Pastor Elwin Ahu
November 28, 2010 - W1048

Joseph's Gift: Courage

Joseph was afraid. He knew the world was shouting at him, “Don’t get involved with Mary. Something is wrong with her.  She’s pregnant.”  Although the world said “NO”, Joseph said “Go”, and did everything that the Lord asked him to do.   That is Courage.  If the Lord says to do it, we should listen.  Because of Joseph’s obedience and willingness to Go with the plan God had for him, we get to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, TODAY.  

As the Bible says, "But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.' (Matt. 1:20)

Joseph was a man of few words.  We can’t image what the talk was like when word got out that Mary was pregnant. Joseph knew, but he still did what the Lord asked of him.  Joseph was no superhero. He was an ordinary person.  God gives ordinary people Courage to do the extra ordinary thing.  God will empower the ordinary to face the extraordinary.  Keep in mind that …

1.   The best example of courage is found in the ORDINARY.

Accordingly, the Bible tells us, "Take a good look...at who you were when you got called into this life. I don't see many of 'the brightest and the best' among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these 'nobodies' to expose the hollow pretensions of the 'somebodies'? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God." (1 Cor. 1:26-29 MSG)

If you believe that you can do the good works, then unlock that door to all that God has for you.  You don’t need to be that superhero or that perfect person.  You have to trust the Lord in what he has given to you which is courage.  Can you imagine yourself doing greater things than Jesus Christ?  If not, then that’s why you see yourself locked out. If we believe that we can do greater works as it says in John 14:12, then that is the key in your hand.  Unlock the door of fear, uncertainty, doubt and your past. Unlock the door and walk through.

Always remember, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father." (John 14:12) But also be warned that …

2. Courage is doing what is right, regardless of THE COSTS.

As it is written, "And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus." (Matt. 1:24-25)

Although Joseph was afraid, he was courageous enough to do what was right - even if it ran counter to the culture he was living in.  Even if people would gossip about them, he did what was right because of the courage that was in him.  

What about you?  Is the Lord asking you to do something that you know in your heart is right?  Are you willing to do it or would you rather succumb to the circumstances around you?  You know on the inside that you need to forgive that person, but everyone else is saying to not forgive because of what he did to you.  How can you even love someone like that? But you know on the inside you have to and should forgive.

The Holy Spirit is talking to you on the inside.  Are you going to give in to what others say or to what is right?  We must also know that …

3. Courage is ROOTED in God's word.

Joseph knew this and so it is written, "Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, 'Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.' So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt." (Matt. 2:13-14)

Joseph had to put Mary and baby Jesus on a DONKEY to go hundreds of miles.   Why did Joseph do that?    Joseph recognized the voice of God. When he knew what God was saying, he knew that he could take that step forward.  He never questioned.  As the Bible says, "Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops." (Matt. 10:26-27)

The Lord is saying to obey Him if you can hear what He is saying, even if He is whispering it to you. Are you able to discern God’s voice? To know what his voice sounds like you must do your daily devotions. The Lord was so happy about teaching us about His words, that He spoke of them in a parable about sowing of seeds: “And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit...a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty." (Matt. 13:23)

The disciples were confused by this parable and asked God to explain so that they could understand what he was trying to say. The parable means that when a man, who is ready and willing, receives God’s word, there will be many blessings multiplied many times over.  The Lord said to see with your eyes, to see what He is seeing and to hear with your ears what He is trying to say to you.  When you can see with your eyes and hear with your ears what God is saying to you, then you can move forward with your life.

Study Suggestions

1) How could you stand as strong as Joseph?

2) How would more courage help you with your life?

3) Why should you say “Go” when the Lord tells you of His plan for you?

4) How can you better prepare yourself to receive God’s word?