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B Boldness
From Aesop's Fables:
THE BAT AND THE WEASELS
A Bat who fell upon the ground and was caught by a Weasel pleaded to be spared his life. The Weasel refused, saying that he was by nature the enemy of all birds. The Bat assured him that he was not a bird, but a mouse, and thus was set free. Shortly afterwards the Bat again fell to the ground and was caught by another Weasel, whom he likewise entreated not to eat him. The Weasel said that he had a special hostility to mice. The Bat assured him that he was not a mouse, but a bat, and thus a second time escaped.
Aesop's moral: "It is wise to turn circumstances to good account."
To escape his dilemma, the bat needed only to point to the obvious. Like the bat, we have some very simple, usable, even OBVIOUS tools at our disposal in life's dilemmas—tools like prayer, scriptural meditation, discipline, righteousness, boldness, and childlike trust. As we become willing to use these tools, we too can "turn circumstances to good account."
Source: SAGE Digital Library
Topics/Tags: Optimism; Attitude; Boldness; Discipline
The roar of the home crowd is often an important factor in an important sports event. The home-team fans will yell, roar, and taunt in an effort to "throw off the game" of the opponents. Occasionally, a member of the visiting team will make the silly mistake of asking the crowd to be silent, to "keep it down." You can guess the typical reaction to such a suggestion: The crowd, of course, will begin to roar louder than ever!
Just as fellow prophet Amaziah told Amos to be silent (Amos 7:12), so also does the world suggest that we "keep it down." The world would love to see us keep silent with regard to the prophetic word of God. Here’s a novel suggestion: Why don’t we respond the same way the home-team crowd responds when a visiting player makes such a suggestion? Why don’t we respond by "turning it up" instead of "keeping it down"? Let's be bold with our witness!
Source: Zeke Moore
Topics/Tags: Boldness; Evangelism; Prophets
Two Christians stopped at a curbside restaurant in the Middle East. "You look hungry," the owner said. One of the Christians replied, "Oh yes, but we know of a food where one will never be hungry again." Surprised, the owner asked, "What kind of food is that?"
As the conversation continued, and the Christian shared his faith, the shop owner started arguing with him, but he continued to share. Finally, a Muslim call to prayer blasted through the city, and the man turned and ran toward the mosque to pray.
When he was gone, the Christian who had remained silent asked the other why he had been so "pushy." He said that the Spirit had compelled him.
Just then a young boy stood up from behind the sandwich counter. "I want to know more about this bread," he asked. "Can you tell me about Him?"
________
God can use "pushy" believers to impact souls for eternity!
Topics/Tags: Evangelism; Boldness
"No coward has any right to be a preacher. If a preacher is afraid of anyone in his church, afraid to speak his mind or to do right, that man ought to pray himself out of that timid atmosphere or he ought to resign and go where he is not afraid."
—J.B. Gambrell (1841-1921), professor of preaching at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
We are reminded that the Apostle Paul's boldness produced positive change in the churches: "For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it (though I did regret it, for I see that I grieved you with that letter, though only briefly). Now I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance; for you felt a godly grief, so that you were not harmed in any way by us" (2 Corinthians 7:8-9).
Source: "Proclaim," 1980 #2, p. 4.
Topics/Tags: Confrontation; Fear; Timidity; Boldness
As the father of a two-year-old, I understand that there are certain words which are nearly useless. One is "No!" … and another is "Shhh!"
Asking a two-year-old to "keep it down" and make less noise is somewhat like asking a preacher to "keep it short..."
_________
In the eyes of the world, bold believers are loudmouths. The world would like for you to "keep it down"—but Deuteronomy 32:3 instructs us instead to "proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God!"
Mavericks who Made a Difference:
Martin Luther. He nailed his convictions on a door, so that the establishment couldn't miss it.
The Apostle Paul. What a turnaround! He went from being an outside destroyer to being an inside promoter.
Lee Iacocca. He came from the outside to reinvent Chrysler Corporation from the top down.
Chuck Colson. From convicted hatchet man in the Nixon administration, to modern-day prophetic voice for evangelical Christianity.
Steve Jobs. Beginning in his garage with nothing but spare computer parts and radical new ideas, he began the Apple Computer Corporation and brought mighty IBM to its knees.
Source: Hans Finzel, The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make, Victor 1994, p. 69.
Topics/Tags: Change; Boldness; Leadership
Milton Cunningham, a missionary, shares a time when he was convicted of his own failure to share the Good News. He had just settled in for his flight from Atlanta to Dallas. Next to him was a young girl with Down's Syndrome. She turned to Milton and, in all her innocence, asked, "Mister, did you brush your teeth this morning?"
A little awkwardly, Milton answered, "Well, yes, I brushed my teeth this morning." "Good," the girl responded, "'cause that's what you're supposed to do." Her next questions was, "Mister, do you smoke?" This one was a little easier on Milton. When he said no, the little girl answered with approval, "Good, 'cause smoking will make you die."
The third question was even easier to answer. The young girl asked, "Mister, do you love Jesus?"
Milton answered with confidence, "Well, yes, I do love Jesus."
"Good, 'cause we're all supposed to love Jesus," she replied.
Just then, another man settled into the seat beside Milton. Immediately, the girl urged Milton to ask the new fellow if he had brushed his teeth that morning. Milton wasn't about to disturb the stranger, but the girl wouldn't leave him alone. Finally, he gave in. He said, "Mister, I don't mean to bother you, but my friend here wants me to ask you if you brushed your teeth this morning." When the man noticed the girl, he realized that her question was innocent enough, and he answered that yes, he had brushed his teeth that morning.
With a sinking feeling, Milton realized where this was going. Next the girl urged him to ask the stranger if he smoked. Milton and the man went through the second question.
And sure enough, the girl wanted Milton to ask the third question: did this man love Jesus? Milton protested that the question was too personal, that he just wouldn't be comfortable asking it.
Remember, Milton Cunningham is a missionary. But something in him made him uncomfortable about sharing the Good News with this fellow passenger. But the young girl persisted, and so Milton said, "Now she wants to know if you love Jesus."
At this, the man's face darkened. He began to talk about his desire to know God. He was at a point in his life when he was searching for God, for meaning, for purpose in life. But he didn't know where to turn. So Milton Cunningham explained to the man how to have a relationship with God, and how to find salvation through Jesus.
Source: Barry Davis. In "Pastor's Helper" email discussion list.
Topics/Tags: Missions; Evangelism; Fear; Boldness
"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms: it means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die." - Gilbert K. Chesterton
Source: Gilbert K. Chesterton. Qtd. in Instant Quotation Dictionary, p. 73.
"A black church in Kansas City has as its slogan:
WAKE UP, SING UP, PREACH UP, PRAY UP AND PAY UP - BUT NEVER GIVE UP OR LET UP OR BACK UP OR SHUT UP UNTIL THE CAUSE OF CHRIST IN THIS CHURCH AND IN THIS WORLD IS BUILT UP."
Source: --Evangelistic Illustrations
Topics/Tags: Perseverance; Church; Boldness
Title of a song by Christian rock group Petra:
"Get On Your Knees & Fight Like a Man."
Source: Petra, This Means War!, Star Song 1987
Topics/Tags: Prayer; Boldness; Courage; Submission
Browse By Topic B Boldness