“The righteous are bold as a lion.” — Proverbs 28:1
How This Message Was Born
I was traveling recently and decided to visit a church where Pastor Mike Dodson was speaking. His message on Intensify lit a fire in me—the Holy Spirit made it come alive in my heart. One line in particular gripped me:
“Focus on God’s house, not the White House. Focus on God, not the politician. Focus on the Word, not the news.” — Pastor Mike Dodson
That simple, Spirit-breathed charge became a trellis for what follows. I left that service sensing the Lord say, “Don’t shrink back—intensify.” This blog is my overflow.
Bold as a Lion: Why the Lion?
God could have compared the righteous to any animal, but He chose the lion—not because it’s the biggest or the fastest, but because the lion knows who it is. That identity produces boldness. Here are seven snapshots from the lion’s life that help us picture righteous courage:
1) Lions Walk with Confidence—Not Fear
Fact: Lions rarely retreat; they move with quiet confidence.
Insight: The righteous walk in confidence, not arrogance—our boldness comes from knowing whose we are.
Romans 8:31 — “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
2) Lions Are Courageous, Even When Outnumbered
Fact: A lion will stand its ground against larger threats.
Insight: Courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s trust in God’s presence.
Joshua 1:9 — “Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God is with you.”
3) Lions Lead and Protect Their Pride (their family)
Fact: The male defends; the lionesses hunt together and nurture the young.
Insight: Kingdom boldness protects and uplifts—truth, family, and faith.
Nehemiah 4:14 — “Remember the Lord… and fight for your families.”
And remember: our battles are ultimately spiritual (Ephesians 6).
4) A Lion’s Roar Declares Territory and Authority
Fact: A lion’s roar can travel up to five miles—it declares presence and power.
Insight: Righteous boldness has a holy “roar”—truth spoken in love with Heaven’s authority.
Amos 3:8 — “The lion has roared… The Sovereign Lord has spoken…”
5) Lions Rest in Confidence
Fact: Lions rest for long stretches—not anxious, but secure.
Insight: Boldness doesn’t equal striving; it flows from trusting.
Psalm 91:1 — “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High…”
6) Lions Move in Unity and Strength
Fact: Lions hunt in prides—strategy and unity.
Insight: The Church is strongest when we strive together for the gospel.
Philippians 1:27 …standing firm in one spirit, with one mind…; Mark 3:24–25 — a divided house cannot stand.
7) Lions Don’t Hide Their Roar
Fact: When it’s time, a lion doesn’t whisper—it declares.
Insight: Holy boldness doesn’t hide faith; it proclaims Jesus with love, joy, and truth—in God’s timing.
Acts 4:31 — “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly.”
Summary Thought:
“The righteous are bold as a lion” means God’s people live with confident faith, fearless obedience, and quiet authority—not because of who we are, but because of who He is within us.
Four Ways to INTENSIFY Your Walk with Christ
1) Intensify with Intention
Ephesians 5:15–16 — “Be very careful how you live… making the most of every opportunity.”
Living intentionally means we choose how we walk, how we speak, where we focus, and who we live for. And it’s time to refocus. Hear these powerful words from Pastor Mike Dodson:
- Focus on God’s house, not the White House.
- Focus on God, not politicians or parties—keep your eyes on Jesus.
- Focus on the Word, not the news.
When we fix our eyes on Him, He reveals His plan and sets captives free.
Acts 5:12–21 shows this beautifully. The apostles were arrested for preaching. They didn’t resist or panic; they stayed peaceful and faithful. God used the natural (prison, guards, locked doors) to do the supernatural (angelic release). And the angel sent them right back to the temple: “Tell the people all about this new life.” God didn’t stop the attack, but He brought the breakthrough. He didn’t remove the trial; He redeemed it.
Think of Daniel in the lions’ den and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the furnace. God didn’t keep them out of the test; He met them in it.
2) Intensify with Purpose
Philippians 3:13–14 — “Forgetting what is behind… I press on toward the goal…”
When you live with Kingdom purpose, even pain gains meaning—your struggle becomes strategy. In Acts 5:21, after their miracle release, the apostles didn’t retreat; they re-engaged. They didn’t complain; they continued the mission. Purpose gives perspective: what the enemy meant for evil, God can use for good. We may lose comfort, approval, even relationships or jobs—but we keep pressing on, with love and bold witness.
3) Intensify with Boldness
Read Acts 4:1–31. After Peter and John were threatened, the church didn’t pray for safety; they prayed for boldness. And they were filled again with the Holy Spirit (see v. 8 and v. 31). Boldness isn’t a personality type—it’s the byproduct of His presence.
“Speak to the people. Tell the truth in love. Take it to the next level.”
The world doesn’t need more opinions; it needs truth in love. When you’re full of the Spirit, fear loses its grip.
4) Intensify with Courage
Joshua 1:9 — “Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s obedience in the face of fear. Daniel didn’t know how the lions would respond; the three Hebrew men didn’t know how the flames would behave; the apostles didn’t know the outcome—only that God was with them. He may not stop the attack, but He brings the breakthrough. He may not prevent the storm, but He promises His presence in it. Sometimes the thing meant to break you is the very thing God uses to build you.
This is what it means to intensify:
- Come out of the fire refined.
- Come out of the prison still preaching.
- Come out of the trial still trusting.
You Can’t Roar Without Breath: Be Filled with the Holy Spirit
The life we’re describing can’t be lived in human strength. You can’t roar like a lion without breath in your lungs—spiritually, that breath is the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:8 — “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses…”
The Holy Spirit is the presence of Jesus within us, empowering Intention, Purpose, Boldness, and Courage. This isn’t hype—it’s hunger. And Jesus promises that when we ask, the Father gives good gifts:
Luke 11:9–13 — If we ask for the Holy Spirit, the Father won’t give a snake or a scorpion; He gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask.
Two Evidences of a Spirit-Filled Life
1) Boldness to Live and Speak for Christ
- Acts 2: Peter (who once denied Jesus) preaches boldly.
- Acts 4: They prayed—and were filled again and spoke God’s Word boldly.
Spirit-filled boldness may look like sharing your testimony, standing for righteousness with gentleness, praying publicly, laying hands on the sick, and refusing compromise when blending in would be easier.
2) The Gift of Speaking in Tongues
- Acts 2:4 — “All were filled… and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
- 1 Corinthians 14:2 — “Anyone who speaks in a tongue… speaks to God… utters mysteries by the Spirit.”
Tongues strengthen and edify your spirit (Jude 20). When you don’t know what to pray, the Spirit intercedes (Romans 8:26). This gift keeps your heart sensitive to His voice.
Together:
- Tongues connect you vertically to God (intimacy).
- Boldness moves you horizontally toward people (impact).
Both flow from the Spirit’s filling.
Be Filled (Again)
Maybe you’ve been filled before. Beautiful—be filled again. In Acts 2 they were filled; in Acts 4 they were filled again. We leak. Life drains us. God refills us—with fresh fire and a fresh roar.
Simple Prayer:
“Holy Spirit, I welcome You. Fill me with Your power. Let boldness rise within me—to live, speak, and love without fear. Fill me with Your heavenly language that builds my faith and draws me close. Teach me to walk daily in Your strength and courage. Make me bold as a lion and tender as a lamb. Let my life roar with Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
