Tag: Boldness

Christian Shrewdness

The events of Acts 22-23 provide a compelling example of Paul’s remarkable shrewdness. After being arrested in Jerusalem, Paul navigates a labyrinth of danger and intrigue with wisdom and calculated action. Despite his willingness to suffer for Christ, Paul does not recklessly throw himself into harm’s way. Instead, he uses every legal, social, and strategic means available to him to preserve his life and further the Gospel.

When Paul speaks to the crowd in Acts 22, he opens with his personal testimony, appealing to their shared heritage as a Jew and his credibility as a Pharisee. Yet when his words provoke anger, Paul doesn’t stubbornly insist on continuing but leverages his Roman citizenship to avoid a brutal flogging. His claim to citizenship forces the Roman commander to reconsider his actions, effectively granting Paul a layer of protection. Later, in Acts 23, Paul cleverly divides the Sanhedrin by declaring his belief in the resurrection—a doctrine embraced by the Pharisees but rejected by the Sadducees. This causes internal conflict among his accusers, buying him time and shifting the focus away from himself.

This narrative challenges the idea that seeking suffering is somehow more virtuous than avoiding it. Paul’s actions demonstrate that suffering for the Gospel is a willingness to endure hardship when necessary—not an active pursuit of pain or martyrdom. Paul’s ultimate goal remains the spread of the Gospel, and he uses his intellect, legal rights, and social awareness as tools to protect his mission.

As Christians, we are called to emulate Paul’s shrewdness. Jesus Himself instructed His disciples to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). This balance calls us to integrity but also to strategic thinking. We honor God not by walking into unnecessary danger but by stewarding the opportunities and resources He has given us.

Are there situations in your life where you are called to defend your faith or navigate a difficult circumstance? Do you rely on wisdom and prayer to guide your steps, or do you charge ahead without seeking discernment? Paul’s example reminds us that faith and wisdom are not at odds. Both are gifts from God, designed to work together to accomplish His purposes.

Christian shrewdness is not manipulation or dishonesty. It is the faithful use of God-given wisdom to navigate life’s complexities while remaining anchored in truth. Like Paul, we should seek to advance the Gospel with boldness and intelligence, trusting that God equips us for the journey.

In Defense of Peter

The account of Peter in Gethsemane is a stirring reminder of how human we are, even when we deeply desire to follow Jesus. Peter, who had walked with Christ, witnessed miracles, and even claimed he would follow Him to the death, shows us that the spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). We might critique Peter for his actions that night—falling asleep, impulsively wielding a sword, and then ultimately denying Jesus—but perhaps, his story is also ours. In Peter, we find relatable lessons that urge us toward deeper discipline, patience, and boldness in our faith.

At Gethsemane, Jesus invited Peter, James, and John to keep watch with Him during His agonizing prayer. But Peter’s spirit gave way to fatigue, and three times he fell asleep as Jesus wrestled with the reality of the cross. In these moments, we see a call to better discipline. Just as Peter needed discipline to stay awake and pray, we, too, are called to “watch and pray” that we do not fall into temptation. Distractions and weariness can easily pull us away from prayer and obedience, but discipline helps us continually seek God’s strength, especially in trying times.

Next, we see Peter’s struggle with patience. When the soldiers arrived to arrest Jesus, Peter acted instinctively, drawing his sword to protect his Lord. He acted out of zeal, but it wasn’t what Jesus had asked of him. Jesus had already made it clear that He must go to the cross, yet Peter acted on impulse, unwilling to wait for the Lord’s guidance. Here, we learn the importance of waiting on God, resisting the urge to take matters into our own hands. Jesus often leads us through unexpected paths, and patience allows us to stay in step with His timing, trusting that He has a purpose beyond what we can see.

Finally, after Jesus was arrested, Peter’s courage seemed to fade. Standing by the fire, surrounded by strangers, Peter denied knowing Jesus—not once, but three times. His boldness faltered when it was most needed. It is easy to judge Peter’s fear, but it’s also a moment to recognize our own hesitations to fully identify with Jesus. True boldness means openly claiming our faith, even when it feels risky. We may face fear, awkwardness, or discomfort, but Jesus is our strength. Through Him, we find the courage to stand firm, even when the stakes are high.

Peter’s journey in Gethsemane reminds us that Jesus isn’t looking for flawless followers—He seeks willing hearts. Yes, we may stumble as Peter did, but God’s grace meets us in our weakness. As we grow in discipline, patience, and boldness, we find that Jesus is always there, shaping us into people who are prepared to follow Him, even when it’s hard. Let’s remember that Jesus restored Peter after his denials and used him to build the Church. In the same way, He is patient with us, guiding us into lives that glorify Him, no matter how many times we fall.  

Empowered to Speak: The Holy Spirit’s Work in Us

As we read through Luke 1:39-2:40 and Matthew 1:18-25, one pattern stands out: when the Holy Spirit filled people, they spoke prophetic words. Elizabeth, Zechariah, Simeon—all of them, when filled with the Spirit, declared truths about God’s promises and the Messiah. Even the angel’s words to Joseph can be seen as a Spirit-inspired message, guiding him to protect and nurture Jesus.

This pattern shows that when the Holy Spirit moves, He empowers His people to proclaim God’s truth boldly. What lessons can we draw from this today?

1. The Holy Spirit Still Moves

First, it’s clear that the Holy Spirit is active. Just as He filled these people at critical moments in salvation history, He continues to fill and empower believers today. We are called to recognize and welcome His presence in our lives. The Spirit is not just a distant force; He is personal and present, ready to guide, strengthen, and inspire us in our walk with Christ.

2. Prophetic Words are Spirit-Led

When the Spirit filled Elizabeth, Zechariah, and Simeon, they spoke truths about God’s promises. These were not random thoughts but divinely inspired words of prophecy. Today, while the specifics of prophecy may differ, the principle remains: the Holy Spirit empowers us to speak truth, often in ways that bring encouragement, correction, or guidance.

This doesn’t mean we all have the “gift of prophecy” in the same way, but it does mean that God’s Spirit can move through us to share His message with others, whether in words of wisdom, comfort, or exhortation.

3. Proclaiming God’s Faithfulness

Another lesson from these passages is how often the prophetic words pointed to God’s faithfulness to His promises. Simeon, for example, praised God for allowing him to see the fulfillment of the promise he had waited for: the Messiah. When the Spirit fills us today, He often leads us to declare God’s faithfulness, reminding ourselves and others that God’s promises still hold true.

Sometimes we face seasons where it’s hard to believe in God’s promises. Yet, just as Simeon waited with expectation, we can trust that God’s Spirit will sustain us in hope and prompt us to speak words of life when the time is right.

4. We Are Empowered to Speak Boldly

Elizabeth’s response when Mary came to visit was immediate and bold. She didn’t hold back; she declared Mary blessed among women and praised God for the child she carried. The Holy Spirit gives us courage to speak out in truth and love. Sometimes we hesitate to speak up, whether due to fear of rejection or doubt, but the Spirit empowers us to share what needs to be said, especially when it comes to pointing people to Jesus.

5. The Spirit’s Work is Always Christ-Centered

In each instance of prophecy in these passages, the message pointed to Jesus. The Holy Spirit’s primary mission is to reveal and glorify Christ (John 16:14), and this is true for us today. When we are filled with the Spirit, we should expect that our words and actions will reflect Jesus and His Kingdom. Whether in a conversation, a moment of prayer, or even through our lifestyle, the Spirit will move us to point others to Christ.

The Takeaway

What we see in Luke 1 and Matthew 1 is the Holy Spirit filling people not just for their benefit but for the sake of proclaiming God’s truth. Today, the same Spirit that moved in the lives of Elizabeth, Zechariah, and Simeon is available to us, empowering us to speak boldly, proclaim God’s faithfulness, and point others to Jesus.

As we allow the Holy Spirit to fill us, we should be ready to speak words of encouragement, truth, and hope to those around us. May we be open to His leading, and like these figures in the Gospels, may we have the courage to declare God’s greatness in every opportunity we are given.

Bold as Love

HOOK

  • Brother Andrew story Pt I
    • Smuggled Bibles into closed countries
    • Faced with an inescapable Romanian checkpoint
    • Cars being torn to pieces
    • How will he escape?

BOOK

(Ruth 2:2–9a, NKJV) 2 So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. 4 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered him, “The Lord bless you!” 5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “It is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.”  8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you?

PRAYER

(God help us to have boldness)

LOOK

Recap

Airdropping into Ruth, so if you are unfamiliar with the story, here’s your recap: Previously, in Ruth…

  • Naomi/Husband/Sons leave Bethlehem because of famine.
  • Husband/Sons die in Moab.
  • One daughter stays in Moab, the other follows Naomi back to Israel.

Verse 2–3

2 So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

  • There is provision for the poor, the widow, and the orphan under the Mosaic Law. The harvesters were not to harvest the edges of the field, nor were they to pick up anything that had been dropped.
  • Naomi was in a terrible headspace and couldn’t do anything, so Ruth took it upon herself to provide for both of them.
  • She “happened” to land in Boaz’ field. A member of the family of Naomi’s late husband.

Verse 4

4 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered him, “The Lord bless you!”

  • Ruth shows up at the field the same day and Boaz stops in to inspect the work!
  • Boaz and the works greet each other with an acknowledgment that God guides and provides. This provides a tone for the work environment and the boss.

Verse 5

5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”

  • Picture it! Boaz sees Ruth from across the field as “True” by Spandau Ballet plays.
  • Whose young woman? (Father/Brother)
  • Someone should be taking care of her

Verse 6

6 So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “It is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.

  • I’m sure Naomi’s re-arrival in town would have caused a buzz.
  • And there’s a foreigner with her!

Verse 7

7 And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.”

  • “Among the sheaves” is a BOLD REQUEST
    • Reaped bundles the female servants would bind
    • Gathering for two
    • Much more than what she asked Naomi for
    • IN THE POCKET
  • It might surprise you to learn that among translation nerds, this it is a hotly contested passage!
    • The controversy?
      • What was Ruth actually doing that morning?
    • Popular translations:

(NKVJ) So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.

(ESV) So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.

(CSV) She came and has been on her feet since early morning, except that she rested a little in the shelter.

(NET) Since she arrived she has been working hard from this morning until now–except for sitting in the resting hut a short time.

(NIV 1984) She went into the field and has worked steadily from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.

(NLT) She has been hard at work ever since, except for a few minutes’ rest in the shelter.

  • Continued from v3, right? “Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers”
  • So what’s the controversy?

Editorial Decisions

  • Translating is as much art as it is science.
  • Bad, phat, sick, ill, and wicked.
  • In the same way…

Two Contentious Phrases

  • “Continued” [HEB: aw-mad]
    • appears over 500x in the OT
    • This is the only time it is ever translated as “hard at work”. The vast majority of times it appears it is translated as “stand” or “stand waiting”.
  • So why do…
    • Literal leave it ambiguous
    • Thought-for-thought translate “hard work”
  • Because… I think…
  • “Rested a little” [HEB: meh-at yaw-shab]
  • Why would Ruth need to dwell a little in the house if she had merely been standing around all day?
    • Possible: “dwell too little” OR “hardly dwell”

A Matter of Character

  • Must know who we are talking about to get to the bottom of this
  • BOAZ is wealthy, God-fearing, and of good character
  • RUTH is a worthy woman 3:11 -> A proverbs 31 woman
  • Most agree that Boaz is being generous later in vv15.

(vv15) And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her.

  • This was generous because of what “Among the Sheaves” meant.
    • POCKET BOLD REQUEST
  • Same as vv7
  • ILL: Les Miserables (Bishop Myriel & Jean Valjean candlesticks vs more)
  • No generosity, but magnanimity, grace.
  • Even if Boaz WAS generous, it besmirches Ruth!
  • ILL: Man knocks on your door and asks for food and money.
  • Virtuous, trustworthy, dignified, wise, respects the Lord
    • No, I do not think Ruth made the BOLD request, then did it anyway
  • Maybe older sources will help?

Older Translations

  • TRANSLATED closer to the source
    • Why does that matter? (Idiom and understanding)
  • Ruth was written between the 10th and 4th centuries BC

(Masoretic Text—Jewish Bible/Hebrew & Aramaic/7cAD) So she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.

(Vulgate—Common lang/Latin/4cAD) And she hath been in the field from morning till now, and hath not gone home for one moment. 

(Septuagint—Common language/Greek/2cBC) And she came and stood from morning till evening, and rested not a little in the field.

  • She did not begin working, but waited until she had permission from the only one who could give it
  • Preserves character of both Boaz and Ruth

(CUV) And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has stood waiting from morning until now, having no need of the house.”

Verse 8–9a

8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you?

  • And you see the boldness has paid off.

TOOK

(Hebrews 4:16, NKJV) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

  • Is that what we do?

(Matthew 6:19–23, NKJV) Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

(Average Christian Prayer) Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name, God. God, if Your kingdom could just come. And just let Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven, God. And just Give us this day our daily bread. And just forgive us our debts Lord, As we forgive our debtors. And just do not lead us into temptation, But just deliver us from the evil one, God. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

  • Do you see the difference?
  • Pets begging under the table
  • My kids just ask because I’ve shown myself to be a faithful, generous provider
  • My kids only beg when they think I will say ‘no’.
  • Stop just this or that, if you want something, ask for it!
  • If you are being presumptuous or selfish, don’t be surprised if God says ‘no’.
  • Seeking God? Desires align
    • Leadership Team Prayer alignment
  • How can we come, as Hebrews says, before the throne of grace with such confidence?
    • As children of God. Adopted sons and daughters.

(Rom 8:14–17, NKJV) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

  • Brother Andrew story Pt II
    • Recap
    • Hands documents
    • Knee in the door
    • Foot over the brake
  • OUT OF THE POCKET BOLD REQUEST 
  • Andrew asked to be saved from an impossible situation for the sake of the Gospel
  • Book of Acts prayer for boldness in the face of persecution for the sake of the Gospel
    • This church grew so fast that it put a dent history!
  • They asked and left it in the hands of the one who could do it.
  • This is what Ruth did as well.
  • So did Moses, and David, and Daniel, and Jesus

Because prayer changes things. Because you can see farther on your knees than on your feet. Because prayer opens the floodgates of heaven and shuts up the gates to hell. Because prayer has power to cure sickness. And disease. To break addictions. To free the mind and ignite the spirit. If you feel like God is far away, know that He is as close as your next prayer! Because Prayer doesn’t need proof. Prayer needs practice.

Is your marriage under attack? Pray. Is your business failing? Pray! Has Satan got a hold of someone you love? Pray! Sad? Alone? Lost? Hopeless? Pray! Pray! Pray! Pray! Because a prayer-less Christian is a powerless Christian, and a prayer-less churches a powerless church! Prayer is not something we start and stop, it is an open-ended and ongoing conversation with a God who can split the seas. A God who can move the mountains. A God who can rain fire down from heaven. A God who uses gold for asphalt. A God who can create an unimaginable vast universe with a breath! But even He cannot answer a prayer that goes un-prayed.

So when you are faced with the trials and tribulations, when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, when you are in the sweltering heat of that fiery furnace… pray. Pray to the God who loves. The God who cares. The God who saves. The God who raises. The God who restores. Pray to the God who delivers. Put your trust in Him and watch Him make you say “WOW”! Wow. Wow.

If you need to see something change, come to the throne of the God of heaven and earth. If you need to see something change, come to the throne of the Lord of life and death. If you need to see something change, pray. Because prayer changes things. Amen!

Communion segue

  • As we pass out the communion elements, take this time to BOLDLY come before the throne of grace and ask God to 1) break you of the cravings of your flesh, to 2) bring your desires under submission to His, and 3) to put a longing in your heart for His will and His way. And then never stop praying. Let’s lift up His name, church!

Communion

(1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

  • Let’s share the bread together.

(1 Corinthians 11:25) In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

  • Let’s share the cup together.

(1 Corinthians 11:26) For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

  • Let’s worship the Lord together.

Outro

(John 14:12–14) 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Bold As Love

Anger! He smiles
Towering in shiny metallic purple armor
Queen jealousy, envy waits behind him
Her fiery green gown sneers at the grassy ground

Jimi Hendrix rightly recognizes that jealousy often fuels the wrong kinds of anger. Such is the case with Joseph’s brothers. There’s plenty to be jealous about, Joseph is the youngest and the apple of his father’s eye. The little brother is a snitch. And Jospeh also appears to have no filter of any kind. When Joseph shares the dreams about his family bowing down to him, it is not clear from the text whether he is trying to flaunt/taunt his brother with it because they are so mean to him, or whether Jospeh just has a hard time reading the room.

In any case, his brother plot to kill him, but Reuben talks them into merely abandoning him in a well to die of starvation or exposure. Of course his real plan was to go rescue Joseph later, but that part is never said aloud. Well, Judah realizes they can make some cash off the deal by selling Joseph to the passing Ishmaelite traders. Later Reuben comes to rescue his brother only to find that he is gone. Similarly, Jacob is told that Joseph was mauled to death by a wild animal and mourns for a long time.

If we know that something is wrong, it isn’t enough to simply think it’s wrong and make a secret plan to circumvent the wrong-doers, we must be willing to stand up, be unpopular, possibly even be hated in order to do what is right. And by ‘right’ I mean righteous. We cannot allow ourselves to have a timid love, that is hidden and only allowed out when we think we are in the majority or it won’t ruffle any feathers. We must be bold. Bold as love.

Genesis 37-39; 1 Chronicles 2:3-6, 8 | 014/365