WALK IN BOLDNESS

“In whom we have BOLDNESS and access with confidence through faith in Him” – Ephesians 3:12

To walk in perfection is to WALK in BOLDNESS: “In whom we have BOLDNESS and access with confidence through faith in Him” (Eph.3:12). This powerful verse highlights the ABC of Faith: Access, Boldness, and Confidence! Everything about God takes Faith, but to live in faith demands being BOLD. Boldness is a deeply spiritual Gift of God that is available for every Believer to exude, without discrimination. Righteousness is the chief channel of boldness: “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion” (Pro.28:1).

Noah boldly obeyed God, though appearing ridiculous to folks in his generation. Abraham trusted God, as evidenced in his boldness to obey divine instructions. Deborah dared to leave her family to lead the armies of Israel. So, boldness knows no gender: “…there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal.3:28b). Boldness is crucial because God’s instructions often run contrary to accepted norms or carnal expectations: “for with God nothing will be impossible” (Lk.1:37). Without boldness, the devil or people could intimidate us to try to disprove God’s promise; but boldness swallows every cynical comment, humiliating remark or discouraging insult. It keeps our focus off human reasoning to the spiritual evaluation of events. God wants us to braze up to our call in boldness and be your best in Him and for Him.

FEAR that is resident in SELF is the chief enemy of Boldness: the fear that people will ridicule your personality or speak ill of you. Consciousness and fear of physical death is another enemy. Whoever selfishly loves his or her life cannot walk in boldness, and will not enjoy the dominion demanded in life. Esther’s boldness attracted heaven’s backing in the direst of circumstances. She boldly dared death and didn’t perish. The three Hebrew youth boldly dared death as they faced Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace, and came forth refined, re-fired, and elevated in status (Dan.3:16-18). Daniel boldly dared to pray and obey God rather than men. He boldly dared death and not only survived, but triumphed through the den of lions (Dan.6:10-11; 20-27). The Key to Boldness is “FEAR NOT…”

Here are four biblical and practical keys to walking in boldness:

Refuse to live in fear. Fear is endemic in our society, but the believer is instructed to live and walk by faith and not draw back in fear: “Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him” (Heb.10:38).

Put successes and setbacks behind you. You are not a failure because you try new things and they don’t work out. You fail only when you stop trying. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and if you do, recover quickly and press on: “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isa.43:18-19). Paul said: “…one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil.3:13b-14).

Don’t draw comparisons. Boldness will be impossible as long as you compare yourself to others: “But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2Cor.10:12). Boldness comes from accepting who you are and being the best you can be.

Be willing to take action. Search your heart and ask yourself what you believe God wants you to do – and then do it: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (Jam.1:22).

God wants us to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb.4:16). Let's pray about these four keys and ask the Holy Spirit to help us live them out. In Christ, and by His grace, we will enjoy ACCESS, be filled with BOLDNESS and demonstrate CONFIDENCE – the ABC of Faith!