Getting Out of the Dark

Feeling lost in the dark? In The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins faced goblins and despair with just a small elvish dagger—Sting—to guide him. It wasn’t much, but it sparked courage to keep going. Life can feel like that shadowy cave, but the Bible offers a sharper tool: God’s Word. ‘For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword’ (Hebrews 4:12). It cuts through confusion and lights the way forward. Like Bilbo, we can’t go back—only ahead. Pick up your sword, trust God’s truth, and take the next step. Read more about finding hope in the darkness! Read Getting Out of the Dark.

Move Forward in Courage

Many men, at the core of their being, long to be courageous. 

A man desires to stand alone and face to face the danger and become the hero. 

This is certainly true with me. 

Ever since I was a young boy I have wanted to defeat the bad guys, defend the ones I love, and rescue the beauty from the clutches of evil.

This craving in my soul comes from the reality that God made me to live a courageous life and to face the dangers of life. 

Often the danger which exists in our lives bears little resemblance to the danger faced by James Bond or Batman on the movie screen. Therefore, it is easy to convince ourselves that no real danger exists and all this talk of courage is just an exaggeration to play on the imaginations of men.

Our daily lives don't seem to be dangerous because we are rarely in physical danger. We don't have bullets whizzing past our heads or bombs exploding around us. This is why we are lulled into a sense of safety and convince ourselves that danger doesn’t exist in our lives. 

 

Just because our lives aren’t in physical danger doesn’t mean a threat doesn't exist.

One of our main threats is the same threat Adam faced from the beginning. It is the threat of following our definitions of good and bad rather than holding on to God’s definitions. It was easy to buckle under the words of the serpent and Eve than it was to stand firm against their temptations.

Because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection the failure of Adam is being reversed. 

If we are going to participate with God to bring restoration to creation we need to stand firm in this very area that Adam fell. 

The apostle Paul wrote:

A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against the wicked spirits in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:10-11; NLT)

I am convinced that when we experience fear in our relationships, doing what is right, or fear changing our lives, that is the enemy trying to convince us to surrender without a fight. 

Why does a husband fear talking to his wife? 

Ultimately because Satan is out there seeking destroy the marriage. 

Why does creating a budget and tithing cause fear to run through your body? 

The reason is Satan wants you to hoard what you have rather than being generous with God's provision. 

Why does the thought of giving up Facebook and Instagram cause you to fear that you might miss out on something?

Perhaps it is because Satan wants us distracted by insignificant things so we are unable to give our full attention to what really matters.

When we give into our fears we play right into Satan's hands.

God created us to live with courage! 

This doesn't mean that our lives should be absent of fear. What it means is that we trust God for the provisions we need for life, including the spiritual provisions of strength, hope, and confidence. 

When we live lives of courage we experience God's power at work in the world around us. Even if things don't turn out the way we would like, our faith is strengthened as we experience God at work in our lives.

Yet, if we live lives of fear at least two things will happen. 

First, our relationship with God will be stunted. Relationships grow with experience, and when we don’t allow God to provide for what we need, then we will miss out on experiencing Him.

Second, we put our families and friends at risk. Christians are to stand in the gap for their loved ones. My children do not have another dad who will be praying for them and loving them. I am it. I need to do that job. Likewise, I am the pastor at the church I lead, there is no one else who has been called to pray, teach, and lead like I have. It is my responsibility to do that.

It is crucial to remember: When we face our fears, it is not for us alone, but it is for all those we know and love. 

We need to resist the temptation to take the easy path and avoid our fears. The path of discipleship, the path of becoming the person God created us to be, is found on the other side of our fears. 

Today is the day to live with courage.

Don't Surrender to Fear

The tasks God calls us to are often scary and overwhelming.  We know that if completing the tasks depended solely upon us then they will remain unfinished.  Joshua must have felt that same way when he was called to lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land.

Deuteronomy 31:7-8:

Then Moses called out to Joshua in the presence of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you will accompany these people to the land that the LORD promised to give their ancestors, and you will enable them to inherit it. The LORD is indeed going before you - he will be with you; he will not fail you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged!" (NET)

Moses had been the leader of Israel for 40 years and he understood the difficulties that were involved with the task, so he urges Joshua to be strong and courageous.  Moses reminds Joshua that he can be confident in the task because God would go with him.

Deuteronomy 31:22, 23:

So on that day Moses wrote down this song and taught it to the Israelites, and the LORD commissioned Joshua son of Nun, "Be strong and courageous, for you will take the Israelites to the land I have promised them, and I will be with you." (NET)

Before the chapter ends in Deuteronomy Joshua is again urged to be strong and courageous, but this time the encouragement comes directly from God.  Joshua wasn't appointed for the task by Moses, but by God, and God tells Joshua that he can boldly lead the people into the Promised Land because God will go with Him.  What a great encouragement!

Joshua 1:6-9:

"Be strong and brave! You must lead these people in the conquest of this land that I solemnly promised their ancestors I would hand over to them.  Make sure you are very strong and brave! Carefully obey all the law my servant Moses charged you to keep! Do not swerve from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be successful in all you do. This law scroll must not leave your lips! You must memorize it day and night so you can carefully obey all that is written in it. Then you will prosper and be successful. I repeat, be strong and brave! Don't be afraid and don't panic, for I, the LORD your God, am with you in all you do."  (NET)

On the eve of venturing into the Promised Land God again comes to Joshua and affirms the promise that he had been given.  Joshua could be strong and brave because God went with him.  Yet we discover here that God gave Joshua some advice on how to be strong and courageous: to know and obey the law.  God had established a covenant with Israel, and as Israel's leader Joshua was charged with helping Israel to obey the terms of that covenant.  So it was essential that Joshua knew, obeyed, and ultimately modeled those terms to the nation.  It was Joshua's faithfulness to God, as demonstrated by keeping the terms of the covenant, that Joshua could be certain that God would be with him each step of the way.

2 Timothy 1:6-8:

Because of this I remind you to rekindle God's gift that you possess through the laying on of my hands.  For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me, a prisoner for his sake, but by God's power accept your share of suffering for the gospel (NET).

Timothy had been given a task to do.  It was based on the talents and spiritual gifts that God had blessed him with, but there was a part of him that wanted to hold back.  If he was to accomplish his God-given mission meant that he would face persecution and opposition.  Paul reminded Timothy that God's Spirit fills us with courage and boldness so that he can have the strength to accomplish what God had called him to do.

As followers of Jesus we are not to surrender to our fears.  We are to go forth in courage and do what we have been called to do, to keep the terms of the New Covenant: Love God and love people.  Yes we will face opposition, but when we surrender to God He will enable us to accomplish what He as called us to do.  He will give us the strength to be faithful to the end.

We can go confidently into the world because we know that God goes with us.  He has enabled us, through His Spirit, to be the strong and courageous people He called us to be.

Video: OnePrayer-Francis Chan

Standing Firm With Courage

Many men, at the core of their being, long to be courageous.  He wants to stand alone and face the oncoming danger and to be the hero in the moment of desperation. That is certainly true with me. Ever since I was a young boy I have dreamt of defeating the bad guys, defending the ones I love, and rescuing the beauty from the clutches of evil.

Because of this craving in my soul I believe that God made me to live a courageous life and to be able to walk tall in the face of danger. Part of the problem is that so often the danger that exists in our lives bears little resemblance to the danger faced by James Bond and Batman on the movie screen.  Therefore it is easy to convince ourselves that no real danger exists, and all this talk of courage is just an exaggeration to play on the soul desire of men.

Our day to day lives don't seem to be dangerous because we are rarely in physical danger.  We don't have bullets whizzing past our heads or bombs exploding next to us.  It is so easy to be lulled into a sense of safety because we don't have these physical threats to our lives.  We cannot be fooled that a threat doesn't exist.

The threat which exists is the same threat that Adam faced from the very beginning.  Adam turned his back on his design, and rather than fighting for what God had given him.  We have been paying the price of Adam's failure every since.

With the coming of Jesus, through His death and resurrection, Adam's failure is being reversed.  For us to participate with what God is doing in bringing restoration to creation we have to stand firm where Adam fell.  So the apostle Paul writes:

A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against the wicked spirits in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:10-11; NLT)

I am convinced that when we experience fear in our relationships, when we have fear to do the right thing, or fear to attack the sin in our lives it is the enemy trying to convince us to lay down without a fight. Why does a husband fear talking to his wife? Ultimately because Satan is out there seeking destroy the marriage. Why does giving a little extra money cause fear to run through your body? The reason is Satan wants you to hoard what you have rather than being generous with God's provision. When we give into our fears we play right into Satan's hands.

God created us to live lives of courage. This doesn't mean that our lives will be absent of fear, but rather that we have lives which trust in the provision of His strength, hope, and confidence. When we live lives of courage we are able to experience God's power at work in the world around us. Even if things don't turn out the way we would like, because of the faith and courage we exhibit we are able to grow in the relationship we have with God.

Yet if we live lives of fear we will not only be held back in our relationship with God, but we also put our friends and family at risk of Satan's attacks. Think about how many children have been hurt because their parents were unwilling to face their fears and simply got a divorce. Think about how many woman have been treated like dirt because they feared being alone. When we face our fears, it is not for us alone, but it is for all those we know and love. One day they may need us to be strong and brave, and because we have gone into battle before, we will be able to respond for them. We need to be willing to face our fears and walk into the danger that awaits us.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9; ESV).

Don't be Ashamed

{Philippians 1:20; NLT}

For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.

There is a great responsibility that goes along with declaring we are Followers of Christ. It puts us under the microscope and either validates or refutes the message we love we have received for God. For this reason it is very important that we are concerned about how we live.

We have to be concerned about how other people see us, the message we giving through the way we live. Other people’s perceptions of us matter. Sure we cannot ultimately control how other people view us, but there are steps we can take to put our best foot forward.

First we have to be concerned about not doing anything that causes us shame. The Apostle Paul was con-cerned about this. He was public figure and people knew what he stood for, and so Paul wanted to make sure he didn’t anything that would cause him shame and lose the respect of other people. We need to be conscious about the words we use and the things we do. Remember we might not think doing this or that is a big deal, but by our participation it might cause others to lose respect for us.

Second we have to have standards in our lives. If we don’t have standards in our lives then we will find ourselves in a position where we get caught up in the moment and we simply go along with the crowd. Often times the people others respect are those that stand by their convictions rather than going along with the crowd. It is easy to go along with the crowd, it is another thing to stand and do the right thing.

Third we need to be bold. Courage is essential if we are going to stand apart for the crowd. It isn‚Äôt easy being different because you feel so alone and vulnerable, and so there is a great temptation in giving in to the crowd, but respect doesn’t necessarily come by being like everyone else, but often times it comes from having the courage to be different. Why? I believe that it is because many people want to be different, but they don’t have the courage to separate themselves from the crowd. You are respected because you are doing what they want to do.

Being respected is very important if we are going to make an impact this world. When we are respected by others then they will listen to what we have to say and follow where we lead. Respect is a precious com-modity, are you making sure you are holding on to yours?

Sunday Quote: Regardless of the Consequences

"The moment you know what God wants of you is the moment to do it.  He doesn't expose sin in our lives so we can take care of it later.  When God speaks, it requires immediate attention.  We might be tempted to put things off until it's easier to deal with them.  We might hesitate in an attempt to minimize the consequences.  Yet courage does what's right regardless of situation or consequence." ~ Erwin McManus, Uprising, pp. 100-01

We Will Have Fear

I believe that one of the greatest obstacles that we have to overcome as we strive for maturity in Christ Jesus is fear.  Fear is what prevents us from stepping out in faith and experiencing God at work in us as well as in the world.  We choose comfort and security over risk and uncertainty.  At face value it seems like a no brainer until we realize that are stuck in a rut of existence rather than traveling the road of life.

John Ortberg had this to say about fear:

The fear will never go away. Why? Because each time I want to grow, it will involve going into new territory, taking on new challenges.  And each time I do that, I will experience fear again...The decision to grow always involves a choice between risk and comfort.  This  means that to be a follower of Jesus you must renounce comfort as the ultimate value of your life (If You Want to Walk on Water You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat; p. 21)

You and I will always experience fear, even as we follow Jesus, but our goal is not to allow that fear to determine the choices that we make.  To live with courage is not to live with out fear, but to make the right choice in spite of the fear.  How do we do that?  Let me offer a few suggestions.

First I would suggest don’t go it alone.  My personal experience has taught me that it is easier to respond with courage with a friend by your side.  We need the help of other people if we are going to grow.  Perhaps that is why we are constantly urged in the New Testament to be part of each other lives.  Hebrews 10:24-25 reads; And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (ESV).  We need to ENCOURAGE (fill each other with courage) each other as we follow Christ Jesus.

Second I would suggest that we meditate and pray.  Sometimes we get ourselves so worked up over a situation that we totally lose perspective on it.  Whatever is causing us fear can seem so huge to us that it ends up pushing God totally out of the picture.  This is why it is essential that we take time to sit down, pray, and think on words from Scripture.  Words like these well known words from Psalms:

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me (Psalm 23:1-4; ESV).

Prayer and meditation help us regain a proper perspective on reality.

A last suggestion I would make is that we need a Kingdom mindset.  I think the reason why fear is such a powerful force in our lives is because we are focused on our lives.  What we are seeking is to make a nice little comfortable life for us and we don’t want anything to come in and tear that life apart, so we hold back.  Think about these words from Jesus:  “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33; ESV). The context for this saying is Jesus’ teaching on not to worry, for God knows our needs.  What Jesus tells us us that when we seek after His Kingdom then everything we need for life and godliness will be given to us.  We may not always get what we want, but we will receive what we  need.  This promise should provide comfort as we face the fears in our lives.

We will have fear, but it doesn’t have rule our lives.  May we be people who live lives of courage as we follow after Jesus.

Worse than Death

Originally posted Tuesday, September 21, 2004

One of the things I inherited from my father is a love of westerns. I particularly love the stories written by Louis L’amour. One of my favorite books is a collection of short stories entitled West of Dodge. The main reason why I think I like this book so much is because many of the stories seemed to contain the truth that John Eldredge wrote about in Wild at Heart. These are stories of what it means to be a man. The story I think I connected with the most is the story To Make a Stand. The story contains the following scene.

Hurley knew death then. He knew the Talbots were behind him, and he knew there were four of them, and he knew he was fairly caught.

But he was calm.

That, of all things, was the most astonishing. There were, he knew in that moment, worse things than death, and there were few things worse than fear itself.

He turned slowly. “It’s my fight, Benton,” he said. “You get back in bed.”

Fear is a huge life robber. Fear paralyzes us from doing what we need to do. We have a fear of rejection so we are careful not to reveal too much about ourselves, and the result is that we miss out on the close relationships we need for life. We fear ridicule so we tone down the message we have for other people rather than risk stepping on their toes. We fear looking like a fool so we avoid new situations rather than trying to expand our experiences. Fear keeps us back from going where God wants us to go.

Think about how fear kept a generation of Israelites out of the Promised Land. The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt, they had passed through the Red Sea, they had received the Ten Commandments, and they had witnessed God at work. The nation gets to the borders of the Promised Land and Moses decided to send out 12 spies. They reported back that the land was very good, but it was controlled by people who were big and strong. Ten of the spies had fear in their hearts and advised against moving into the land. The other two spies, Caleb and Joshua, urged the people to follow God into the Promised Land; “Let’s go at once and take the land. We can certainly conquer it!” (Numbers 13:30; NLT).

Why were Joshua and Caleb so confident about conquering the land? The rest of Israel had witnessed the same miracles, the same power of God, as Joshua and Caleb had. God’s power was not a mystery to the Israelites. Joshua and Caleb had seen the same fortified cities and strong people the other 10 spies saw. The impossibility of the task had not escaped Joshua and Caleb. The difference was that the ten spies allowed their hearts to be ruled by fear, and that fear spread to the rest of the people. Caleb and Joshua allowed their hearts to be ruled by faith, and that caused them to live by courage.

Miracles and examples of God’s power will not extinguish the fear in our lives. Fear is present anytime there is a risk involved in what is before us. What allows us to have courage, to do the right thing even though we are afraid, is trusting in God’s power and promises. Courage comes because we are confident that God is in control and trust that whatever happens to us that He will use the experience for good in our lives.

That generation of Israelites missed out on the Promised Land. Their fear held them back from experiencing what God had in store for them. When we allow our fear to dominate our lives we too miss out on what God has for us. What are you missing out on because of your fear?

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9; ESV).

Don't Be Ashamed

Since I have pledged my life to Christ Jesus, I need to live my life in such a way as to honor Him. To do anything else would bring shame to my life. One of the constant prayers of my life NEEDS to be: Father, grant me the wisdom, strength, and courage to live a life worthy of Your Son, Jesus.

This appears to be the prayer of the apostle Paul:

I honestly expect and hope that I will never do anything to be ashamed of. Whether I live or die, I always want to be as brave as I am now and bring honor to Christ.” ~ Philippians 1:20; CEV

The Apostle knew that his honor was connected to his commitment to Jesus. Paul had pledged his allegiance to Jesus, and his honor depended on living out his loyalty to his Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

This isn’t just about not doing wrong, but also showing the bravery as we do the right thing. It would bring shame to Paul to avoid doing what he knew Christ called him to do because he was afraid. Prison, court trials, and beatings didn’t make Paul feel ashamed, in fact they were a source of pride for him. Paul saw these things as badges of honor he received for bravely following Jesus. In Paul’s mind it would have been shameful for him not to endure these things because he was too afraid to live out his commitment to Jesus.

Refusing to do good, because of my fear, is just as shameful as being caught doing something that is sinful. It may not seem like it since people won’t be able to see where I have refused to obey, but it brings dishonor into my life none the less. The sinful behavior and the refusal to obey are equal because they both rob Jesus of the honor that He deserves.

Courage is what is needed to live life that brings glory and honor to Christ Jesus. Where does courage come from? How can I live a life of courage?

The Courageous Christian #5

We have been examining the need for courage in the life of a follower of Christ. Even in the United States it is not easy to be a Christian. The world is trying to convince us to compromise and not live out the faith that we claim to have. We are mocked for the believes that we hold, and sometimes their are personal attacks as we proclaim God’s and love people. If we do not have courage we will not be able to follow Christ for long.

I think one of the truths that we have to remember in this discussion of courage is that there is no guarantee of success. Hebrews 11 gives us a great reminder of this reality:

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:32-40; ESV)

Just because we step out in faith and display courage doesn’t mean that things will go well for us. Many followers of Christ have had to show courage and they faced their death. They didn’t experience the victory in this life, but they knew better things awaited them. Their courage was an extension of their hope.

When we have hope that God can turn the worst circumstances, even our deaths, into something wonderful we will be able to live with courage. Hope is what we get when we have been with Jesus, because we know that if He can conquer death then He has the power to do a whole lot more. Hope comes from having a grand purpose to our lives, because we know that there are somethings worth fighting for and that we are able to make a difference in this world. Courage and hope are linked. If you don’t have hope there is no way that you will be able to live with courage.

In If You Want to Walk On Water You Have to Get Out of the Boat John Ortberg wrote, “When you are in a situation that creates fear, but you face it head-on, you will feel a rush of satisfaction in knowing you displayed courage.”

Anytime we display courage we are heroes. Living a hero’s life will give us satisfaction because we know we stood up for what mattered, rather than backing down. Everyday we face opportunities to show courage, to be a hero. The question you have to ask yourself is, “Do I want to be hero?” To help you answer that question God is saying; “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9; NASB).

The Courageous Christian #4

We cannot get through life without being afraid. Each one of us is afraid of something, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Fear can stop us from doing stupid things which endanger our lives or the lives of those around us. Yet, there are times in our lives that fear holds us back from doing the very thing that needs to be done, and in those moments we need to have courage.

Courage is not about living a life of no fear, but it is committing to do what needs to be done regardless of the consequences. As Christians we need courage because time and time again Satan will use fear to keep us from doing those things that Christ has called us to do.

So we do we get courage? As we look at Acts 4:5-22, which is the recorded experience of Peter and John, we notice two ingredients we need if we are going to walk with courage. Last time we examined the fact that we need to spend time with Jesus. The Sanhedrin noticed that Peter and John were not only men of boldness, but also men who had been with Jesus.

The second ingredient we need is that we need to have a grand purpose. Acts 4:19 and 20 reads, But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (ESV).

John Eldredge in Wild at Heart wrote, “Above all else, a warrior has a vision, he has a transcendence to his life, a cause greater than self-preservation.” (p. 142)

Peter and John had a reason to live. More importantly they had a reason to die. That is why many of us fail to have courage in the key moments of our lives. Yes, we understand that there is a purpose to live: we have our families, perhaps an important job, or we have a service or ministry we see as vital. Because we have a reason to live, we are reluctant to face a situation that might, in any way, damage that life we have. Peter and John had courage because they realized that death was not the end, there was something greater than their lives.

The courage of Peter and John came from having a purpose. Not just any purpose, but a grand purpose. It was given to them by Jesus, and it had already changed their lives. These two disciples were excited about this purpose, and they had to tell people about, regardless of the cost.

It is sad that our purposes in life are so small. They are not grand and often they don’t make us excited. Yeah, they bring a little joy into our lives and they add a little meaning to our existence, but not enough to get excited about. Ron Luce said; “Until we find a cause worth dying for, we’re not really living.” (p. 60; 40 Days With God) It is impossible to show courage when you are not willing to die for the cause. A life lived in fear is not living, it is merely existing. When we discover something that is more important than our lives, that is when we can finally get to living.

That grand purpose in the lives of Christians is to tell others about God’s great love; And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15, 16; NKJV). We do this because of the difference the Gospel has made in our lives, because we are free from sin, and have the hope of Heaven. Because we are excited of our salvation we want others to know about it. When the reality of salvation hits us, we will be too excited to be kept quiet.

The Courageous Christian #3

Fear is a part of our lives. All of us experience it to some degree, and for some us it is a paralyzing reality in our lives. Fear keeps us from living the life that God designed us to live and it prevents us from completing the task He has called us to do.

What we need is courage. Courage is not the absence of fear, but it is facing our fear in order to do what needs to be done. If we did not experience fear then we could not live with courage, for courage is our decision not to be ruled by our fears.

The early Church knew fear. They were being harassed by the religious authorities, discriminated by the average citizens, and threatened with beatings and possible death by the powers of death. In spite of this the first disciples boldly proclaimed Christ Jesus in public. This led to the arrest of two of the leaders of the Church, Peter and John, as the preached about Jesus in the Temple. In part two we looked at Acts 4 which records the incident for us. I pointed out that one of the truths that we could take away from the story is the reality that we are being opposed. Doing the right thing, following Jesus, and preaching the Gospel isn’t going to be easy, and when we encounter opposition we need to endure. In order to endure we need boldness. Acts 4 provides us two important ingredients for boldness.

The first ingredient is that we need to be with Jesus: Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13; ESV).

Harold Sala in Profiles in Faith wrote; “Courage has nothing to do with your education, your money, or your strength. It depends on personal character and the strength that comes by trusting the Lord” (p. 117).

It was not their education or their money that separated Peter and John from the crowd. They were unschooled and ordinary, and let’s face it, that is how many of us feel. There is nothing special about us. We don’t have a lot of money and there are a lot of other people who are smarter than we are. When we view ourselves from the lens of this world we discover that we are quite ordinary. The result of this is that it is easy to shrink into the shadows and not rock the boat.

The courage of Peter and John did not come from education, it did not come by their positions in life, or the money they had. Their courage came from being with Jesus. Peter and John had spent three years traveling with Jesus. They had a relationship with Him, they shared experiences with Him, they talked with Him, and they ate with Him. When Jesus rose from the dead He showed Himself to the Apostles. It was being with Jesus, discovering who He was and experiencing His love, that gave Peter and John courage.

I realize that we cannot have the same type of experience that Peter and John had. That experience was reserved for twelve men. So how can we be with Jesus? Now the Sunday School answer is: read the Bible and Pray. I want you to know that in this case those are exactly the right answers, but they are only part of the answer.

Yes, part of the experience of Peter and John included listening to Jesus’ teaching and prayer, but it was also observing Jesus with people. You want to be with Jesus, then be with people, help people, and love people. Matthew 25:40 reads; The King will answer and say to them, “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me” (NASB).

Max Lucado reminds us in He Chose the Nails that the point of the passage is; “How we treat others is how we treat Jesus” (p. 17). Being with Jesus means being with those He loves, treating others with respect, and helping those in need. When we do this we will experience Jesus in a whole new way. In a way that will give us courage.

The Courageous Christian #2

It is easy to live a life of fear. All around us there are reasons to be fearful. We can live in fear because of the economy or climate change. We can be afraid because of changing morals or which political party controls the government. We can live with the fear that our children will be influenced by the wrong people or that we will be hit by a bus when we step out on the street. If we allowed it to fear could paralyze our lives.

God does not want His people to be held back by fear. He wants us to live life, to engage the culture, and to stand up and fight for His Kingdom. In other words, God wants us to be different.

Remember what the apostle Paul wrote to his disciple Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:7? The Apostle wrote; “...for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline” (NRSV). God has given us the Holy Spirit so we wouldn’t be cowards, but would be heroes that make a difference for Him. We have courage when we trust God. Every Christian who has ever faced an unappealing task, has found their courage in God to do it.

That reality was true with the Apostles as well. I want us to focus on Acts 4:5-22 today. To give you background on what has happened. Peter and John went to the Temple to worship and preach. On their way into the temple they came across a man who had been lame for 40 years. He asked them for money, and Peter and John healed him. As the man ran and jumped, praising God, Peter and John spoke to the people. As they were speaking the Temple guards came to arrest them, for what they were saying was disturbing the religious leaders. Now it is the next day, and Peter and John have their day in court.

On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, By what power or by what name did you do this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying, What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name. So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old. (Acts 4:5-22; ESV)

In the next two installments we will look at two ingredients for Christian courage that we find in this passage, but right now I want us to understand a very important truth. We will be opposed, even when we do good things, when we go in the name of Jesus. I want us to remember this because it will be disheartening and we will want to give up, but we have to continue. Jesus never said it will be easy, and it is my belief that is through these tough circumstances, when we want to give up, that our faith is grown the most. That is why courage is so vital to our lives as followers of Christ.

The Courageous Christian #1

Fear is a part of our lives. Each one of us is afraid of something, and many of us are afraid of multiple things. This fear often prevents us from living the life God created us to live. The tasks God designed us to do are the very things that Satan uses to fill our hearts with fear. We must be courageous if we are going to be the people, and thus the church God wants us to be.

I have no idea what fear lurks in your heart, preventing you from really living life. What I do know is that fear holds you back from living the life God wants for you. At least that is true for me. Here is the question I think we need to consider: What fear does Satan use to keep you from living the life God planned for you to live?

This fable by Aesop illustrates how many of us respond to fear:

An old cat was in the habit of catching all the mice in the barn.
One day the mice met to talk about the great harm that she was doing them. Each one told of some plan by which to keep out of her way.
“Do as I say,” said an old gray mouse that was thought to be very wise. “Do as I say. Hang a bell to the cat’s neck. Then, when we hear it ring, we shall know that she is coming, and can scamper out of her way.”
“Good! Good!” said all the other mice, and one ran to get the bell.
“Now which of you will hang this bell on the cat’s neck?” said the old gray mouse.
“Not I! Not I!” said all the mice together. And they scampered way to their holes. (The Brave Mice; p. 457; The Book Of Virtues)

Many of us want to be part of something bigger than ourselves and to do something that has lasting value, but when it comes time for the rubber to meet the road we run away and hide. We don’t want any part of it. Yeah, we may talk a good game, but in reality we know we are going to chicken out in the end.

That is why people who have demonstrated courage amaze me. You can see that courage in many of the men who fought during World War II. My grandpa, my mom’s dad, flew B-17s in the war, even being shot down on at least one occasion. When I was preaching in Russellville, Arkansas one of the guys at the church had a heart attack. When I was visiting him doing his recovery he told me a couple of stories about fighting in the Pacific during WWII. I am amazed at their courage, and I am left to wonder if I could do that.

In the March 2003 issue of World War II magazine there is an article about an infantryman and his experience during the Battle of the Bulge. This is what the author, Wyatt E. Barnes, wrote about the assignment he was training to do in the days leading up to the battle.

“I was to be a pole charge man; I would have to run up to a bunker with a long pole capped with a block of TNT. If I survived to reach it, I was to thrust the pole into the bunker’s firing embrasure and detonate the TNT. Others in the unit had equally unappealing assignments. But like infantrymen everywhere, we did not think much about it. We could not change anything. We would have to deal, somehow, with whatever was to come.”

I think we can see an element of courage in what Mr. Barnes wrote. That element is the realization that the task is dangerous, or unappealing as Mr. Barnes put it, but being committed to deal with whatever is to come. Courage is not the absence of fear. If there was no fear then it wouldn’t take courage. Fear is there to remind us something is dangerous, that the task is not safe. Courage, therefore, is the determination to do what needs to be done in spite of fear. For the follower of Christ we know hat determination comes from being committed to God. Total trust in God gives us the courage to deal with whatever obstacles that may pop up in our path.

Courage is not just for soldiers, law enforcement officers, and fire fighters. Christians need courage. We need to recognize that courage is a vital part of our lives. Bill Hybles wrote; “Living as a fully devoted follower of Christ takes courage on a daily basis for the rest of our lives!” We need courage because we are in a war. There is a spiritual war raging all around us and we are, as C. S. Lewis reminds us, living in “Enemy-occupied territory -- that is what the world is.” We need courage, because Satan is at war with God, and he is doing whatever he can to thwart God’s will. As God’s children we are prime targets for the evil one.

Not only are we prime targets of the evil one, but we are also called to fight in this spiritual battle. The apostle Paul tells us:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm (Ephesians 6:10-13; ESV).

Courage is an essential part of the Christian’s life. While there are many things that bring fear into our lives it is possible to live with courage. We can be courageous Christians!

Fear and Focus

“It is fear,” writes John Eldredge, “that keeps a man at home where things are neat and orderly and under his control.” ~ Wild at Heart, p. 5

I have known all too well that fear is the biggest obstacle I face as I follow Jesus. It is what holds me back from developing my talents, investing my life in the life of other people, and living out my God given passions.

As I read through The Lord of the Rings this past week a longing for courage swelled in my heart. I want to have the courage to face the Orcs of life, to fight against the Dark Lord and his agenda, and to become the person God created me to be.

What is needed for courage? Perhaps part of the answer is found in Hebrews 12:1-2:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (ESV)

The author of Hebrews urges us to get rid of EVERYTHING, not just our sin, that holds us back (that includes our fear). He says that we find the strength and the courage to do this by fixing our eyes on Jesus.

I admit that too often I focus on myself and my circumstances, and thus lose heart. It is Jesus who is able to strengthen our hearts. So the question needs to be asked: How do we keep focused on Jesus in a world of distractions?

First, we need to be in the Scriptures so we can be reminded of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Second, we need to be encouraged by other Christians: from sermons and books to small groups and one on one conversations other Christians and spiritual conversations must be part of our lives. Third, we need to pray and ask God to open the eyes of our hearts so we can see Jesus at work in the world around us.

Fear will prevent us from living the life God created us to live. May we find the courage to live by focusing on Jesus.

Follow Jesus' Call

I don’t follow Jesus the way I should. I hesitate and question, which means I don’t live by faith. It is frustrating, but it is also comfortable. When I don’t live by faith then I don’t have to hard things that would push me outside of my comfort zone. I am convinced that we don’t follow Jesus because we don’t want to take the risk faith requires.

Take a moment and consider what Erwin McManus wrote:

“Just do whatever Jesus calls you to do the moment it is clear to you. Do not procrastinate; do not hesitate, do not deviate from whatever course of action He calls you to. But I want to warn you, the closer you walk with Christ, the greater the faith required. The more you trust Him, the more you’ll risk on His behalf. The more you love Him, the more you will love others. If you genuinely embrace His sacrifice, you will joyfully embrace a sacrificial life. Your expectations of Jesus will change as your intimacy with Him deepens.” (The Barbarian Way, p. 53)

If we want to live a life which brings honor to God, this is how we must live. When we pledge our lives to Jesus, then our honor is bound to our obedience. It isn’t enough that we don’t do wrong, but we must also seek to do right. One of the motivations in our lives must be not to do anything that will bring us shame. That is one of the motivations for the apostle Paul.

20 This is according to my eager expectation and hope that I will have nothing to be ashamed of. Instead, because of my boldness Christ will be exalted in my body, now as always, whether I live or die. (Philippians 1:20; ISV)

One of the things we need to remember as we look at this verse is that Paul lived in a culture where honor was bound to fulfilling his responsibility, and in battle, to fighting with courage. When Paul says that he has nothing to be ashamed of, he is not talking about doing something that is embarrassing or living a double life of sin. What he means is that he has lived a life of courage (boldness) which has brought honor to his master, Christ Jesus.

It would have been shameful for Paul to have quit preaching the gospel because he feared prison and death. The court trials, the imprisonments, and the beatings were badges of honor that Paul wore with pride because he bravely followed Jesus.

We have lost that sense of honor in our culture. Yet, I believe that it is essential for us to understand if we are going to live the Christian life. Our lives aren’t our own, they belong to Jesus. Our honor is tied to our obedience to Him. We can live a life of perfect morality, but if we are cowards then we will not bring the honor to Jesus that He deserves. May we continually follow Jesus regardless of the risk.

Grant us the strength, Father, to live honorably for Your Son, Jesus.

• Point to Ponder: Our honor is tied to our obedience to Jesus.
• Passage to Remember: Philippians 1:20
• Question to Consider: Are you living courageously for Jesus?