US - Courageous Faith - 10.10.15 & 10.11.15

Courageous faith sets miracles in motion. It’s comprised of sacrificial obedience, complete trust, and total surrender boldly displayed through tangible acts of faith. Courageous faith is what makes our church take risks. Courageous faith is what keeps us from settling for the status quo. It keeps us dreaming for what seems impossible and planning for things we can’t afford and believing for things that make other people think we have lost our minds. We are not sure, and it may cost us everything...but maybe...just maybe... if we risk everything to take this hill...the Lord will act on our behalf. That’s not the mentality of most Christians or most church cultures. We let fear dictate our decisions. We have a better-safe-than- sorry mentality. We live as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Maybe it's time for a paradigm shift. When did we start believing that God wants to take us to safe places, to do easy things? Here's a thought: The will of God is not an insurance plan. It's a daring plan. Perhaps God! It's the key to living with holy anticipation. Perhaps the Lord will help us. May God give us the spirit of Jonathan! When we talk about courageous faith, we automatically assume we are talking about faith...and we are...but don’t overlook the emphasis on courage. Courage is an often-overlooked biblical virtue. Courage gives us the capacity to take risks, make sacrifices and to be, as Martin Luther King, Jr. said regarding Christian faith, “dangerously unselfish.” Courage helps us withstand and even grow through ongoing pain, suffering, isolation and difficulty. We cannot live our lives fully pleasing to God without courage. Over 25 times in the Bible, we are commanded to be bold and courageous. God takes courage, or the lack of it, very seriously.