The Battle for Boldness - Pastor Stacey Shiflett

Watch this message here:

The Battle for Boldness

Eph. 6:18-20

Intro: Some of the greatest Bible characters and heroes struggled at times with boldness.

Fear is a very real emotion that can at times completely paralyze even the best of Christians.

When fear strikes, it has no respect of persons.

Abraham, a rich patriarch was afraid to let the king know that Sarah was his wife.

Jacob was afraid of his brother Esau and ran away for years.

Moses was afraid at the burning bush to go stand before Pharaoh.

David was afraid and pretended to be mad in 1 Samuel 21 in front of King Achish.

Elijah was afraid of Jezebel and ran for days and hid under a juniper tree begging to die.

Peter denied even knowing the Lord just moments after cutting a man’s ear off.

In our text, even the great Apostle Paul was begging God’s people to pray for him to have boldness.

·        18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

·        19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

·        20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

The great Apostle Paul battled for boldness!

The Apostle Paul that got saved due to an audible confrontation with Jesus Christ – battled with boldness.

The Apostle Paul that was stoned to death, saw Heaven, and came back to preach some more – battled with boldness.

The Apostle Paul that was repeatedly imprisoned for his faith – battled with boldness.

The Apostle Paul that started churches, reached entire cities, trained pastors and wrote books – battled with boldness.

There are a host of things that rob a believer of boldness.

Here are just a few:

A. People that are Critical

2 Timothy 4

·        14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

·        15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. 

·        16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

Alexander the coppersmith was not a bum; he was a businessman; possible wealthy.

People constantly criticizing and withstanding you would make anybody second-guess their position after a while.

This is one of the reasons why having a solid Biblical reason for what you believe is so important.

It will stand up under the pressure!

For many people, loneliness will greatly impede your confidence and boldness.

It’s hard to persist when everyone else disagrees with you.

B. Pride that is Crippling

It gets old being mocked and defamed for your stand.

The flesh hates it. It takes a toll on you, especially if you have pride in your heart.

You cannot be a fool for Christ’s sake if you’re worried about what people think about you.

It will be completely debilitating.

1 Corinthians 4

·        9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

·        10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

·        11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

·        12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

·        13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

C. Passion that is Cooling – when you’ve left your first love, the courage starts to deteriorate1

John 4

·        17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

·        18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Things that will help a child of God win THE BATTLE FOR BOLDNESS:

I. The Surety of a Providential Commission

Acts 13

·        44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

·        45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

·        46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

·        47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

·        48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

·        49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

Ephesians 3

·        9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

·        10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

·        11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

·        12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

II. The Serenity of a Pure Conscience

1 Thessalonians 2

·        1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:

·        2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

·        3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

·        4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

·        5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

·        6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

Pure motives and a pure heart will allow you to do what God’s called you to do with boldness.

Even in the face of much contention, Paul was able to speak the Gospel in great boldness.

One of the most important elements of the Christian life is have a pure conscience and pure motives.

Unconfessed sin will destroy your confidence.

III. The Safety of a Prayerful Confirmation

SEE Acts 4

·        28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

·        29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

·        30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

IV. The Security of a Powerful Companion

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.

·        32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

·        33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Hebrews 13

·        5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

·        6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Conclusion: Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.