Exploring Bold Faith: What Does It Truly Mean?

Bold faith is a willingness to take risks and act innovatively, with confidence and courage. It is about stepping out of one's comfort zone and taking action in unknown, uncomfortable, or risky areas of life. Bold faith is not about being boastful or prideful, but rather, it stems from a relationship with Christ, resulting in strength, purpose, and courage. It involves following God's path, living out one's faith in love, and standing up for it, even in the face of hardships. Bold faith is about being truthful in love and taking bold steps to grow spiritually. It is about putting one's faith into action and spreading the love of Christ and the Gospel to others.

Choose to believe

The first step to having bold faith is to choose to believe. This is a conscious decision to trust and follow God, even if you don't fully know Him. It is an active expression of your trust and belief in God, His abilities, and His promises.

In John 1:37-42, we see two of Jesus' disciples take this bold step of faith. They chose to follow Jesus even though they had only heard about Him from John. They didn't know Him personally, yet they chose to believe and follow. This is an important reminder that bold faith starts with a choice—a choice to believe what God says in His Word and to trust that He is enough.

When you choose to believe, you are also choosing to step out in faith and take risks. Bold faith is not passive or timid; it demands results. It is about stepping out of your comfort zone and taking action, even when it feels unknown, uncomfortable, or risky. This boldness comes from your relationship with God and will give you strength, purpose, and courage.

As you choose to believe, remember that your faith should be visible to others. Let your words and actions reflect what you believe, and don't be afraid to spread the good news of God's love and grace. Bold faith is not about being boastful or proud, but about humbly and courageously living out your faith in your everyday life.

So, choose to believe, and then spend time with Jesus. Get to know Him through His Word, and let your faith be strengthened and nourished by His presence. As your faith grows, so will your boldness, and you will be equipped to face any challenges or circumstances that come your way.

Spend time with Jesus

Spending time with Jesus is a crucial aspect of developing bold faith. It is through spending time with Jesus that we get to truly know God and deepen our relationship with Him. This relationship is the foundation of our boldness, as it provides us with strength, purpose, courage, and guidance. Here are some ways to spend time with Jesus and cultivate bold faith:

Reading and Meditating on God's Word

Diving into the Bible and reflecting on its teachings is a powerful way to spend time with Jesus. As you read Scripture, you encounter God's character, His promises, and His instructions for our lives. Meditating on God's Word allows it to take root in your heart, strengthening your faith and guiding your actions. Like the disciples who chose to follow Jesus, we too must choose to believe and trust in His Word. This choice is the first step towards bold faith.

Prayer

Prayer is a direct line of communication with God. It is a time to pour out your heart to Him, share your thoughts and feelings, and listen for His still, small voice. In prayer, we find encouragement, strength, and boldness. We can come to God with boldness, knowing that He welcomes us and desires to meet us in our time of need. Through prayer, we can ask for big things, impossible things, and watch as He moves in mighty ways.

Worship and Praise

Spending time with Jesus also means worshipping and praising Him for who He is and what He has done. Worship aligns our hearts with God's, and it is in this place of surrender that our faith is strengthened. Praising God for His faithfulness, His power, and His love reminds us of His goodness and fills us with boldness to face any challenge.

Obeying His Commands

Jesus calls us to action, to be His witnesses and spread the Good News. Bold faith is not passive; it requires us to step out of our comfort zones and put our faith into practice. Like Andrew, who immediately went to find his brother Simon after meeting Jesus, we too are called to share our faith with others. Bold faith is contagious and compels us to obey Jesus' command to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19).

Serving Others

Jesus came to serve, not to be served (Matthew 20:28). Spending time with Him involves serving others and meeting their needs. Like Jesus, we are called to a life of service, putting others before ourselves. This may involve volunteering, using our unique gifts to help those in need, or simply being there for someone who is struggling. Serving others strengthens our faith and gives us a boldness that comes from knowing we are living out God's purpose for our lives.

Be courageous

Having bold faith means having the courage to act or speak without fear, despite any real or perceived dangers. It is about taking action and stepping out of your comfort zone, even when faced with uncertainty, discomfort, or risk.

Overcoming Fear

Boldness does not mean being rash or aggressive. Instead, it is about having the strength and determination to do or say what is necessary, even if the outcome is uncertain. This courage comes from a deep trust in God and the knowledge that He is with you always. As the Bible verse Joshua 1:9 says, "Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Taking Risks

Having bold faith involves taking risks and being innovative. It is about being willing to step out in faith and take action, even when it feels scary or uncertain. This might involve sharing your testimony with others, reaching out to God with bold prayers, or taking a leap of faith to follow God's calling on your life.

Standing Firm

Bold faith also means standing firm in your beliefs and not backing down, even in the face of opposition or challenging circumstances. Just as the woman in the Bible with the issue of bleeding risked rebuke by reaching out to touch Jesus' robe (Matthew 9:18-31), you too can approach God's throne with boldness and confidence, knowing that He welcomes your prayers and supplications.

Speaking the Truth in Love

While boldness may seem like opinionated or extroverted behaviour, it is often driven by a desire to speak the truth in love, even when it may not be well-received. This type of boldness comes from the Holy Spirit, who empowers believers to boldly proclaim the gospel, even in the face of persecution or adversity.

Fuelled by Prayer

Boldness in your faith starts with a daily relationship with Jesus Christ. Through prayer, spending time in God's Word, and seeking His guidance, you can fuel your bold side and step out in faith. Remember, boldness in faith is not about your own strength or abilities but about relying on God's power and courage.

Live boldly so that others may follow

Bold faith is an active expression of trust and belief in God, His abilities, and His promises. It is the courage to act or speak fearlessly, despite real or imagined dangers. When acting with bold faith, one takes action regardless of the risks involved.

Living boldly involves stepping out of our comfort zones and taking action in areas of life that seem unknown, uncomfortable, or risky. This means being strong and courageous, and standing up for our faith no matter what hardships we face. We can start by choosing to believe and spending time with Jesus, as the disciples did.

When we live boldly, we become witnesses to God's power and love. We can inspire others to follow in our footsteps and spread the good news of the Gospel. This involves not only believing in God ourselves but also sharing our faith with others, so they too can experience His love and grace.

We can be bold in our witness by taking risks and acting innovatively when it comes to sharing our faith and making disciples. This may involve stepping out of our comfort zones and reaching out to those who don't know Jesus yet. It requires creativity, courage, and a steadfast commitment to sharing the Good News, even in the face of rejection or isolation.

The ultimate goal of living boldly is to bring glory to God and to see others come to know Him. As followers of Christ, we are called to be bold in our faith and our witness, so that others may see the light of the Gospel and be drawn to Him.

In conclusion, living "boldly so that others may follow" involves stepping out in faith, taking risks, and boldly sharing the love and truth of the Gospel with those around us. It is a courageous and faithful witness that invites others to experience the life-transforming power of God for themselves.

Be proud of your bold faith

Bold faith is an active expression of your trust and belief in God, His abilities, and His promises. It is a willingness to take risks and act innovatively, with confidence and courage. It is not to be confused with aggressiveness or rashness, but rather, it is similar to assertiveness, empowering you to do or say what is necessary despite the possibility of negative outcomes.

The Bible and Bold Faith

The Bible offers many examples of bold faith. In Matthew 9:18-31, several people approach Jesus with bold faith. The leader of the synagogue asks Jesus to raise his daughter from the dead. A woman who had been bleeding for twelve years touches his robe, risking rebuke as this would make Jesus ceremonially unclean. Two blind men also shout to get Jesus' attention, barging into the house to ask for healing.

In John 1:37-42, we see another example of bold faith. Two of Jesus' disciples started following him, even though they had never met him and only heard about him from John. They chose to believe and spent time with Jesus.

How to Have Bold Faith

Bold faith starts with a choice—a choice to believe what God says in His Word and trust that He is more than enough. This means spending time with Him, getting to know Him, and spreading the good news so that others can experience Him too.

Bold faith is necessary to show the enemy of your negative circumstances that you mean business. No matter what challenges come your way, bold faith will show that you are not backing down. It is also a way to prove to yourself that you trust and believe in God and His promises. As your soul (mind, will, and emotions) aligns with God's Word, your faith produces results.

A Prayer for Bold Faith

"Dear Lord, when I see the boldness of the people in this section from Matthew, I am both embarrassed and encouraged. I'm embarrassed because I realize how weak my faith is, and how hesitant my prayers can be. But I'm encouraged because I am reminded of how much freedom I have to approach you with boldness. Help me, Lord, to come to you with boldness, to trust you enough to tell you exactly what's on my mind and heart. May I ask you for big things, indeed, impossible things. May I reach out to you even when it seems risky. Thank you, gracious Lord, for the freedom I have to come boldly before your throne. Amen."

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