Romans 4:20-21
Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, **his faith grew stronger,** and in this he _brought glory to God._ 21 He was _fully convinced_ that God is able to do whatever he promises.

# Going Bold Grows you Stronger.

Let that title sink in just a bit. Going Bold Grows you Stronger. Read that verse slowly…one more time.

Abraham was 100 his wife was 90. There was no way they were having children. Abraham knew there was no way they could conceive but he never wavered in believing God’s promise that they would have a son. That’s a bold stance by Abraham!

Abraham, wasn’t sure how God was going to give him a son, but he knew God would do it; he just didn’t know how. Abraham looked at his 100 year old body and still believed–that’s bold!

Abraham is is held up as a primary example of growing stronger in the faith. How did Paul say that Abraham grew in his faith? He makes it clear, Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promises.

Let’s pull this apart a little bit. Abraham was convinced that God’s goodness would follow him, even though the circumstances certainly didn’t favor him having a child at 100. But in Abraham’s heart, he believed. He believed God could do anything! And that’s exactly how he grew strong. He grew strong by going bold in his faith.

You see Abraham didn’t grow strong in his own strength, he grew strong in his faith, His body was weaker by the day but his faith grew stronger. His trust grew deeper.

We too grow stronger not by our strength but by our faith in God’s promises. The greater our trust the stronger our faith. When we go bold we grow strong.

What bold promises has God spoken to you? Even as Abraham heard God for Bold things, I believe God wants to speak bold promises into your life. He wants to create amazing things in and through your life. Get alone with Jesus, listen to Him. He will speak bold promises into your life. As you begin to trust what He has promised you’ll find yourself growing stronger and bringing glory to Jesus!

Hebrews 12:1-4

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

GROW…

If you’ve been around Cross Points at all this month, you’ve no doubt bumped into one word repeatedly: GROW.

Grow. I suppose, in some sense, it’s just another word for discipleship. It goes down easier; it’s more easily appropriated. But it carries with it the force of that familiar (if slightly more challenging) word: discipleship.

Christian discipleship – that process of being transformed more and more into the image of His Son. Following Christ such that we become more and more like Christ. Conforming more and more to Christ and less and less to sin. Walking less and less in the works of the flesh and more and more in the fruit of the Spirit. Or, you might say, growing.

…STRONG

The book of Hebrews, among other things, is an invitation to persevere in growing – to walk this journey of discipleship…for the long haul. Or, as Pastor David challenged us Sunday, to grow strong.

Weight. Sins that litter the path and trip the traveler. Weariness and fatigue. The writer of Hebrews admits all of these dangers of the road. And what is his counsel to the pilgrim on the this path? How can the follower of Jesus persevere – endure – grow strong? Keep your eyes on Jesus (v 2). Consider Him (v 3 – ESV).

And this, I think, is one of the motivations behind this time of prayer and fasting at Cross Points.  Behind the motivation to pray bold prayers. Behind the motivation to lean into a word for this coming year.

All of this drives us back to our dependence on Him – refocuses our attention on Jesus.

Fasting reminds me that Jesus is my source and sustenance. Bold prayers remind me that I am not my own savior, that I depend on the intervention of One who is greater. Leaning in to a word for this year reminds me that I do not have the last word, but I listen for the voice of Another. All responses to the invitation in Hebrews: Consider Him.

I look at Him. Over and over again, I look at Him. I look at the One who saved me…and remember He’s also the One who’s growing me (v 2). And when I look at Him, over and over again, Hebrews tells me that I won’t grow weary…I’ll grow strong. I’ll go long in this journey of discipleship.

GROW 2016

If you haven’t already, let me challenge and invite you to take some time this week to consider Him. Join us at the church for our noon times of prayer and fasting. Pray a bold prayer. Pause for a moment and listen for God’s voice.