Bold

Blog #87 May 29, 2024
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

If the desire of our heart is be a testimony of God that invites others to join us in our labor for His Kingdom, scripture tells us that we must be bold. This concept should guide and strengthen those chosen to bring the Gospel of repentance to the world, but many of us don't have the necessary skills or the talents to evangelize God's Word to the masses. Are they never to know the joy of laboring with God? Is there nothing they can do to nurture the presence of Zion in the world? Is there a place in the Kingdom for those who are not bold in their righteous belief in God? Surprisingly, God says no.

Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth; but the righteous are bold as a lion.

To me the word bold describes the exploits of brave warriors compelled by an irresistible purpose. Oddly enough this is seems to be completely unlike our humble savior, Jesus Christ. According to prophecy our savior was to remain silent through all the trials and tribulations He was to face. Does that qualify as an act of boldness?

Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

God through Isaiah brought us this picture Christ. The Apostle John brought us this eyewitness account of all that Christ suffered before the crucifixion. Presented with this picture I must heartily agree that restraint like this is truly an act of courage.

John 19:1-3
19:1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.
19:2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,
19:3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

Through all He suffered Jesus gave honor and humility to God's plan and God's way as described in the prophecy by Isaiah. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Colossians pointed out this is not just the way of Christ; it is to be the way of all who labor for the Kingdom

Colossians 3:12-14
3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering;
3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

With Christ as our example we find that a bold attitude can apply to more than just deeds of valor. We find it, too in acts of humility. Once again we find that as we learn to grow in God we face the frustration of humanity's failure to interpret correctly how God wants us to use His authority to overcome evil in the world. In short, often modern understanding of ancient words and their original meaning do not match and we must go to a source that clarifies God's original intent.

Definition according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Bold-H982 bāṭaḥ {baw-takh'}
to trust, trust into have confidence, be confident
to be secure
to cause to trust, make secure

As per the definition offered, it is apparent that the choice to trust God completely opens our heart and our mind to the bold attitude God wants from His people.

Proverbs 3:5-6
3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 
3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

As I grow in the concept opening my heart to trust God completely, it seems only natural that everything about my life should reflect everything I feel about God. Evidently the disciples in Jerusalem were feeling much the same thing.

Acts 4:18-20
4:18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
4:19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
4:20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

As we grow in this trust of all that is of God, we find within us a growing distrust for those things of man. It's not that we are afraid of them. It's just that according to God the ways of man lack both wisdom and compassion. It's as if the ways of the world only respect the needs of pride and lust. They seem to belittle and disrespect even the people that work so hard to perpetuate them. The shear stupidity of all this frustrates me "to the max". Without thought or effort I find myself boldly rejecting most of those the world calls a celebrity, because the vast majority of them lead lives that are really nothing to celebrate. I tend to challenge both sides in pointless social media arguments that are no more than man's prideful need to be right and I often rant at anyone trying to take away the right of another to choose. Perhaps the ways of boldness in God are truly are the ways of God and not that hard to understand.

2 Nephi 1:49 And that which ye call anger, was the truth, according to that which is in God, which he could not restrain, manifesting boldly concerning your iniquities.

As I search the scriptures I realized that our effort to live the Gospel boldly allows us to experience God in every single aspect of our lives. It allows us to show the world that for what ever else we are; we are of God, in God, and for God.

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Like Christ we are face each day with a monumental decision. Do we serve the world or do we serve God? But we find that by choosing Him our place in this world continually questioned and at times challenged if not threatened. We find out quickly how bold it truly is to face a threat with humility instead of striking out at those that threaten us.

Philippians 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

There are even times that we must drew on this bold attitude to protect the sanctity of the fellowship from those whose poor judgment turns them away from God's truth. It might be a friend or it could be a whole congregation that needs to hear the truth of God. This duty is designed for the Priesthood, but all too often in the history of the church it is the Priesthood itself that have gone astray. All who labor for the Kingdom of God need to live a life that includes the ability to hold another accountable. God gave us a process, but for it to do any good at all we must be bold enough to use it.

Matthew 18:15-17
18:15 Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.

The more I grow in God the more I wonder if our strength grants us the ability to be bold, or if our bold attitude allow us to be strong and I wonder if boldness is a talent given to a few or if it is the Spirit within us seeking for us to humble ourselves to the needs of the Kingdom. For the Apostle Paul it was the part of the armor of God and a grace given in answer to prayer.

Ephesians 6:18-19
6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
6:19 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,

The more I study the more I realize that being bold in our testimony of God is a definitive part of our oneness with God. I haven't found scripture evidence that God requires it of us, but I do know that He advises us to be ready.

1Peter 3:15
3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer with meekness and fear to every man that asketh of you a reason for the hope that is in you:

If we open our hearts to all that this verse brings us, we will see that even the meek will need to be bold. That being said, what scriptural evidence exists that assures us that the courage we need, will be available? Can we be bold enough to trust God?

Genesis 7:70 And righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with
a flood, to gather out mine own elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare; an holy city, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion; a New Jerusalem.

Joel 2:27-29
2:27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else; and my people shall never be ashamed.
2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions;
2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.

Matthew 28:17-19
28:17 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
28:18 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;
28:19 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, unto the end of the world. Amen.

Can we be bold enough to trust God? I think in truth we need to be that and more. We need to help others to open their hearts to a bold attitude that will spur the growth of righteousness causing the gathering of people, which will become the Kingdom.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Is it time now to challenge each other to open their hearts and their lives to the needs of the Kingdom? No, I think it is time to remember the bold act of another as He reached out to God seeking to serve by becoming the sacrificial lamb that would cleanse all humanity. In this statement to God Christ laid the solid foundation on which our own bold can grow.

Genesis 3:3 But behold, my beloved Son, which was my beloved and chosen from the beginning, said unto me: Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.

Fred