Benaiah

“The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them.”         Psalm 16:3 (NLT)

Hebrews 11:1 (New Spirit-Filled Life Bible) 1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Romans 15:13 (NLT)  13I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

3 OF THE QUALITIES THAT MAKE A HERO

1.   REAL HEROES STAND ALONE FOR WHAT’S RIGHT

“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.”   Exodus 23:2a (NIV)

“Destruction is certain for those who are heroes when it comes to drinking, who boast about all the liquor they can hold!”   Isaiah 5:22 (NLT)

“Do not model your behavior on the contemporary world, but let the renewing of your minds transform you, so that you may discern the will of God—what is good and acceptable and mature.”  Romans 12:2 (NJB) 

REAL HEROES MAKE SACRIFICES FOR OTHERS REAL HEROES STAND ALONE FOR WHAT’S RIGHT REAL HEROES MAKE SACRIFICES FOR OTHERS

“Whoever wants to be great must become a servant   “Whoever wants to be great must become a servant.” Matthew 20:26b (Message)

“Even if you give a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”   Matthew 10:42 (NLT)

Hebrews 11:6 (New Spirit- Filled Life Bible) 6But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

“Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves “Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Protect the rights of all who are helpless. Speak for them . . . and protect the rights of the poor and needy.”  Proverbs 31:8-9 (TEV) 

REAL HEROES STAND ALONE FOR WHAT’S RIGHT REAL HEROES MAKE SACRIFICES FOR OTHERS  REAL HEROES TAKE RISKS FOR GOD

“Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of  “Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and you’ll end up holding the bag.”  Luke 19:26 ( The Message)

   (Paul)  “I’ve worked harder, been put in jail more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again and again. Five different times I was given thirty- nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned with rocks. Three times I was shipwrecked! Once I drifted in the open sea all night and the whole next day.

I’ve traveled many weary miles and often been in great danger from flooded rivers, from robbers and from my own people, as well as from others. I’ve faced grave dangers from mobs in cities and from death in the deserts, and in stormy seas and from men who claim to be brothers in Christ but are not.

I’ve lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights I’ve lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights. Often I have been hungry and thirsty and have gone without food; and often I have shivered with cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.”   2 Corinthians 11:23-27 (LB)

BEHIND THE SCENE:  Benaiah

 “We cannot go where God is calling us to go, we cannot do what God is calling us to do, and we will not be who God is calling us to become until by His grace and power we make certain shifts in our life.”

2 Samuel 23:20–21 (NKJV) 20Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.

2 Samuel 23:20–21 (New Spirit- Filled Life Bible) 20Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. 21And he killed an Egyptian, a spectacular man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; so he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.

Here are 3 things we can learn from Benaiah

#1 Don’t make EXCUSES even when the ODDS are against you 

#2 Don’t waste your OPPORTUNITIES to be COURAGEOUS

#3 Don’t let the FEAR of failure stop you from moving forward in

The Lion Chaser’s Manifesto Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Run to the roar. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-given passions.

Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Stop pointing out problems. Become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past. Start creating the future.

Face your fears. Fight for your dreams Face your fears. Fight for your dreams. Grab opportunity by the mane and don’t let go! Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Live for the applause of nail- scarred hands.

Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshipping what’s right with God. Dare to fail. Dare to be different. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion.