Click to expand transcript
The Message – Courage Used Properly
Brother Richie Juatco: Having courage is a trait or characteristic that we should all possess. It can help us build resilience and strengthen our relationships. Now courage, simply put, is the ability to face fear. Without courage, fear would overtake us. We would cower from conflicts, uncomfortable situations, or anything difficult. But because our fears also have an important purpose, alerting us of risks and dangers, let’s study today on how to properly use our courage.
[On-Screen Text Graphic]
The Message
Courage Used Properly
[Show open]
Brother Richie: Hi, I’m Brother Richie Juatco and joining me in this episode is Brother Mark Vasquez.
[On-Screen Text Graphic]
Brother Richie Juatco
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Mark Vasquez
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Mark Vasquez: Thank you, Brother Richie. There are many people that we can use as examples of bravery and courage.
[On-Screen Text Graphic]
The Message
Courage Used Properly
Brother Mark: History records people that overcame their fears, not only for their own benefit, but also for the sake of saving others. So with that in mind, the most courageous person to have ever lived is Jesus Christ. Brother Richie, how did the Lord Jesus Christ, how did He use His courage?
[On-Screen Text Graphic]
The Message
How did Christ use courage
Brother Richie: We’ll go to what’s recorded in Matthew 26:39, so that we can see, as you mentioned, He’s the most courageous. How is it that He showed that? This is what we can read,
He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
[Matthew 26:39 New King James Version]
Brother Richie: What we just read is what the Lord Jesus Christ was feeling when He learned what God wanted Him to do. It was God’s will for Jesus Christ to be crucified on the cross, to save the souls of those in His Church. Now, to put this in context, crucifixion at the time was a form of capital punishment. It was done to criminals and was a horrible way to die.
Brother Mark: What did the Lord Jesus Christ ask of God?
[On-Screen Text Graphic]
Brother Mark Vasquez
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Richie Juatco
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Richie: Well, just like what we read, He prayed saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me.” We can all understand why the Lord Jesus Christ did not want to be crucified. But how did He use His courage? He said to God, “nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” So Jesus did not want to deny God’s will. Christ used, properly, His courage to face His fear in order to obey God’s instructions. Jesus Christ really is the ultimate example of how to be courageous.
Brother Mark: Since the Lord Jesus Christ is the ultimate example, what is His instruction if we want to be like Him or follow His great example?
[On-Screen Text Graphic]
The Message
What is Christ’s instruction for those who want to follow His example?
Brother Richie: So the Lord Jesus Christ did give this instruction to those who wanted to follow His example. We’ll read, still here in the Book of Matthew. We’ll read now chapter 16, verse 24,
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
[Matthew 16:24 New King James Version]
Brother Richie: So, according to what we have read, whom is Christ giving these instructions to? Jesus Christ said, “If anyone desires to come after Me.” Well, what is Christ’s instruction to anyone who wants to come after Him or be His follower or disciple? Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “let him deny himself.” Therefore, just as Christ used His courage to deny Himself, and not deny God’s will, this is also what He is instructing to His disciples.
Brother Mark: So if we were to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ and we need to follow His example, what else did He instruct His disciples who want to follow Him?
Brother Richie: Notice, Brother, Mark, what our Lord Jesus Christ said. He said, “let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
Now we want to point out that the Lord Jesus Christ did not say, ‘take up my cross.’ It’s important to understand this because there are many people who mistakenly think Christ is saying to carry a literal cross. Now, taking up a literal cross was the duty given to Christ and not to anyone else, not to us. That was Christ’s duty to God. So when Christ instructs to “take up [your] cross,” He is referring to us fulfilling our duty to God by following His example.
[On-Screen Text Graphic]
The Message
Courage Used Properly
Brother Richie: Therefore, we also should use our courage to deny ourselves when our desires go against what God wants, especially if we are going through trials or experiencing hardships.
Brother Mark: Brother Richie, with what you mentioned, going against our own wants or desires, it’s much easier said than done. It could be very challenging to make the type of lifestyle changes required to truly follow the Lord Jesus Christ. So it’s more natural to simply give in to our own desires. But what’s the problem in giving in to just what we want or our own human desires?
[On-Screen Text Graphic]
The Message
What is the harm in giving in to our own desires?
Brother Richie: You know, that’s a good question, because you’re right. It’s much easier to just do what we want. So what would be the harm in that? We can read what harm it would cause. We can read what would happen. We’ll read here in Romans 7:22 to 23, it says here,
For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.
[Romans 7:22-23 New International Version]
Brother Richie: So here, we learned that there is something that is, as we read, “waging war against the law of [my] mind.” That’s something inside of us. What kind of mind is being referred to here? It is the mind that, we read, “delight in God’s law.” Now, what is it that is inside of us battling that good intention to follow God’s law? We read, “the law of sin at work within me.”
Brother Mark: You know the verses that you just read, that waging war within oneself, others might refer to this as an inner battle. Well, because of this inner battle that we have, Brother Richie, what is it that our Lord Jesus Christ explained about our human nature? And also, what did He instruct us as His disciples to do about it?
[On-Screen Text Graphic]
The Message
What does Christ teach about our human nature?
Brother Richie: Very good question, Brother Mark. Our Lord Jesus Christ, does explain what is happening inside of us and then gives us this instruction. We’ll read Matthew 26, here in verse 41. Our Lord Jesus Christ says,
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
[Matthew 26:41 New King James Version]
Brother Richie: Jesus Christ instructs us to, “Watch and pray.” Therefore, we have to always be alert of what’s happening around us. We have to have a self-awareness, and we have to ask God for the courage to do what is right.
Brother Mark: Why is it necessary for us to be on watch and to be alert? Why is that so necessary?
Brother Richie: Because what we read, our Lord Jesus Christ taught, so that you don’t “enter into temptation.” What our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us, He teaches us something about ourselves. He explains, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Now this is what we learned earlier, that the law of sin works in us, our flesh, our feelings, our wants, desires, our human weaknesses, is at battle with the spiritual mind we acquired from God’s law.
[On-Screen Text Graphic]
The Message
Courage Used Properly
Brother Richie: So even though we are taught what is right, accept God’s words, understand them, that we should obey them, we still need to find the courage to overcome our natural tendency to disobey. This is the reason Christ teaches us to deny ourselves.
[On-Screen Text Graphic]
Brother Mark Vasquez
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Richie Juatco
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Richie: Now, Brother Mark, we’re learning this, right, we’re learning what our Lord Jesus Christ is teaching. What’s another way for us to understand, ‘deny ourselves?’
[On-Screen Text Graphic]
The Message
How did the apostles reiterate denying ourselves?
Brother Mark: The apostles gave us more information on how we could deny ourselves as disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s read that here in the Book of Romans. We’ll read 12 and the verse is 1,
Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? To surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.
[Romans 12:1 The Passion Translation]
Brother Mark: Here we learned that our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies is to live in holiness. How do we do this? We read “surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices.” Therefore, if what we want to do is different from what God wants us to do, we should give in or surrender to God—this is how we live in holiness. This is what our Lord Jesus Christ did and teaches us to do as well.
Brother Richie: You know, Brother Mark, since we’re instructed to ‘surrender to God,’ how do we do that? What does that mean to surrender to God?
[On-Screen Text Graphic]
The Message
What does it mean to surrender to God?
Brother Mark: God Himself answers our question. In Deuteronomy, we’ll read 12 and the verse is 32,
“Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.
[Deuteronomy 12:32 New King James Version]
Brother Mark: Here God teaches, “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it.” So we need to be careful and observe or live by the commands of the Lord God.
Brother Richie: Now, Brother Mark, we know that the commands of God are written in the Bible. What is the instruction of God regarding His commands?
Brother Mark: Well, here the Bible told us, “you shall not add to it nor take away from it.” This is how we surrender to God. We should carefully follow all His commands written in the Bible. But to do this, we need to be like the Lord Jesus Christ—we need to be courageous.
Brother Richie: We need to be courageous, right.
Brother Mark: And aside from our own natural weaknesses, what else are we up against, which is why we need this courage like the Lord Jesus Christ?
[On-Screen Text Graphic]
The Message
What challenges do we face that require courage?
Brother Richie: That’s true to point that out. It is not only our own human weaknesses that we’re up against, which is why we need courage. What else are we up against? We can read here in Romans 12:2. The Bible teaches us this,
Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.
[Romans 12:2 Good News Translation]
Brother Richie: Here, we learn what we are up against. We are actually up against “the standards of this world.” Now that can be a scary thought. The standards of this world are a very powerful thing.
Brother Mark: Very powerful.
Brother Richie: It will pressure us, right? It will pressure you to conform to its ways. People we know, even people we don’t know, will try to make us think and feel how they think and feel.
Brother Mark: Especially when it comes to media, social media.
Brother Richie: That’s true, especially now with the technology.
Brother Mark: We’re surrounded by it at times, and when we’re surrounded by it, there might be some who feel like our emotions might even want to be like them. We might want to deal with problems the same way they do. We might be tempted to think the same way that they do. But what is God instructing us to do, Brother Richie?
Brother Richie: Notice what we read, Brother Mark, it said, “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world.” What should we do then? How should we use our courage? We are taught, “let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind.”
So if we do surrender to God and let Him transform our mind, what will be the result? The Bible teaches, “Then you will be able to know the will of God.” If this is what we choose to do—use our courage to submit or surrender to God’s will—Brother Mark, what would that do for us? What benefit would that give us? What blessing would come to us?
Brother Mark: Well, the Lord Jesus Christ, He gives us a clear instruction based on the will of the Lord God, and blessings that are guaranteed to those who follow.
[On-Screen Text Graphic]
The Message
What blessings will come to those who follow the will of God?
Brother Mark: Let’s read it in the Book of John. We’ll read 10, and we’ll read verse 9,
I am the door; anyone who comes into the fold through me will be safe. …
[John 10:9 Revised English Bible]
Brother Mark: According to our Lord Jesus Christ, the benefit of or submitting or surrendering to God’s will is that one will be safe. Safety, security, and salvation are blessings that come with courageously following our Lord Jesus Christ and submitting to the will of God.
Brother Richie: Now what is Christ’s instruction in order to receive that, Brother Mark?
Brother Mark: The Lord Jesus Christ said here in these verses, “anyone who comes into the fold.”
Brother Richie: Okay, what is that? If you have to come into this fold, we know it’s a sheepfold or flock. What is that, that one has to go inside of in order to be saved?
[On-Screen Text Graphic]
The Message
Which is the flock or fold that we must enter to be saved?Brother Mark: Well, let’s read what that flock is according to the Holy Scriptures. We’ll read that together in the book of Acts. We’ll read 20, and the verse is 28,
Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.
[Acts 20:28 George M. Lamsa Translation]
Brother Mark: The sheepfold or the flock—that’s the Church Of Christ. So denying ourselves and submitting to the will of the Lord God, by entering the Church Of Christ, that also requires courage. But we should also remember this leads to the great blessing of salvation.
Brother Richie: Brother Mark, what is so special about the Church Of Christ that salvation is connected to it? What did our Lord Jesus Christ do for the Church?
Brother Mark: It’s so special and so unique because the Bible told us here, “the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” So the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, or His life, that’s what He sacrificed to purchase or redeem His church. So it’s the Church Of Christ that benefited from the courage of the Lord Jesus Christ’s obedience to God.
[On-Screen Text Graphic]
The Message
Courage Used Properly
Brother Richie: Now, Brother Mark, since we are learning that courage is needed, courage is needed to follow and enter the Church Of Christ, the question we pose now is: “Is courage needed only to enter the Church Of Christ?”
[On-Screen Text Graphic]
The Message
What is another reason we need courage?
Brother Mark: Well, we do need courage to enter the Church Of Christ, but what else does the Bible teach us? Let’s read what’s written in Hebrews 6:4 to 6 and 11,
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,
[Hebrews 6:4-6 & 11 New King James Version]
Brother Mark: According to what we read, merely entering the Church is not enough. But rather, we have to make sure that we remain and not fall away.
Brother Richie: Brother Mark, what would be the evil if one learned the truth in the Bible, they followed the teachings, they entered the Church Of Christ, and then all of a sudden they change their mind and they don’t remain?
Brother Mark: Well, it’s good that we entered the Church Of Christ. We have that courage to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. But we just learned, the Bible said, “for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit… if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”
Brother Richie: Therefore, finding the courage to obey is not only needed to join the Church, but is also needed in order to remain obedient, even after entering the Church Of Christ. Courage will help us stand firm in our faith. Now, Brother Mark, how long should we be doing this, courageously obeying and remaining inside the Church?
[On-Screen Text Graphic]
Brother Mark Vasquez
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Richie Juatco
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Mark: The apostles teach us in the Holy Scriptures. They said in these verses, “we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end.”
We are taught to remain courageous or faithful our whole life—or until the end.
[On-Screen Text Graphic]
The Message
Courage Used Properly
Brother Richie: Now, for those that are watching us and are learning and growing in your faith, remember that you’re not alone. All around the world, members of the Church Of Christ have also made the courageous decision to follow God’s will and become part of the true Church, one of whom is Felix.
Brother Mark: Let’s take a moment to meet Felix in this clip from Stories of Faith, where he shows how he overcame anxiety and addiction and courageously stood his ground to grow in the true faith.
Let’s take a look.
[Video Clip: https://incmedia.org/god-taught-me-to-value-life/]
Brother Richie: Now, you too, may also be encountering challenges that try to hold you back from your journey of faith. But just like Felix, what we have learned today, we hope that you have the courage to keep learning and growing in the true faith taught inside the Church Of Christ.
Brother Mark: Visit the congregation near you. Or if you want, ask us the question now, by clicking the link in the description, and inquire how to listen to the basic teachings of the Bible.
Brother Richie: And if you’re already going through those lessons, or wherever you are in your spiritual journey, we hope that the message you heard today has brought you closer to God and deepened your understanding of His truth taught inside the Church Of Christ.
On behalf of all of us here at The Message, we’re very grateful for you joining us in this episode.
But before we conclude, please join us for a short prayer.
Brother Mark: Our loving Father in heaven, thank You for showing Your love unto all of us. Even though this world is filled with many fears and anxiety, there are evil things that happen around us. You teach us to be courageous and follow the great example of the Lord Jesus Christ.
So please give us that courage to obey Your holy commandments, especially the command to enter the Church Of Christ. And may it be that we have the strength that we need to remain courageous and remain until the very end.
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we ask of You, Lord Jesus, to help us as well to be able to imitate Your wonderful example. Help us to be courageous like You in following the will of our Father in heaven. In those moments of our weaknesses, Lord Jesus, please be the One to give us strength, and help us so that the Father will continue to accept us and listen to all of our prayers.
Father in Heaven, may You bless all of us that have joined this study, and may You be with us even when this program is over. Bless also those who lead and guide us, our Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, and the Deputy Executive Minister, Brother Angelo Eraño V. Manalo.
Thank you for all of Your blessings.
We pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
[Show close]
