Boldness of Spirit

~~~ Ephesians 3:2-12 ~~~ (Psalm) Isaiah 12:2-3, 4BCD, 5-6 ~~~
~~~ Luke 12:39-48 ~~~

Boldness means taking action no matter what the circumstances.
If you have God in your life there will be nothing
 that can stop you from acting with boldness.
This is what Paul is talking about...God doused him in grace.
 With this grace he was unstoppable...
he was unstoppable because of the gift of grace.

...the stewardship of God’s grace...

I became a minister by the gift of God’s grace...
The only way you can become a minister for the Lord
 is to take his gifts and act with boldness.
Paul realizes this and steps up to the plate...his whole
 life was lived with boldness.
...in whom we have boldness of speech...
If you want to convert others or evangelize
learn to speak with boldness.

Boldness in speech is speaking with conviction.
The best way to speak with boldness is to get yourself well
educated about which you are to speak.
The more you learn the more boldly you will be able to speak.

Later Paul writes in this same letter to the Ephesians.

...also for me, that speech may be given me to open my mouth,
...to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.
...that I may have the courage to speak as I must.
Ephesians 6:19-20

If you want to tell people about the God you love be bold.
If you want to love God more be bold.
If you want to make a difference be bold.
If you want people to know what you believe speak with boldness.

Be as bold as the Wooly Bear Caterpillar...
Living in the harsh Arctic climate north of Canada this caterpillar
survives as many as seven winters before he has eaten enough
 to pupate, emerging in its moth stage.

Each winter season this bold little caterpillar is frozen until
 the spring thaw allows him to begin eating once again.

This tiny creature should inspire us to live with boldness.
We can look at the Saints and think...
they are wonderful examples of how to live with boldness.
But do not think you must first be a saint before
you can live with boldness; just the opposite is true.

They were elevated to sainthood because they lived their lives
with boldness, courage, and conviction.
Each of us has been given the grace to live in the same manner.

Let's support one another as we go forth
boldly spreading the gospel message.

We are Blessed with more grace than we know how to use.
Share your grace with boldness today.
~~~Peace~~~

Are You Bold for Him?

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 4:23-31 ~~~ Psalm 2 ~~~  John 3:1-8 ~~~

...no one can do these signs that you are doing
unless God is with him...

The apostles were afraid after seeing how Jesus was executed;
until they were filled with the Spirit.
Suddenly they were able to speak with boldness.
There fears no longer kept them from proclaiming the good news of the Resurrection.
They were strong enough to leave the upper room...
to unlock the doors and go out among the people.
They were able to stand tall and their confidence was strengthened.

The earth shook as a sign of the Divine presence when
they acted in his holy name.
They acted on his behalf in all circumstances.

Have you ever been so sure of yourself
 that it did not matter to you what others thought?
The apostles were so changed that they
were probably amazed by themselves.
Until this time they had been the ones listening to
and learning from Jesus.
They were not the ones doing the teaching.
They were not the ones dealing with the scribes and the Pharisees.
Until now they were not the ones who possessed
the power of healing.
But now things had changed.
Now they were constantly discovering
just what they could do for others.

The possibilities seemed to be almost limitless.

(But not really)
They knew they were not the same as Jesus.

...unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot 
enter the Kingdom of God.

Nicodemus came to recognize that only someone
 very close to God could perform such great works i.e. miracles.

Jesus confuses Nicodemus by telling him
 that one must be born from above and from the Spirit.

It is known that we are only born of the flesh once,
but to be born in the Spirit may come much later in life.

When we are born in the flesh we can see our physical body.
When we are born in the waters of Baptism our soul is cleansed.
When we are born in the Spirit we have no real tangible evidence...

We are, however, profoundly changed...
We can now act and speak with boldness.

He Blesses us to be bold for Him, for the Kingdom of God.

Be bold, be strong,
you are filed with the Spirit.
~~Peace~~