Step up to courage

Building the Convictions That Produce Courage

The challenge of this series is simple: God has not called us to live passive lives. He has called us to live intentional lives.

We as Christ followers are positioned perfectly to bring hope and truth to them.  We have the answers to this broken world, and we can lead people to :

• Know God, grow healthy, Discover Purpose, Make a difference.
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Mark 4: 18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Who wants to be unfruitful?

• The Christian life was never designed to be lived from the sidelines.
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You were made for more.

2 Samuel 23:11-12 “Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.”

Shammah was prepared for his time to stand.

This Crisis revealed what was already there.

• You must develop a life of Holy Conviction
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The power of conviction is the unwavering belief in your ideas and values, turning passive preferences into decisive action. It provides the inner resilience to overcome setbacks, the clarity to make tough choices, and the authentic presence needed to inspire others

• Inward conviction produces outward courage
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He stood because of what he believed about God.

• The Conviction to stand is built before the pressure arrives.
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Pressure reveals contents.

Luke 6:45 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

The Bible teaches us that we have an old nature, that we are called to crucify, so that the new man we become in Christ can flourish.

Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.

Romans 6:6: “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.” This passage indicates that the old self died spiritually when Christ was crucified

Colossians 3:9-10: 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator

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• The strength you need tomorrow is built on your spiritual development today.
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A building doesn’t become strong during a storm. The storm simply reveals whether the foundation was strong before the storm arrived.

God is at work in all of your life today, the question is can you see it.

Is 43: 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

What convictions had likely been built inside Shammah?r.

• He Believed God Had Given Him Something Worth Defending
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It represented God’s promise.

Genesis 12:7 “To your offspring I will give this land.”

Joshua 1:3 “I will give you every place where you set your foot.”

He was defending God’s promise.

What God gives must be stewarded and protected.

God has entrusted every one of us with fields.

Your marriage, Your family. Your integrity. Your witness. Your calling. Your relationship with Christ.

And most importantly His Word.

What Does It Mean to Stand in Our Generation?

 

Standing on God’s Design

Shammah understood the field belonged to God.

Likewise, there are truths that belong to God.

We stand because we love the One who established the truth.

2 Timothy 1:14 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Another conviction that Shammah likely possessed:

• He Believed God Was Worth Trusting
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2 Sam 23:12 “The Lord brought about a great victory.”

Faith always moves before results appear.

Proverbs 3:5-6 ” 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Isaiah 41:10 10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will

Some of the greatest stories of your life will come from your faithful stand on God’s truth and plan.

Shammah had one more conviction…..

• He Believed his Presence Mattered
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One decision changed everything.

Ezekiel 22:30 ” 30 “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.

God is always looking for someone willing to stand.

1 Chron 16:9 9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him…..

History changes when ordinary people say yes to God.

HOW DO WE BUILD THESE CONVICTIONS?

How do we move from passivity to action?

How do we build the inward life that produces outward strength?

Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”

• “Holy Conviction is discovered by the truth of God’s Word.”
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Joshua 1:8-9 “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips… Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.”

• Holy Conviction is empowered by God’s Presence

Joshua 1:9 “For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

• Living out God’s Purpose strengthens our convictions.

Purpose creates perseverance.

The question isn’t whether opposition will come.

The question is whether conviction will be greater than fear.

It will give you..

Courage to Publicly Identify with Jesus

Courage to Live Differently

Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world…”

Courage to Speak Truth with Grace

Ephesians 4:15 “Speaking the truth in love.”

“Our goal is not to win arguments. Our goal is to win people.

 Courage to Obey Before You Understand

Shammah didn’t know how the battle would end.

Courage to be known as a faithful follower of Jesus.

“What is your field right now?”

• Where is God asking you to stand?
• What conversation have you been avoiding?
• What act of obedience have you been postponing?
• What step of faith have you been delaying?
• What truth do you need to live?
• What lie do you need to stop believing?
• What conviction needs to be strengthened?

Shammah’s story isn’t just an ancient battlefield story.

It’s our story.

Because every generation faces moments when the crowd runs one direction and God calls His people another.