Holy Spirit Provides Courage (2)

Holy Spirit Provides Courage

INTRODUCTION

Stephen before the Sanhedrin - face shone like an angel.

Preached boldly.

"But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God."

The Holy Spirit gives us the courage we need when we are living by faith.

The courage for David to face Goliath

The courage for Elisha to stand firm against the Syrian army with just his servant. - Horses and chariots of Fire.

The courage for Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to stand up against the most powerful man in the world.

The courage for Paul to face death at every turn.

Holy Spirit is the difference between Apostles of Gospels and Apostles of Acts.

They were told to wait until Spirit came.

2 Corinthians 5:6–10 ESV

6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

4 Areas Holy Spirit Provides Courage

1- Courage to Die (6, 8)

2 Corinthians 5:6 ESV

6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,

Home in the Body

Home with the Lord

Stephan’s courage in death.

2 Corinthians 5:8 ESV

8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

"We would rather"

not just courage to die but a desire for what comes with death.

ILL-- last verse of "Come to Jesus" by Chris Rice

And with your final heartbeat; Kiss the world goodbye; Then go in peace, and laugh on glory's side; And fly to Jesus, fly to Jesus, fly to Jesus and live.

Philippians 1:21 ESV

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

2- Courage to Live (7)

2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV

7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.

Walk by Faith- while we are in this tent (Jars of clay) we live in faith.

Again "seen and unseen" = temporary, eternal.

Faith when what is in front of you seems impossible.

David and Goliath

Galatians 2:20 ESV

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Illegal Aliens

3- Courage to Aim (9)

2 Corinthians 5:9 ESV

9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

"please him"= righteousness

We can only please God in Christ.

Romans 3:21–26 ESV

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Certain goals seem crazy in this world.

Not every team should have the goal of winning a championship.

Not every person should have a goal of making a perfect score on the ACT.

not everyone has the skills or abilities to do what it takes.

We can have the goal of living a righteous life because we have the Holy Spirit who makes us righteous and works through us to do righteous things.

Who is it you want to please?

ILL-- My Grandfather Beshears--I wanted him to be proud of me. -- My call to ministry.

I have a greater person I want to please-- My Lord and Savior Jesus.

We can aim to please God because we are made holy in Jesus.

What is impossible in our own power is possible because of what Jesus did for us.

4- Courage to Stand (10)

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Judgement Seat of Christ (Bema)

Pilot when Jesus was on trial...

Matthew 27:19 ESV

19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.”

Bema Seat at Corinth=

Acts 18:12 ESV

12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal,

Tribunal= Bema Seat= Big stone outside of town-- Place of reward after games and judgement of wrong doing.

This is the Judgement Seat of Christ which happens to believers after the resurrection.

3 Judgement After Death

A- Judgement at death

- separation of saved and unsaved

Hebrews 9:27 ESV

27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

absence of body is present with God

Rich Man and Lazarus-

Luke 16:20–26 ESV

20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’

B= The Judgment Seat of Christ

After the resurrection

Hebrews 9:27–28 ESV

27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

His 2nd coming is not judgment of sin.

For believers only.

C= Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20)

After 1000 year reign of Christ

Revelation 20:11–15 ESV

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Everyone who ever lived.

Judgement of works

Also- a judgement of separation for those not in Lamb's Book of Life.

Thrown into the Lake of Fire

Here in 2 Corinthians - Judgement Seat— Judgment of good works.

"whether good or bad."= eternal or temporary

1 Corinthians 3:10–15 ESV

10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Our works are judged because we are stewards. We have been entrusted with a great responsibility. We must live out the Great Commission.

1 Corinthians 4:1–5 ESV

1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

CONCLUSION

Do you face coming judgement with courage?

We cannot stand before the judgement seat in our own righteousness.

Do you live courageous because you have been made righteousness through Jesus Christ?