When we think of courage, what comes to mind?
Usually our first thought is to reject the idea that we have genuine courage in the first place, so we no longer entertain that thought.
Sometimes when we see someone be rewarded for bravery and courageous events, we seem so proud but sometimes we think, could I have done that?
Courage (Be of Good Cheer)
bold courage means living out the inner confidence (inner bolstering) that is Spirit-produced
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
Winston Churchill
Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid.
Franklin P. Jones
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear.
Mark Twain
Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared.
Eddie Rickenbacker
What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?
Vincent Van Gogh
In the modern day Pandemic, we see others from first responders battle through this pandemic, a soldier receiving a medal for bravery, all the way to a single parent keeping food on the table for their family.
How about individuals that pray for a job or even the burning desire to be helpful and useful in some fashion but was weighted down with the notion they are not intelligent enough, not good enough, not qualified enough. How about here at the church, jobs that need people to fill in the seats, yet they remain empty due to very similar thoughts and actions. I just don’t qualify!
James Merritt a well known Pastor on television had a opportunity to meet Dr. Charles Stanley and he asked him this “what have you learned being president of the southern Baptist convention?”
Without even pausing to reflect he said, ''James, I've learned two things: we have a lot of little people in big positions and the average pastor has no guts.'' his answer was a gut-punch to me, because whatever position I am in I don't want to be little and every situation I am in I want to have courage.
A Best selling author wrote this quote ''sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just to have the courage...to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.''
Think of it, Christ struggled as we struggled, he intimately cares for our lives and our whole being! BUT what can we do about it? What tremendous work that Christ needs done, how could he use little oh me??
We as Christians are called to have courage!
Jesus, went and prayed to the Father for courage multiple times didn’t he? He was not exempt from fleshly temptations or struggles! He went to the Father for Courage to do HIS WILL
There is a great saying I read recent, ''a ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.'' the ship of your life is going to sail the seas it was meant to travel. You can't stay in the harbor. You have got to courageously show up.
What did followers of Christ do?
Went To God In Prayer
Who remembers G.I. Joe? One of their mottos was ‘Knowing is half the battle!’ Here we are seeing that. Showing UP is a start!
Some of you are could be thinking, how could just following Christ take the same courage in the examples of a brave soldier, frontline worker, single parent and so many other examples?
Yes, it takes courage to follow. Scripture tells us we as Christians are to cultivate a certain sense of detachment from the world. This helps give us our whole soul, body and mind in being free from the anxieties that the world gives. Clearing the clutter!
Romans states “Do not be conformed to this world”, I wonder why?
When we think of Jonah, we don’t immediately think courageous do we? But what we do see, is how he followed God even among his disappointing decision to flee away from what God had instructed him to do! He wanted to follow God, but it seemed only at a price of expending his own values. He didn’t like Ninevah and its people, but it wasn’t about the city or its people, its about saving them from their sins. God help awaken Jonah to do his work that he chose him to do! Just like us! God prepares us in ways beyond our comprehension.
Paul being a pristine example of stress and anxiety, also gives comfort to us knowing the desire to fulfill Christ as is to follow is a joy and privilege. It completes us!
Nothing and no one should ever supervene in that supreme life of consecration that we need to have in Christ; Paul says (I say this… to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.) That is, follow him! Ask him! Seek him! Find him!
We are to live day-to-day life in a way that our priorities knowing God could return at any moment. Life is but a blink in the eye of eternity. We are to follow Christ!
Do you realize knowing who Christ is is one thing, following is something else!
Satan and his minions know and believe in Christ whole heartedly, but they do NOT follow him!
Let me tell you this friends, just as Paul lived a life with turmoil and the battering of his faith while following Christ, we too will be required to be tested, tried and eventually answer the call in a decision. Living the Christian life, walking the walk is NOT easy. No where in scripture does it tell us the journey is void of dangers, but the end results, the goal is well worth all.
There is countless stories in modern day where people are killed because of their Love for Jesus! I could express so many stories I read when preparing for this sermon.
The cost of courage is great, but the cost of cowardliness and compromise is even greater.
I wish I could tell you today, I guarantee suffering will NOT happen, I guarantee PAIN will not be experienced. I cannot do that friends.
Paul tells us “To Live is Christ, to Die is Gain!”
In Closing, As shinning beacons of light, we too are to be teachers or fishers of men. Standing up for what is right according to God’s love and law.
For our children today, we should teach our youth and model for them a life that shows up when the rest of the world is hiding, stands up with the rest of the world is sitting, and speaks up when the rest of the world is listening. Go big and go bold.
What does it mean to follow Christ? It means to live for Christ, the rock of our salvation, our fortress that shall not be shaken, the place of rest for our deliverance and our refuge. All power, honor and glory belongs to God friends. God repays to all according to the work and faith we express! Amen.