WEDNESDAY'S WORD - BOLDNESS - 08/14/19 - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"It is better by noble boldness to run the risk of being subject to half of the evils we anticipate, than to remain in cowardly listlessness for fear of what might happen."  - Herodotus - Greek Historian    "The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion." (Prov. 28:1) A BOLD person shows an ability to take risks; displays confidence, courage and a lack of shame. I love this quote from author and theologian Mike Yaconelli,  "Boldness doesn't mean rude, obnoxious, loud, or disrespectful. Being bold is being firm, sure, confident, fearless, daring, strong, resilient, and not easily intimidated. It means you're willing to try what you've never tried, and willing to trust what you've never trusted. Boldness is quiet, not noisy."  It's interesting that this word batach in Hebrew is the same word for trust. A person who is righteous is inwardly secure and outwardly bold because they trust in God.     In Acts 3, Peter and John healed a lame man at the temple by the power of Jesus' name and had many converts. They came under the scrutiny of the Elders and Scribes. The leaders of the synagogue wanted to know in what name the miracle had been performed. The Apostles answered boldly. "Let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed." The Bible says in verse 13-14, "When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in response." The Jewish leaders warned Peter and John not to speak or teach in Jesus' name. "But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to listen to you rather than God. For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard." (18-20)    Sadly, boldness is a somewhat scarce character trait in Christians these days. We are too often intimidated in situations that require bravery. Neither the confrontation nor its potential dangers dissuaded Peter and John. Despite the fact that this all occurred in the same city where Jesus was conspired against, falsely accused, and tried; instead of running away they prayed:   "And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness, as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus. After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." (29-31)   Let's pray for the same boldness.