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The Red Badge of Courage
The Red Badge of Courage is a war novel by American author Stephen Crane (1871–1900). Taking place during the American Civil War, the story is about a young private of the Union Army, Henry Fleming, who flees from the field of battle. Overcome with shame, he longs for a wound, a “red badge of courage,” to counteract his cowardice. When his regiment once again faces the enemy, Henry acts as standard-bearer, who carries a flag.
Acts 9:26-31
Paul spoke boldly in the name of Jesus and it was a testimony to the other disciples that he was really a born again believer in Jesus Christ.
This word “bold” is translated in the Greek- “all out spokenness, frankness, bluntness, publicity; to be frank in utterance, or confident in demeanor, confidence-freely-openly-plainly
This kind of boldness requires a knowledge of God’s and His Word.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” Hosea 4:6 NKJV
“Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]–blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he.” Proverbs 29:18 AMPC
Acts 20:26-27 New King James Version (NKJV)
26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent[a] of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not [b]shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
Paul’s boldness to preach the whole council of God cost him his life- his red badge of courage
John told King Herod his sin and it cost him his head
All apostles were martyred accept John who was exiled to Patmos
Fear God- show courage with men
Everyone wants to give Grace, but no truth
Everyone wants to be the Light and but not the salt
The HS spoke this to me: “IF in your compassion you leave someone in the same wretched state of sin you found them in without showing them a way out; your compassion is in vain.”
His compassion was shown on the cross when HE provided a way for us to be free from our sin
Romans 12:9 New King James Version (NKJV)
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
Love suffers long, is kind, doesn’t parade itself, is not arrogant or rude, does not seek its own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity (sin), but rejoices in the truth.
“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.”
Luke 9:26 NKJV
““Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33 NKJV
You cannot separate Jesus from His Word
““I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”
Revelation 3:8 NKJV
“I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.”
Psalms 138:2 NKJV
How do we have boldness in the face of adversity?
- Fear God, not man
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28 NKJV
John 12:42-43 New King James Version (NKJV)
42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Here’s a couple commentaries:
The praise of men – The approval of human beings. It does not appear that they had a living, active faith, but that they were convinced in their understanding that he was the Messiah. They had that kind of faith which is so common among people – a speculative acknowledgment that religion is true, but an acknowledgment which leads to no self-denial, which shrinks from the active duties of piety, and fears man more than God. True faith is active. It overcomes the fear of man; it prompts to self-denying duties, Hebrews 11.
they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God—”a severe remark, considering that several at least of these persons afterwards boldly confessed Christ. It indicates the displeasure with which God regarded their conduct at this time, and with which He continues to regard similar conduct”
Lauren Daigle (well known singer)- she apparently knows enough about what God says and she believes, but when questioned with a direct statement that requires a Biblical answer and mandate, she “cannot answer” “I am not God”- no you are not God, but we sure should know what He says and thinks about things, primarily sin. Either she is ignorant, or she is lying. It sounds a lot to me like she cares more what people think of her than what God thinks
Joel Osteen (well known preacher) on Larry King
I don’t care how much money you make or how you choose to live with or without riches, but I do care that as a Christian, a representative of Christ, how you handle the Word of God.
Revelation 21:7-8 New King James Version (NKJV)
7 He who overcomes [a]shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, [b]unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
The cowardly, or “fearful” are those who fear the disapproval and threat of people more than they value loyalty to Jesus and the truth of His Word. Their personal safety and status on earth mean more to them than their faithfulness to God.
Luke 21:10-19, 25-28
Men’s hearts will fail them because of fear.
- Spend time with Jesus
Acts 4:13 New King James Version (NKJV)
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
Where’s the HS in our life?
Acts 1:8 New King James Version (NKJV)
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be [a]witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
This part of “being a witness” is not just in, like we say, “witnessing for Christ”, but that in all our words and actions, we would live a life that was a “witness” of others that something drastic and powerful had happened to us.
Ex: last week I got the vomit on Monday. By Thursday, I was feeling a little better and decided I needed to go for a run. I had barely eaten anything for the past few days accept water. I got out there and I had to stop running after a mile. Why? I had not energy to continue. I was depleted. Not only did I still have a virus working it’s way out, I had no bread, therefore no energy to draw from. I looked OK on the outside, but couldn’t finish my run.
IF you are not feeding your spirit good food, you will not be able to finish your race.
IF you are not spending mass amounts of time with Jesus, in prayer, in the Word, in worship, with His people; you will lack the power that’s needed to overcome in this world.
Luke 21:34-36
There are two that I spend the bulk of my time with- Matt and Jesus
- Jesus is with you, even when all others forsake you
2 Timothy 4:16-17 New King James Version (NKJV)
16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.
17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
Paul died alone in prison with even the churches he loved and planted forsaking him, but not Jesus.
Jesus got in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo
He stopped the mouth of lions for Daniel
HE comforted John while he was exiled from all his loved ones
Jesus has been a constant in my life. He has never left me and never abandoned me. I remember so many lonely nights and crying out to the Lord that I didn’t have any friends, that my mother and father had forsaken me; and I would hear His sweet voice. But I am here Crystal and I will not leave you alone. I will never abandon you.
God’s words to Joshua are still active and alive for today, He has not changed.
Joshua 1:5-9
Matthew 28:20 New King James Version (NKJV)
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [a]Amen.
Jesus us is with you in the presence of the HS and through His Word. No matter what your condition is– weak, poor, humble, unimportant– He cares for you, watches with concern every detail of life’s trials and struggles, gives both the grace that is sufficient and His presence to lead you home. This is the Christian’s answer to every fear, every doubt, every trouble, every heartache, and every discouragement.
- At the end of your life, you will only answer to One.
Philippians 2:10-11 New King James Version (NKJV)
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Revelation 20:11-15 New King James Version (NKJV)
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before [a]God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second [b]death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.