Act Like a Man: Be Brave

Bravery…Webster defines it as “the quality or state of having or showing mental or moral strength in the face of danger, fear or difficulty. Courage.

Bravery…God says to “act like a man.”

It comes in many forms, whether falling on a hand grenade in war to save your fellow soldiers, to taking care of your slowly-dying demented spouse…bravery faces fear head-on. 

• What do YOU think about when you hear, “act like a man,” or “be brave?”

• Why are we told by the Holy Spirit through Paul to act like a man and be brave?

There has been and now is a continuing agenda by the powers of darkness to shut real-men down. I’m not talking about a rowdy-riotous, adulterous son of a gun, but a God-fearing, Jesus-loving, Man of God. 

It started in the Garden of Eden. Where was Adam? Beside Eve! He was right there. But who was doing the talking??!! EVE!! I don’t know. Did he see her as the one that was weaker or stronger? No doubt she’s weaker physically. But how about relationally?She was made for Adam, not Adam for Eve. God had His design. Adam failed the test because he didn’t stand his ground and say NO.             (We’ll talk about strength next week.)

• Name some examples of men of courage and known for their bravery and heroic actions?

• Abraham rescues Lot
• Noah builds the Ark
• Moses against Pharaoh 
• Joshua against the nations
• Nehemiah rebuilds the walls
• David defeats Goliath
• Daniel and the lion’s den

• Abraham rescues Lot- Sometimes men have to defend family, no matter the circumstances or time of day. In Genesis 14, Abraham and Lot have separated. Lot’s tent faces Sodom. 4 kings attack 5 kings. The 4 serve them for 13 yrs, then rebel. The 5 take out giants, Amalekites and Amorites. In the process of battle near Sodom and the slime pits, Lot and family are captured. Abraham is told and he arms and gathers 318 trained men, born in his own house. He made it to Dan and split his forces, and at night overtook them, slaying them west of Damascus, rescuing Lot, his family and all his goods.
• Noah builds the Ark- Despite the extreme forces of evil, and voices of discouragement and abuse, Noah and his sons built the largest boat ever undertaken; gathering animals and food supplies for the journey. Year after year the taunting and jeering was repressive and vulgar, but Noah believed God and withstood the daily evil attacks. The rainbow reminds us of his courage and victory-promise from God. Genesis 6.
• Moses against Pharaoh- Exodus 5-14 There have been men that have overcome evil, pagan systems of government. Moses was the first. Standing with God, he and his brother Aaron stood face to face against Pharaoh, King of Egypt. Despite black magic and darkness, Moses used God’s power through his staff and loosened heavenly plagues upon the Egyptians. Through God’s Angel of the Lord,Dead Sea split open and allowed Israel to walk across, but swallowed up the ENTIRE Egyptian army!

• Joshua against the nations- Your leader and teacher has just died leaving you in charge of 2-3 million people with all their animals. Deuteronomy 31-Joshua 12:24, Moses’ right hand man is told for the first of 7 times to ‘be strong and of a good courage.’ God CONTINUALLY reminded him to be strong and brave. Leading millions of Israelites into a known area full of giants and evil; Jericho’s walls; and 31 total kings defeated in his lifetime.
• Nehemiah rebuilds the walls- Nehemiah was King Artaxerxes’ cupbearer/taster. A dangerous job. After being told the condition of Jerusalem, he sought God’s favor with the king, and was given funding and authority to rebuild the walls/gates of Jerusalem. Being met with extreme political and physical opposition, under fear and threat of loss of life, he managed to enlist the aid of all available men and women to rebuild the walls…all the while holding weapons and watch to defend themselves against attack from the enemy forces that literally had them surrounded. Despite 24/7 terror and fear, they managed to rebuild the walls/gates in 52 days. (6:15)
• David defeats Goliath- 1Samuel 17 A very young David, armed with the name of the Lord and a sling with 5 stones runs toward a 9ft Philistine giant, weighing in around 600 pounds with a 125 pound suit of armor. David had God. Goliath was a sitting duck for David…a huge target for a boy with a sling and the anointing and name of the Lord. The size and strength of our enemy doesn’t matter when we’re given totally over to the power of the Lord.
• Daniel in the lion’s den- Daniel 6 First Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar his son, and now Darius the Mede…Daniel had risen to the top once again. But jealousy and a treacherous plot to entrap him as he prayed…led to Daniel being thrown into a den of hungry lions. Guilty only of praying to his God, Daniel was sent to die. Darius spoke ‘faith words’ that “The God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you.” Early the next morning, Darius ran to see: Daniel safe, because of an angel sent by God to shut the mouths of the lions. 

So what do we do today? How are we supposed to live out our lives in this ‘cancel-culture’ in a way that glorifies God? 

Matthew 11:12 “ The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” The fall of satan from heaven to this earth was violent and was with great force and massive energy. HOWEVER, those that know who they are in Jesus, and what He did for them through the cross/grave…will take it back for the King by forceful authority in His name. I’m not talking about going after goons and goblins, but after the souls of men who need Jesus…and if you need to deal with the enemy along the way, you’ll be better prepared to do so as well.

Next Week: How to ‘be strong’ in Him…