Today’s Scripture ReadingToday’s Scripture Reading

1 Corinthians 16:13-141 Corinthians 16:13-14

Real Christians Are Real Christians Are COURAGEOUSCOURAGEOUS

1 Corinthians 16:13-141 Corinthians 16:13-14

Wizard of OzWizard of Oz

““What have they got that I ain’t What have they got that I ain’t got?got?

COURAGE!COURAGE!

A Needed Character TraitA Needed Character Trait

• Truly, courage is one of the most necessary Truly, courage is one of the most necessary of all of the character traits for true of all of the character traits for true Christians.Christians.

• The Lord intends for us to be people of great The Lord intends for us to be people of great boldness and strength.boldness and strength.

• It might can be said that He intends us to be It might can be said that He intends us to be people of audacity.people of audacity.

• Satan is not bashful nor a coward.Satan is not bashful nor a coward.• To stand up to his attacks, real Christians To stand up to his attacks, real Christians

must be COURAGEOUSmust be COURAGEOUS

Some Admirable People of Genuine Some Admirable People of Genuine CourageCourage

Abraham:Abraham:

Who had the courage to go where God Who had the courage to go where God said to go without asking questionssaid to go without asking questions

or doubting.or doubting.

Some Admirable People of Genuine Some Admirable People of Genuine CourageCourageHananiahHananiah

MishaelMishael

AzariahAzariah

Who, though given pagan names, Who, though given pagan names, refused to bow to pagan gods.refused to bow to pagan gods.

Some Admirable People of Genuine Some Admirable People of Genuine CourageCourageDaniel:Daniel:

Who trusted and obeyed God all the Who trusted and obeyed God all the days of his life, even when his very life days of his life, even when his very life

was at stake.was at stake.

Some Admirable People of Genuine Some Admirable People of Genuine CourageCourageGideonGideon

Who was from the least family in the Who was from the least family in the least clan in the least tribe of Israel. least clan in the least tribe of Israel.

He was called by God while hiding in a He was called by God while hiding in a wine press, yet delivered the nation wine press, yet delivered the nation

from oppression through the power of from oppression through the power of God.God.

Some Admirable People of Genuine Some Admirable People of Genuine CourageCourageDeborahDeborah

Who, though a woman, understood Who, though a woman, understood her position as a judge over Israel and her position as a judge over Israel and

led its army to victory while Barak led its army to victory while Barak cowered behind her.cowered behind her.

Some Admirable People of Genuine Some Admirable People of Genuine CourageCourage

Jael:Jael:

Who courageously drove a tent peg Who courageously drove a tent peg through Sisera’s head to deliver Israel.through Sisera’s head to deliver Israel.

Some Admirable People of Genuine Some Admirable People of Genuine CourageCouragePeter:Peter:

Who actually got out of the boat to Who actually got out of the boat to walk on water with Jesus.walk on water with Jesus.

Some Admirable People of Genuine Some Admirable People of Genuine CourageCourageStephen:Stephen:

Who spoke the truth of the gospel Who spoke the truth of the gospel even knowing it would cost him his even knowing it would cost him his

life.life.

Some Admirable People of Genuine Some Admirable People of Genuine CourageCourage

Paul:Paul:

Who endured punishment, torture and Who endured punishment, torture and eventually death so that the gospel eventually death so that the gospel could be preached in all its purity.could be preached in all its purity.

Some Encouragement to be Some Encouragement to be CourageousCourageous

• Deuteronomy 31:6– Deuteronomy 31:6–

Be strong and courageous. Do not be Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."will never leave you nor forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:23Deuteronomy 31:23

The LORD gave this command to The LORD gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: "Be strong Joshua son of Nun: "Be strong and courageous, for you will and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you.“myself will be with you.“

c.f. Joshua 1:6,7,9,18. c.f. Joshua 1:6,7,9,18.

David Charged Solomon to beDavid Charged Solomon to bestrong and courageousstrong and courageous

• 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.

Paul Encouraged Timothy to be StrongPaul Encouraged Timothy to be Strong

For God did not give us a spirit of For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love timidity, but a spirit of power, of love

and of self-discipline.and of self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:72 Timothy 1:7

Paul commanded the Church to be Paul commanded the Church to be CourageousCourageous

•1 Corinthians 16:13-14 -- 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 --

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.everything in love.

The Early Church Prayed for Boldness

Acts 4:29-30Acts 4:29-30

Now, Lord, consider their threats and Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30Stretch out your with great boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."your holy servant Jesus."

The Curse of the Cowardly

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

Revelation 21:8

We Were Called To Be Righteous

Hebrews 10:37-39 For in just a very little while,    "He who is coming will come and will not delay.    But my righteous one will live by faith.    And if he shrinks back,       I will not be pleased with him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

The Lord Takes No Pleasure In CowardsThe Lord Takes No Pleasure In Cowards

Real Christians Are: A Final ReviewReal Christians Are: A Final Review

  FAITHFULFAITHFUL GODLYGODLY LOVINGLOVINGJOYFULJOYFUL PEACEFULPEACEFUL PATIENTPATIENTKINDKIND GOODGOOD GENTLEGENTLECOMPASSIONATECOMPASSIONATESELF-CONTROLLEDSELF-CONTROLLED HUMBLEHUMBLEFORGIVINGFORGIVING THANKFULTHANKFUL

PERSEVERINGPERSEVERINGKNOWLEDGEABLEKNOWLEDGEABLE HONESTHONESTCLEAN TALKERSCLEAN TALKERS

COURAGEOUSCOURAGEOUS