Courage

Did you recognize that sound bite? The accent, the passion, and the resolve in the voice is a dead give away… the speech came from William Wallace and the movie… is Braveheart.

This speech is perhaps one of the most known speeches in Hollywood history. It captures a moment where the sons of Scotland were about to face off with the armies of England. England was fighting for control… Scotland was fighting for freedom.

It was the first of many battles they would endure as they worked to reach the new normal they hoped to achieve. Now I can’t imagine what it would be like to be on that battlefield, to stand toe to toe with an army larger than yours, stronger than yours, and better trained than yours.

But the cause… their fight… their reason for being there made all the difference in the world.

This truth combined with the leadership they followed gave them the needed courage to stay, to fight… and to win.

But I can only imagine what that army felt… I can only imagine what thoughts were moving through their minds as they faced the enormous task ahead.

The path to go home… was by far the path of least resistance. They could turn around, make it back to their beds, and survive.

The path to move forward… required of them to face an army. It required a brutal fight… it required for each man to give 110% as they were outnumbered.

A choice had to be made. Would their feelings compel them to go home… or would they move forward with courage despite what they felt about the situation?

Be strong and courageous. Those were the words God repeatedly told Joshua as he stood on the banks of the Jordan. Three times God said it… and three times God meant it.

The thrill of entering the promised land was real true enough… but the reality of facing the opposition ahead was something unavoidable. In order for the people of God to enter the promises of God, they would have to walk in a strength and courage that could only come… from God.

But before we look at the people as a whole… I want us to look at the one who would be leading. Remember, God was speaking to Joshua and look once more at the promise that was made to him.

Joshua 1:6 NIV

6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

First, God made clear what Joshua would need to BE - be strong and courageous.

What was ahead would take great strength… we talked about that strength last week.

It would also require a great deal of courage. What good is strength if it lacks the courage to take the first step?

Secondly, God told Joshua what he would do - Joshua would lead these people.

Leading in and of itself is a daunting task. Leading comes with a great deal of responsibility. Leading means you must look after those who are following.

Joshua was in a position to lead… as he was being led. Joshua would lead the people… as he followed God.

Third, God reminded Joshua of the promise - they would inherit the land He promised to give them.

God ALWAYS makes good on His promises. God reminded Joshua of the promise… and made clear it was now time to enter that promise.

God also made clear the land… would be GIVEN to them. GOD WAS IN THIS… which meant the work had already been accomplished. Joshua simply had to make a choice...

What was the choice? JOSHUA HAD TO CHOOSE TO BE WHAT GOD WAS CALLING HIM TO BE: STRONG AND COURAGEOUS.

Courage is a remarkable thing. And the definition of this word might be a surprise to you today.

The word courage comes from the Anglo-French word that means… more heart. So, a courageous person is one that displays more… mare than… more heart than fear.

Courage is NOT an absence of fear… it is the ability to do something… what is required… in the face of fear.

A courageous person is a person who is distinguished by having more heart. He or she is wholehearted in what they are doing. This means they are all there, and is dialed in or focused. They may not be perfect, but they have integrity. All of the person is moving in the same direction.

This includes the spiritual, physical, mental and emotional self.

If strength, as we talked about last week...

If strength is related to trust in God, courage is what happens when God’s strength permeates your soul. Living with more heart has to do with the resolve and focus that flows from a convinced heart.

A convinced heart is a heart that trusts God and His Word. It is what happens when we take God’s promises… to heart.

With this definition in mind… what is clear is that there are steps a person must take to becoming more… when the world is doing all it can to make us feel… less.

Less than a man… less than a woman… less than succeeding, less than peaceful, less than having it all together, less than having the right answers, less than knowing which direction to go, less than valued… less than… victorious.

Conformity to the world demands that you be stripped of God’s calling… a calling to BE more than… a calling that will move you into a new normal.

Never forget the words given to us in Romans.

Romans 8:37 NIV

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

In Christ, we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS… MORE THAN anything the world might try to say about us or label us. And this verse is given after a passage that talks about present suffering… and future glory.

Look at Romans 8:18

Romans 8:18 NIV

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

What lies ahead, is incomparable with the suffering we might experience in the present. The key is not to get stuck in the present… but to take courageous steps toward the future God has in store.

So what do these steps… look like? What things must a believer do to BE courageous?

The act of courage is what will result but we must BECOME before we can take ACTION.

So step one in becoming courageous for the things of God...

Step One: Be Honest.

This step takes me to the third time when God commanded Joshua regarding the new normal that was ahead.

Joshua 1:9 NIV

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

As I read this passage, a couple of things jump off the page at me.

God reaffirms to Joshua the command that was given to Him. GOD was leading the way. God had given the command. GOD WAS IN THIS.

Next, God tells Joshua not to be afraid. God speaks to how Joshua was feeling in the moment. God’s speaks to the fear that was present in his heart.

Lastly, God tells Joshua not to be discouraged. Why would Joshua be discouraged? The leader of the people, Moses, had died. Joshua was facing the task of not only leading the people, but leading them into new territory. This was a lot to take in!

I made a statement last week that I want to revisit for a moment… your breakthrough might be waiting for you to realize… you cannot do this without God. This brings up another very important point we must consider… THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOU… the call, the promises ahead, the commands we follow, are all about serving God and fulfilling HIS plan.

When God speaks, it is never just for you or about you. The call to occupy the land, to enter a new normal, isn’t to fulfill your wildest dreams and to make you every desire to come true…

When God calls you to be courageous, such a call will always affect you AND the people around you, even people you have not yet met.

Every week, when our volunteers work to answer the call by serving in the various ministries of the church, that choice impacts many lives who come, who receive, and who change because of the Word given to them.

Our choice to follow God is a choice that will impact many people in accordance with God’s plan for your life, your family, your community, and so on.

For Joshua, the call was to lead God’s people into the new normal. It wasn’t just for Joshua to enter the land, it was for Joshua to lead a people into the promises of God.

And in this moment, we get an honest glimpse of where Joshua’s heart was… he recognized the enormity of the command, he was afraid, he was discouraged… but in his honesty, God provided what was needed for Joshua to take the first step.

So what does this honesty look like?

We need to be honest with God regarding how we feel when we approach Him.

First, understand that God already knows how you feel! But He cannot pour into your life until you are willing to open up to Him!

PRAYER IS THE KEY IN THIS! Talk to God! Lift up your needs and your feelings before Him! Be honest with the Lord and He will give you the guidance you are looking for!

We believe in the power of prayer! Why? Because we know God hears and answers prayer! We know this from what the Bible says and… we know this from experience.

Next, we need to be honest with ourselves as we approach God’s Word.

God speaks to us through His Word. God provides for us through this amazing special revelation. Joshua was instructed by God to keep to His Word while entering into the promised land.

When we find a passage that begins to speak to us, we need to be honest in the application. If we need to repent, then repent. If we need to apologize then apologize. If we need to humble ourselves then humble yourself. If we need to turn from wicked ways… if we need to seek His face… you get the idea.

We can miss what the Word is telling us if we are not honest with where we are spiritually. His Word is the light that guides us in His truth.

Lastly, we need to be honest with others as we seek their counsel.

We are the body of Christ, the family of God, a group of loving believers that lift each other up and help each other out.

I am thankful for the relationships that we have as a church. And I am thankful that we do not have to wear masks around each other… masks that might work to hide how we are really feeling.

When we are honest… God can provide a word through a brother or sister… a word that might make all the difference in your situation. But that word won’t come, if honesty is not the norm.

Courageous is not something we learn to do… it is something we learn to become. God doesn’t tell Joshua exactly what to do; He just tells him how to be. We don’t have to have all the details in front of us… all we need is God. He has all the details worked out.

God spoke to the honest condition of Joshua’s heart. Joshua’s heart wasn’t feeling more than in the moment… until God continually spoke over his life: BE STRONG. BE COURAGEOUS. God would be with him every step of the way.

God’s presence would prove greater than Joshua’s uncertainty. God’s presence would prove greater than Joshua’s fear. God’s presence would prove greater than Joshua’s discouragement.

It wasn’t about how Joshua felt… it was about who Joshua was called to be.

Be Convinced

The second step in becoming courageous is having a heart that is… convinced. Convinced of what? Convinced that God can be taken at His Word.

Joshua’s heart… was convinced. How do we know this? By what he did after God gave him the instructions.

Joshua 1:10–11 NIV

10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’ ”

Joshua told the people… to get ready. He convincingly told the people through the officers it was time to TAKE POSSESSION OF THE LAND THAT GOD WAS GIVING THEM.

The time had come… and in this moment Joshua made the choice to be strong and courageous… a choice he made from being CONVINCED by God.

This step is incredibly important. This step is going to cause us to look deep to our core and to examine what we are convinced of… OR what our convictions are.

This word, conviction, means to be convinced.

Consider this: when we say statements like the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin… it means the Holy Spirit convinces us of our sin. Such a convincing is needed to MOVE us to understand our need for a Savior.

Our convictions… are what we are convinced of. And our convictions… are found deep within our core… within our innermost being… and they often show up when we must make the difficult choices.

Too often, a person is led by their preferences. Preferences are often based on how we feel.

For instance, I prefer to do what I can to make people… happy. If I’m not careful, I can slip into a “people pleasing” mode and forget the calling that God has placed on my life.

I’m not here to please… I am here to shepherd. And sometimes that means making the tough call. Sometimes that means… speaking or giving a challenging word. Sometimes that means… standing when it would be easier to give in.

And notice something important here… all of that is based of the call God has given me… the call WHO GOD HAS CALLED ME TO BE.

I am wholeheartedly convinced of the call of God on my life. Therefore, that conviction moves me BEYOND my preferences to operated in obedience with the call of God.

I’m sure that Joshua would have preferred not to go to battle with the opposition they would face with the people who inhabited the promised land. Yes, the land was inhabited… BUT THAT LAND WAS THEIR PROMISED INHERITANCE! Joshua was CONVINCED of this truth!

Convictions… are what guide our courage. Convictions… become the focus of what we will stand for… and what we will stand against. Convictions tell us who to follow… and where to lead.

Where our convictions can be found deep in our heart, preferences are found living on the surface.

Preferences can come and go and change, but our convictions remain no matter what. Truthfully, our preferences make no difference at all whether or not a person lives a powerful life for God. A powerful life in God… is lived from what we are convinced of.

Life revolves around what a person is convinced of. Life revolves around our convictions… WHAT WE BELIEVE.

So if we truly want to know what our convictions are… start by looking at what you are making time for. What a person makes times for in life is very important. What we prioritize is very important.

How we spend our resources will often reflect the direction we desire for our lives… this includes our resource of time.

So what does the expense of your resources say about your convictions? What things do you find your life revolving around?

Could it be that you struggle in stepping into the new normal ahead because your convictions are leading you a different direction? Is the Holy Spirit the voice of convincing in your life, or are you listening to someone else?

BECAUSE Joshua listened to what God had to say, he was able to overcome what he felt. BECAUSE Joshua was convinced regarding God’s promises, he took the steps needed to cross the boundary.

Are you convinced? DO YOU BELIEVE? Are you ready to become who God has called you to become?

Details aside, God told Joshua BE strong. Be courageous.

Trust me and in that trust, be convinced to take the first step into that new normal.

More Heart

I want to close this morning with a charge that is to accompany the actin steps we just spoke of regarding becoming courageous.

Step one, be honest. Be truthful regarding where you are and how you feel. And in that honesty, be open to receive what God would say to you.

Step two, be convinced. Receive the Word and BELIEVE it. Allow the Holy Spirit to be the voice of conviction and LIVE BY THAT VOICE. Set preference aside and stand in faith and conviction.

Lastly… Speak with courage.

Proverbs 18:21 says,

Proverbs 18:21 NIV

21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

What we say… is important. What we speak… is important. The tongue is a powerful thing in our lives… it has the power of life and death.

And never forget something very important regarding what we say… Jesus said in Luke 6:45

Luke 6:45 NIV

45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

The mouth speaks of what the what is full of? THE HEART! When we speak life… or death over what lies ahead… it reveals the position of our heart… it reveals if our heart is more than… or less than…

What Joshua spoke to his officers following the conversation he had with God… revealed a a heart that was more… a heart that was honest… a heart that was convinced.

What do the words of your mouth reveal about the position of your heart? How courageous are you today?

I’m not talking about how courageous you FEEL… how courageous ARE you? Courageous is something we become as we walk in faith in Jesus. Courageous goes beyond what we feel… it reveals who we are in Jesus.... it reveals what we are truly convinced of… what we truly believe.

And what we believe… often comes out in what we say.

Your words… tell on you. What are they telling you today?

This is not a beat up session… this is a look up moment. Jesus is on your side. Jesus has amazing things in store for you. Jesus is all that you need. Are you convinced of that truth today?

You might be listening and struggling with the sermon today. You might be asking, “Pastor? How can i have more heart… when my heart is nothing but broken and discouraged? How can I be courageous when I feel so fearful and defeated?”

The answer… is found in having your heart renewed by Christ.

Jesus was broken so that we can be made whole again. If you need healing in Jesus today, now is the time to be healed. Healing comes by knowing Him.

PRAYER - Salvation

Secondly, it’s time to become what Christ is calling us to become… STRONG AND COURAGEOUS.

This goes beyond what we feel and prefer. It comes from what we believe. Honestly, it often goes against what we feel. It’s okay to feel these emotions. It’s not okay to get stuck in these emotions.

God is calling you to have… more heart. He is calling you into that more than reality.... but you must be willing to let go less than feelings.

Are you ready to become strong and courageous in your faith today?