Acts 4:5-13 The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. 7 They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, 9 are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? 10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene,] the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ 12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” 13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.
Courage to obey means facing life's challenges with increasing fearlessness, firmness and calmness in our spirit.
A Blueprint for Life: Courage, A Strategy for Victory and His Loving Presence
Joshua 1:7-8 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
We have all three! The Word of God gives us the strategy and commands for living. Jesus' life illustrates them for us. The Holy Spirit lives within us, teaches us God's ways and empowers us. If we obey, then God will enable us.
From me,
Mom found the key to having courage to obey was being with the Lord. The Jewish authorities saw that Peter and John had been with Jesus, they were bold and outspoken in sharing the truth of the Gospel. Joshua was told to be courageous, God would be with Him, stay in the Word, learn it, live it.
The more time we spend in the Lord's Presence, through study, prayer, praise and worship, the more we will know what to do and have the strength to do it. It can be so hard to stay faithful when the world around us and even our own desires attempt to draw us away. Much like Satan tempted Eve in Eden, we hear the whispers to walk away from God's plan, His commands.
We want to do it our way, fit in with those around us, have things that can hurt us....but the Spirit calls our hearts to a higher ground. Obedience it the only true way to freedom. Remaining in the Presence of our Lord strengthens us, gives us courage and teaches us the way to go.
Lord, teach us to remain with You that we may find the desire and the courage to obey. Sometimes our flesh is so demanding, so loud....help us to follow the still, small voice. It takes Holy Spirit courage to live in this world, to go against the flow, to stand out and stand up. Lord we want to be different, but sometimes being different hurts. Make the desire to obey stronger than our desire for acceptance. In Jesus' mighty Name. Amen
Spend time with the Lord that you may be strengthened for the battle.
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