Did you know there are 365 times in Scripture where we are told something along the lines of "do not be afraid?" That is one "do not be afraid" for every day of the year!
We live in times of great fear. Some of our fears are rational, others irrational. My wife, for example, is disproportionally afraid of spiders, shark attacks, or bear attacks. Fact: did you know you are 300 times more likely to die from a deer than from a shark attack? Granted, many of these incidents are hitting a deer while driving, but still, the reality is far from what we often perceive it to be. Another interesting one is that you are far more likely to be killed in a car accident on the way to the airport than in an airplane crash. Yet many people have a fear of flying and would prefer to drive.?
Now to be fair, I am terrified of clowns. I do not know why, but I know I am not alone in that one! I can also admit I am afraid of anyone in any costume. I am not a Disney World fan because of that, but the worst is people dressed as the Easter Bunny. I am pretty sure those are all serial killers behind that costume!?
Did you know one of the biggest fears people have is public speaking? Apparently, the fear of public speaking is more significant than many people's fear of dying! Personally, I do not fear death so much as I fear how I will die.?
On one mission trip, I had myself convinced I would not survive. So, the whole trip, I kept wondering how I was going to die. Towards the end of that trip, we had to get in a small canoe to the river we had to cross. Before we got into the canoe, we saw a crocodile swim right by. So, I became convinced I was going to be eaten by that crocodile. However, there was a small girl in our canoe. I decided the most heroic way to die in this scenario would be to jump in front of this little girl when the crocodile emerged from the waters and obviously went for her. I comforted myself with the fact that at least I would die a hero's death. I may not need to assure you that none of that fear was realized except in my head!
But on a serious note, our fears often hold us back from so much that God has for us. I almost did not go on that mission's trip because I was convinced I would die. Even though it turned out to be purely psychological, it was real, even if irrational. Someone once came up with the following acronym for fear: False Evidence Appearing Real. Some fears are real and can serve to protect us from harm. Often, however, the enemy of our souls tries to intimidate us into preventing us from moving forward in bold faith.?
Bold faith is not a facing life without fear. Courageous faith is facing life despite fear and in the face of fear. The word bold is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as?showing an ability to take risks.?In Hebrew, it means:?Forward to meet danger…Exhibiting or requiring spirit and contempt of danger…Somewhat overstepping usual bounds, or conventional rules.
When I think of bold faith, several biblical examples come to mind. Allow me to share just seven examples:?
1). David verse Goliath.
"As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him." -1 Samuel 17:48
The giant Goliath had the Israelite army shaking in their boots and frozen with fear due to his size, taunts, and intimidation. But the young shepherd boy David chooses to fight with bold faith, running towards the battle line and menacing giant, not away from it or him.?
Many times, however, we become paralyzed into inaction when faced with fear. Others of us run away from situations that put fear in our hearts. But not David! He ran towards that fearful giant with complete confidence and bold faith in God.
2). Caleb and Joshua
"Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them." -Numbers 14:6-9
When I think of bold faith, I think of the young Caleb and Joshua, two of the ten spies sent by Moses into the promised land to scout it out and bring back a report. The other eight spies came back with a negative report. They focused on all the giants, challenges, and obstacles. They concentrate on their size in comparison to those in the promised land. They spread fear through their focus, causing the Israelites to give in to despair and unbelief.
Caleb and Joshua, however, had a different spirit. They focused on how big their God was, not how big the enemy was compared to them. Even though Joshua and Caleb had to wait 40 years and wander around the wilderness because of the others freezing in unbelief, when it was time to finally enter the promised land, Joshua led the charge, being reminded by God to be strong and courageous. And Caleb said that even at 85, he was just as strong and vigorous as he was 40 years ago! He demanded to be allowed permission to go fight and obtain what God promised him.?
That is the kind of fighting bold faith we need today! God has called us to fight the good fight of faith, not freeze or flee. He has called us to be the Joshua's and Caleb's, who take the promised land. Yes, the battle belongs to the Lord, and yes, he was giving the promised land to his people, but they, and we, must fight for every square inch of what God has promised us!?
3). Samson with a young lion.
Judges 14:5-6:?"As they approached the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward him. The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat."?
This was a bold act! Of course, Samson was empowered here by the Spirit of God, but still, he tore apart a lion, with his bare hands, that had come roaring toward him! I think most of us would have probably tried to run or would have frozen. But Samson boldly fought this beast head-on (or head off) that threatened his life.?
What beast is roaring at you and putting fear in your heart? What problem do you need some bold faith to rip apart verse letting you be ripped apart with fear and anxiety?
4). Jonathan and his armor-bearer.
Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few. "Do all that you have in mind," his armor-bearer said. "Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul." -1 Samuel 14:6-7
In this battle, things had come to a prolonged standstill. Neither side was making any progress. Jonathan apparently finally had enough of nothing happening. He decided to take a bold act of faith and pick a fight, trusting that if God were with them, no one and nothing could stop them even if there were just two of them against many.?
And that is what happens! Jonathan and his armor-bearer climb a cliff, which is exhausting enough, but then begin to take on twenty Philistines themselves. But as they battle with these Philistines, God sends a panic in the camp, and a breakthrough occurs! Because of the bold faith and action of Jonathan and his armor-bearer, the battle moves forward, and the Israelites rally.
Where are you facing a standstill in your life? Where are you waiting for a breakthrough? It may be for a job, a particular ministry, or any number of things in a relationship. Be a Jonathan and pick a fight! Take some action. Put your resume out there. Take the initiative. Step forward in faith even if an uphill struggle with poor odds. As Han Solo would say, "never tell me the odds!"?
5). Queen Esther?
When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."?-Esther 4:12-16
I appreciate Esther's example because she was hesitant at first to act on Mordecai's instructions. However, Mordecai's bold encouragement gave Esther the courage she needed to put even her own life at risk in this situation to save her people.?
Notice something else important in this story. Mordecai moved Esther to overcome her fear of taking this risk by highlighting the risk of inaction. Often, we fail to think about the consequences of not taking a risk. Those consequences sometimes can be greater than the risk itself! For most people, their biggest regrets at the end of their lives are not what they did but what they failed to do. We regret the opportunities we did not seize—the risks we did not take.?
When we stand before Jesus, we want to hear "well done, good and faithful servant." Notice, Jesus will be commending and rewarding us according to our actions or deeds. Many times, those actions and deeds require us to act with bold faith despite the potential risks. However, the risk for not acting boldly is often more significant and something we need to remember in times of fear. God honors our faith!?
6). Daniel and his Friends
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to him, "King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."?-Daniel 3:16-18
Talk about bold faith! These three young men were willing to risk the wrath of the king and their lives being ended prematurely verse committing idolatry. They had no promise that God would deliver them, but they had faith that he could. While we know how this story turns out, they did not know their fate in advance.?
But because of their bold faith, their faith allowed everyone, including the king, to see that their God was the one true living God who alone is mighty to save and worthy of our worship!
7). Lepers at the Gate
"Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, "Why stay here until we die? If we say, 'We'll go into the city’—the famine is there, and we will die. And if we stay here, we will die. So let's go over to the camp of the Arameans and surrender. If they spare us, we live; if they kill us, then we die." At dusk, they got up and went to the camp of the Arameans. When they reached the edge of the camp, no one was there, for the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots and horses and a great army…"?-2 Kings 7:3-6
Have you ever been dealing with a difficult situation where you just hoped it would go away on its own or get better over time? While this may sound like the path of least resistance and challenge, the reality is that problems rarely get better when we ignore them. Sometimes you just need to make a move and live or die with the consequences!
These four lepers, social outcasts in their day, were dealing with famine in Samaria. As they began to discuss their options, they concluded that nothing would happen if they just stayed where they were and did nothing. But if they got up and made a move, they may be killed, but they might also live. Not only did the latter scenario play out, but as these four social outcasts moved, God moved on their behalf!
Too often, we are waiting for God to move on our behalf when he may be waiting for us to make a move! Have you ever tried to steer a parked vehicle? Go and ahead and try it. You will not get anywhere! But if you turn the car on and push on the gas pedal or get the car moving, you will be able to steer the vehicle where you want to go. Likewise, how can God lead and direct our steps if we are not taking any steps forward? How can he move if we are not moving forward in bold faith?
God honors bold faith. A whole chapter of the Bible, Hebrews 11, has been written about the heroes of the faith who are examples to us of faith. In that chapter, we are told "without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11:6).
It is not our moral character or religiosity alone that pleases God. It is our faith.
God is looking for a people who will boldly believe him and act on that faith in ways that he can demonstrate his power and faithfulness in and through their lives! Take some risks. Step out in faith. Trust that God is with you. Go after what he has promised and wants to do through you and in for his glory!
**For next steps in putting your faith into action, check out the 31 discipleship book resources called The Basic Things You Need to Know by the mission organization I lead called ServeNow. These are just 32 pages each filled with simple but practical truths of the faith that every believer needs to know and live out daily. These can also be used as a tool to engage and disciple others whether one-on-one or in group settings or for new believers. Some make great tools to take a risk and step out in faith to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others in a way that is not overwhelming or complicated. Visit here for more information: www.weservenow.org/books.**
