FOUR THINGS THAT GIVE US COURAGE

FOUR THINGS THAT GIVE US COURAGE!

 THEY HAD FAITH—TRUE FAITH—IN GOD!

1)        The Scriptures emphasized FAITH in Noah’s life.

2)        Noah was a just man, perfect in his generation, and walked with God.

3)        In a world where everyone did wrong, Noah stood alone as righteous!

4)       Noah did not have a dead faith, but a justifying faith—strict obedience to God even  when all others would not!

5)        Illustration:

a)        A man’s son was going to undergo serious surgery.

b)        He was afraid—asked his father to stay with him through surgery.

c)        The father promised he would.

d)        The surgeon asked the father to leave after the boy was put under.

e)        But the father insisted on staying—for he had promised his son he would be there.

f)        He wanted to be there when he awoke.

g)       When the boy awoke from the operation—he ask his dad if he had stay through the operation.

h)       The father was so thankful that he could honestly say, “Yes, I was there to see you all the way through.”

   Why is faith so important? (1 John 5:4) 

Those who have a deep faith in God are the ones who will be there with God all the way through. They will even stand alone when necessary—like Noah!

THEY HAD CONVICTIONS—TRUE CONVICTIONS OF TRUTH!

  Why was Stephen able to speak so boldly that led to his death? (Acts 7:51-58; 6:3, 5)

1)        Stephen had preached his convictions about Jesus being the Christ.

2)        The Religious Leaders arrested him & brought him before the council.

3)        They accused him of speaking against the temple & the Law.

4)        He was permitted to speak—and he preached them a great sermon.

5)        He did not compromise nor give in—he stood firm on his convictions.

6)        He ended his sermon with strong accusations that led to his death.

7)        He had to be truly convicted to face what he faced.

With what kind of spirit did Stephen show towards his persecutors? (Acts 7:60

8)        Illustration:

a)        A high school sophomore quit playing volleyball and basketball rather than go back on her vow.

b)        She had made a vow to remain a virgin till marriage.

c)        She was part of a group that was trying to turn the tide of sexual indulgence on the part of teens.

d)        They wore a ring on the left ring finger.

e)        And vowed they would not remove it until their marriage.

f)        The school had a rule that no one could play with jewelry on.

g)        So, she quit playing rather than go back on her vow.

   What was the Apostle John’s greatest joy? (3 John 3-4)

9)        True conviction helps us to stand for that which is right.

a)        Convictions help us not to be wishy-washy, uncertain, or tossed about by the crowd.

b)        Convictions can help us to stand alone, if necessary, for the right.

THEY WERE SINCERE—NOT HYPOCRITICAL

Who demonstrated sincerity in the face of persecution in Acts 4:19-20? 

1)        Peter & John had been preaching Jesus as the Christ to the people.

a)        The religious leaders were greatly disturbed over such.

b)       They put them in jail overnight.

c)        The next day—they were threatened with severity if they did not cease preaching Jesus.

2)        In the face of these warnings, they said:

a)        We can’t stop—we got to preach what we have seen & heard.

b)       We must obey God rather than your command.