Many years ago, when I was living in Santa Barbara, California, I found a new place and was moving. Although most of my stuff had been moved to the new location due to a logistical error, I had a couch and a love seat that still needed to be moved. If I recall correctly, I was supposed to have help moving those more oversized items, but the aid fell through. Thus, I found myself with some large items and no truck to move them. Not only didn’t I have a truck to move the items, but it also was late in the evening, and renting a truck at that hour was impossible. 

While standing there with only the street lamps for light, I thought about what to do when I saw a truck down the road. I told my stepson, “Let’s ask that person for help.” As we walked, I reminded my stepson of what the Lord said in Luke about the friend who asked his neighbor for bread late at night after everyone had gone to sleep.

I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

Luke 11:8 (NIV)

We needed a truck, so I asked the Lord to help us when I saw a truck. 

As the truck pulled up and the driver got out, I explained the situation to him and asked him if he would help us. Since he had just gotten off work, he said he would help us but needed to do two things. First, he wanted to go inside, change, and get the keys for his other vehicle, a bigger truck! 

When we think about holy boldness, we often think about it in terms of expressing the courage to talk to people about Jesus. Indeed, sharing the Gospel message is one way of exhibiting our boldness in Christ. Unlike the boldness in the world, Christian boldness comes from the Holy Spirit and confidence in the blood of Jesus. 

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

Hebrews 4:16 assures us that, with Jesus as our high priest and sacrificial lamb, we can confidently approach God. 

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly (emphasis added).

Acts 4:31 (NIV)

Note how, in Acts 4:31, the disciples prayed and then were filled with the Holy Spirit. I don’t think their prayer was a timid one. In fact, Acts 4:29 gives us insight into the disciples’ prayer before they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

Acts 4:29 (NIV)

This prayer and the subsequent reception of the Holy Spirit, along with the boldness received, confirms what Paul said in his second letter to Timothy.

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

The disciple’s prayer in Acts 4 aligns with what Jesus said to them in Luke when he was teaching them about prayer.

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Luke 11:13 (NIV)

Therefore, one type of holy boldness reflects the attitude we have when we pray to God. When we pray, we should pray with boldness and confidence. Not in ourselves but in God as our loving father. Just as Jesus describes in Luke 11:5-11. What do this boldness and confidence look like? Let’s see what James says about praying for wisdom.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord (emphasis added).

James 1:5-7 (NIV)

We must believe and not doubt. We believe that God can do what we ask, not because of anything we’ve done, but because of who God is. In Mark, Jesus confirms what James wrote.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Mark 11:24 (NIV)

The other form of holy boldness, which I’ve already mentioned and you’re probably familiar with, is telling people about Christ. This is what the disciples prayed for in Acts. As we consider this form of boldness, think about how it relates to approaching God. How can we think we’ll be able to approach others with confidence if we cannot approach God with confidence and boldness? 

I don’t know about you, but it’s my confidence in God, which comes by way of the Holy Spirit, that empowers me to talk about Jesus. It’s the knowledge that God wants people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth that fills me with the courage to know I’m doing God’s will. This same understanding, coupled with what Jesus says about God giving us our daily bread and good things in Luke, allows me to express the holy boldness of asking God for anything in prayer that’s according to his will with confidence. 

Do you know God? God knows you, and he loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, and he wants you to know him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so we could be free of guilt, freed from death, and live eternally with him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away.

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins. I repent from my ways. Wash me in your blood and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I believe that you died on the cross, were buried, and on the third day, God the Father raised you from the dead. Right now, Lord Jesus, I open the door to my heart and receive you into my heart as my Lord and personal Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment, and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.

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