Courage
Necessity of Courage:
Courage is essential for a soldier in battle and for the soldier of Christ in the fight of faith
Courage is the strength of the soul
Spiritual strength includes steadfastness, bravery, faith and honesty
Such does not come by accident by is deliberately developed
God has no use for cowards
Courage is needed because
God commands it
God Pledges His support
God gives assurance of success Josh 1:8-9
Christian Lives must be built on a foundation of courage
Two components of courage
A good conscience – knowing you have obeyed God
God knows every thought and motive , therefore we are to be sincere
One cannot have real courage unless he knows he is doing right
Trust in God
You must believe that He will be with you
God must be put first and foremost in your life
Areas in Which One needs courage:
1.When in Minority – NOAH Gen6:8,7:1
oah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and walked with God.
a.Its easy to renounce a position when you are in the minority
b.God’s people have always seemed to be in the minority
i.Today it is the same
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
c.God expects His children to stand for right even when they are in the minority 2 Cor 6:17-18
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2.Facing temptation: Joseph (Gen 39:6-12)
Gen 39:6 And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.
Gen 39:7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
Gen 39:8 But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
Gen 39:9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
Gen 39:10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
Gen 39:11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
Gen 39:12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
a.He could have sinned with Potiphar’s wife and no one would have knows – except God
b.Though his livelihood in a strange country was at stake, he overcame with God’s help Gen 41:39-44
Gen 41:38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
Gen 41:39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
Gen 41:40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
He was a pilgrim in a strange country, WE ARE PILGRIM ON THE EARTH. WE ARE JUST PASSING BY.THERE IS AN END OF TRIALS AND TEMPTATION
c.Christian are to resist devil – Jas 4:7 – but it takes courage. Such courage comes from a knowledge of God’s care –
(1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
3.David’s Great Example of Courage : His Victory Over Goliath – 1 Sam 17:1-51
The Philistines had gathered their armies against Israelistes, valley
Their champion, Goliath, defied the entire army of Israel
The Israelites were delivered by David who, in a great act of courage, willingly engaged Goliath in battle.
Goliath
He is referred to as champion three times
He was 9 feet, 6 inches tall and wore armor that weighed at least 150 pounds
His spear head weighed 18 pounds
He proposed a winner-take-all fight
1Sa 17:9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.
His appeal made Israel greatly afraid
He had a high price on his head
Saul, a great warrior in his own right, urged David not to fight him
His eyesight was not poor, it was good enough for him to see that David was a youth
1Sa 17:14 And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.
He was a giant, who defied an entire army
Source of David’s Courage
David’s courage was not because of:
His personal size or strength
His military armament,
Numbers or the support of others
David’s courage was founded upon his great faith in God
He knew that God was with Him
1Sa 17:37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee- based on the evidence
He knew that the battle is the Lord’s
He knew the Lord doesn’t save with sword and spear. God has give victory in some most unusual ways
1Sa 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel,
The Battle is the Lord’s Today
There is a need for people of deep faith and courage who will go out against the giants of today
The giants of today include
………………………………
All these giants and more can be conquered if we will have the same faith and courage of David.
God didn’t bring lion, bear or the giant at the same time
All resources of heaven is in your heart.
Like David, He didn’t need to hit the target, he just needed to throw, it was God that hit
Jesus came walking on the water, disciples in the storm struggling- jesus looks at the face of satan says’; not while I am praying.Jesus is praying for youtoday.
