Embracing Boldness: Taking Risks for God's Glory
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we delved into the theme of boldness and spiritual violence, emphasizing the need for believers to step out of their comfort zones and take risks for God's glory. We began by declaring that this is our "year of more," where God will do more in us, through us, and for us. We explored the concept of being bold, which involves taking risks, being confident, and courageous. Using the example of Peter walking on water, we were reminded that we are not meant to stay in the boat but to step out in faith and experience the extraordinary.
We discussed the importance of confidence, which comes from within and is rooted in the belief that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. We rebuked low self-esteem and shame, declaring that God makes us bold. Courage was highlighted as the willingness to act even when the outcome is uncertain, and we were encouraged to pursue more in our lives, knowing that God has greater things in store for us.
The sermon also touched on the spiritual warfare we face and the need to be positively assertive, not taking no for an answer and being unwavering in our pursuit of God's promises. We were reminded that our boldness has great recompense and reward, and we must not cast it away. The message emphasized the need to forget limitations and embrace the boldness of a child who has not yet learned to fear.
We explored the concept of spiritual violence, as described in Matthew 11:12, where the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. This involves being positively assertive, focused, unwavering, and empowered by God's inward persuasion. We were encouraged to seize opportunities, press through challenges, and advance forcefully, knowing that God is with us.
The sermon concluded with a call to action, urging us to put on the whole armor of God, including the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. We were reminded that our shout is a weapon, and we must use it to declare victory over the enemy. The message ended with a powerful time of prayer, inviting the Holy Spirit to fill us and empower us to live boldly and victoriously.
### Key Takeaways
1. Boldness Requires Risk and Faith: Stepping out of the boat like Peter requires us to take risks and trust God for the extraordinary. Boldness is not just about talking the talk but walking the walk, demonstrating our faith through action. We are called to be water walkers, not boat people, willing to do what others deem impossible for God's glory. [01:36]
2. Confidence Comes from Within: True confidence is an inner assurance that comes from knowing that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. It is not about appearances but about the strength and boldness that God instills in us. We must rebuke low self-esteem and embrace the boldness that God gives us. [02:44]
3. Spiritual Violence and Positive Assertiveness: The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. This means being positively assertive, not taking no for an answer, and being unwavering in our pursuit of God's promises. We must be focused, empowered by God's inward persuasion, and ready to seize opportunities forcefully. [07:45]
4. Putting on the Whole Armor of God: To stand against the schemes of the enemy, we must put on the whole armor of God, including the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Each piece of armor equips us to stand firm and fight spiritual battles effectively. [27:15]
5. The Power of Our Shout: Our shout is a weapon that declares victory over the enemy. We must use our voice to proclaim God's promises and stand against the enemy's attacks. By choosing spiritual violence, we assert our authority in Christ and take back what the enemy has tried to steal from us. [51:41]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:36] - Introduction to Boldness
[02:44] - Confidence from Within
[04:04] - The Reward of Boldness
[05:12] - Desiring More
[07:45] - Spiritual Violence Explained
[09:04] - Positive Assertiveness
[10:17] - Stirring Up Spiritual Violence
[11:35] - Forcing Obstacles Out of the Way
[12:41] - Seizing Opportunities
[13:54] - Pressing Through Challenges
[15:14] - Endorsing Spiritual Violence
[16:51] - Making Decisive Moves
[18:10] - Overcoming the Enemy's Sounds
[19:26] - The War of Sounds
[20:50] - Possessing the Kingdom
[22:13] - Attributes of the Kingdom
[23:24] - Taking Back Joy and Peace
[24:44] - Faithful Giving and Forgiveness
[25:57] - Becoming Who God Says You Are
[27:15] - The Battle and Armor of God
[28:39] - Spiritual Warfare and Order
[30:31] - The Enemy's Orderly Attack
[31:22] - Standing Firm in Evil Days
[32:13] - Expecting and Overcoming Evil Days
[33:23] - Choosing Violence Against Schemes
[34:34] - Standing Up and Making Progress
[35:11] - Belt of Truth and Breastplate of Righteousness
[36:29] - Shoes of Peace and Shield of Faith
[37:58] - Blocking the Enemy's Attacks
[38:53] - Helmet of Salvation and Sword of the Spirit
[39:55] - God as Our Hero
[40:23] - Using the Word as a Sword
[41:30] - Praying in the Spirit
[42:46] - Receiving the Gift of Tongues
[44:35] - Praying for the Holy Spirit's Filling
[45:59] - Worship and Shout as Weapons
[51:41] - Conclusion and Final Shout
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 11:12 - "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force."
2. Hebrews 10:35 - "Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward."
3. Ephesians 6:11-17 - "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
### Observation Questions
1. What does Matthew 11:12 mean when it says "the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force"? How was this concept explained in the sermon? [07:45]
2. According to Hebrews 10:35, what is the reward for not throwing away our confidence? How did the sermon illustrate this point? [04:04]
3. What are the different pieces of the armor of God listed in Ephesians 6:11-17? How did the sermon describe the importance of each piece? [27:15]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of "spiritual violence" in Matthew 11:12 apply to our daily lives as believers? What does it mean to be "positively assertive" in our faith? [07:45]
2. In what ways can low self-esteem and shame hinder our confidence in God, as mentioned in Hebrews 10:35? How can we overcome these obstacles? [02:44]
3. How can putting on the whole armor of God, as described in Ephesians 6:11-17, help us stand against the schemes of the devil? What practical steps can we take to ensure we are fully armored? [27:15]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you had to step out of your comfort zone and take a risk for God's glory. How did that experience impact your faith? How can you apply this lesson to a current situation in your life? [01:36]
2. Identify an area in your life where you struggle with low self-esteem or shame. What specific steps can you take to embrace the confidence that God gives you? [02:44]
3. Think of a situation where you need to be positively assertive and not take no for an answer. How can you approach this situation with the boldness and confidence described in the sermon? [07:45]
4. How can you actively put on the whole armor of God in your daily routine? What changes can you make to ensure you are spiritually prepared for the challenges you face? [27:15]
5. The sermon emphasized the power of our shout as a weapon against the enemy. How can you incorporate this practice into your prayer life and spiritual warfare? [51:41]
6. Reflect on a recent "evil day" where everything seemed to go wrong. How did you handle it, and what can you do differently next time to stand firm in your faith? [32:13]
7. The sermon mentioned the importance of seizing opportunities and pressing through challenges. What is one opportunity you feel God is calling you to seize, and what steps will you take to pursue it? [13:54]
Devotional
Day 1: Stepping Out in Faith
Boldness requires risk and faith. Stepping out of the boat like Peter requires us to take risks and trust God for the extraordinary. Boldness is not just about talking the talk but walking the walk, demonstrating our faith through action. We are called to be water walkers, not boat people, willing to do what others deem impossible for God's glory. [01:36]
Matthew 14:28-29 (ESV): "And Peter answered him, 'Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.' He said, 'Come.' So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus."
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you feel God is calling you to step out in faith? How can you take a tangible step towards that today?
Day 2: Inner Confidence
True confidence is an inner assurance that comes from knowing that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. It is not about appearances but about the strength and boldness that God instills in us. We must rebuke low self-esteem and embrace the boldness that God gives us. [02:44]
1 John 4:4 (ESV): "Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
Reflection: Reflect on a moment when you felt inadequate or insecure. How can you remind yourself of God's strength within you the next time you face a similar situation?
Day 3: Positive Assertiveness
The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. This means being positively assertive, not taking no for an answer, and being unwavering in our pursuit of God's promises. We must be focused, empowered by God's inward persuasion, and ready to seize opportunities forcefully. [07:45]
Matthew 11:12 (ESV): "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force."
Reflection: Identify a promise of God that you have been hesitant to pursue. What steps can you take today to assertively claim that promise in your life?
Day 4: The Armor of God
To stand against the schemes of the enemy, we must put on the whole armor of God, including the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Each piece of armor equips us to stand firm and fight spiritual battles effectively. [27:15]
Ephesians 6:13-17 (ESV): "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
Reflection: Which piece of the armor of God do you feel you need to strengthen in your life? How can you practically do that starting today?
Day 5: The Power of Our Shout
Our shout is a weapon that declares victory over the enemy. We must use our voice to proclaim God's promises and stand against the enemy's attacks. By choosing spiritual violence, we assert our authority in Christ and take back what the enemy has tried to steal from us. [51:41]
Joshua 6:20 (ESV): "So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city."
Reflection: Think of a situation where you need to declare victory. How can you use your voice to proclaim God's promises over that situation today?
Quotes
1. "So this month we've been in a series called bold and bold means showing an ability to take risks to be confident and courageous. All this month we've been focusing on you showing because this is not just going to be telling. This is going to be you showing. You're not just going to talk to talk. It's time for you to walk the walk. Showing an ability to take risks, which means you do something that other people are scared to do. Peter walked on water. Everybody else was scared, but he got an experience that the others didn't get to have. And I'm here to tell you, you are not a boat person. You are not a boat person. You are not a boat person. You are not a boat person. You are a water walker." [01:36] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Courageous people do what they've never done and they get what they've never had. See, courageous people are people that will do it on a maybe. It might work, so I'm going to try it. It might go my way, so I'm going to try it. Watch me. You're going to have to have some courage in your life because courage is the only way that you're going to ever see your life make any significant progress. And I think, I'm preaching to some people today. I can say, I'm grateful for everything that God has done. I'm appreciative. I'm thankful, but there's got to be more than this." [02:44] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The devil wants to destroy your boldness. Why? Because of what your boldness produces for you. Hebrews 10 35 says, cast not away, therefore your boldness. It's kind of like this fishing pole I showed you on Wednesday. You're casting away your boldness, which means you already had it. You had to do something to throw it out somewhere. He says, don't throw it away because it has great recompense of reward, which means your boldness will pay you back for whatever you have. You had to do to be bold, but then your boldness is going to bring you a reward, which means I get paid back and I get more." [04:04] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "He says, you desire, but you do not have. So you kill. Now, some of you have never killed anyone, but did you kill someone's influence because they got it and you didn't? Did you talk about somebody because they had something and you were like, how are you going to do that for this person and not do it for me? He says, you kill and you covet. This means that you're desiring what somebody else has. And I pray that before this year is over, that you have what you want. Watch me so that you don't have to look at what somebody else has and desires theirs. I pray that you look at your own life and say, God, I'm grateful for everything I got. And I don't want nobody else's life. I don't want nobody else's stuff. I'm so, watch me. I'm happy to be me." [05:12] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I choose violence. Now I don't mean, nor do I condone physical violence of any kind. I mean, spiritual violence, especially when the word you mean spiritual violence. What is that? Oh, it's Bible. Matthew 11, 12 says from the days of John the Baptist or the baptizer, John was not a Baptist by denomination. He was a baptizer. He was bringing people to the Lord from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence. Somebody shout violence. Now, listen, I need you to hear me because for many, this is about to stir something up on the inside of you. It is this Greek word. That's the language of our new Testament. Be a zoo. Say be a zoo. It means positive, assertiveness, which means, listen, I'm not taking no for an answer and I'll do it with a smile. That's me. I'm not taking no for an answer and I'll do it with joy. Why? Because I will not be denied." [07:45] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "It means force. The kingdom of heaven suffers violence. It means that people force some things. Let me give you an example of force. Let me give you an example of force. So, so, so this, this is, this is right here. Actually, I'm going to give you a better one. I'm going to give you a better one. This is right here. And if I'm trying to get right here, this is in my way, which means, okay, if you don't move, if I pray and you don't move, here's what force means. I'm going to forcibly move you up out of my way. No, no, no, no. For some of you, this represents a thought, a thought that is in the way of where you're trying to go. You're going to have to force that thought out of the way." [11:35] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "One of the worst things you could do when it comes to boldness is to put off what's already here. One of the worst things you could do when it comes to boldness is to keep pushing it down and you're not gonna be able to do it when you're not on the road because when my time is coming I need you to look at somebody say nope your time is now yep matter of fact every day you get up it's your time every day you wake up it's your time every day it's your time would you still speak that say it's my time every day stop thinking one day my time is coming one year my time is coming i'm gonna tell you it's your time you're either training or reigning you're either in development or deployment you're either in implementation or ideation but either way it is your time if you're training or reigning you're either in you know i'm preaching to you lift your hands open your mouth say it is my time uh-uh say it with some authority y'all say it is my time" [20:50] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "I choose violence. I choose violence. I choose violence. I can stand against his schemes and I can stand against these days. These Where it seems like everything in the day is against me. So for those of you that are like, this day is crazy. He's told you in Ephesians, those days have been set aside and you should expect them. But you should also expect to win. And here's what you need to know. A day is not a lifetime. A day is not a lifetime. And I'm going to tell somebody, I know, watch me. Somebody like, Bishop, but I've had a lot of those days. Ask yourself this question. Why spend that much time on you unless you were a big threat? Why spend that much time on you unless if you finally got violent, you were about to do something? Your family never thought you were going to be able to do. You were going to do something your community never thought you were going to be able to do. Come on, violent people. I'm just about to the end. Shout it one more time. I choose violence." [33:55] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "He says, first of all, you're gonna have to stand up so you can't put on armor sitting down. You can't put on armor laying down, which means there's something in you that's going to have to decide that I got to get up and not to. Is that just naturally in your posture? Because that's a part of it. For some of you watch me. You literally need to. This is so practical. Get up from your desk and sometimes you just need to start walking. When I'm on the phone, it's hard for me to sit down. I have to get up and I have to walk because I need to see myself making progress. And I never understood it until I got to the scripture because it doesn't just mean stand in the sense of don't give in easily. It means there's something about you that sometimes you need to stand up so you can see yourself getting up." [34:34] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "And for some of you, watch me. There are situations that happen that try to pierce your heart. That try to make you emotional. That try to make you feel like loving people isn't worth it. Being a kind person isn't worth it. Being a giving person isn't worth it. Watch me. But if I put on the breastplate of righteousness, you can't pierce my heart because I'm right with God. And because I'm right with God, watch me. You should be careful about how you handle me. Why? Because he made me a promise in Genesis chapter 12 that I will curse those that curse you. And I'll bless those that bless you. I just need you to say, I choose violence." [36:00] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?