The Holy Ghost is powerful to sanctify every sort of believer, and suppress our character flaws for God's glory and our good, regardless of race. The Lord makes us brave by His providential care and through His Word to us, and by being with us always. God instructed Joshua to be strong and courageous, because God Himself would never leave Joshua nor forsake him. Paul quotes that same text in calling for the saints to exclaim, that the Lord is our helper, and we shall not fear what man can do to us. This Holy Ghost boldness was well displayed by the disciples from the very first. Joseph of Arimathea was bold to beg Pilate for the body of Jesus, so that He might receive the promised honorable burial in the tomb. Peter's boldness was evident in his confrontational preaching at Pentecost. When the Jewish rulers called Peter and John before the council to rebuke them for healing the lame man in the name of Jesus, they grew bolder still! Acts is clear why this is: because they were filled with the Holy Ghost. This is very striking in view of Peter's denial of Christ at the crucifixion. Peter had before talked big, but was cowed by the words of a servant girl. But now by the Holy Ghost, Peter did not mince words, but rather declared hard words, that he knew would rile up those wicked rulers who had murdered Messiah. Peter threw Christ's warning back into their faces: they had killed God's Son to try to seize the kingdom, rejecting the cornerstone, but God had raised up and exalted Christ to be the cornerstone anyway! Even the wicked rulers marveled that these ignorant and unlearned men had great boldness before them. But they took note, that they had been with Jesus!