Godly Courage & Faith That Stands Storms

Preface:

There are 20 points to this sermon. Relax,  , There are actually 10 points to. Why do I say this? Because at 11:47 when I was completely finish with the servant a confident that it was what God wanted, 8 of the first 10 disappeared. 

I mean disappeared. I didn’t hit a wrong button. I didn’t forget to save them .They just went away. Without explanation. I started to get upset. But quickly changed my attitude .

Because I got to dwell  and meditate on this awesome Godly topic even longer. And so I rewrote the sermon. And in the rewrite, the points are completely different. 

I guess that just goes to show how much there is to say about this topic, from the scriptures!

Introduction:

Real Faith in God’s plan is Stronger than you think. It takes us through tough stuff! God doesn’t always call us out of tough stuff! Sometimes He even puts us in it. And then if we look to him Faithfully, He leads us through it! 

He want us to GROW & draw closer to Him in the midst of our trials! God’s overcoming power will help you walk your finest in the midst of the storms! He could have stopped the storm before He came to the disciples, when their boat rocking in peril and they were afraid. But he chose instead to walk through the storm to get to them! He wanted them to see that he could walk through the storm. And then He called to them from the midst of the storm. And then He called one of them to come to Him right through the storm.

Like Peter, Yes we will fail sometimes in the storm. Yes we will sometimes fall and feel like we are sinking in the storm. But if we keep our eyes on Jesus, He is there to pick us up and help us through it. After all, He is the Master of the storm. And when he is ready, He can also say to the violent waves; “Peace be still!”

But don’t be surprised when He comes to you in the middle of the storm, instead of removing you from it. And don’t be surprised when He asks you to walk to Him in the middle of the storm. Jesus tests our faith to see if we believe enough in Him to trust us even in the storms!

1 Peter 4:12-19 King James Version (KJV)

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

14 a-If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you:

And since it seems that God does call us through stuff so often. In fact that’s the one prayer that Jesus refused to pray for his disciples, was to take them out of the world. In the light of this; it is plain that we definitely need Godly courage!!!  So let’s think and pray about it together this morning!

Point #1 – Godly courage faces it’s fears.

A lot of people feel like the Lord will remove all fear from their life. While I feel like God removes unnatural fear from your life. Because we understand that he has won the spiritual battle. And we don’t have to fear the enemy. There are natural fears and apprehensions that we must face. If we are honest, even the Assurance of God’s presence does not remove these troubling issues, without Lots of sikhi and soul-searching.  In fact we are lying if we say we don’t have them. It is possible to not  confront  our  needs for ever deeper spirituality. And at times, this can just be escapism. From the deep inner workings of the Spirit, that we need to allow to happen. Godly courage helps us face these fears and grow into deeper levels of true godliness, inside and out!

You cannot run from your inner issues and problems and feel like you are growing in Godliness. Growing in godliness will make you courageous enough to discover, Face and deal with the toughest issues in your life.

+ Psalm 56:3-4 When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?

Point # 2 – Godly courage takes the hand and accepts the help of the Master.

It is utterly foolish to feel like you will leave this life unscathed. You will face battles. You will face challenges. You will face trials, during the course of this life. It is not a question of whether or not you will face them, but how you will face them.

It is not courage to try to go It Alone. It is foolishness. It is pride. It is arrogance.

Godly courage is never lonely. Godly courage is always empowered by Supernatural strength.

+ Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

+ Isaiah 41:13 For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Point #3 – True courage builds Trust.

When we face things that God wants us to, with the power and leading of His Holy Spirit. Our trust is deepened in Him as we walk with Him and face things that are difficult …… with His strength.

By learning to courageously face things, we learn that we can trust God to bring us through things!

+ Psalm 56:3-4 When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?

Point #4- Courage is never alone, even when you are the only one to stand.

God is always with us when we have true Godly courage. Godly courage should be filled with deep Assurance of the Lord’s concern, presence and protection. The expression of our Godly courage should be a deepening of our fellowship with God. And the deepening of our fellowship with God should produce a more steadfast Godly courage.

+ Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

+ Isaiah 41:13 For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Point # 5 – Courage is not afraid to take a stand, even when it’s unpopular!

Courage makes us strong in the faith! And conversely, it is also true that Being strong in the faith makes us courageous.

Courage becomes an inner principle for The Godly. When we have really come into a deep fellowship with the Holy Spirit. We know the truth. And we become responsible to hold fast to the truth, even when others do not like it.

+ 1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.

Point #6 – It takes and demonstrates Courage to spread God’s word, to an unbelieving world!

Paul demonstrated a Fearless testimony in sharing and spreading the gospel of Christ. There have been many Martyrs through the course of the last two thousand years. It has cost many everything, to follow Christ. To spread Christ message is a matter often of great courage!

Our courage and sharing our faith will inspire others to courageously accept the faith. And others to courageously also share their faith. Courage is constructively contagious!

+ Philippians 1:12-14 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.

Point #7 – A real understanding of God’s love dispels fear and builds courage.

The love of God is Not sissy or soft. The love of God maybe is intimate and personal. But it is not weak, nor fragile. Correctly interpreted and applied, It makes us the strongest possible persons that we can be.

When we understand that God will love us eternally and provide for us not only here but in the Hereafter. Then the temporal price that we must pay here does not overwhelm us. Love replaces insecurity, with security. Courage is more concerned about serving Christ, than personal cost.

When we have a deep passion for the Savior, then we become fearless and extremely courageous!

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Ephesians 3:16‭-‬20 KJV

Point #8 – Godly Courage inspires work and godly work inspires courage.

 And faith empowers and encourages the

Courageous value of our work. Our courage it strengthens our work. And godly work confirms and strengthens our courage.

Many do not perform the tasks that God wants them to, because of a lack of Courage. They are afraid to engage of perform the tasks. Performing the tasks that God wants us to do bills are courage and helps us to do and embrace His will.

+ 1 Chronicles 28:20  David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.

Point #9- Courage gladly takes up it’s cross and follows Christ. And following Christ will teach us this kind of Godly courage.

The deeper we come to know Jesus. The more we will want to serve him. The more we will want to please him. The more we will want to do his will. Even if it costs us greatly. It may take courage to do the will of God. But the heart that is sold out of in love with Jesus wants nothing more oh, that the police the heart of God. So Godly courage leads us to take up our cross gladly in Christ’s service.

Matthew 16:24

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

+ Hebrews 13:5-6 For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

+ Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.

+ Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

+ 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

+ 1 John 4:18 There is  no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Point #10 – Courage humbly receives God’s healing.

Naaman sought the prophet of God in the Old Testament to get healing. But when the prophet of God Elijah told him to go dip himself in the muddy Jordan River. They almost missed his healing and kept his leprosy, by being too proud of humbly doing what God wanted him to do, to attain his healing.

It takes courage to receive. Our pride often wants us to be able to do things on our own. How many times have we heard that somebody was a self-made man or woman. I get that is important to take responsibility. But it is also important to realize there are many things we cannot do, without the help, aid and empowering of Jesus. There must be an humble place on the inside of us, that clings to the the heart and help of God. It takes the courage of humility to come to and stay in this place of Divine submission.

Courage conquers hate and causes healing! Sometimes it takes courage to receive healing.

Many people live their lives in self inflicted sicknesses that God would like to heal.

Mark 10:49

And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.”

Matthew 9:2

And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”

Matthew 9:22

But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” At once the woman was made well.

Point #1 – Godly courage faces it’s fears.

Point # 2 – Godly courage takes the hand and accepts the help of the Master.

Point #3 – True courage builds Trust.

Point #4- Courage is never alone, even when you are the only one to stand.

Point # 5 – Courage is not afraid to take a stand, even when it’s unpopular!

Point #6 – It takes and demonstrates Courage to spread God’s word, to an unbelieving world!

Point #7 – A real understanding of God’s love dispels fear and builds courage.

Point #8 – Godly Courage inspires work and godly work inspires courage.

Point #9- Courage gladly takes up it’s cross and follows Christ. And following Christ will teach us this kind of Godly courage.

Point #10 – Courage humbly receives God’s healing.