Living Love: Part 2 - Courage
LIVING LOVE • Sermon • Submitted
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· 11 viewsThis message is about taking the step of courage to do what God has called or is calling us to do.
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Church, today, we are going to talk about Living Love again . . . and very specifically the “COURAGE” part of Living Love!
What do I mean? In a moment I’m going to give you the biblical sense of Courage. But first . . .
2 weeks ago when I started this series I started off by asking you this question: Have you ever had to do something you were afraid to do? I gave you several examples of things in life we have all had to walk through and experience . . . i.e. swimming, jumping off the high dive, riding a bike . . . and so on!
I made the statement: “Courage is to act in spite of fear!”
Now! What do I mean by a biblical sense of courage?
What is Courage?
In the Word of God . . .
Courage has the sense of valor, an exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger . . . especially in battle.
Courage has the sense of boldness, the trait of being willing to undertake activities that involve risk or danger; especially that involve being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech.
Courage has the sense of a courageous spirit, a strong will to accomplish something regardless of odds, however great.
Courage involves that quality of mind which enables someone to encounter danger or difficulty without giving up.
How do we act with Courage?
Let me ask you a series of questions . . .
Answer these with yes or no (raise of hands)
How many of you would be willing to face battle if the reason was based on a lie? On truth?
How many of you would be willing to risk your life, or your families life, or put them in danger if it was based on a lie? On truth?
How many of you would be willing to accomplish something, putting your reputation and life on the line, regardless of the odds . . . based on a lie? On truth?
Last question, How many of you would be willing to encounter something with great danger or difficulty, and not give up, if it was based on a lie? On truth?
You see where I’m going . . . to have the will to act courageously (against all fear or anxiety), it must be based on truth . . . and not a lie. People are not willing to act upon a lie unless they are completely deceived and do not know the truth.
Zeal based on knowledge.
It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.
A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the Lord.
If you study these verses we find an antithetic parallelism. In other words it balances the verse through opposition or contrast. This is a contrast between those who are the children of God and those who are not. The one is in the path of truth; the other, who is in the path of self-will and ignorance, God calls a fool.
For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.
As seen above in the OT, now in the NT . . . we see a zeal of God not based on knowledge of truth. Further . . .
Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
Not knowing the righteousness (or the truth) that comes from God people seek to establish their own truth. Our society today rationalizes and justifies things to sound like truth but it is foolishness in the eyes of God.
And then the question comes . . . what is truth?
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
We know Jesus is truth!
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
We know the Word of God is truth!
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
We know that LIVING LOVE is in action and in truth!
for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.
The psalmist says that when we keep our eyes on Jesus and are enveloped in His love, His Word, we will walk in His truth! It can’t be based on a zeal for something that is clearly in contradiction with a biblical truth.
It takes courage to stand up for truth! It takes courage to stand up for your faith when it’s not a popular thing in our world.
Take the time to look at the biblical examples of:
Joshua: Joshua 1:6-9
David: 1 Samuel 17:45-47
David: Psalm 27
Esther: Esther 4
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego: Daniel 3
Think about the many martyrs that have died because of their faith in Christ. The many that would not deny Christ because they knew the truth!
What are some issues today that are being propagated as truth but are contrary to the Word of God. There are zealous people in our world today that are not basing their zeal upon the truth of the Word of God but on half truths,
Pro Life
opposing abortion and euthanasia.
“You shall not murder.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.
There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?
Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands.
Pro Choice
Being pro-choice means that someone can be personally opposed to abortion, or feel uncomfortable with it, but would not impose her or his moral, personal or religious views onto women; for example, by trying to get women to change their minds, seeking laws that reduce or restrict women's access to abortions or judging ...
Illustration 93
Exhilarating Witness
Topics: Anxiety; Courage; Evangelism; Fear; Guidance; Hearing God; Leading of the Holy Spirit; Seekers; Witnessing
References: Matthew 28:18–20; Mark 16:15; Luke 19:9–10; Acts 1:8; Romans 1:16; 1 Peter 3:15
On the flight from Chicago to Lincoln, Nebraska, I sat next to a Saudi Arabian guy, Ali, who was on his way to start college in Lincoln. As soon as I heard that he’d never been in the United States before and was from the Middle East, I felt Jesus tugging at my heart. After a little chitchat about his feelings about being so far from home and asking what he knew about American culture or life in Nebraska, I told him I was a follower of Jesus.
I asked Ali about his spiritual background. I told him that he’d probably meet a number of people in Nebraska who are Christians, and said it’d probably be helpful to understand a little of where they’re coming from. I pulled out the Four Spiritual Laws and read through each point with him.
We talked a little bit more, and then I went back to reading my book. He opened the booklet and read it cover to cover. I was so excited. I prayed for him as he was reading it, thankful to have been reminded this morning that God is the one who works, convicting people of their need for him. After Ali finished reading, I asked him what he thought, and he said it was very interesting.
As the plane landed I told him I’d pray for him, then was convicted that I should do it right then. I asked if I could pray for him, and he immediately said yes. At the baggage claim I went over and met his cousin and invited them both to an American cultural event—Christmas Eve service at our church! We’ll see!
This is why I love being a Christian—it’s heart-pounding scary at times and exhilarating when I see someone I know Jesus wants to come to him, and I have the choice to step out in faith or stay in security.
—Email from Marilyn Adamson, Orlando, Florida (December 2006)
Larson, C. B., & Ten Elshof, P. (2008). 1001 illustrations that connect. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
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