Perhaps Faith & Courage

Introduction:  We have been in this series over the past few weeks…I’m hoping it is both a help and encouragement…but make no mistake it will require Faith and Risk.

  1. Courageous Faith
    1. Today we are going to examine a key element called Perhaps or Courageous Faith…
    2. Courageous faith is action…people who have launched out with boldness and tangible acts of faith…Courageous faith is what makes our church take risk…it causes us to dream dreams that we don’t have budgets to pay for yet…it keeps us from settling for the status quo…keeps us believing in things that makes others think…they have lost their minds.  
    3. But we are not unique, and neither are we alone in our endeavors because I read all through scripture about men and women of Courageous Faith…Risk Takers…
  1. Jonathan and His Armor Bearer
    1. Here is the backdrop for our conversation today…Israel is at war once again with the Philistines and they are greatly outnumbered, out positioned, and outmanned…but one Prince and an Armor Bearer were filled with Courageous Faith and it put them in a position to see the Miraculous.
    2. 1 Sam 13:19-20

19 There were no blacksmiths in the land of Israel in those days. (While preparing for this message I heard the Lord say…have the intercessors as well as yourself pray for a blacksmith anointing…I actually have never heard of such of a thing in my entire life so I asked Lord what is this…” have them pray for the creation and fashioning of spiritual weapons in the hands of unarmed people…people get excited but are unarmed for battle…pray for a blacksmiths anointing that will create and distribute spiritual weapons that defeat the enemy in their lives.”) The Philistines wouldn’t allow them for fear they would make swords and spears for the Hebrews.

1 Sam 13:22

22 So on the day of the battle none of the people of Israel had a sword or spear, except for Saul and Jonathan.

1 Sam 14:1-7

14 One day Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come on, let’s go over to where the Philistines have their outpost.” But Jonathan did not tell his father what he was doing.

No one realized that Jonathan had left the Israelite camp. 4 To reach the Philistine outpost, Jonathan had to go down between two rocky cliffs that were called Bozez and Seneh. 5 The cliff on the north was in front of Micmash, and the one on the south was in front of Geba. 6 “Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor-bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”

7 “Do what you think is best,” the armor-bearer replied. “I’m with you completely, whatever you decide.” (NLT)

  1. Perhaps the Lord will help us
    1. When I read this portion of this verse…I get excited.  There is something about a perhaps that lights my fire and gets me excited to see what the Lord may do.  
    2. But this sad to say is not the mindset of most believers and most American churches…
      1. Most people have a “better safe than sorry” approach and so do most churches
      2. Many people live in such a way that the whole goal is to arrive safely to our death…
      3. Maybe it is time we start thinking that God wants more for our lives than taking us to safe places and doing safe comfortable things…
      4. The will of God is not safe…it is risky, it is dangerous and it isn’t for the faint of heart…
      5. I think we have made a false assumption that the will of God somehow gets easier as we mature…
        1. I will tell you it doesn’t…if anything it gets more dangerous
        2. Don’t get me wrong there are aspects of following Christ that become more natural to us…but Faith always requires risk and courage.
  2. Odds Are Against Them
    1. If you read the text there is nothing that says one odd is in their favor…
      1. They have a Philistine army positioned above them…which is the prime spot
      2. They are outnumbered…
      3. They have to go through these rocky areas…so the territory isn’t easy and neither is it comfortable…
    2. But Jonathan and His armor bearer are moving forward on a Perhaps
      1. ON a MAYBE…
      2. Here is the truth…there is a greater chance that we will fail…but there is also a perhaps, an outside possibility that the Lord will help us
      3. They were willing to risk their everything to give God a chance to show Himself faithful and strong
    3. The Armor Bearer is the Hero
      1. To me, the hero of the story is the Armor Bearer…
      2. There is only one sword in the whole land and Jonathan has it…the armor-bearer doesn’t have a sword…Hear the Armor Bearer’s response…
      3. 7 “Do what you think is best,” the armor-bearer replied. “I’m with you completely, whatever you decide.” (NLT)
      4. WOW…that is sacrificial obedience displayed 
    4. 1 Sam 14:13-14

13 So they climbed up using both hands and feet, and the Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed those who came behind them. 14 They killed some twenty men in all, and their bodies were scattered over about half an acre. (NLT)

15 Suddenly, panic broke out in the Philistine army, both in the camp and in the field, including even the outposts and raiding parties. And just then an earthquake struck, and everyone was terrified. (NLT)

  1. Get this they are traveling up this hill using their feet and hands…on a perhaps…
  2. Look at this…the armor-bearer killed those who came up behind them…
    1. How…he had no sword…the only sword was with Jonathan
    2. But the armor-bearer didn’t look at what he didn’t have but gave what he had to God and God brought about a miracle
    3. We don’t even know this guy’s name…
  3. The miracle doesn’t happen until they are put in the position to need a miracle…opportunity reveals itself in the presence of obstacles.
  4. God’s name is to be made famous on the earth…but it only happens when His miraculous power is given an opportunity to move.

Transition:  Perhaps the Lord will help us…that was their prayer, that must be our prayer…God is looking for a people, a church who is willing to practice their theology, not just talk about it.  We serve a God of extraordinary power and ability but when we leave this building we play it safe…that should not be so.  I’m not saying be reckless but I am saying be courageous.

  1. All Things Are Possible
    1. Perhaps faith chooses to take Jesus at his word….Jesus said, “Everything is possible to him that believes.”  
      1. Too often we have been limited based on fearful imaginations
      2. And may we never be that at MGC…but may we be a Faith-filled Perhaps Church that hears God and says, “Nothing is impossible with our God.”
      3. Do you know Impossible is just an opinion…
      4. To the Wright Brothers, “it’s impossible for man to fly” was only an opinion of impossibility…
  2. Courageous Faith
    1. Courage is probably the most overlook virtue in the scripture…we focus on Faith, Hope. Love, Mercy, and Kindness…but oftentimes we overlook Courage…
    2. Look at the company of the coward:  Rev 21:8 “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (NLT)
    3. Have you ever noticed that the cowards are listed in the group of all the others…God places them with the crowd of these other great sins…
    4. Unfortunately, we don’t understand that Courage is the bedrock of all the other virtues…
      1. Consider Jesus when He steps in front of those who would stone the young lady caught in adultery…that took Courage.
      2. If courage doesn’t reveal itself in Jesus, Mercy can’t be given and grace can’t be received.
      3. It takes no courage to be religious…it takes great courage to show mercy, extend grace and love.  
      4. This same courage that moved Jesus to confront the religious systems of His day…is what led him to a cross…but without it there is no miracle of resurrection.

Transition:  Every generation has a virtue they over-emphasize and then the next generation tries to swing the pendulum back which oftentimes they fail.  We are living currently in a generation that is extolling the virtues of Mercy, Love, Grace…but often at the expense of virtues such as Courage, Faith, Strength, and Risk…to make sacrifices.  We need balance we do not need extremes of either virtue.

Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Courage helps us be dangerously unselfish”  

  • Courage helps us withstand
  • Courage enables us to move forward when others are paralyzed
  • mental or moral strength to venture, persevere and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty
  1. Closing
    1. Let me give you some pointers about your personal perhaps:
    2. Be honest about your perhaps.  Be honest with God and with others.  
    3. Acknowledge and deal appropriately with your fears.
    4. Approach your impossibilities with confident humility.  
    5. Pray that God will give you assurance of his presence and clarity in every decision you make.  
    6. Have faith in His promises. 
    7. Keep yourself tightly connected to Him.  
    8. Be assured that He’s got you in his grip.

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