David (Part 6) Bravery and Courage
By: Ben Fronczek
Over the past 5 weeks I have been talking about David and some of his good character traits that possibly led to him being considered by God a man after His own heart. I truly believe that we too can achieve such a character if we learn to adopt some of those traits for our self.
David had faith in and trusted God. He loved God and His word and he did his best to fully obey it. He was thankful, and totally loyal. And because of his faith and loyalty, and love, he went on to become one become one of the bravest, most courageous men in all the Bible.
When most people think of David’s bravery they are reminded of the courage he demonstrated as a young man when he took down Goliath; and that is a prime example of the courage and bravery I want to talk about today which I believe came as a result of his love, faith, loyalty and devotion to our God.
But he actually did so much more. After his killed a lion and a bear and then Goliath he went on to become King Saul’s armor bearer and then a fearless commander of Saul’s army. Saul himself became jealous of David because after returning from those military campaigns the women would cheer and sing, “Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands.”
After David became king it was him not Saul who would defeat the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Syrians and Edomites and more “The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.” Read II Samuel 8:1-14 (click on verse to read)
A Japanese athlete once said, “Loyalty and devotion lead to bravery. Bravery leads to the spirit of self-sacrifice. The spirit of self-sacrifice creates trust in the power of love.” Morihei Ueshiba
What this man said is true, but I believe the degree of loyalty and courage, and the ability to step out and get things done greatly depend on who and what you have faith in. Having faith in yourself and your ability is ok, but having faith and trusting in God will lead to greatness as seen in David.
David did some amazing and extraordinary acts of courage because he knew he could do all things through his Lord who gave him strength.
And likewise your faith, trust, love and loyalty in God can empower you with the ability and courage you to do great things. Or can give our church the ability to go on and courageously do some amazing things in His name.
Another great athlete, Muhammad Ali once said, “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”
Just like with David, throughout scripture you can read stories of how faithful men and women of God acted courageous and bravery as they served God. Abram bravely left his home land for a foreign land at God’s call. In Genesis 14 we can read that when his nephew Lot was captured in Sodom by four conquering kings. Abram took 318 men from his household and went after the four kings and their armies to rescue Lot, his family, as well as Lot’s possessions, and he actually won them back.
Moses bravely went up against the Pharaoh of Egypt and demanded that he release the Hebrew people.
Joshua with the Lord’s help bravely went in conquers many of the strong cities and peoples in the promised land.
Deborah courageously lead the Lords army when no man would.
Prophet after prophet bravely spoke out the words of God and many were abused persecuted because of it.
Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego more than once courageously opposed the Babylonian king’s edicts and were thrown into the fiery furnace or lion’s den for their bravery.
Even Jesus courageously challenges the false teachers, and bravely went to that cross for you and me.
Men and women of God, those who really love Him, those who really trust Him and loyally want to serve Him have always been a courageous, brave bunch, willing to step out on that faith and do things, and try things to advance the kingdom of God with His help.
Stephen bravely stood up and preached Christ and was stoned to death by the Jews in Jerusalem for doing so.
Paul went out and tried to start churches of Christ in each town we went to he was also persecuted, stoned and whipped and beat with rods and he eventually lost his head for doing so. But in Philippians 4:13 he wrote, ” I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
After the Hebrew writer list all those men and women who bravely chose to live by faith he proposes something in the beginning of chapter 12, he wrote; “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
And herein lays the answer on how to become braver and more courageous in our walk with Christ.
#1, He wrote ‘Consider those brave ones who have gone before you, those who put their life on the line to uphold, represent and courageously and loyally served our Lord. They say that courage is contagious. Your courage and bravery can put courage in another, or ‘encourage’ another who may be unsure. Likewise reading about those men and women of faith and what they did can encourage you.
Don’t focus on those who keep saying, ‘We can’t, it’s too hard. It’s such an inconvenience, or it cost too much.” Rather focus on those who are excited and want to serve God whole heartedly in the best way possible. At the least, don’t discourage those who have faith and are excited about doing something for the Lord. My dad use to say, ‘If you can’t say something good about something, don’t say anything at all.’
#2 The Hebrew writer goes on to suggest that we… “lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us”.
As you read through the stories in David’s life as well as other Old Testament stories, it seems when they weren’t doing something that pleased God or if they were caught up in some kind of sin God let them know by withholding blessings in their life. And it wasn’t until they made it right and repented that God would bless them again. He said sin can actually entangle you. Most of you know that if you start lying, or cheating in one way or another, or do some other kind of evil it’s gonna mess up your life, mess with your head. You have to be right with God before you feel good about being brave for Him.
#3, Next the Hebrew writer tells us to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.” The idea is to get off our butt and move. Do something; actually be diligent with what’s set before us like a runner hanging in and enduring to the end of the race. Sometimes I believe that some may call an individual courageous or brave, when in all that person is really doing is hanging in there with consistent diligence when everyone else chooses to give up.
#4 The Hebrew writer’s next suggestion is that we need to, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.” Why? Because rather than crying like a weak little girl when it came time Him to die, the Hebrew writer said that, (it was) “for the joy set before Him (He) endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
In other words, Jesus did not focus on the discomfort of the cross, rather He was focused on the “Joy set before Him”… that is the end result and sitting at the right hand of the throne of God in heaven.
All too often we focus more on the discomfort, the cost, the inconvenience, and more on the work than we do on the end result or great potential. If we focus on the wrong thing we will never step out on faith and bravely try or do anything.
If we ever hope to be a man or woman after God’s own heart like David we can’t always run away from new challenges, opportunities, or even difficult situations. Someone once said, “Bravery is being stronger than your excuses.”
How much courage we have or don’t have may just be an indication of how much faith we have in God to use us, and how much love we have for Him and even how loyal we actually are to the promptings of His Spirit as we are guided to new opportunities.
Now you can probably make it to heaven without being the bravest person in His kingdom; but like the men in Jesus’ parable who doubled the talent put in their charge, I want to hear from God what that master told those servants when I stand before Him when he said, “Well done good and faithful servant!”
I want to be an man after God’s own heart like David, don’t you?
Let’s be a little bit more courageous as we serve Him.
Push aside those things that may be holding you back or the sin that entangles you.
Get moving on what God sets before you.
Keep your eyes one Jesus and remember He’s there to help you.
And try to focus more on the goal, the end result, what you have to achieve.
For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566
All comments can be emailed to: bfronzek@gmail.com