Sermon Tone Analysis

*Courage*

*(Virtues for Victory Series)*

*September 11th, 2004** and **September 12th, 2004*

* *

*Introduction*

I have been teaching a long series on “Virtues for Victory”.

I have talked about:

·       *Being a Christian Patriot*

·       *Faith to Stand*

·       *Adapting to Change*

·       *Service (from survival to significance)*

·       *Godliness (facing opposition)*

·       *Hope*

* *

* *

-Today we are going to talk about another very important virtue if we are going to have victory.

*VIDEO CLIP FROM WIZARD OF OZ*

* *

 

-I confess it is really hard to even think about courage without thinking about the cowardly lion from the Wizard of Oz.

 

-I don’t know if we often think of courage as a Christian virtue but it certainly is.

-We are told to resist fear and have courage.

We are encouraged to take risks and step out in faith in God’s will.

*/cour•age/*

*/[Middle English corage, from Old French, from cuer heart, from Latin cor — more at heart]/*

*/: /**/mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty/*

*/*[1]*/**/ /*

*/mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship.

courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty *[2]* /*

 

 

-We say guts instead of heart.

It just means you have inside you what it takes to face danger.

*553 **אָמֵץ* [/’amats/ ~/aw·*mats*~/] v.

A primitive root; TWOT 117; GK 599; 41 occurrences; AV translates as “ strengthen” 12 times, “courage” nine times, “strong” five times, “courageous” twice, “harden” twice, “speed” twice, “stronger” twice, “confirm” once, “established” once, “fortify” once, “increaseth” once, “steadfastly minded” once, “obstinate” once, and “prevailed” once.

*1* to be strong, alert, courageous, brave, stout, bold, solid, hard.

1a (Qal) to be strong, brave, bold.

1b (Piel) to strengthen, secure (for oneself), harden (heart), make firm, make obstinate, assure.

1c (Hithpael) to be determined, to make oneself alert, strengthen oneself, confirm oneself, persist in, prove superior to.

1d (Hiphil) to exhibit strength, be strong, feel strong.

*599* אָמֵץ (/˒amets/): v.; ≡ Str 553; TWOT 117—*1.*

LN 87.19-87.57

(qal) *be strong*, i.e., have high status (Ge 25:23); *2.* LN 39.52-39.61

(qal) *be victorious*, have a victory, i.e., conquer another (2Ch 13:18); *3.* LN 88.223-88.226

(piel) *harden*, be obstinate, i.e., have a stubborn, self-willed heart that will not change behavior or belief (Dt 2:30; 15:7; 2Ch 36:13+); *4.* LN 23.188-23.196

(piel) *let grow*, i.e., have a plant grow and increase (Isa 44:14); *5.* LN 76 (qal) *be strong;* (piel) *marshal force*, muster strength, strengthen, i.e., focus one’s strength for a great exertion (Am 2:14); *6.* LN 25.156-25.166

(qal) *be*

* *

*2292 **θαρρέω* [/tharrheo/ ~/thar·*hreh*·o~/] v. Another form for 2293; TDNT 3:25; TDNTA 315; GK 2509; Six occurrences; AV translates as “be bold” twice, “be confident” once, “confident” once, “have confidence” once, and “boldly” once.

*1* to be of good courage, be of good cheer.

*2* to be bold.

*5111 **τολμάω* [/tolmao/ ~/tol·*mah*·o~/] v. From /tolma/ (boldness, probably itself from the base of 5056 through the idea of extreme conduct); TDNT 8:181; TDNTA 1183; GK 5528; 16 occurrences; AV translates as “durst” seven times, “dare” four times, “be bold” four times, and “boldly” once.

*1* not to dread or shun through fear.

*2* to bear, endure.

*3* to bring one’s self to.

*4* to be bold.

*5* bear one’s self boldly, deal boldly.

*Example*

*/Whatever you do, you need courage.

Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong.

There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right.

To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs.

Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.

/*

*/Ralph Waldo Emerson./**/

/*

* *

*Example*

*/Courage is doing what you're afraid to do.

There can be no courage unless you're scared.

/*

*/Eddie Rickenbacker, Bits & Pieces, /**/April 29, 1993/**/, p. 12. /*

* *

*Luke 21 NLT*

*/25 “And there will be strange events in the skies—signs in the sun, moon, and stars.

And down here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides.

26 The courage of many people will falter because of the fearful fate they see coming upon the earth, because the stability of the very heavens will be broken up.

27 Then everyone will see the Son of Man arrive on the clouds with power and great glory.~*

28 So when all these things begin to happen, stand straight and look up, for your salvation is near!”*[3]* /*

* *

*James 5 NLT*

*/8 You, too, must be patient.

And take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.*[4]*

/*

*/ /*

*1 John 2 NLT*

*/28 And now, dear children, continue to live in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.*[5]*

/*

*/ /*

*/ /*

*/ /*

*1 Corinthians 16*

*/13 Be on guard.

Stand true to what you believe.

Be courageous.

Be strong.

*[6]*/*

*/ /*

/encourage – Webster’s 1 : to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope : hearten 2 : to spur on : stimulate 3 : to give help or patronage to : foster*[7]* /

1.           Find the Cause

 

-/James Dean/ was called “*/a rebel without a cause/*”.

*1 Samuel 17*

*/19 David’s brothers were with Saul and the Israelite army at the /**/valley/**/ of /**/Elah/**/, fighting against the Philistines.

20 So David left the sheep with another shepherd and set out early the next morning with the gifts.

He arrived at the outskirts of the camp just as the Israelite army was leaving for the battlefield with shouts and battle cries.

21 Soon the Israelite and Philistine forces stood facing each other, army against army.

22 David left his things with the keeper of supplies and hurried out to the ranks to greet his brothers.

23 As he was talking with them, he saw Goliath, the champion from Gath, come out from the Philistine ranks, shouting his challenge to the army of /**/Israel/**/./*

*/24 As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright.

25 “Have you seen the giant?” the men were asking.

“He comes out each day to challenge /**/Israel/**/.

And have you heard about the huge reward the king has offered to anyone who kills him?

The king will give him one of his daughters for a wife, and his whole family will be exempted from paying taxes!”/*

*/26 David talked to some others standing there to verify the report.

“What will a man get for killing this Philistine and putting an end to his abuse of /**/Israel/**/?” he asked them.

“Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?” 27 And David received the same reply as before: “What you have been hearing is true.

That is the reward for killing the giant.”/*

*/28 But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry.

“What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded.

“What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of?

I know about your pride and dishonesty.

You just want to see the battle!”/*

*/29 “What have I done now?” David replied.