Post by Mosquito on Jul 16, 2008 10:14:02 GMT -5
Only the Brave are Here......
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“Then after that saith He to His disciples, Let us go into Judea again. His disciples say to Him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee, and goest thou thither again?” John 11:7-8
We all admire a brave man. History has rewarded the brave with lasting acclaim. There are two kinds of manifested bravery—courage and fortitude. And they are very different: courage is of the flesh,—fortitude is of the spirit. What is fortitude? It is the courage which will make us not only fight for a good cause, but also to suffer for good cause.
Jesus Christ was The Perfect Brave Man—the Man Who endured more than all living men put together, and endured it all of His own will, while He had it in His power to dismiss it all in an instant, and free Himself utterly from pain and suffering. He didn’t have to do it—but He did!
Lazarus was dead, and Jesus would go to raise him to life, He said to His disciples, “Let us go into Judea again.” The disciples knew the danger that might be expected, they said, “Master, the Jews of late sought to stone Thee, and goest Thou thither again?” Yes, He would go; He had a work to do. This is fortitude—this is true courage.
Jesus Christ was not like the martyrs of old who were forced to undergo sufferings at the hand of others. Jesus Christ was God; He made the very men who were tormenting Him; He had made the very wood of the cross on which He hung, the iron which pierced His hands. But He endured the cross. He alone had perfect power to save Himself, even when He was nailed to the tree, fainting, bleeding, and dying. It was never too late for Him to stop but Jesus had true courage-the fortitude of the Spirit.
Those awarded medals of Honor for courage are usually for exploits that transpired in relatively short times, yet sometimes, those that endured hardships and misfortune for considerable time are often overlooked. God has endowed many a prayerful saint with fortitude—the courage to endure! His promise is: Jos 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
To be “Christ-like” covers a wide spectrum. This “likeness” not only shows up in the compassion of a soul or in the ability to extend mercy but also in the ability to “endure hardness” as a good solider of Jesus Christ. Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Fortitude is the courage to endure—it is a Christ like attribute.
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Heb 12:2-4
Brother, be of good courage!
They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.
So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved. Isa 41:6-7
The coward never started and the weak died along the way and only the brave are here.
Good News Cafe
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“Then after that saith He to His disciples, Let us go into Judea again. His disciples say to Him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee, and goest thou thither again?” John 11:7-8
We all admire a brave man. History has rewarded the brave with lasting acclaim. There are two kinds of manifested bravery—courage and fortitude. And they are very different: courage is of the flesh,—fortitude is of the spirit. What is fortitude? It is the courage which will make us not only fight for a good cause, but also to suffer for good cause.
Jesus Christ was The Perfect Brave Man—the Man Who endured more than all living men put together, and endured it all of His own will, while He had it in His power to dismiss it all in an instant, and free Himself utterly from pain and suffering. He didn’t have to do it—but He did!
Lazarus was dead, and Jesus would go to raise him to life, He said to His disciples, “Let us go into Judea again.” The disciples knew the danger that might be expected, they said, “Master, the Jews of late sought to stone Thee, and goest Thou thither again?” Yes, He would go; He had a work to do. This is fortitude—this is true courage.
Jesus Christ was not like the martyrs of old who were forced to undergo sufferings at the hand of others. Jesus Christ was God; He made the very men who were tormenting Him; He had made the very wood of the cross on which He hung, the iron which pierced His hands. But He endured the cross. He alone had perfect power to save Himself, even when He was nailed to the tree, fainting, bleeding, and dying. It was never too late for Him to stop but Jesus had true courage-the fortitude of the Spirit.
Those awarded medals of Honor for courage are usually for exploits that transpired in relatively short times, yet sometimes, those that endured hardships and misfortune for considerable time are often overlooked. God has endowed many a prayerful saint with fortitude—the courage to endure! His promise is: Jos 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
To be “Christ-like” covers a wide spectrum. This “likeness” not only shows up in the compassion of a soul or in the ability to extend mercy but also in the ability to “endure hardness” as a good solider of Jesus Christ. Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Fortitude is the courage to endure—it is a Christ like attribute.
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Heb 12:2-4
Brother, be of good courage!
They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.
So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved. Isa 41:6-7
The coward never started and the weak died along the way and only the brave are here.
Good News Cafe