Boldness & HumilityRuss Fochler

February 13, 2016

Keys to Truly Living Life• God resists the proud but gives

grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5b, James 4:6, Prov 3:34)

• Blessed are the “poor” in spirit. (Matt 5:3)

• After Jesus’ death, His disciples prayed for boldness (Acts 4:29)

• We give our Father pleasure when we live boldly instead of fearfully. (Heb 10:38)

But, We’re Tempted to Misuse and Excuse

• My stiff-necked, hard-driving, steam-roller ways? Oh, but I’m just being “Bold in Lord”! I’m making things happen!

• My avoidance of uncomfortable conflict, hiding from challenges, putting myself down? Oh, but I’m just being “humble”. I’m “staying low”!

True Humility Means We Are Receptive:

• To God’s heart - via impressions, pictures, thoughts, feelings…

• To new information that may not “fit” with what we’ve assumed.

• To the possibility we may need to change what we are doing — in order to stay “in alignment” with what is true and loving.

Humility Like Jesus:

• Jesus resisted being offended when others put him down, and sought to hurt his reputation. Jesus didn’t ask his Father to send angels to prove His divinity.

• Yet Jesus strongly stood up for the work of Holy Spirit and Father God.

True Humility: Doesn’t Force It’s Way

• Lives in unforced rhythms of grace.

• Motivated by 1st Cor 13 ways of Love.

• “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable…” (1 Cor 13:4-5a)

“Checking In” with our heart: What is my true motivation here?

• Fear and Anxiety?

• Love and Trust?

• Afraid of looking silly? Fear of being misunderstood? Fear of appearing vulnerable? Anxiety about my needs?

• Connecting with God’s heart? Loving someone God loves? Confidence that God is with me. Trusting He cares about my needs?

Godly Boldness Comes When• Our heart is aligned with Jesus’ heart;

when our passion for His Kingdom to come into a situation is strong.

• We move in the power of the Holy Spirit.

• We feel confident — a confidence that comes from Father’s confidence in us. We “know” that we are flowing in an aspect of our destiny.

Churchill’s Bodyguard and Aide Walter Thompson

Winston Churchill 1941

“Walking With Destiny”

Godly boldness and confidence often are “fruit” from what you and God walked through earlier. He uses all things for our good — He wastes nothing.

Moses starts his life’s work at 80, Churchill at age 65, yet David had godly boldness as a youth (the bear, and the lion before Goliah).

1 Peter 5:6

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

“Heroes”

David Hogan speaking at Bethel Church in Redding

–David Hogan

“It’s a good thing I’ve lost my embarrassment, my fear of man, and

my ‘give a flying flip’ button…”