TOPIC: THE SWORD OF COURAGE
TEXT: Judges 20:22 “And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day.”
Memory Verse: Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
FOCUS:
This morning we are looking at the sword as courage.
Courage is defined to be the inner strength that does not make a winner to give up. Have you seen a courageous person? He will be surrounded by enemies but he has the fortitude to move ahead; he is so sure that he is going to overcome. They are not the type who give up easily on any matter.
Judges 20:22 gave us a description of a courageous person. The men of Israel, they encouraged themselves and this is exactly what courage does. Courage fortify you from inside to outside. It makes you to stand out. It makes you to look at that situation and ‘commonize’ it. It makes you look at yourself and say: “This thing is common to man and man is know with challenges.”
There is no free zone in life. For example, when a young is about to get married, to her marriage is everything and believe once she gets married all her problems are solved but for those who are married, they wish they had stayed a little more depending on how the wedding was at that time. Then when a lady or a young man gets married, you start looking forward to the time they will have children and something tells you on your inside that once you have children, all your battles are solved then only for the children to come. When they are babies, there is no work but when they begin to get to preteen and teenage years, when they become young adults you begin to see the need to do more; they test your patience and everything in you.
When you are not a courageous person, you loose battles easily. The quality of a confidant character, you are not intimidated! That is what it means to have courage. You are not afraid, you are not intimidated, you have the fortitude to push ahead; this is what courage does to you and once you are courageous, then your sword is ready to fight. Amen!
LESSON:
Joshua 1:6-7 “Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.”
This morning we are going to be looking at our sword as courage. For God to have spoken to Joshua and said if only you will be good and courageous. God specifically told Joshua be courageous. God was telling Joshua that look, you can’t do anything in this kingdom without courage. Like I defined courage to be self confident. It says be courageous, Joshua be courageous. Even though Acts of the Apostle 28:15: says “And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.”
You see, there are times in life that you just have to be courageous. God told Joshua, my servant is dead but be courageous. This was after the death of Moses, the servant of the most high and God began to give Joshua the new order of assignment for him, he begin to take delivery of his purpose. Why I’m bringing now that Moses is gone and God kept saying it to him, be strong and of a good courage for to these people thou shall divide for an inheritance this land which I swear unto their fathers to give it to them and repeatedly God was still telling him, only be strong and be courageous that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper in whatsoever you do. Just be strong. I mean, God just kept on emphasizing courage that look, you are face to face with a battle don’t forget you must be courageous.
If you are not courageous, you cannot be bold enough to do certain things in the kingdom of God. Courage is not for weaklings it is for the strong. Courage is not for those who are guessing, courage is for those who are with the sword. Your courage alone is a sword to defeat your enemies. When you lose courage, you lose battle. When you courage, you have lose the victory. But when you are courageous, you are able to stand even in the face of adversity and say “yes! it can be done!”
He said only be bold. Only be courageous. Courage is not from the flesh, courage is from the spirit. God wants you to be courageous and the more you are courageous, the more heaven speaks for you. Don’t forget that you need to be courageous to be on the Lord’s side. God bless you in Jesus name. Amen!
PERSONAL CONFESSION: I receive divine courage to face every opposition in my life and destiny. .
PRAYER FOCUS: Father deliver me from the spirit of discouragement in life and in ministry.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Courage is required in the face of adversity
Be courageous.