You Can’t Make This Stuff Up
“300 Rise of Courage”

The weakest, most fearful person can act with courage!

“Courage is one of the least talked about virtues for Christ-followers, but is essential to all the others.” – C.S. Lewis

Courage = You + knowing God wants you to do it + God with you in it

Judges 
	Israelites – Half-hearted obedience wrecks our lives 

“Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them…” – Judges 2:16

Ehud – God rescues us from hopelessness in surprising ways
	Deborah – When leaders lead, miracles happen
	Gideon – Courage 

Judges 6

God’s first response is not to give them relief, but a sermon!
	
Breaking the Cycle
	Sin – Rescue – Worship – Sin 
	Sin – Rescue – Worship - Victory

There is a difference between every day normal lapses and a repeated pattern of lapses in the same area.

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” – 2 Corinthians 7:10

Regret
	Sorrows over consequences
	Lives with the past
	Causes us to hate life
	Is all about us

Repentance
	Sorrows over the sin
	Removes all regret 
	Restores the love of life
	Is all about God
	
If our falls or lapses are not decreasing in number or intensity, then it is regret – not repentance.

The Israelites didn’t abandon their worship of God, they just combined the worship of God with idols – other gods.

Courage to chase out the Midianites 

Courage to chase out ________

Courage is…
	Found in repentance; not regret
Confidence that God is with us
	Finding ways to see God
 	Starting at home
Taking deliberate steps to fight
Celebrating God; guarding against relapses