOLDNESS from RASHNESS or FORTHRIGHTNESS: 1. Boldness speaks with a clear conscience. A hypocrite (stage acter) is one who holds others to a different standard than he holds himself. But boldness must be careful to look inside (skeletons in the closet), before speaking out. Other wise, your rash words will only judge you and no one will be hearing what you have to say. Matthew 7:1. Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4. Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5. Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. Look up Romans 2
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2. Boldness speaks with a love for truth. Rashness reacts to personal irritation, but boldness disregards self and speaks the truth in love. True boldness is concerned about vindicating the truth and not defending self. Ephesians 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. 17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. 20You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. 29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. We who are called to be leaders, those with a 5-fold ministry calling have a great responsibility to be ministers of the truth with love and compassion in order to build up the body of Christ. 3. Boldness speaks with concern for others. Godly boldness seeks to promote the best interests in others in order to correct and restore them, including those in the wrong. Rashness is ill-motivated forms of confrontation seeking to shame others. 4. Boldness speaks without its own agenda. At the beginning of a court proceeding, both Judge and Jury must make sure they dont have any self-serving interest in the case in order to
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deliver a righteous judgment. Likewise, if a person stands to gain personally from exposing anothers faults, the credibility of the confrontation comes under suspicion. Godly boldness speaks in a way that promotes no personal agenda and expresses true concern for others. 5. Boldness speaks at the right time. Wise confrontation is patient and it doesnt react carelessly, but with restraint and thoughtfulness. Godly boldness is not rashness it is wise words. We earn the right to speak by having a clear conscience, love for truth, concern for others, and selfless patience. Thats when we develop trust and authority and when we speak, we have earned the right to speak. John 14:6 Jesus answered and said, I am the WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. We earn the right to speak into peoples lives when we have invested time into our relationship with them. CONFRONT Speak out for what is right (Read story of Hannah White Arnett) The exact words Hannah spoke that night may not be as important to remember as the fact that she spoke up for what is right. 1. Spoke up for what is right. a. When we see compromise, we can righteously confront it and give a voice to conviction for what is right, true and just. b. It cant be done with harsh words of anger or irritation. A word fitly spoken will accomplish more than you think even if you dont see immediate results. Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. c. You can speak forcefully but with righteous character. d. The difference between approaching the situation with Godly character or ungodly character is the nature of the motivation (why do I need to speak up) and the character of the words you use. 2. Boldness is having the courage to say what needs to be said. a. We can expose compromise with the right timing and the right words. b. This will establish faithful adherence (devotion) to what is true, right and just. c. Sometimes we will be confronted with disloyalty, dishonesty, or irresponsibility. Do we look the other way or do we step in with Godly boldness and speak to the situation. The Apostle Paul seems to be famous for that in the Book of Romans, in which he confronts many issues of the doctrine of Christ being compromised by Jewish law and tradition such as circumcision.

When we need to confront a situation with boldness, we need to do it with the balance of discretion---recognizing and avoiding words, actions and attitudes that could bring undesirable consequences. If we handle things with Godly boldness then we can have faith in the Lord to move on our behalf and correct the wrong or move us from the situation with something better in mind for us. He is always working on our behalf. The question is, Are we working on His behalf? Jeremiah 29:11 (Amplified Bible) For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. BRAVE Do not be intimidated from doing right. (Story of Col. Lewis Puller) U.S. Marine Division isolated by Korean troops at Chosin Reservoir, completely surrounded. This was his report, Weve got the enemy on our right flank, our left flank, in front of us and behind us. They wont get away this time. Staring at impossibility, courage became boldness in action. When making a difficult decision, we have to defeat popular isms of humanistic thinking. Defeat these isms with Godly boldness and courage.
1. Pragmatism is the belief that the odds carry the decision. What will most likely work?

We cant determine what is right by if the scale of reason leans more to one side than the other. We have to remember, when we are on the side of the Lord, the scale is already tipped completely over to victory. 2 Corinthians 5: 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) The odds where stacked against David becoming the next King. But that didnt stop the plan of God. 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Were not odd but peculiar---1 Peter 2: But you are a chosen generation; a royal priesthood; a holy nation; a peculiar people that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 2. Sentimentalism is the belief that feelings are the ultimate authority in the decisionmaking process. That which if fearful or troubling is to be avoided, and that which is comforting and promises satisfaction is the best decision. Our feelings will lie to us quicker than anything. Just as the old saying---If it feels good, DO IT!!!! We can be fooled by our feelings. Isaac was fooled by Jacob by feeling him instead of following

the knowing is his heart that it was not Esau. (Genesis 27) Humanistic sentimentalism is spiritual apathy. It cancels out discernment. (Ephesians 4: 17-24 amp.) 3. Popularism is the belief that the majority opinion holds the final say. The best course of action is the one agreed upon by the most minds. This ism promotes peer pressure. Just going along with the crowd. It takes great boldness to stand-alone sometimes. The Apostle Paul was willing to stand alone and go against the crowd many times and it often led to his imprisonment but this was his say on that matter. Philippians 1: 12 Now I want you to know and continue to rest assured, brethren, that what [has happened] to me [this imprisonment] has actually only served to advance and give a renewed impetus to the [spreading of the] good news (the Gospel). 13 So much is this a fact that throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest [here] my imprisonment has become generally known to be in Christ [that I am a prisoner in His service and for Him]. 14 And [also] most of the brethren have derived fresh confidence in the Lord because of my chains and are much more bold to speak and publish fearlessly the Word of God [acting with more freedom and indifference to the consequences]. 4. Traditionalism is the belief that precedent (past traditions) is the surest foundation for action. Whatever we have always done before is what we should do now. This is another one of the largest struggles of the original Apostles message of Christ. Everything was challenged by the comment, thats not the way our forefathers did it. Tradition is a killer of the anointing and the revelation of the Lord in our lives. Most Christians dont have a clue why they do what they do; they just know Grandma and Grandpa always did it that way. This is more dangerous than most people realize because it will shape the way you think about everything. Like the traditional teaching of the rapture causes most Christians to live a fearful, lazy, it might as well not plan for the future attitude. Godly Boldness: Confidence that what I have to say or do is true, right and just and it will produce a greater power of love. Whatever the obstacles or likelihood of success or failure, courage is letting truth deliver the trump card in every situation. Thats what Col. Puller did with his troops and they broke through and defeated their enemy and were rescued. General George Patton after giving orders for a fight and knew that he had no reserve made this comment to himself, Do not take counsel of your fears. We sometimes have to do as David did, 1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.