Godly courage

psalm 27:14 Wait patiently for the Lord Be brave and courageous Yes wait patiently for the Lord psalm 27:14

Courage - “the ability to do something that frightens another” Text Courage - “the ability to do something that frightens another”

Courage - the original root, which came form the Latin meaning - the ability to do something brave out of the motivation from the heart The reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way. How often do we see people in the Bible motivated by from the heart to do something Daniel Noah David Mary Joseph Paul Peter Jesus Jesus Jesus Lazerus Stephen

Text Philippians 4:13 For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength

Text No matter how big an adversary, God empowers us to do all things through the power of Christ Adversary- one’s opponent in a contest, conflict or dispute The enemy, Satan is referred to as our adversary Rival- enemy- atagonist - combatant - challenger - contender - competitor This word dates back to bible times and hit a high in use in literature in the 1800s

1. “I CAN” We declare! - “I CAN” (so we rise) It is then that Christ steps in and strengthens the believer Christ does not do everything for the believer and the believer does not do everything for himself Both Christ and the believer have a part in conquering circumstances Christ infuses strength into the believer while the believer is tackling the problem Aka being courageous

2. What follows the “I CAN” Any believer, no matter who he is, has the strength to arise and face any circumstance that confronts them It is only when the believer has exhausted what he can do that a special infusion of the strength of Christ is needed.

Romans 8:37 ESV

Text Soooo being courageous??? lets take a moment and look at What it takes to be courageous Sometimes we forget what we have when we are courageous Let’s take a look at what we have when we are courageous

Christ gives us rest! Matt 11:28 Text So following a courageous act Christ brings us rest! This applies not only to courageous acts but also to saying yes to Christ I alone for no one else can do this will freely give to you the rest you need He gives us rest from the guilt of sin by justification and from the power of sin by sanctification As we act courageously in our lives He gives us rest but he also gives us separation from darkness.

Christ gives us peace! John 14:27 Text When we struggle with our decision to be courageous, God graciously comes in and provides us a divine peace. The world gives us satisfying unsettled, transient peace God gives us a peace when we are courageous for the faith that brings forth even tranquility

Christ delivers us through persecution! 1 peter 4:12-13 Text Christ delivers us through persecution! 1 peter 4:12-13 Christ likes to deliver us quietly though situations but calling us to rely on Him often times without causing more dust to erupt but rather less dust to erupt For the measure of glory answers the measure of suffering and much more beautifully

Christ enables us to overcome the world! 1 John 5:4 Text Christ enables us to overcome the world! 1 John 5:4 Overcome enables give someone or something the authority or means to do something To make something operational and activate 3rd person present

Christ delivers us from fear! Isa 41:10 and Isa 46:4 Text Christ delivers us from fear! Isa 41:10 and Isa 46:4 To formally hand over Providing something that is promised Save rescue or set free

3. We CAN be courageous! (WHY) Text 3. We CAN be courageous! (WHY) Trouble Hardship Persecution Famine Danger Sword Imagine experiencing all of this!!! I mean imagine all at the same time! What a thought But the fact of the matter s this IF you are an obedient, courageous Jesus Follower Nothing can separate you from His love! So no matter what the scripture tells us that we are MORE than conquerors!

MORE - a greater or additional amount of! Text MORE - a greater or additional amount of! So as we are obedient yes as we move closer to his call and will for our lives and respond to His courageous CALL we receive more and become more than conquerors. Meaning like He doesn’t want us just to pass but excel I mean it is good to pass but boy isn’t it greater to excel! What an amazing feeling

NOTS!!!!!!!! NOT DEATH NOT LIFE NOT PRESENT NOT HEIGHT OR DEPTH Text NOTS!!!!!!!! NOT DEATH NOT LIFE NOT PRESENT NOT HEIGHT OR DEPTH SO IT IS JUST US THAT KEEPS US FROM HIS CALL So what is it that keeps you from being fully courageous This moves us into next week. We are reminded this week that there is no reason for us not to step into his courageous will for our lives. So what is it about yourself that keeps you from being fully engaged in His plan It may seem like a huge task but remember the song How GREAT THOU ART! IF HE IS SO GREAT THAN you have nothing to worry about.

Text more than conquer - we are not only not losers, but abundant gainers, by all these trials! John Wesley