Obtaining Courage in the Face of Crises – September 26, 2021

Preached by Deacon Steve Arogundade

Proverbs 28:1 – “The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” (NIV)

1. Absolute Faith in God 
   • Isaiah 43:2 – “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.” (NKJV)
     • When, not If 
   • Absolute faith in God gives you the courage to face any circumstance you find yourself in
   • Deuteronomy 31:6 – “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (NIV)
   • Gives us courage to act decisively
   • 2 Chronicles 20:20b – “Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” (NIV) “Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” (NKJV)
2. By Spending Time in the Word of God and Meditating on It 
   • Joshua 1:8 – “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you[a] shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (NKJV) 
     • The more we study the word, the more it becomes real in our hands 
3. Discipline of Daily Fellowship with God 
   • Daniel 6:10 – “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.” (NKJV)
4. Having Knowledge and Understanding of Time 
   • 1 Chronicles 12:32 – “of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command;” (NKJV)
   • You know what to do 
   • Daniel 9:1 – 3 -“In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— 2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.” (NKJV)
     • Daniel understood  number of years, and believed God would fulfill His promise
   • Getting, acquiring and understanding knowledge
5. Living in Righteousness 
   • Proverbs 28:1 
   • Puts one in the right standing before God.  As God backs you up, you act courageously 
   • When Jesus abides in you and you in him, you have great confidence to act decisively
     • 1 John 4:4 – “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (NKJV)
     • You cannot be moved
     • Jesus was bold enough to go to the cross and carry our sins on his head because he had the backing of his father and knew the glory that was set for him.  That gave him courage.
     • As we live a righteous holy, life and surrender to him to have control, the Lord will continue to grant us His courage and boldness that we need to take charge of our destiny
6. Conclusion
   • Jesus has defeated the devil has already put the devil in his place
   • We have authority over the devil and can face all situations with courage and boldness
   • “Because He lives I can face tomorrow….”
   • Hebrews 4:16 – “ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (NKJV)
     • Pray fear and timidity will flee your life
     • Act boldly and courageously as lions