COURAGE
Character Tour 3 of 8
October 21, 2007
Mike Matijevich
mmatevich@aol.com

Intro:
* Today we are going to discuss something that should never appear collapsible for convenience… COURAGE.
* Courage= "The God given ability to stand."

* Series Character Tour- today courage one of the rarest qualities.
"Character"- the outward reflection of our inward connection. (Comes from deep inside)
"COOL thing is we average type people can have super abundant amounts of courage if we go about it the right way.
* The more unlikely the person or situation, the more stunning & compelling is the act of courage.

* Today we will take the lens of our camera & look at two individuals who faced serious peer pressure- & still stood in COURAGE for God.
- People that wanted to squelch their vision.
- People that wanted to dash their dreams.

I. COURAGE - REAR-ENDED (By negativity & criticism)

Numbers 13 context- the situation of Israel from Egypt…
* Israel was about to close on the biggest & best real estate deal ever.
Moses chose 12 leaders to spy out the land… 40 days to spy out.
When they returned the people were fired up to get what they thought was an easy take.
* When the report came in from 12 courageous men that went OUT - then 10 of the spies gave a negative report. They had lost their courage/
Numbers 13:27- A courageous report - but then it is as if they FOLD-UP their COURAGE…
They moved from being COURAGEOUS to being COWARDLY
Numbers 13:28 "Nevertheless"- in spite of the fact…
* "That sounds good…nevertheless"
"I like the new business plan… nevertheless"
"I know the relationship is great… nevertheless"
Numbers 13:28b-29 10 whiners' here- they saw it from an EXTERNAL HUMANISTIC perspective.
* They had seen God do all this powerful stuff…
God had promised them the land & led them to it…

PRINCIPLE #1: There is a quick transition from being courageous to being cowardly.

Numbers 13:30 - After the vision vandals comes Caleb…
PRINCIPLE #2: Courage is a lonely commodity!

- You stand at the office, school, the game… they surround you like piranhas.
- Remember you are NOT ALONE! God is right there with you.
Numbers 13:31-32
- An "EVIL REPORT"
- Amazing when opportunity comes around -then there will always be the Negative crowd.
"Why should we move?"
"How much will that cost?"
"I just don't see the need." Etc.
PRINCIPLE #3: Negativity is an infectious disease.

* I am amazed at how quickly I can become negative- how about you?

* Why are people negative? Because many of them are hurt people.

Numbers 14:1-3
* Complained because they thought the Promised Land was going to be EASY.
They thought because the first part (getting out of Egypt was easy that the 2nd part was also easy).
Principle #4: Grumbling is always lobbed at leaders.

Numbers 14:4-6
* They wanted a "captain" a leader… they didn't want a leader… because they wanted to go "BACKWARDS" to Egypt. We know "that" way. (Comfortable)
Read on & God said, "NO!" Because negativity, complainers…
- The could see it, smell it, knew what it was like- now 40 years until SOME get to go in.
Numbers 14:7-10a Courage was in the place but the people couldn't see it.

* 40 years later Israel is at the same place to go into the land…
Guess who the leaders are at this point? Joshua & Caleb

II. COURAGE - REWARDED

Joshua 1:1-3, 6 If we could see all the land God wants to give us…
* Relationally - Spiritually - Morally - Ethically
Joshua 1:7-8
* (v 7) "Observe to DO according to ALL the law…"
* My goal is to help us all to DO that.
*** In the NT 70% of Jesus' words were about APPLICATION= doing the word.
(30% of His words were Information)
* I need to DO what the bible says- not just know the CONTENTS.

* God says to Joshua & Caleb…
1. "Be strong & courageous because of the promise I made…"
2. "Be strong & courageous because of my word by "DOING"- living the word out.

Joshua 1:9 The third time He tells Joshua be strong & courageous.
* Why is He with you?
Because you have an adversary.
1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"

* What if I have failed at everything that you ever tried?
"Mike, I am so fearful and have failed so many times."
You can be just like Peter the failure that God was able to use.

Conclusion: We need courage in three realms…
1. We need spiritual courage. (David was courageous because he stood for God when he was alone. When no one saw him - after that God promoted him into the public eye.)
* My prayer is for many to stand up in courage & admit to God…
2. We need Ethical / moral courage. (Joseph had this quality- to go from the dungeon to the palace.) Whenever we are tempted be crooked in business, classroom (cheating applauded)
3. We need relational courage. To be able to speak the truth in love. To ask for forgiveness & to be able to give forgiveness.

We need courage in every area of our lives.

Do you have courage?
It should come from the inside out.
When the crowd is going one way & God said go the other- what do you do?

God wants you to not FOLD up your courage, but open it up & say, "Here is where I stand."