Embracing Boldness: Activating Faith and God's Power

Summary

### Summary

Today, we delved into the theme of boldness, emphasizing that everything we have asked for, prayed for, given for, and sowed for, we will receive. This is a prophetic declaration for our lives. We began by defining boldness as the ability to take risks, be confident, and courageous. This month, we are called to do something different, to step out in faith, and to trust God even when the outcome is uncertain. Hebrews 10:35 reminds us not to cast away our boldness because it has great recompense of reward. God promises to pay us back for our boldness and reward us with more.

We explored the story of the Hebrews at the Red Sea, where their boldness was tested. The Red Sea symbolized the end of a storm and the beginning of a new chapter. God led them through a challenging path to make them bold. Similarly, God sometimes takes us through difficult situations to force boldness out of us. We must remember that God did not bring us this far to leave us. He is with us, and He will see us through.

We also looked at the story of Joshua and the Israelites crossing the Jordan River. Unlike Moses, who parted the Red Sea remotely, Joshua had to step into the water. This act of boldness was necessary for God to perform the miracle. Sometimes, God requires us to fully commit to what we cannot fully grasp. Our boldness activates God's power.

Finally, we examined the seven nations the Israelites had to conquer to possess the Promised Land. Each nation represented a different challenge, from brokenness and fear to zeal without action. God calls us to confront these areas with boldness. He promises that when we are bold, He will give us recompense and reward, and we will defeat our enemies.

### Key Takeaways

1. Boldness is a Choice: Hebrews 10:35 teaches us that boldness is a conscious choice. We must decide not to be weak but to be bold, trusting that God will reward our boldness. This month, choose to step out in faith, take risks, and be courageous, knowing that God will recompense you for your boldness. [03:39]

2. God Uses Challenges to Make Us Bold: Just as God led the Hebrews to the Red Sea to force boldness out of them, He sometimes takes us through difficult paths to develop our boldness. These challenges are not meant to break us but to build us up and prepare us for greater blessings. [07:17]

3. Boldness Activates God's Power: In the story of Joshua, the Israelites had to step into the Jordan River before God parted the waters. This teaches us that our boldness activates God's power. When we take a step of faith, God meets us there and performs miracles. [16:45]

4. Confronting Our Inner Nations: The seven nations the Israelites had to conquer represent different challenges we face, such as fear, brokenness, and zeal without action. God calls us to confront these areas with boldness. When we do, He promises to give us victory and reward. [20:07]

5. Remember to Remember: One of the keys to maintaining boldness is to remember what God has done in the past. When we recall His past faithfulness, it strengthens our faith and gives us the courage to face current challenges. Remembering God's past victories assures us of His future faithfulness. [32:47]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[02:30] - Defining Boldness
[03:39] - Boldness is a Choice
[04:20] - The Enemy Wants Your Boldness
[05:11] - The Red Sea: End of the Storm
[06:11] - Equipped for Battle
[07:17] - God Uses Challenges to Make Us Bold
[08:10] - Facing the Red Sea
[09:30] - Stepping Forward in Faith
[10:06] - Boldness Activates God's Power
[11:24] - God Jams the Enemy's Plans
[12:32] - Seeing God's Power
[15:06] - Joshua's Boldness
[16:45] - Stepping into the Jordan River
[17:47] - Harvest Season
[20:07] - Confronting Our Inner Nations
[32:47] - Remember to Remember
[34:08] - God is in Your Midst
[35:31] - Prayer and Salvation
[38:24] - Closing and Offering

Study Guide

### Bible Reading
1. Hebrews 10:35 - "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded."
2. Exodus 14:15 - "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.'"
3. Joshua 3:15-16 - "Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing."

### Observation Questions
1. According to Hebrews 10:35, what is the result of not casting away our boldness? How does this align with the sermon’s message about boldness being a choice? [[03:39]]
2. In Exodus 14:15, what command did God give to Moses and the Israelites at the Red Sea? How does this illustrate the concept of moving forward in faith? [[08:10]]
3. What happened when the priests carrying the ark stepped into the Jordan River in Joshua 3:15-16? How does this demonstrate the idea that boldness activates God's power? [[16:45]]

### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the promise of recompense and reward in Hebrews 10:35 encourage believers to maintain their boldness in challenging situations? [[03:39]]
2. What does the story of the Israelites at the Red Sea teach us about the relationship between boldness and divine intervention? How can this be applied to modern-day challenges? [[08:10]]
3. In the context of Joshua 3:15-16, why is it significant that the priests had to step into the water before the miracle occurred? What does this say about the nature of faith and action? [[16:45]]
4. The sermon mentioned seven nations the Israelites had to conquer, each representing different challenges. How do these challenges relate to personal struggles we face today, and what role does boldness play in overcoming them? [[20:07]]

### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you had to choose between boldness and fear. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? How might Hebrews 10:35 have influenced your decision? [[03:39]]
2. Think about a time when you felt like you were at your own "Red Sea." How did you move forward, and what role did faith play in that moment? How can you apply this experience to future challenges? [[08:10]]
3. Identify an area in your life where you need to take a bold step, similar to the priests stepping into the Jordan River. What specific action can you take this week to demonstrate your faith and activate God's power? [[16:45]]
4. The sermon discussed confronting "inner nations" such as fear, brokenness, and zeal without action. Which of these challenges resonates most with you, and what steps can you take to confront it with boldness? [[20:07]]
5. How can you practice "remembering to remember" God's past faithfulness in your life? Share a specific instance where recalling a past victory helped you face a current challenge. [[32:47]]
6. The sermon emphasized that boldness is a choice. What practical steps can you take to cultivate a mindset of boldness in your daily life, especially when facing uncertainty? [[03:39]]
7. How can you support others in your small group or community to be bold in their faith? Share one way you can encourage someone this week to take a step of faith. [[04:20]]

Devotional

Day 1: Boldness is a Conscious Choice
Boldness is not something that happens to us; it is a decision we make. Hebrews 10:35 teaches us that we must choose to be bold, trusting that God will reward our boldness. This month, we are encouraged to step out in faith, take risks, and be courageous, knowing that God will recompense us for our boldness. Boldness involves taking action even when we are uncertain of the outcome, and it is through these acts of faith that we see God's promises fulfilled in our lives. [03:39]

Hebrews 10:35-36 (ESV): "Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised."

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you need to make a conscious choice to be bold? How can you take a step of faith in that area today?

Day 2: Challenges Develop Our Boldness
God often uses challenges to develop our boldness. Just as He led the Hebrews to the Red Sea to force boldness out of them, He sometimes takes us through difficult paths to build us up. These challenges are not meant to break us but to prepare us for greater blessings. When we face obstacles, we must remember that God is with us and that He has a purpose for our trials. Our boldness in the face of adversity is a testament to our faith in God's promises. [07:17]

James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Reflection: Think of a recent challenge you faced. How did it help you grow in boldness and faith? How can you view current or future challenges as opportunities for growth?

Day 3: Boldness Activates God's Power
In the story of Joshua, the Israelites had to step into the Jordan River before God parted the waters. This teaches us that our boldness activates God's power. When we take a step of faith, God meets us there and performs miracles. Our actions of boldness demonstrate our trust in God's ability to intervene in our circumstances. It is through these acts of faith that we witness God's power at work in our lives. [16:45]

Joshua 3:15-17 (ESV): "And as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away... And the people passed over opposite Jericho."

Reflection: What is one step of faith you can take today that requires boldness? How can you trust God to meet you in that step and activate His power in your situation?

Day 4: Confronting Our Inner Nations
The seven nations the Israelites had to conquer represent different challenges we face, such as fear, brokenness, and zeal without action. God calls us to confront these areas with boldness. When we do, He promises to give us victory and reward. Each challenge we face is an opportunity to grow in faith and trust in God's promises. By confronting our inner nations, we allow God to work in us and through us to achieve His purposes. [20:07]

Deuteronomy 7:1-2 (ESV): "When the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you... seven nations more numerous and mightier than you, and when the Lord your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction."

Reflection: Identify one "inner nation" (e.g., fear, brokenness) you need to confront. What steps can you take to boldly face this challenge with God's help?

Day 5: Remember to Remember
One of the keys to maintaining boldness is to remember what God has done in the past. When we recall His past faithfulness, it strengthens our faith and gives us the courage to face current challenges. Remembering God's past victories assures us of His future faithfulness. By keeping a record of God's interventions and blessings, we build a foundation of trust that sustains us through difficult times. [32:47]

Psalm 77:11-12 (ESV): "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds."

Reflection: Take a moment to reflect on a past situation where you saw God's faithfulness. How can remembering this event help you face a current challenge with boldness?

Quotes

1. "To take a risk means that you don't know how it's going to work out, but because you trust God, you believe it's going to work together in your favor and for your good. Being confident, confident, confide, which means this is from the inside out. And I need you to hear me. God did not bring you this far for you to just quit. He did not bring you this far for you to just give up. God says, I'm putting a confidence in you to where from the inside out, you're going to get this thing done." [02:30] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Sometimes people aren't bold because they're like, if I do this, what if I lose something? God says, I'm going to make sure that whatever you had to put out to be bold, I'm going to pay you that back. But then it also means you're going to get a reward, which is more. And I'm ready to tell somebody 2024 is still your year of more. God will do more for you. God will do more through you. And God is going to do more in you." [03:39] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "God led the people around by the way of the wilderness. Look at me. Sometimes you'll feel like you're going around a thing because God is trying to get you to a thing that's going to make you do something that you wouldn't normally do. See, you wouldn't be bold unless it was forced out of you. You wouldn't be bold unless somebody watched me. You wouldn't be as bold as you are unless somebody did something to you that made you get bold." [07:17] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Moses lifts his hands. And when he lifts his hands, God, watch me, their boldness makes God blow. Oh, my God. Now, for some of y'all, when you look at what's in front of you, like, how is this going to happen? God says, I won't blow it out of the way until I see you be bold. I won't blow it out of the way until I see you be bold." [10:06] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "God says, I'm not going to do this miracle, the second one, until you actually get in there. So for some of you, like God, you're just not doing anything. God says, because this level of boldness requires you to fully commit to what you can't fully grasp. Commit to what you can't count. I will throw this microphone if you don't talk to me." [16:45] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "The flood you saw wasn't a flood to kill you. It was a flood to bless you. Talk to me. Please prophesy to yourself, say, this is my harvest season. But what does that mean practically? Practically, this means they don't know where the edge of the water really is, nor do they know how deep it is. So the priests have to now carry the ark, which has pressure. I talked to you that last week, and now they've got to step into the water." [17:47] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "God says, I need you to confront your wild sides and be bold. I need you to be honest about the fact that there's some parts of you that have not been under check like this should be. Let's talk. I need you to be honest about the fact that there's some thoughts you've let run. While I need you to be honest about the fact that there's some things you've let run. Well, and I need you to put that in check." [24:40] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "God says, I need you to deal with your lack of submission. Where are the areas that you need to get submitted? Where are the areas? Ain't who going to check me, boo? That's exactly your problem. That's where you're going to have to be bold. You're going to have to be bold enough to say, I want to be checked. I want to be corrected. If I'm wrong, tell me I'm wrong. If I need to do it better, tell me I need to do it better." [25:48] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "God says, I'm telling you up front that you're going to have a moment. You doubt you and your abilities. And I am telling you how to deal with this. I am telling you, you need to remember what I did to them. You need to remember how I got you through that molestation. You need to remember how I got you through that abuse. You need to remember how I got you through that bad relationship. You need to remember how I got you through that bankruptcy." [32:47] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "God says, I'm going to put all of these things that are bigger than you, that are mightier than you, that are more numerous than you. I'm going to give them. Oh, in other words, I'm about to serve them up on a platter to you. Okay. Some of y'all are like, God, why is this in front of me? Cause I'm about to serve them up to you. He prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies. What's for dinner, your enemies." [29:54] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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