I believe Scripture leans more toward courage being a who instead of a what.
In 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT), the Apostle Paul told Timothy, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
If God has not given us a spirit of fear, then what spirit has He given us? I believe Paul is saying God has given us the Holy Spirit. He has given us a spirit of courage.To encounter God is to encounter love. The Bible says God is love and that love is the evidence of having been with God (1 John 4:7–21).
The same is true of courage. God is courageous, and courage is evidence of having been with God (2 Timothy 1:7). We are instructed to take courage over and over in Scripture. Courage isn’t a once and for all provision from God. We have to continuously take more courage just like we have to continuously yield to the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16–25).
In Joshua 1:9, God told Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go,” (NIV).
Pastor John Piper
I love how Pastor John Piper, an American Reformed Baptist Pastor, asks and answers this question: “Can I as a twenty-first century Christian Gentile, not a Jewish person, and not living when it was written — not being Joshua — can I take a promise made to Joshua and apply it to myself ? My answer is yes.”
Let that sink in. Piper says, “The same words are used in Isaiah 41:10, ‘Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed’ — those two phrases, don’t fear and don’t be dismayed, for I am with you. It’s broadened out in Isaiah 41:10.”
Everything we witness about God through Jesus — His presence, peace, and power — is within us through the Holy Spirit. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is within us.
In John 16:7 Jesus says, “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you,” (NASB). Think about this. Here is our long-awaited Messiah now explaining how He is going to go back to the Father. Everyone listening had to be thinking, “This is not good, we are just beginning to understand and now you’re leaving us?”
Jesus knew He was God. He knew how He had humbled Himself to be a human like you and me. Fully God and fully man, the presence of God through the Son is now geographically confined to His skin. So He says, “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”
— From pages 70–72 in Audacious Generosity by Kevin White
About Audacious Generosity…
Given the choice, every one of us wants to be more generous, but fear holds us back. Audacious Generosity shows you how to exchange any sense of pressure and regret about giving for genuine confidence and satisfaction.
With Audacious Generosity, God is the Giver, and giving depends on what God puts into your hands. Gone are the days where you feel pressured to be the giver. Instead, Audacious Generosity will empower you to give limitlessly — as God gives through you.
By reading this book, you will learn to enjoy a living relationship with God that’s fueled by courage, characterized by freedom, and overflowing with audacious generosity. As God combines courage and freedom in your life, you will experience, receive, and give more than you ever thought possible. See what happens when you open our hands to God and commit in advance to use what He puts into our hands to fulfill His mission.
For full details please visit https://kevinwhite.us
About Kevin White…
Twenty years ago, Kevin White needed food for his family. God said, “Feed others and your family will eat too.” Today the organization Kevin founded, With Love From Jesus Ministries continues to distribute millions of dollars a year in needed resources to high need populations. Kevin’s family never missed a meal, and Kevin went from barely surviving to thriving through Audacious Generosity.
For ten years, Kevin has been the Founder/Executive Director of Global Hope India a mission organization to Indian Nationals. He’s traveled to India fifty times hosting a thousand people on mission trips.
Kevin and his wife, Shelly, have three adult children and one grandchild. They live in Cary, North Carolina.
For full details please visit https://kevinwhite.us
About Kevin White
Kevin White is a Christian pastor, international speaker, and an international best-selling author. As a writer, Kevin’s newest book, Audacious Generosity, is a best new Christian Book of 2020. Audacious Generosity was an instant international best seller in India and the United States of America. Audacious Generosity is the New Book to Read in 2021. Look for it among Christianity books on Amazon and everywhere books are sold. Kevin’s why for life is to extend access to Jesus to all people world-wide. Kevin loves to motivate people how to encounter the presence of God in their everyday life.
As a seasoned entrepreneur, Kevin has started and helped start hundreds of businesses, churches, and nonprofit organizations. Kevin is an expert in church leadership and business development. Kevin’s shepherd’s heart can be seen in his speaking and writing. He integrates Biblical principles and worship into everything he does. Kevin’s strategy is to help people transform into the likeness of Jesus. Find more from Kevin White including his blog, podcast shows, YouTube Channel, and Generously Blessed 1MM One Minute Motivational Series at https://kevinwhite.us
About Global Hope India
Kevin White is the Founder/Executive Director of Global Hope India, a Christian mission organization focused on sharing the gospel in India and among Indian Nationals world-wide. We facilitate virtual mission teams to India and short-term mission teams in-person in India. These teams empower the church in India with pastoral training, youth pastor training, children’s ministry, church planting strategy, church planting ministry, and medical missions.
Global Hope India is a Christian charity that raises funds for India. 92% of every dollar given benefits gospel outreach projects in India such as church planting, orphan care, clean water projects, bibles, medical clinics, etc. Our partners in India serve the Baptist mission in India, Church of God in India as well as independent Christian churches. We do one thing – advance the gospel in India. We do it in one way – through the local church in India. Join us today by praying for India, giving to God’s work in India and going virtually or in person to make disciples in India. Find out more information at https://globalhopeindia.org
