Courage
C. S. Lewis said, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of highest reality.”
1. Courage is the willingness to die for what is essential.
Queen Esther said in having the courage to go before the king when she hadn’t been summoned and thereby face the very real possibility of death said, “Esther 4:16 (NASB95) if I perish, I perish.”
2. Courage to believe and trust in God’s word.
Paul was on a trip towards Rome and the boat was lost in a storm that eventually destroyed the boat. But Paul had a word from God.
Acts 23:11 (NASB95)
11 But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”
The whole crew of 275 were saved, because Paul trusted God’s word.
3. The courage to live your commitment to Jesus Christ in an increasingly anti-Christ world.
Acts 14:18–19 (NASB95)
18 Even saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them. 19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.
In verse 18 they are having difficulty keeping the crowd from worshipping them and in the next verse they have actually stoned Paul and left him for dead. He wasn’t. But that, my friend, is how fickle the crowd of the world is where we live and take our stand for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I love you
Pastor Randy