To be courageous is to “not be deterred by pain, fear, opposition, difficulty or danger. It means to be brave. It’s not about the absence of fear but rather acting despite feeling fear. Obedience to God is doing what God commands; following God’s instructions and God’s perfect will.
Courageous obedience is therefore following God’s commands and instructions without fear— fear of failure, loneliness, death, people, powers, pain, loss, troubles, pressure or anything.
Obedience to God is not always easy. But every act of obedience is an act of trust and it always proves that God’s way is the best even when it feels costly.
God’s intention for us is to choose His will above our will—that’s what make Him Lord. He has called us to obey Him with all our heart and to do us good not evil. Because we are in the world, the world will hate us because they hate light and love darkness (John 3:19). However, Christ has promised to be with us and never leave us (John 16:33, Hebrew 13:5b). When we obey God, He makes all things to work for our good because our courageous obedience honours Him (Rom 8:28).
“But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Joshua 22:5
“So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Matthew 19:28-30
What are Christians called to do?
- To keep all His commands – The Scripture and the Spirit (Romans 8:14)
- To love God above self and others – Matthew 10:37 “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
- To teach and disciple others for Christ: Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
- To preach the Gospel—with our words and our lives
- To love and pray for others, give, serve God and fellow human beings cheerfully
God has given us His Holy Spirit, the word of God, the fellowship of brethren, examples of believers to encourage our hearts and strengthen our courage.
Courageous obedience is all about trusting in God’s authority/commands as dictated in the Bible or one’s own convictions by the Holy Spirit and acting on them, despite fear or uncertainty.
It is clear today that we are in the end times and believers have demonstrated too much fear of men that we are losing the fear of God. Preachers are not courageous enough to preach the absolute truth of God’s word because they want a “full church”—they end up making “fools” out of their church members.
We want people and the world to give us accolades even if it means blending with the world and denying the faith. We hate suffering for the sake of righteousness and obedience to God. Workers want favour with authorities that they compromise their faith for earthly benefits and act as if God is dead. Accountability to God is no more a consideration.
Families and marriages are torn apart because love for one another is mere lip service and obedience to the command of “No divorce” is too unbearable. They even divorce for no just cause and remarry while they remain church leaders; normalizing adultery in the church. The question is: can God change? (Mal. 2:16; Matthew 5:31-32, 19:9-10; Mark 10:11-12; 1 Cor 7)
Our Christian youths are after fame and wealth, giving their souls to demons, their bodies to dogs and foxes, exchanging their glory for peanuts, changing their bodies they did not create, burning with unholy passion with same sex, copying the lifestyles, hairstyles and fashion trends of worldly celebrities, comparing themselves with themselves and neglecting the voice of the Holy Spirit because they want to belong—acceptance by men that leads to rejection by God.
What do we say about the dirty secrets people do on the internet and phones such as pornography, cybersex (such as role play, sexting, dirty talk and virtual masturbation), masturbation, etc.? Immorality and idolatry are common practices among single and married believers. Self-denial is no more popular but sin is reigning in the mortal bodies.
Without any laws forbidding us from preaching the gospel, we have shut our own mouths and failed to rescue the perishing, abandoning the lost souls to head to hell because of our misplaced priorities, busyness, fear of rejection, fear of death and spiritual coldness. Cowards will not enter the kingdom of God and the lukewarm Christians the Lord will spew out of his mouth (Revelations 3:16). The signs and wonders Christ promised will follow preaching and outreaches are denied those who need it to be saved and glorify God, yet we expect heaven to smile at us.
We love our lives but not unto the death and yet we want to overcome the devil—apparently impossible! (Rev 12:11) Our comforts are our pride and we cherish our space that we have forgotten that we are called to serve others. We give our best to what brings money and earthly gains, hoping the Lord can manage the little time we offer Him, yet that little is corrupted with distractions and stained with sins. Little wonder our prayers are weak and ineffective and our fellowship are not bringing down God’s glory.
God has given us His Holy Spirit, the word of God, the fellowship of brethren and examples of believers to encourage our heart and strengthen our courage. Abraham believed God, left his country to an unknown place God was leading him to, ‘offered up’ his only son to God, raised altars for God… and it was counted to him as righteousness, became the Father of faith, a friend of God, and an eternal blessing.
Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not fear the kings of Babylon but rather, obeyed God. Daniel purposed in his heart not to be defiled by the king’s meat, risked his life and defiled the king’s law to pray to the King of kings. They went through the fire and were not burned, escaped death in the lions’ den, revealed God to the kings, manifested uncommon gifts—interpreting dreams and handwritings of God. They were signs and wonders in a strange land.
Jesus Christ suffered rejection, threats to his life, name-calling, ridicule, shame etc., because he was doing good and fulfilling the plan of God, the Father. Today, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, bringing many sons to glory.
What about Joseph, Deborah, Elijah, the Apostles of Christ (including Paul), Stephen, the Heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 and many great church reformers who passed down the faith to us?
Let us awake unto obedience with courage that our God may restore His peace to us, that we may have deep joy and experience intimacy with God and manifestations of God’s power.
Finally, brethren “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (1 Peter 5:10). Amen!
Image Credit: faithplus.blog
Grace Olufunmilayo Ogunlusi graduated in 1998. She served as a prayer subgroup member, a follow up teacher and also served as the UJCM Family coordinator while in the fellowship. She is a Professor of Chemistry at OAU. She is happily married to Dr. Richard Olaniyi Ogunlusi who is the Vicar of the Anglican Church of the Pentecost, OAU