Be Bold, Walk Tall

by Lester Sumrall

Be Bold, Walk Tall

by Lester Sumrall

Harrison House, Inc. Tulsa, Oklahoma

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

2nd Printing Over 17,500 in Print

Be Bold, Walk Tall ISBN 0 !"#$% $$& ' (op)ri*ht + ,""' b) -ester Sumrall ./an*elistic 0ssociation, Inc. South Bend, Indiana %&&#% 1ublished b) 2arrison 2ouse, Inc. 1.O. Bo3 4'04' Tulsa, O5 $%,'4 1rinted in the United States of 0merica. 0ll ri*hts reser/ed under International (op)ri*ht -aw. (ontents and6or co/er ma) not be reproduced in whole or in part in an) form without the e3press written consent of the 1ublisher.

Contents
, 0 Sla/e 7ho 7as Bold and 7alked Tall # The 8an 7ho 0sked for a 8ountain 4 The Sheepherder 7ho Became Bold % 9i/e Sins That 7ill 2inder Boldness ' Boldness Influences 1eople for :od & ,& 4, '0 '!

1 A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall

1 A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall

7rite on )our doors the sa)in* wise and old, ;Be bold< be bold<; and e/er)where, ;Be bold<= Be not too bold<; >et better the e3cess than the defect= better the more than less., ?2enr) 7adsworth -on*fellow If )ou want to be bold and walk tall in :od, it will require complete obedience. If )ou want to walk tall in :od?be like (aleb of the Israelites. 2e could sa) with confidence, ;I entirel) followed the -ord m) :od when no one but @oshua
, Seldes, :eor*e, compiler, Great Quotations, ;8orituri Salutamus,; ANew >orkB 1ocket Books, ,"&0, ,"&"C, pp. !","0.

Be Bold and Walk Tall was with me. The others refused to take the land :od promised us, but I followed :od.;
And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy eet have trodden shall !e thine inheritance, and thy children"s or ever, !ecause thou hast wholly ollowed the #ord $y %od. &oshua 1'()

-ook at the result of (alebDs obedienceB ./er)where his feet trod was *i/en to him, not Eust for his own inheritance, but to *o to his childrenDs children in perpetuit). AFeut. ,B4&.C 7hat are your children *oin* to recei/e in this lifeG If )ou wholl) follow the -ord )our :od, then )our seed can possess e/er)thin* that :od has for )ou and them. I ha/e alwa)s felt sorr) for (hristians who do not pass on their herita*e of *odliness to their children. 8an) do not bother to send, much less take, their children to church acti/ities. 7hen those children are older, the) will not want church at all. Then the parents will scream, ;Oh, :od< Sa/e m) children<; 0nd the) will blame the church for what is happenin*.

A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall 7e ha/e lost so man) children from our churches, because their parents?who were (hristians?did not see that the) attended Sunda) school and )outh acti/ities. :od promised to bless our children, but we ha/e to do our part b) keepin* them in church where the) can hear 2is 7ord and learn to fellowship with the saints. Notice somethin* else about (alebB 2e knew :od had kept him ali/e for a purpose. 2e was determined to fulfill his destin) in :od, althou*h he was ei*ht) fi/e )ears old before he could be*in to possess is promised inheritance.
And now, !ehold, the #ord hath ke*t $e alive, as he said, these orty and ive years, even since the #ord s*ake this word unto Moses, while the children o Israel wandered in the wilderness( and now, lo, I a$ this day ourscore and ive years old. &oshua 1'(1+

-ook at (alebDs boldness e/en in his old a*e. 7hen the Israelites finall) were read) to *o into the 1romised -and, (aleb reminded them that :od had kept him li/e since the first time he spied out the land.

Be Bold and Walk Tall 2e was bold to e3cess, but that was better than bein* cowardl) and not ha/in* the coura*e to *o into the land at all. 0lso, bein* bold sometimes means ha/in* to wait on other people to *et read) to mo/e. It would ha/e been nice if :od had simpl) built (aleb and @oshua a little camp on the ed*e of the 1romised -and and let them sta) there until the ne3t *eneration Israelites *ot read) to mo/e. But, then, who would ha/e been an e3ample for themG 7ho would ha/e led them when 8oses and 0aron passed onG The Israelites were able to see a contrast in @oshua and (aleb between boldness and its reward and the de/astation brou*ht b) the de/il because of fear runnin* in :odDs people. Sometimes we ha/e to witness the destruction that doubt, unbelief, fear, and sin brin* before we de/elop the boldness to be obedient. But :od is faithful, and 2e kept (aleb ali/e in order for him to enter the land as 2e had promised. :od alwa)s is faithful to 2is promises. The -ord will keep )ou ali/e and pro/ide special blessin*s, as

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall lon* as )ou walk in faith, obedience, and boldness.

The Bold ,eceive -ro$ %od

I ha/e met doHens of people around the world, who said to me, ;I thought one da) )ou would come here to preach< :od has kept me ali/e to see )ou and to hear these truths )ou teach. IDm old, but I ha/e recei/ed the 2ol) Spirit, and :od has kept me ali/e for this /er) da)<; That alwa)s makes me think of what man) (hristians desire more than an)thin*?to be ali/e when @esus returns. There ma) be millions of (hristians who will li/e be)ond their a*e limits in the natural, because :od has said to them, ;>es, I will *rant that )ou can be ali/e when I come back.; To m) mind, that would be the *reatest *ift a human bein* could e/er recei/e< The most wonderful thin* that could happen to us as (hristians in this life would be to be ali/e when @esus comes back and to *o up to meet 2im in the air. I can tell )ou from personal e3perience that faithfulness to :od is a *reat thin*. (aleb said, ;:od has kept me ali/e these fort)

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Be Bold and Walk Tall and fi/e )ears.; That means he spent the first fort) )ears of his life in .*)pt, fort) )ears wanderin* the desert, and another fi/e )ears ser/in* @oshua and helpin* the Israelites *ain the 1romised -and. 2e trailed @oshua around, chasin* the enem) out of the land, so his people could possess it. 2e must ha/e been a remarkable man of faith at ei*ht) fi/e )ears old. 0fter all, he had bones Eust as we ha/e bones. 2e had hair Eust as we ha/e hair. 2e had teeth Eust as we ha/e teeth. >et the Bible sa)s his stren*th was as that of a man of fort). 2e was as stron* as the da) 8oses first sent him to sp) out the land of (anaan with @oshua and ten other Israelites. 2e was as human as )ou or me, )et he was determined to sta) ali/e in order to possess the inheritance promised him b) :od. No matter what )our a*e is toda), )ou need to be as determined to possess what :od has for )ou as (aleb was to obtain his inheritance. It will take boldness to recei/e e/er)thin* :od has for )ou,

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall especiall) if )ou are older. 2owe/er, :od is no respecter of persons. If 2e *a/e (aleb his 1romised -and at ei*ht) fi/e )ears of a*e, then 2e will *i/e )ou )our 1romised -and no matter how old )ou are. Some (hristians ha/e ;retired,; and the) should be ashamed. There is no such thin* as retirin* in :od. It is all ri*ht to retire from a Eob or occupation, if )ou can afford it, but there is no reason to retire from workin* for :od. :od is :od, and 2e can *i/e )ou supernatural wisdom and stren*th enou*h to possess e/er)thin* 2e has for )ou. >es, it will take supernatural wisdom and supernatural stren*th. But if (aleb could *et those from :od, so can )ou.

Su*ernatural Strength
If )ou want supernatural stren*th and wisdom, )ou must stop watchin* those carnal, dead pro*rams on tele/ision. ./en knowin* how to ;build muscle; in the natural will not help )ou in the spiritual realm. Better *et )our nose in the Book of books and be*in readin* about a man named (aleb, who was

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Be Bold and Walk Tall bold and walked tall e/en at what is *enerall) considered a ripe old a*e. Obedience and wholl) followin* the -ord will *i/e )ou supernatural stren*th and brin* blessin*s rainin* down on )ou. I can Eust hear (aleb sa)in*, ;I ha/e as much stren*th and /italit) now as I had when I was fort). In fact, m) stren*th is still so *reat that I could *o out to war, fi*ht, and come back shoutin* with the /ictor)<; 2e was talkin* about fi*htin* hand to hand with swords and spears, not ridin* inside tanks and firin* machine *uns. 0lso, look at the handicaps he had to o/ercome in the be*innin*. 2e had man) disad/anta*esB 2e had been a sla/e to .*)ptian bonda*e for fort) )ears, workin* at hard labor on the equi/alent of a chain *an* makin* bricks out of straw. 2e was of a persecuted minorit), one which the people of the nation where he li/ed were preEudiced a*ainst. 2e also was of a persecuted minorit) of two? @oshua and himself?when the other ten spies

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall wanted to run from the (anaanites. The people were read) to stone (aleb and @oshua, as well as 8oses. ANum. ,%B,0.C 2e wanted to *o forward, while millions of his companions wanted to *o backward. So he had to suffer for their sakes and mark time in the wilderness until he was an old man. 1erhaps )ou ha/e had disad/anta*es in )our life. 1erhaps )ou ha/e had some hard times in different areas of )our life. 1erhaps )ou ha/e had to ;mark time; and wait because of other peopleDs mistakes or disobedience. 2owe/er, if )ou will be bold and walk tall in :od, )ou can o/ercome e/er) disad/anta*e. >ou can be like (aleb, the man who was bold enou*h to ask for a mountain.

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. The Man Who Asked or a Mountain

. The Man Who Asked or a Mountain

/ow there ore give $e this $ountain, whereo the #ord s*ake in that day.... &oshua 1'(1.

(aleb also had coura*e and determination. 2e did not ask for somethin* that was eas). 2e had the boldness to ask for somethin* big in :od. (aleb asked for a mountain< 2e did not sa), ;1lease, I know IDm *ettin* old, so Eust *i/e me this little plain down b) the ri/erside. It wonDt take a lot of work, and I wonDt ha/e to climb uphill. 0fter all, ID/e alread) Dpaid m) duesD and done m) part to help others. 7e ha/e alread) taken this little piece of land from the (anaanites.; That is probabl) what an ordinar) person would

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Be Bold and Walk Tall ha/e asked for, but not (aleb. No< 2e said, ;:i/e me somethin* with a little challen*e to it. :i/e me this mountain! (an )ou ima*ine an ei*ht) fi/e )ear old man askin* to be allowed to take in battle and possess an entire mountainG 0nd this was not Eust an) mountain. This mountain was full of *iants. It was fenced and had ;*reat; cities.
/ow there ore give $e this $ountain, whereo the #ord s*ake in that day0 or thou heardest in that day how the Anaki$s were there, and that the cities were great and enced( i so !e the #ord will !e with $e, then I shall !e a!le to drive the$ out, as the #ord said. And &oshua !lessed hi$, and gave unto Cale! the son o &e*hunneh He!ron or an inheritance. &oshua 1'(1.,11

The 0nakims were *iants, some reportedl) as much as ten feet tall. But @oshua *ranted his request. Therefore, 2ebron became the inheritance of (aleb, because he wholl) followed the -ord :od of Israel. I like that< 1ersonall), from m) man) /isits to the

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall 2ol) -and, I ha/e found that I like 2ebron almost better than an) other part of the 2ol) -and. It is a beautiful area. (aleb recei/ed his inheritance?the land of 2ebron?because he determined to walk tall and boldl) follow the -ord :od of hosts. >ou would not belie/e how man) times this phrase, ;because he wholl) followed the -ord 2is :od,; is in the Bible. So man) people ha/e obtained their desires from the -ord because of this one thin*. (aleb followed :od in complete obedience, which is wh) he recei/ed so much from 2im. 2e dro/e out the *iants, because he was empowered with supernatural stren*th from walkin* so close to :od.
And Cale! drove thence the three sons o Anak, Shesai, and Ahi$an, and Tal$ai, the children o Anak. &oshua 12(1'

7hat did (aleb think and sa) was the secret of his successG 2e ne/er took the *lor) and credit to himself. 2e saidB
...I so !e the #ord will !e with $e, then I

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Be Bold and Walk Tall

shall !e a!le to drive the$ out, as the #ord said. &oshua 1'(1.

(aleb knew that if :od was on his side, i :od said he could do it, he knew no one could stand a*ainst him and succeed. Because of knowin* that, (aleb, at ei*ht) fi/e, had the supernatural stren*th, ener*), and boldness to ask for a mountain?not a plain and not a /alle). I can Eust hear him sa)in* to @oshua, ;IDll climb that mountain< 0nd, up on that mountaintop, I will fi*ht men twice m) siHe, and IDll DlickD e/er) one of them. I know I can dri/e out that bunch, because IDm bold in :od<; (aleb probabl) took one look at the *iants and, like Fa/id, said, ;IDm comin* after )ou, bo)s< This is the end of )our Dmessin* aroundD with the children of Israel.; 2e won as tremendous a /ictor) as Fa/id did )ears later o/er :oliath. (aleb dro/e the *iants down to the 8editerranean Sea. That is where the) were li/in*, amon* the 1hilistines, when Fa/id came on the scene. A, Sam. ,$.C (aleb took their houses awa) from the *iants.

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall Those houses must ha/e had mi*ht) bi* doors to let in ten foot *iants. (aleb stripped from them e/er)thin* the) had, and 2ebron became a hol) place. That was where the patriarchs, 0braham, Isaac, and @acob were buried with their wi/es. Notice that the children of 0nak were not buried in 2ebron in the same area as the patriarchs. The 0nakims were not allowed to Eoin that *odl) crowd, e/en in death. The) did not recei/e *reat honor= the) did not deser/e it. But @oshua was *ranted *reat honor in :od. There is e/en an entire book of the Bible named after him. (aleb also was *ranted *reat honor b) :od. 2owe/er, there was no honor for the sons of 0nak, because those *iants came a*ainst :odDs people. (aleb deser/ed honor, because he was a *eneration builder. 2e established 2ebron as his inheritance, and it remains a place man) people /isit e/en toda). It is a mountain, and it is surrounded b) other mountains. 0 man, old b) our terms, possessed that mountain, because he was bold. 2e walked tall in :od, and he cast a lon* shadow. 2is influence was far reachin*. 0 little mistreated bo), born and

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Be Bold and Walk Tall reared in po/ert), hatred, and sla/er) became a mi*ht) man of :od. No doubt, howe/er, (alebDs *reatest celebration of /ictor) was not when he won 2ebron, but when he went to hea/en. >oun* (hristians should learn a lesson from men such as (alebB 7hat )our parents are or ha/e been does not need to determine what you are *oin* to be in :od. 7here )ou li/e toda) does not ha/e to determine where )ou are *oin* to li/e. 7hat )ou do toda) does not ha/e to be what )ou are *oin* to accomplish for :od some da). 7hat )our parentsD life was like does not ha/e to be the pattern for )our life. >ou can be what :od says )ou can be< >ou do not ha/e to be afraid. If )our parents are now poor, that does not mean )ou alwa)s ha/e to be poor. :od will help )ou personall) if )ou Eust ask 2im. How To %et Bold in %od There are some fascinatin* Scriptures that show boldness bein* produced, such as 0cts %B4,, where

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall the followers of @esus were *athered to*ether pra)in* on the Fa) of 1entecost. The Bible sa)s that the) pra)ed, the place was shaken, and the) spake the 7ord of :od with boldness. 0nother e3ample of *odl) boldness is found in 0cts 'B,', where -uke reported that multitudes of men and women were added to the -ord. 1eople carried the sick out into the street on beds and couches to la) them where the shadow of the 0postle 1eter passin* b) mi*ht fall on them, and the) would be healed. 7hen )ou are full of the 2ol) Spirit, e/en the shadow )ou cast can be full of power< This was the same 1eter who denied @esus three times in a matter of hours when @esus was in hardest trial of 2is life, a literal trial for 2is life. This was the same 1eter who had ;backslid; and *one back to fishin* for a li/in* instead of *oin* into the ministr) after the crucifi3ion. 9rom the time 1eter was filled with the 2ol) Spirit, he became bold. 2e walked tall in :od, and he cast a healin* shadow for the world. :od is talkin* to some (hristians toda) to be

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Be Bold and Walk Tall bold for 2im. 2e wants us to walk tall in 2im. Some (hristians hear the 7ord, and it Eust *oes in one ear and ri*ht back out the other. Some (hristians believe the 7ord, but the world chan*ers are those who live the 7ord. 7hat are you *oin* to do about bein* bold in :odG There is a price to pa) for *reatness, boldness, walkin* tall in :od, and castin* a lon* shadow. I want :od to chan*e hearts and chan*e li/es, so that the (hurch as a whole can walk bold in 2im and chan*e this world< Those who walk close to :od are chan*ed. Bein* bold, walkin* tall, and castin* a lon* shadow has nothin* to do with what we call arro*ance or pride. 9or e3ample, when 8oses was bold and walked tall in :od, the -ord said he was the humblest man on the face of the earth< ANum. ,#B4.C So, if )ou associate boldness with arro*ance, )ou are missin* the point. I am not talkin* about human arro*ance or human boastin*B I am talkin* about bein* so submer*ed in :od that 2e can chan*e )our life.

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall :od wants to chan*e the world usin* people like )ou. 2owe/er, )ou will ha/e to mo/e deeper into :od for 2im to be able to do that. 0sk 2im for hol) boldness. >es, there is such a thin* as hol) boldness unto the -ord so that )ou ha/e somethin* others do not ha/e. >ou must ha/e the wisdom of :od in )ou, in order for )ou to be a ;life chan*er; and a ;life builder; like (aleb. The entire (hurch of @esus (hrist needs to become bold in :od. The) need to walk tall and learn how to cast a lon* shadow of *odl) influence on this earth for @esus. Fo )ou ha/e a heart like (alebG (ome up out of ;.*)ptDs; Athe worldDsC sin, de*radation, and bonda*e, and be*in to walk with the *reatest 8an of all time, named @esus. 2e will *i/e )ou boldness. 2e will *i/e )ou the abilit) to walk tall and bold in 2im so that )ou can chan*e the world for 2is *lor). If )ou will walk with @esus where/er 2e leads )ou, 2e will take )ou into )our 1romised -and and then on up to hea/en. :od wants you! 2e will *i/e )ou supernatural stren*th, Eust as 2e did (aleb. 2e will make )ou into one of those who walk bold in

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Be Bold and Walk Tall the earth to accomplish 2is purposes. :od does not want us to be ;put down; as we li/e for 2im on this earth. :od does not want us to be pushed around as the ser/ants of men. 7e are to be the mi*ht) ser/ants of the -ord :od 0lmi*ht). 7e are to walk tall in the earth. 7e are to speak the 7ord of the 0lmi*ht), because we are 2is champions. Some (hristians belie/e in the 2ol) Spirit, )et the) do not ha/e 2im functionin* e/er) da) in their li/es. The) need to move in the Spirit, think in the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, and talk in the Spirit. Some (hristians think, ;But if I *et into the operations of the 2ol) Spirit, there will be problems and disad/anta*es to me. ./en some other (hristians will shun me or make fun of me.; Fo not let the de/il tell )ou lies like that. 7hen I was a little bo), other children made fun of me almost e/er) da) at school, because m) mother belon*ed to a ;full *ospel; church. Their parents belon*ed to mainline denominations and were hi*hl) respected. 8) motherDs little church ;made too much noise; out there praisin* :od and

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall ;carr)in* on.; So do not talk to me about bein* embarrassed o/er the operations of the Spirit< I ha/e been there. Once, I e/en asked m) mother, ;7h) donDt )ou Eoin another church, so I can ha/e peace at schoolG; She said, ;Because :od wouldnDt be happ) with us.; I said, ;7ell, then, letDs keep :od happ) if we can<; 7hat other people sa) and do is their business. 7hat (hristians sa) and do is :odDs business. 7e should make up our minds to walk with :od, talk with :od, li/e for :od, and be one of 2is bold ones. 1art time followers of :od will ne/er make it. >ou must be wholl) attached and committed to :od. :reatness does not *o alon* with double mindedness. :reatness *oes with a sin*le mind?a mind sold on @esus. Be a (aleb?bold and walkin* tall in :od. 7alk tall amon* men. 7e do not need Eust one (aleb in this earth toda). 7e need a houseful of ;(alebs.;

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Be Bold and Walk Tall 7e need a multitude of men and women who will sa), ;IDm bold, and IDm walkin* tall in :od< Therefore, I will ne/er be defeated. The de/il does not ha/e an) power o/er me. I am not *oin* to belie/e the de/ilDs dirt) little lies that he tries to speak to me throu*h m) mind. I am walkin* bold in the 7ord.; 7e should learn the lessons of the Old Testament in order to profit from the mistakes of those who are e3amples for us. A, (or. ,0B,,.C The entire Old Testament was not for*otten when the New Testament was written. It was preser/ed to teach us how to li/e in a time like this. It was preser/ed for those ;upon whom the ends of the world Aa*eC are come.; A, (or. ,0B,,.C

The Bold #earn -ro$ the 3ast

If we do not *i/e much attention to what :od has done in the past, 2e will not be able to do /er) much in us in the present or in the future. 7e need to look at some biblical men of faith to see wh) the) made such an impact upon their worlds. The) walked tall in :od in their *enerations

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall and cast a lon* shadow because their li/es influenced other people. It is possible for an ordinar) person to become stron* in :od and walk tall and bold in his *eneration. Take the 0postle 1aul, for e3ample. The Ioman emperor Nero thou*ht that after he killed 1aul this little @ewish preacher would be for*otten b) the world the ne3t da). 2owe/er, two thousand )ears later, we name our sons ;1aul; and our do*s ;Nero;< It is amaHin* how the world chan*es. The once *reat and powerful Nero is now for*otten, but a lowl) ser/ant of :od named 1aul has been remembered throu*hout the centuries. In fact, the 0postle 1aul is castin* a lon* shadow e/en toda). 2e was bold. 0lthou*h he is said not to ha/e been /er) lar*e in ph)sical stature, he walked tall in :od. 2e addressed kin*s and *o/ernors and mi*ht) men with *reat coura*e and con/iction. 7hat a remarkable person he was< 0n Old Testament man of faith who walked tall in :od and cast a lon* shadow in his own *eneration was 8oses, (alebDs ;mentor; or role model, as we mi*ht sa) toda). (aleb had 8oses as

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Be Bold and Walk Tall an e3ample all the wa) from .*)pt to the 1romised -and and for the fort) )ear wilderness trek. No wonder (aleb knew how to be bold and walk tall. On the other hand, all of the other adult male Israelites had the same e3ample, and the) did not become bold. 7hat made the differenceG -etDs look at the life of 8oses and see the thin* that made him a man of boldness.

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1 The Shee*herder Who Beca$e Bold

1 The Shee*herder Who Beca$e Bold

:od can turn an)one from mediocrit) to *reatness. 2e can chan*e a sheepherder into a mi*ht) leader. 2e can turn )ou from an automobile mechanic to someone *reat and mi*ht) in 2im. If 2e can *et )ou to turn aside to see what 2e is doin*. 8oses had a di/ine encounter with :od. That is when he became bold and be*an to walk /er) tall in :od. The *reat 1haraoh of .*)pt shrank to the siHe of a peanut in this manDs presence. In his *eneration, this sheepherder named

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Be Bold and Walk Tall 8oses cast a lon* shadow across the entire nation of .*)pt, as well as his own nation of Israel. 8oses was alread) ei*ht) )ears old when :od cornered him in the Sinai peninsula of the 0rabian desert at the base of 8ount 2oreb. 8eetin* :od was the be*innin* of 8osesD *reatness, and when (aleb met :od throu*h 8oses, he be*an to become *reat. 8osesD first meetin* with :od was out in the desert. 7hile lookin* after his father in lawDs sheep, 8oses came across a si*ht that would startle an)one ?a bush on fire that would not burn up. 1ossibl) the li*ht that radiated out from this burnin* bush was the same kind of li*ht that *uided the wise men from 1ersia Anow IranC to the (hrist child in Bethlehem. It was the Shekinah *lor) of :od. The fire that shone from that bush must ha/e been brilliant, because it attracted 8osesD attention to :od. 7hen he turned aside to look at it, he had an encounter with :od. A.3. 4B# ,0.C 8oses took time to turn aside and notice?and he saw what :od was doin* in the earth. 7hen :od saw that 8oses had turned aside, 2e called him b) name, and 8oses answered, ;2ere am I.;

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall 0t that time in his life, 8oses must ha/e *i/en up an) e3pectation of becomin* *reat. 2is da)s in the palace of 1haraoh as the adopted, fa/ored son of 1haraohDs dau*hter were lon* *one. 2e ne/er e3pected to be remembered for millenniums of time. 2e ne/er e3pected to be remembered down throu*h the a*es b) millions of people. 1robabl), he thou*ht his onl) destin) was a final trip to the *ra/e, a trip to be buried deep in the sands of the wilderness. But, suddenl), in an instant of time, he ;turned aside; and had an encounter with the li/in* :od, and e/er)thin* chan*ed. 9rom that one confrontation, we find a man totall) chan*ed b) the power of :od< 8oses became bold. 2e talked bold, walked bold, and stood tall in the knowled*e of :od. 2e was not afraid of an)one an) lon*er. That is how he came to cast a lon* shadow o/er two nations?.*)pt and Israel?in his own lifetime, and man) nations since. 7hen I tra/eled throu*h the Sinai desert at /arious times, I ha/e been shown an interestin* little

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Be Bold and Walk Tall tree that looks somethin* like an umbrella. It is called ;a 8oses tree.; Nati/es sa) that is the kind of tree which has alwa)s been in the desert. The) sa) this mi*ht ha/e been the kind of bush that attracted 8osesD attention as it burned bri*htl) with the fire of :od. :od performs wonders for man) people who do not e/en bother to turn aside to notice what is *oin* on. The) pa) no attention to what :od is doin* in the earth. 8an) people are so bus) with this worldDs affairs that, when the) hit eternit) and *o to hell, the) will not e/en know what happened until it is too late< Someone told me recentl) about the owner of a compan) for which he had worked. The man owns mansions in about ei*ht different nations and spends his time fl)in* from one to another in his own pri/ate plane. 0 multimillionaire, he does business from e3otic places. 2owe/er, he has one bi* problemB 2e is afraid to die. It is foolish to be afraid to die. It is ine/itable, and if somethin* is ine/itable, there is no use bein* afraid of it. >ou had better Eust *et acquainted with

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall it.

%et Ac4uainted With the Inevita!le

In the ancient courts of the world, there once was a court Eester Asometimes called ;a court fool;C. These men were in the business of bein* funn) in front of kin*s. It was their profession to tell Eokes, do Eu**lin* acts, or whate/er it took to keep the kin* in a *ood mood. The) worked hard to take the minds of kin*s off their troubles. If the) did not succeed, it mi*ht be ;off; with their heads< One da), the kin* said to this court Eester, ;If )ou e/er find a person craHier than )ou are, would )ou *i/e him m) ro)al scepterG; 0nd the kin* handed his scepter to the Eester. The court Eester answered, ;>our 8aEest), ID/e alread) found one.; ;7ell, who is itG; the kin* asked. ;ItDs )ou,; the Eester replied, as he handed the kin* back his s)mbol of authorit). ;7h) do )ou think I am craHier than )ouG; the kin* asked. The Eester replied, ;I ha/e one question to ask

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Be Bold and Walk Tall )ou. >our answer will determine whether )ou are craHier than I. 0t this /er) moment, )ou are on a Eourne) throu*h life. But are )ou acquainted with the 5in* on the other side of the ri/er of deathG; Fumbfounded, the kin* answered, ;No<; 0nd the Eester replied, ;Then )ou are the bi**est fool I ha/e e/er met. >ou are a kin* enEo)in* /ast wealth, but if )ou ha/e not made preparation to meet the 5in* on the other side of the ri/er, )ou are in bad shape.; There is much truth in that stor). 8illions ha/e descended into hell from all of the nations and times of the earth because the) did not take time to turn aside and see what :od was doin* in the earth. So the) ne/er became acquainted with 2im. Turn aside unto :od< Fo not be afraid of death. >ou can *et acquainted with the One who has the power o/er death. One encounter with :od can chan*e )our life fore/er. 2e wants )ou to turn aside and fellowship with 2im. 2e wants )ou to see 2is *lor). 7hen )ou spend time with )our hea/enl)

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall 9ather, )ou will walk tall and mi*ht) in 2im. That is what happened to 8oses. 2e met :od, and it chan*ed his destin). 8oses said, ;:od, I will accept )our challen*e. I will take on )our commission.; 0t first, 8oses was like most of us. 2e was afraid to do what :od called him to do. 2e was afraid that he was not capable enou*h, smart enou*h, talented enou*h, and could not speak well enou*h. 8ost of us ha/e felt, or feel, the same wa). But we need to remember that it is :od who does the equippin* and the empowerin*. 9inall), 8oses a*reed and returned to .*)pt to fulfill :odDs commission and deli/er his own people from bonda*e. 2owe/er, he did not return the wa) he had left, fleein* from Eustice after ha/in* killed a man. 0fter his encounter with :od, he stood as a new man. Somethin* had happened to him. That one encounter chan*ed 8oses from a desert shepherd to a mi*ht) *iant in the -ord. :od wants to chan*e )ou in the same wa). But an encounter with the li/in* :od will onl) occur when )ou take time to turn aside and see what :od is doin*. .nquire of 2im and see what 2e wants to do

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Be Bold and Walk Tall throu*h )ou. See what 2e wants to sa) throu*h )ou, then the fire of :od will burn in )our heart and ne/er *o out. >ou will be chan*ed into a different person. 7hen 8oses arri/ed in .*)pt, it looked as if he had failed almost before he *ot started. 2owe/er, b) the time he led the Israelites out of .*)pt, thin*s had chan*ed. 8oses was bold and walked tall. 2is people left .*)pt hea/il) laden with treasure. There is somethin* about walkin* tall in :od and castin* a lon* shadow that will chan*e people and nations for :odDs *lor). >our boldness influences others. Other people will be drawn to )ou, and )ou can help them chan*e their destinies and walk tall in :od also.

Bold 3eo*le A ect 5thers

0s soon as 8oses appeared on the horiHon of time, walkin* boldl) and castin* a lon* shadow, the man named (aleb attached himself to 8oses and did not lea/e him until the da) 8oses went to hea/en. I belie/e (aleb looked at 8oses and thou*ht, ;2e is bold in :od, and he casts a lon* shadow. 2is

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall influence is *oin* to be felt around the world. I want to follow him.; So (aleb wrapped his destin) around 8oses. 8ost of us need the influence of bold people in our li/es. 7e *et weak when we are with weak people, but we learn to be bold when we make bold people our role models. :od preser/ed this account of (aleb in the Bible for our admonition. Therefore, we need to know what made him *reat. (aleb wasB 0n Israelite of the seed of 0braham. Festined, before 8oses came, to li/e and die a mere sla/e because his parents were sla/es before him. Born with his life in dan*er from a 1haraoh who murdered the male Israelite babies as a form of population control. (aleb was born into the earth at a /er) sad and dan*erous time for him. 2e and his forebears, descendants of @acob, *randson of 0braham, had been in .*)pt more than four hundred )ears. 0t first, the) had fa/or with 1haraoh, because @oseph, son of @acob, was prime minister.

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Be Bold and Walk Tall 2owe/er, as the )ears passed and rulers *ained the throne who did not remember @oseph, the fortunes of the Israelites declined. 0merica is onl) a little more than two hundred )ears old as a nation, which *i/es us little perspecti/e on how a 1haraoh could arise in four hundred )ears who did not know @oseph. Time obscures e/en the *reatest of rulers. (aleb had an ad/anta*e o/er some of the other sla/e children. 2e had a *odl) mother. :odl) mothers are sweet and full of character. She must ha/e been an interestin* woman, because (alebDs *reatness be*an with her. She had the coura*e to name her son?born a sla/e and the son of sla/es?a challen*in* name. Some mothers do *reat thin*s for :od. She named her son ;Bold.; That is what (aleb means, accordin* to Dake's Annotated Bible. ./er)time someone spoke to him, the) called him, ;Bold<; ./er)time he was called for a meal, he was reminded that he was ;Bold.; 9rom birth, e/er) time people addressed him, the) reall) were sa)in*, ;Bold, what are )ou doin*G Bold, where are )ou *oin*G Bold, what are )ou *oin* to do ne3tG;

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall The Israelites be*an to know him as ;the bold one.; In the natural, (aleb had no ad/anta*es to *o alon* with his name. Then what made him different from other menG 0s a sla/e, he was not an) different from other sla/es. In fact, we do not reall) see an) difference in (aleb until he was fort) )ears old. Then a certain man came into his life. :od sends men to us who chan*e and influence our li/es. 8oses influenced man) people for :od. >our life could be chan*ed some da) because of someone elseDs *odl) influence. 0nd )ou could chan*e someone elseDs life, if )ou walk tall and act bold in the -ord. 9or the first time in his life, (aleb saw a man of his own race who walked bold in :od. 7hen 8oses came walkin* into sophisticated .*)pt from the ;backside; of the desert, he declared, ;ID/e heard from :od<; That statement will *et )our attention in a hurr)< 2e told the Israelites that :od had sent him to set them free.

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Be Bold and Walk Tall 2e told the Israelites that the) must be bold and walk tall in the -ord their :od. Because of 8osesD influence, (aleb also became bold. 1ersonall), I do not belie/e 8oses was e/er out of (alebDs si*ht for an) len*th of time. 0t first, 8oses ma) not ha/e noticed him /er) much, but it could not ha/e been lon* before (aleb cau*ht the attention of the leader of Israel. Stud) (alebDs life and )ou will see that he was on the ri*ht side e/er) time a decision was made, whether it was in the desert or an)where else. 2e alwa)s was on the ri*ht side, which was :odDs side. 2e ne/er opposed 8oses, so he ne/er opposed :od. In all of the trans*ressions of Israel durin* that fort) )ear Eourne), (aleb is ne/er mentioned. 2e stood a*ainst e/er) rebellion e/er attempted a*ainst 8oses. 2e stuck with 8oses all the wa). 2e was a true friend and a true follower. (aleb probabl) was ri*ht there when the death an*el walked throu*h .*)pt. (aleb was probabl) ri*ht there when 8oses raised his rod and told the Ied Sea to back off and stand up in a heap. A.3. ,'.C 8ore than likel), he was one of the first to race across the dr) ri/er bed to

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall safet) on the other shore. (aleb saw 8oses work the works of :od. I am sure he *ot bi**er on the inside e/er) time he saw 8oses pronounce the Eud*ments of :od and the laws of :od. 7hen 8oses asked (aleb to be one of the twel/e representati/es of the tribes of Israel to search the land of (anaan, that ma) ha/e been the *reatest thin* he e/er asked him to do. The Bible sa)s that each of these men was a ruler in his own tribe. ANum. ,4B#,4.C Furin* that walk from .*)pt, apparentl) (aleb had *ained some presti*e amon* the people. 2e was a leader amon* his people alread). Out of the twel/e, onl) two saw /ictor). The other ten saw *iants. If )ou are bold and walkin* tall in :od, )ou also are onl) *oin* to see /ictor). If )ou are bold, )ou are taller than an) *iant. >ou can cast down *iants in the name of @esus, no matter what kind of *iants the) are. >ou ne/er ha/e to *o down in defeat. Those who are bold in :od do not know defeat. The) onl) know /ictor). The war is not o/er until it is o/er, and we are *oin* to win the war.

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Be Bold and Walk Tall (aleb and @oshua saw the same *iants as the other ten. The) saw the same walled cities and the same hu*e *ates. 2owe/er, the) saw somethin* that the other spies did not. The) saw :od. 7hen the) returned, (aleb *a/e a *reat report, a report full of faith, filled with boldness and coura*e. Bi* walls and bi* men could not stop (aleb from walkin* tall in :od. I am not talkin* about his ph)sical stature. The kind of walkin* tall that I mean occurs in faith and on the inside. (aleb not onl) *a/e a *ood report, but he said, ;-etDs *o up at once and take this land.; ANum. ,%B& !.C At on"e means ;ri*ht now.; No hesitatin*, wa/erin*, or doubtin*. 2e e/en said, ;The) are bread for us<; 2e was *oin* to eat ;*ianties; for breakfast, not ;7heatiesJ.; >ou know that )ou are bold and walkin* tall in :od when )ou can make )our boast in 2im. Boldness in :od casts a lon* shadow of faith and *odl) influence o/er people.

Boldness Is -ollowing &esus

7hat is boldnessG It simpl) is followin* @esus. It is bein* obedient. 7hen )ou are bold in @esus, )ou

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall can Eust knock )our enemies out of )our wa). >ou do not follow man. >ou do not *et discoura*ed. (aleb tried to tell the other Israelites how to walk tall in :od, but the) would not listen to him. The) e/en hated him for bein* so bold. 2e ma) ha/e had to wait fort) )ears, but he won and the) lost. Their bodies were buried beneath the sand, as :od had said, and he went on to possess a mountain and Eud*e Israel. ANum. ,%B#",40.C I feel sorr) for (aleb, ha/in* to watch his friends and relati/es?all the Israelites o/er twent) )ears of a*e?die of doubt and unbelief in the desert and be buried in the sand. 1erhaps he had to assist with man) of their burials. 2e ma) ha/e seen as man) as two million people die because of disobedience. 2owe/er, he could claim that, of the times Israel rebelled durin* the fort) two times the) mo/ed from place to place durin* that fort) )ears, he was ne/er one who *rumbled. 2e was ne/er bitten b) a snake. 2e was alwa)s one of those standin* b) 8oses and supportin* him. The result is that one da) (aleb walked in 8osesD shoes as one of the leaders of Israel. (aleb was not onl) the first man to *o into the 1romised

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Be Bold and Walk Tall -and, but he was the last man to lead the Israelites before the Eud*es and prophets be*an to rule. Fisobedience cost the Israelites their promised inheritance and, e/entuall), their li/es. It e/en cost 8oses, 0aron, and their sister, 8iriam. 8oses li/ed until the /er) last da) before the Israelites were permitted to enter the land of (anaan. Then :od cut him off sa)in*, ;>ou canDt *o in to possess the land, because when I asked )ou to speak to the rock, )ou hit it with a stick instead, sa)in*, 'Must we ... Shall God and I ? ' . . . " ANum. #0B,0.C No matter how bold )ou *et or how tall )ou walk in :od, 2e does not need )ou to take the credit with 2im. 0 lot of people make 8osesD mistake when the) sa), ;:od and I are *oin* to do thus and so in the earth.; No, it is :od who is *oin* to do somethin* mi*ht) in the earthB 7e are Eust to pronounce what 2e does. 7e are Eust to sa), ;In the name of @eho/ah, let it be done<;

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall 1resumption, or temptin* :od, is one of the fi/e sins that will hinder )ou from success in the -ord. (hristians should be /er) aware of the fi/e sins that brou*ht disaster on an entire adult *eneration of Israel. The (hurch of @esus (hrist will ne/er be able to walk tall and cast a lon* shadow of influence in this world, if we allow these sins in our li/es.

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' -ive Sins That Will Hinder Boldness

' -ive Sins That Will Hinder Boldness

But with $any o the$ %od was not well *leased( or they were overthrown in the wilderness. 1 Corinthians 1+(2

The fi/e sins which Israel committed in the wilderness are listed in , (orinthians ,0B& ,0. These are sins that will destro) an) ci/iliHation. 2owe/er, there is no record in the Bible that (aleb or @oshua were in/ol/ed in an) of these sins. 1aul wrote that all of the ;fathers; tra/eled under the cloud of :od, and all passed throu*h the Ied Sea. 2e saidB 0ll were baptiHed unto 8oses in the cloud and in the sea. 0ll ate the same spiritual meat and drank the

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Be Bold and Walk Tall same spiritual drink. 0ll drank of (hrist, the Iock who followed them. But, 1aul wrote, :od was not pleased with man) of them. 7h) was thatG :od was displeased because of these fi/e sins that 1aul went on to describe.
/ow these things were our e6a$*les, to the intent that we should not lust a ter evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolators, as were so$e o the$0 as it is written, The *eo*le sat down to eat and drink, and rose u* to *lay. Neither let us commit fornication, as so$e o the$ co$$itted, and ell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as so$e o the$ also te$*ted, and were destroyed o ser*ents. Neither murmur e, as so$e o the$ also $ur$ured, and were destroyed o the destroyer. 1 Corinthians 1+(781+

The number one sin committed b) the Israelites was lust.

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall The) were alwa)s clamorin*, ;:i/e us meat< :i/e us this< :i/e us that<; The) ne/er were satisfied with :od. The) could not seem to remember that 2e was the one who brou*ht them out of bonda*e where their hands were blistered from rou*h work and their backs bent from hard labor. The) lusted after food, se3, and e/en o/er bein* endued with the same power 8oses had. The) were full of lust. @ust a few da)s after lea/in* .*)pt and seein* the *reat lo/e and protection of :od for them, the) fell back into idolatr). 7hen 8oses was on the mountain recei/in* the Ten (ommandments lon*er than the) thou*ht he ou*ht to be, the) pressured 0aron to make them a *olden calf to worship. The) offered sacrifices to this calf, one of the *ods of .*)pt, had a *reat feast, and then be*an to participate in an or*). The) not onl) were lustful and idolatrous, but the) also committed adulter) and fornication as part of the worship of the calf. The Eud*ment of :od killed twent) three thousand of them when 8oses came down the mountain and found out what the) had been doin*.

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Be Bold and Walk Tall -ater, the) tempted :od and man) were bitten b) snakes. The desert was full of snakes, and :od had protected them up to this point. 0ll 2e had to do was remo/e 2is stren*th and protecti/e power from the Israelites for them to be bitten. Suddenl), the) were d)in* all o/er the place from snake bites. 8oses made a braHen serpent on :odDs instructions and held it up for the people to look upon Aa t)pe of the cross of (hristC, or the) all would ha/e died. ANum. #,B".C There are man) wa)s to tempt :od. One of those is blamin* 2im. Some (hristians actuall) ha/e the presumption to blame :od< The) sa), ;:od, >ou didnDt do this< >ou didnDt do that< 7h) did >ou let this happenG 7h) did that happenG; 7e are too small to be blamin* the :od of the uni/erse for an)thin*. 8an) thin*s happen for which we do not ha/e the answers. I know that :od is a *ood :od, and what 2e does is alwa)s ri*ht. 9or an)one to stand up and accuse :od of an)thin*

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall is foolishness. Some people blame :od for thin*s that happened to them as children. The) will sa) thin*s such as, ;Somethin* bad happened to me when I was ei*ht )ears old. IDm not *oin* to ser/e :od.; 8), how foolish that is. I ha/e li/ed m) entire life on the premise that :od knows best, that 2e is alwa)s ri*ht. I am read) to be taken home, or I am read) to remain on earth. I am read) to do an)thin* :od wants me to do, and I am not *oin* to quarrel with 2im about it. I will not find fault with 2im no matter what happens. The last sin 1aul mentioned of the Israelites was that the) ;murmured,; and bo), did the) murmur< It is so eas) to murmur, to *rumble and complain. It is so eas) to find fault with the (hurch. 2owe/er, no one is perfect. -et us keep our personal feelin*s washed b) the blood of @esus (hrist and keep the important thin*s in mind. The important thin* is to *et people sa/ed. 7e are soldiers in the arm) of :od. 7e are supposed to *o out and fi*ht the de/il. 7e are to take souls from

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Be Bold and Walk Tall him that he has stolen. If )ou e/er lose the /ision for souls, )ou will not know what )ou are doin*. 1eople who sa), ;7hat am I doin* with m) lifeG 7hat am I supposed to be doin*G; are not winnin* a lot of souls to @esus. 1erhaps )ou sa), ;But I donDt know how to win souls.; I can tell )ou how in two minutesB :et )our hands full of tracts, *o from house to house, *i/e people a tract, and ask if the) are born a*ain. Then, pra) with them. >ou would be amaHed how man) each (hristian could win to @esus that wa). 1erhaps )ou think )ou are too timid. But )ou are not timid out at the ball *ame cheerin* and shoutin* for your team. 7h) should )ou *et timid witnessin* for @esusG 0nd wh) should )ou be timid in churchG These fi/e sins that Israel committed will keep an)one from walkin* bold and tall in :od and from castin* a lon* shadow of influence in the world. These fi/e sins will keep )ou timid, sidetracked,

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall and wonderin* what to do with )our life. If )ou want to win souls, a/oid these fi/e sins, and walk bold. Boldness attracts other people to :od.

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2 Boldness In luences 3eo*le or %od

2 Boldness In luences 3eo*le or %od

-orty years old was I when Moses the servant o the #ord sent $e ro$ 9adesh Barnea to s*y out the land, and I !rought hi$ word again, as it was in mine heart! &oshua 1'B$

B) the time 8oses was read) to chan*e his address from this world to the ne3t, his influence on (aleb had become ob/ious. (aleb was a winner, not a loser. In fact, from the time he was set free from .*)ptian bonda*e, (aleb onl) had a histor) of winnin* and winnin* and winnin*. 0fter fort) )ears of wanderin* in the wilderness, and after more than a million people had died from rebellion and disobedience, @oshua and (aleb finall) walked into the 1romised -and.

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Be Bold and Walk Tall (aleb was rememberin* the time fort) )ears before when he brou*ht 8oses word about the land. 2e was rememberin* /i/idl), I am sure, when the) first arri/ed, and he was sent with @oshua and the other ten to sp) on the (anaanites. Notice that he sa)s, ;I brou*ht 8oses the news of (anaan as it was in my heart." 7hen (aleb spied out the land, he came back and told the Israelites what was in his heart not what was in his head. 2is head mi*ht ha/e said what the other ten spies said, ;This is impossible< The walls are tall, and so are the *iants. 2ow are we *oin* to do thisG; 2owe/er, (aleb was of another spirit ANum. ,%B#%C, another attitude, and he walked tall in his faith in :od. 2e returned from the sp) trip and *a/e 8oses a report based on what was in his heart. >ou see, the wron* witness and the wron* testimon) can discoura*e people. Sometimes )ou hear (hristians sa), ;I tell )ou, ID/e had a hard time in life< I donDt know an)thin* but hard times.; 7h) donDt the) pra) it throu*hG If I ha/e a

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall problem, I pra) throu*h on it. That wa), I do not know hard times when I meet them on the road. I ha/e pra)ed it out. 9or e3ample, all o/er the world, I ha/e had to accomplish the impossible. I ha/e had to establish churches b) faith. 7e built a church in 8anila b) faith. There were a few friends in 0merica who *a/e to that proEect, but actuall), our friends seemed to *et fewer the whole time we were buildin* that church< Then :od healed a little *irl, and the whole countr) was set on fire. 0 si3 week re/i/al be*an in the park. I took m) station wa*on e/er) ni*ht with a bi* trunk in it, and e/er) ni*ht, people *i/in* in the offerin* filled it up with mone). :od built that buildin*. 7hen the re/i/al was *oin* on, we ne/er told an)one how much it would cost to build that church. 7e had not paid the contractor )et, but he trusted us. 7hen that re/i/al broke out, he needed mone) to be able to continue with construction. So we would pa) him with ba*s of mone). 2e would walk out with two men helpin* him carr) the ba*s. In other words, that re/i/al paid for the church

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Be Bold and Walk Tall buildin*. Fo )ou know that it takes re/i/al to pa) for thin*s for :odG 0re )ou wonderin* wh) this isG It is because ;dead; people do not *i/e. The) ha/e spiritual arthritis and cannot e/en *et their hands in their pocket to *i/e. 7hen there is a re/i/al, )ou can build a sk)scraper. That is because, when the Eo) of the -ord is present, people want to *i/e so much, the) do not know what to do. That church in the 1hilippines is a miracle church. Toda), it is /alued at si3 to ei*ht million 0merican dollars. That is what :od can do. If 2e has ne/er done that for )ou, ask )ourself if )ou ha/e opened )our heart to *i/e to 2imG I *i/e to :od almost e/er) da) of m) life. ./en if I *i/e to the wron* people, I would rather be a ;sucker; occasionall) than to *i/e no one an)thin*. Bein* bold and walkin* tall does not mean )ou will not encounter problems in life. >ou will, and )ou will sometimes ha/e to do the impossible in :od. But, when )ou ;pra) throu*h,; )ou will see :od sol/e the problems. So (aleb was able to *i/e 8oses and the people

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall a *ood report, because he told them what was in his heart, not his head. 2owe/er, he said the ;brethren; who went into the land with him ;made the heart of the people to melt.; A@osh. ,%B!.C (aleb meant their hearts melted with fear.

How :o ;ou In luence 3eo*le<

-et me ask )ou this questionB 7hat influence do )ou ha/e on other peopleG Fo )ou make people sad b) the wa) )ou li/eG Fo )ou make their hearts melt with fear, doubt, and unbeliefG Or do )ou inspire them to ha/e faith in :odG The other spies reduced the peopleDs faith so that the) could not walk bold in :od as the) were supposed to walk. Those ten men came back with the wron* interpretation of what :od was able to do. The) apparentl) thou*ht possessin* the land with *iants in it was too hard for :od< The) for*ot that 2e had killed the firstborn of all .*)pt and spared them.

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Be Bold and Walk Tall The) for*ot that 2e had parted the Ied Sea, drowned 1haraoh with his soldiers and chariots, and allowed them to cross on dr) *round. The) for*ot the thunderin*s from the top of 8ount Sinai and the Ten (ommandments written in stone b) the fin*er of :od. 2ow could the) for*et all these thin*sG The) for*ot :odDs past miracles for one simple reasonB The) focused on the ne*ati/e and could not see the *reatness of :od. The result of allowin* fear to be instilled in their hearts was that the Israelites could not follow the -ord wholly. That is an old .n*lish word that means entirely. (aleb followed :od and did not sin, because he wholly followed :od. 2is heart was toward :od, and he made decisions out of his heart not his head. That is wh) :od promised him that he would enter the 1romised -and when all the other men o/er twent), e3cept @oshua, were not allowed to see it. 7alkin* tall in :od means to ser/e 2im wholly and that means to walk in absolute obedience, not

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A Slave Who Was Bold and Walked Tall ei*ht) or ninet) percent obedience. !holly followin* the -ord does not mean withholdin* the tithe and tr)in* to *et :od to bless )ou when )ou ha/e not done what )ou are supposed to do. A8al. 4B,0.C .nterin* in to all that :od promised )ou is the reward of the bold. It is the reward of those who walk tall in :od. It is for you, if )ou will enter in to it. (aleb was not like the a/era*e Israelite. 2e was nothin* like them at all, as we ha/e seen. 2e was born in sla/er) Eust as the) had been. 2e had e3perienced the same thin*s the) had. 2e was of the same linea*e as the). >et he was different. The reason, accordin* to the Bible, is that he was ;of a different spirit.; 7hat was that ;spirit;G It was the spirit, or attitude, of faith. 0sk :od to create a super duper spirit in )ou. 2e can *i/e )ou a *ood spirit, a sweet spirit, so that )ou *o around hu**in* e/er)one and smilin*. >ou feel like shakin* hands with e/er)one and sa)in*, ;:od bless )ou<; 7ith an attitude like that, )ou will refresh man) people. If )ou ha/e an e3cellent spirit in )ou, )ou will

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Be Bold and Walk Tall not run awa) from church as soon as the ser/ice is o/er. (hurch is to be a place of fellowship. (hristians are a famil), a famil) in :od, and we need each member of the famil) to flow to*ether. If )ou want to *ain )our inheritance from :od, then )ou must walk tall and act bold in 2is ser/ice. To mo/e in that boldness, )ou must be of a different spirit than man) others. Boldness will not be true boldness without faith. >ou mi*ht sa) that boldness is the e3pression of faith and trust in :od. Boldness is confidence that :od is *ood, that 2e is alwa)s ri*ht, and that 2e is in char*e. Boldness ne/er doubts, ne/er disobe)s, and ne/er is afraid. Be a (aleb and be*in to take )our mountain for :od<

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:r. #ester Su$rall is founder

and chairman of a worldwide missionar) outreach, -eS.0 Inc. Iespected throu*hout the world as a missionar) statesman, Fr. Sumrall has raised up churches and tau*ht the 7ord of :od for more than si3t) )ears. In addition, he maintains headquarters for -eS.0 :lobal and -eS.0 Broadcastin* Ainternational radio and tele/isionC in South Bend, Indiana, where he pastors (hristian (enter (athedral of 1raise. 2is three married sons, 9rank, Stephen, and 1eter also are in/ol/ed in the ministr). Fr. Sumrall, a prolific author, has written more than ,,0 books and teachin* s)llabi. In addition to his writin*, he is founder and president of Indiana (hristian Uni/ersit) and is host on the tele/ision pro*rams, ;7orld 2ar/est; and ;The -ester Sumrall Teachin* Series.; 0 powerful and d)namic speaker, Fr. Sumrall ministers :odDs messa*e with authorit) and takes ad/anta*e of electronic media to reach the world toda). 2e founded -eS.0 Broadcastin*, Inc., which owns and operates ele/en tele/ision stations in the followin* citiesB 728B TK %0 Indianapolis, Indiana 728. TK %& South Bend, Indiana 572B TK %$ Tulsa, Oklahoma 572. TK ,% 2onolulu, 2awaii

725. TK '' 5enosha, 7isconsin 572F TK '4 Fen/er, (olorado 5722 TK ,% 2ilo, 2awaii 5728 TK #, 8aui, 2awaii 72NO TK #0 New Orleans, -ouisiana 7,'08 :rand Iapids, 8ichi*an 5&".5 Oklahoma (it), Oklahoma

0 recent outreach to the worldDs hun*r) has thrust Fr. Sumrall into a new dimension of showin* compassion to the far corners of the earth in response to our -ordDs command to ;feed the hun*r).; (alled the "nd #ime $ose%h &ro'ram #o (eed the )un'ry Fr. Sumrall is enlistin* worldwide pastor to pastor support of this pro*ram. It is his belief that *o/ernment alone should not shoulder the responsibilit) of carin* for the worldDs homeless, hun*r), and need), but that the (hurch is to be a responsible /ehicle of (hrist to sufferin* humanit). To recei/e -ester SumrallDs monthl) ma*aHine, !orld )ar*est writeB -ester Sumrall 1.O. Bo3 ,# South Bend, Indiana %&&#% &lease in+lude your %rayer re,uests and +omments when you write. 9or information about -ester SumrallDs Indiana (hristian Uni/ersit), write for a free catalo* about I(U or about correspondence studiesB Indiana (hristian Uni/ersit) 1.O. Bo3 ,# South Bend, Indiana %&&#%

The Harrison House =ision

1roclaimin* the truth and the power Of the :ospel of @esus (hrist 7ith .3cellence. (hallen*in* (hristians to -i/e /ictoriousl), :row spirituall), 5now :od intimatel).