Decide to Be Bold: A 10-Day Brave Coaches JourneySample

Boldness Through the Holy Spirit

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

“Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind.” – Charles Spurgeon

The early disciples were ordinary men until Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit filled them with power. Peter, who once denied Christ in fear, stood boldly before thousands declaring Jesus as Lord. That transformation is the work of the Spirit, not of human ability. Without the Spirit, we are timid; with the Spirit, we are unstoppable.

Dwight L. Moody’s story captures this truth powerfully. He began as a humble shoe salesman in Boston, uneducated and by no means eloquent—his grammar was often poor, and he sometimes misspoke words. His ministry was sincere but unremarkable until he experienced a powerful filling of the Holy Spirit. After that moment, there was a dramatic change. His preaching carried a weight and authority that could not be explained by natural ability. Crowds were moved to repentance, entire cities were stirred, and revival spread across America and Great Britain.

Moody eventually reached an estimated 100 million people in an era before modern media. He founded schools, established churches, and trained countless leaders. Observers testified, “There seemed to be a new power in Moody. His words had new weight. It was as if heaven itself bore witness.” What changed was not Moody’s personality but the Spirit’s power.

His story reminds us that boldness is not about eloquence, education, or charisma. It is about availability to the Spirit’s empowering presence. Just as Peter went from denial to declaration, Moody went from ordinary to extraordinary when the Spirit came upon him. His life proves that when the Holy Spirit fills a man, boldness follows—and the world takes notice.

Modern believers in closed nations echo this same courage. In underground churches across China, Iran, and North Korea, men and women risk imprisonment or death to share Christ. Their boldness is not explained by personality but by the Spirit’s fire within them. They know that to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).

The Brave Truth: Boldness is not about natural confidence but supernatural empowerment. Without the Spirit, we are timid. With Him, we are courageous witnesses to Christ.

Ask yourself: am I relying on myself or truly depending on the power of the Spirit for boldness? The Spirit is the difference between fear and faith, weakness and strength, silence and proclamation.

Action Step: Pray today: “Holy Spirit, fill me afresh and make me bold for Christ.”

Reflection Questions

1. Am I relying on my personality or the power of the Holy Spirit for boldness?
2. Where in my life do I most need the Spirit to replace fear with courage?
3. What evidence would others see in me that I am Spirit-filled and Spirit-led?