Be Brave & Be Strong - Part 3

1 Corinthians 16:13–14 NKJV

13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done with love.

pray

Confession of Faith

I am not moved by what I see or by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe. I believe the WORD of God! The victory is mine! I have it now! I can see it through the eyes of my faith! In Jesus Name

Last Week we looked at Abraham and how Abraham was strong in Faith

Today I want to talk about being brave

The biblical definition for for the word brave in the King James Dictionary is Courage

COURAGE, in the heart. Courage is that quality of mind which enables men or women to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear or depression of spirits;

Courage is valor;

Courage is boldness

Courage is resolution.

Courage arises from a sense of duty,

Courage acts in a uniform manner.

2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

God has not given us the spirit of fear. Too often in our first half - many of us were afraid to use the gifts that God gave us to speak up for Jesus and the Gospel, because we were operating in fear!

We operated in the fear of being ridiculed

• ridicule

The fear of embarrassment

The fear of being mocked

The fear of criticism

The fear of opposition

The fear of abuse

Being very honest, we have all experienced these fears at one time or another.

That’s when we failed to witness—to use our gift in speaking up for Christ and in proclaiming the gospel because we didn’t want people to stop liking us or ghost us, or not be part of he in crowd

In our second half we must heed the charge; it is clear and forceful:

We are not to fear.

We are not to fear man.

We are not to fear titles

We are not to fear the trials that may come our way because we are living for Christ.

We are not to fear the ridicule and persecution that may be launched against us because we are witnessing and ministering for Christ.

God says Be Brave

God Says Operate in Courage

How can we operate in courage in the Second Half

How can we stand up for Jesus Christ when people mock and poke fun at anyone who lives for Christ?

We Must Let God Equip Us

God does not give us the spirit of fear;

God gives us the spirit of love and power, and of a sound mind.

The word spirit means the the Holy Spirit of God

That’s where I will get my courage from

The Holy Spirit will give me, power, love, and a sound mind

The Holy Spirit actually infuses power into the our spirit.

Hear is the deal - You will not receive power until you begin to serve or minister.

Power is not needed if we just sit around and remain silent about Jesus

The Holy Spirit gives us power only when we begin to minister and actually need it.

It is when we begin to live for Jesus—to use our gifts to bear witness for Him

To use our gifts to proclaim the Gospel

The Holy Spirit endows us with power, enormous power...

• power to face the difficulties

Power to face the trials.

Power to stand in living

Power to witness for Jesus.

Power to take on the job and to do it well —to the very best of our ability.

That’s real courage, real boldness, real power

Be Brave

Eph 1:18-19

Ephesians 1:18–19 GW

18 Then you will have deeper insight. You will know the confidence that he calls you to have and the glorious wealth that God’s people will inherit. 19 You will also know the unlimited greatness of his power as it works with might and strength for us, the believers.

Acts 1:8 NCV

8 But when the Holy Spirit comes to you, you will receive power. You will be my witnesses—in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world.”

Ephesians 3:16 NLT

16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.

Colossians 1:11 NLT

11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,

Be Brave

Ezekiel 2:6 NKJV

6 “And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house.

Philippians 1:27 The Message

27 Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ. Let nothing in your conduct hang on whether I come or not. Your conduct must be the same whether I show up to see things for myself or hear of it from a distance. Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people’s trust in the Message, the good news,

Daniel in The Lions Den

Daniel 6 NKJV

1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2 and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. 4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” 6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! 7 All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree. 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. 11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” 14 And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.” 16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” 17 Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. 18 Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” 23 Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God. 24 And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den. 25 Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. 26 I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. 27 He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

There are many examples in the bible of men and women who were brave and strong

Abraham,Gideon, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, Joshua and Caleb, Deborah, David, Esther, All The Apostles, Paul

Tell Your Neighbor - Be Brave And Be Strong