Live Deeply-Live BOLDLY! I John 5:13-15 October 29, 2017 Something greater than Halloween happened 500 years ago this Tuesday. Martin Luther, a bold Christian, made a bold move, that challenged the faith of all believers then and still today. I want to thank John Wagner for sharing the Reformation story of Martin Luther, as we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation from such a bold move of a bold believer. That bold move went on to make a difference in many lives over the years including the founder of Methodism, John Wesley. Fast forward from October 31st, 1517, to May 24th, 1738. The Anglican priest, John Wesley, had returned to England from what he felt was a failed mission trip to the native Americans in Georgia. He had met a group of pious yet bold believers on the voyage who were Moravians. He was invited to one of their society meetings on the evening of May 24, 1738. Here is how he described what took place that evening that changed his heart and life. "In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street where one was reading Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation: And an assurance was given me, that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death." (Journal, Vol. 1, p.103) Wesley would write later, "It pleased God to kindle a fire which I trust shall never be extinguished." Page 1
That fire that was started did not go out in Wesley's heart and life. His bold faith awakened in England and America the Great Evangelical Awakening of which we, as Methodists, are a part of even today. Now I have studied, heard of and read this account of Wesley's heart-warming experience after hearing the reading of Martin Luther's preface to Romans. However, I never did take the time to read the preface. I want to share with you a part of that preface that I want to spark that fire in our hearts and hopefully a fire that will not be extinguished. "Faith is a living, daring confidence in the grace of God, of such assurance that it would risk a thousand deaths. This confidence and knowledge of divine grace make a person happy, bold, and full of gladness in his relation to God and all creatures. The Holy Ghost is doing this in the believer. Hence it is that a person, without constraint, becomes willing and enthusiastic to do good to everybody, to serve everybody, to suffer all manner of afflictions, from love of God and to the praise of Him who has extended such grace to him." I want us to put in BOLD font three words of that preface that I want us to hear: "daring confidence bold enthusiastic." To Live Deeply in Jesus is a call for us to live bold! Jesus certainly demonstrated that for us as he traveled among the people, challenged the religious leaders in their rules and rituals, fed the hungry, healed the sick and dined with the outsiders of society. I want us to be challenged on this 500th anniversary of the Reformation to feel our hearts strangely warmed to have a fire lit in our spirits that will not be extinguished to live a life of BOLD faith. Page 2
I think I can hear some of us thinking, "Now wait! I am not a Luther, a Wesley and certainly not Jesus." This bold living of my faith really isn't something I am able to do. I am not asking us to start a Reformation or some modern great awakening. I am asking us to be open to the challenge and presence of the Holy Spirit to light a fire of holy boldness in us. It is no secret that I enjoy coffee. It is also a known fact that I like BOLD coffee. Do you know how they make coffee decaffeinated? I didn't so I asked my coffee expert, my son TJ, how it happens. He showed me a 50lb bag of decaffeinated coffee beans. On the bag is stamped Swiss water process. The bottom line is that caffeine is water soluble. So the caffeine is soaked out of the bean. The Swiss method is the organic method. I have no reason to drink decaf. However, it is interesting that a bean is water-downed to lose its kick or power. To me decaf is a "why bother." But what is even worst is a watered down cup of bold coffee. Is there even such a thing as watered down bold coffee? For you non-coffee people how do you enjoy your watered down ice tea, soups, gravy or kool-aid? Water downed kool-aid may look the color but the taste is why bother? Watered down is not desirable. Imagine if Luther had been lukewarm no Reformation. Imagine if Wesley was watered down no Great Evangelical Awakening. No, we are not a Luther or Wesley, but we are like them we are people who have a desire for Jesus to be our personal Savior. I would think that we would rather be bold in our faith than just look the part of a Christian without the flavor or faith watered down. When we experience a bold change of heart we are then to lead a bold life! Page 3
Watered down is not bold. Watered down compromises the boldness of God's love in us. Watered down soaks the boldness of God's truth out of us. The Reformation watered down would simply be information. Our hearts have been changed by a bold move on God's part to send Jesus. Our hearts are called to reflect that bold love and faith. Bold beliefs watered down become simply nice thoughts. Bold faith watered down becomes a fickled go with the latest fad of truth. Bold life in Jesus watered down becomes a flavor of the week, go through the motions Christian. Oh how we are in need of a bold reformation a bold great awakening in our society today. I believe God wants us to be bold in our living for him. What does bold look like? Where there is watered down life we can push the bold font key of faith and make a difference. Where there is watered down we can live boldly... apathy compassion pride humility hatred love world's wisdom God's truth in His word head trip heart enthusiasm justice injustice disrespect respect evil holiness talk listen trouble peacemakers silence prayer depressed joy discouraged encourage loneliness friendship The Apostle Paul challenged the Early believers to "never be lacking in zeal!" NIV Or as the Message bible reads, "Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame." (Romans 12:11) Page 4
John, the disciple who lived deeply, and was exiled to an island for his bold living of the faith wrote: "Live out the truth boldly continue diligently in the way of truth." (II John 9 & III John 4) Why did John write his letters? To let us know that through our faith in Jesus as our Savior we have the reality of eternal life. He then went on to remind us how "bold and free" we can be in His presence and in the living out of our faith our bold faith. My challenge to me and each of us is that when we go to push the bold key on our computer, or enjoy a bold cup of coffee or see the word "bold" on anything we eat, we will be challenged to live boldly for Jesus. When others around you get a taste of your faith do they enjoy a bold love or some kind of watered down version? May our prayer be that the love of Jesus, that bold love of Jesus, fill our hearts to overflowing. May we live boldly for him each new day as we celebrate the reformation and great awakening of faith HE has done in our hearts. Live deeply! Live BOLDLY!!! Page 5