Dover Assembly of God
Last week Pastor Keith preached "A Walk Through the 37th Psalm" and talked to us about one of the great Psalms of David.
He gave us insight into the concept of Fear Not. This phrase or similar is used about 110 times in the Bible. God is trying to make a point.
Psalms 37:1-3 NIV
Today, we'll springboard off last week's sermon and talk about being strong and courageous Christians.
The word strong appears 38 times in the bible. In Haggai 3:4 it appears 3 times.
Haggai 2:4-5 NIV
If you use social media, you don’t have to be there long to realize that there’s a real spiritual battle going on there.
People who profess to be Christians are arguing, name calling, cursing, and calling for death and destruction based on nothing but opinion and fear, and sometimes a scripture or two.
It’s frustrating and easy to succumb to that why you see the appalling differences of opinion as to what constitutes being a proper Christian.
Do you think this is what Jesus called us to do when he said to stand firm?
Matthew 10:22 NIV
We talked on Wednesday night about Jesus showing his anger in the temple.
John records it as Him making a whip and driving them out.
Matthew 21:12 NIV
John 2:15 NIV
When Jesus ate with sinners, people said He was too soft. When he rebuked the religious leaders, they said he was too harsh, and when he drove out the money changers, they thought he was crazy.
Being courageous is more than being a warrior. It is having the guts to stand up for what we know is right. The warrior spirit in us always rises up. Sometimes it acts without thinking.
Last week Pastor Keith told us to Fear not. Being courageous is acting out of that confidence with wisdom and love.
So going back to the social media thing, what do you do?
If we have something to say, we need to say it, and stop. I think it’s more beneficial to post something scriptural and meaningful, and either ignore the comments, or be respectful, even when that warrior spirit is activated.
So what’s a Christian way of being strong or standing strong about our faith?
2 Timothy 4:2-5 NIV
The way to be prepared is to read God’s Word and capture it in our hearts. When people start to name call, or rebuke you, use that patience that we’re all afraid to pray for, keep your head and do the work of an evangelist.
Well, what’s an evangelist?
Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV
Sounds pretty intimidating, doesn’t it? Let’s look at one of the first evangelists in the Bible.
Acts 8:40 NIV
Acts 21:7-8 NIV
Phillip appears to be a traveling evangelist, who appears to have gone from city to city preaching the word.
Judging from the case of Philip, evangelists had neither the authority of an apostle, nor the gift of prophecy, nor the responsibility of pastoral supervision over a portion of the flock.
They were itinerant preachers, having it as their special function to carry the gospel to places where it was previously unknown.
So what does all this have to do with being strong and courageous?
WHAT IS COURAGE?
Courage is defined as the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain without fear.
1. Courage is grace under pressure
2. Courage is fear that has said its prayers – Karl Barth
3. Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you are afraid. – Eddie Rickenbacker
But my favorite definition is given by everyone’s favorite hero, JOHN WAYNE...Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.
How many of you were here to hear Dustin’s testimony about VBS? He said he didn’t feel it was his calling; he just saw a need and filled it.
We’ve all heard PJ say God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.
Sometimes God equips us to fill a need, even when we’re absolutely sure that this isn’t our calling.
Deuteronomy 31:7 NIV
Joshua was commissioned by Moses. Do you think he asked for it?
Deuteronomy 31:23 NIV
Notice the Lord commanded Joshua. He didn’t volunteer. He was “voluntold”
We have several positions open in the Wednesday night ministry. These aren’t glamorous positions that will put you in the limelight in front of the congregation. That’s not how Jesus works. This is a ministry need.
You may not feel like it’s “your calling”, but you could fill a need and God will equip you to do it.
Lose the fear of being embarrassed, overworked, forever committed, or messing it up. If it doesn’t work out, Jesus won’t think less of you, He’ll use it to move you to the next thing He wants you to do.