Become A Man Of Courage

Pastor Dan Walker, PhD, MDiv

Introduction: Courage That Stands Against the Flow

Courage is in short supply these days, and I would define courage as doing the right thing in the face of opposition. I believe courage is lacking because I see many people simply going along with the flow and doing what is wrong rather than what is right. It takes courage to go against the flow and to do the right things in life.

The opposite of courage is simply going with the flow and doing what everybody around you is doing. The opposite of courage is cowardice, being so afraid of what other people think that you simply take a poll and follow the majority. God has not called His people to live that way.

Today I am going to talk about the topic "Become A Man Of Courage." Of course, this also applies to women, but today I am going to focus on the men, and next Sunday I will have a message for the women. Men, God is commanding you to be a man of courage and to be strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.

God is not interested in wimps following Him, and the Bible tells us that there will be no cowardly people in heaven. There is a clear relationship between being courageous and being strong, and the phrase "Be strong and courageous" occurs ten times in the Bible. Men of courage do not sit around watching television; men of courage are following their commander, Jesus Christ, and making things happen for the Kingdom of God.

Today I am beginning a new series of messages called "Lessons From The Nativity Story." In this series, we are going to look at how God used some ordinary people to transform the history of the world. Today we are going to focus on Joseph, the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ, because God chose a strong and courageous man for this role.

From studying the history of the time, Mary was probably in her teens when she was betrothed to Joseph. Joseph, on the other hand, was probably well established in his trade and likely in his thirties or older. The betrothal usually occurred a year before the finalization of the marriage, and there was to be no intimacy before that time was over.

Matthew 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

Joseph had found a nice girl to marry, the families were agreeable, and they were engaged, but before the marriage happened Mary was found to be pregnant. The Bible tells us this was through the Holy Spirit and that an angel had told Mary, but Joseph did not know what was going on. Talk about adversity, because his fiancée was pregnant and Joseph knew he had nothing to do with it, leaving him to decide how to respond.

Live With Righteous Character

When adversity hits you and opposition comes, you need to be prepared beforehand. Soldiers train before they go into battle, and men of courage must be prepared for the challenges of life before they arrive. Becoming a man of courage begins with living with righteous character.

A righteous man is a strong man, a courageous man, and an effective man. The Bible tells us that when a man lives righteously, his prayers have power and effectiveness. When your prayers are powerful and effective, you will accomplish great things for God.

James 5:16 The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

If you are not a righteous man, your prayers will be weak and ineffective. That is why learning to live with righteous character is essential for every man who desires to live courageously. This kind of character does not happen by accident.

Righteous character begins with knowing what is right. The Bible tells us that Joseph was a righteous man, and that righteousness flowed out of what he knew and believed. He had undoubtedly been raised studying the Hebrew Old Testament and knew what God had to say about living in right relationship with Him.

Matthew 1:19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

Joseph knew God’s Word, but many of the religious leaders of his day were not described as righteous. They may have known the letter of the law, but they missed the heart of it in their own lives. Joseph not only knew what was right, but he was committed to living it out.

Whenever a man desires to live with righteous character, there will be opposition, and Joseph faced that opposition immediately. It was obvious to him that Mary appeared to have been unfaithful, and he must have been shocked, hurt, and angry. The expected response would have been a public divorce that exposed Mary to shame and humiliation.

Yet Joseph courageously restrained his anger and chose to treat Mary with love. He decided to divorce her quietly, even though those around him may have been pressuring him to respond harshly. His righteousness was demonstrated not only in what he believed, but in how he acted under pressure.

Choosing Righteousness When Doing Right Is Costly

As you reflect on Joseph’s struggle, you must ask whether God would describe you as a righteous man. Are you determined to live right no matter what others are doing or saying? God calls men to determine ahead of time that they will live with righteous character, just as Joseph did.

Seek God’s Direction in Life

Knowing what the Bible says about living right is not enough by itself. Many churches and believers mistakenly believe that God has given all the direction we need only through Scripture, and that He no longer speaks personally to His people. This approach removes large portions of the Bible by labeling them as merely historical accounts.

The Bible was written to show us how God works and how we should live our lives. Along with knowing God’s Word, we must seek His specific direction for our lives. Joseph knew the Scriptures, but he also knew that he needed God’s guidance for his situation.

Isaiah 30:21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

Joseph faced two options, and neither seemed good. If he married Mary, people would assume he was responsible for her pregnancy. If he divorced her, he would cause great harm to her and to the child, so he sought God’s direction.

Matthew 1:20–21 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

God told Joseph to marry Mary and explained that the child was conceived through the Holy Spirit. Jesus would be fully God and fully man, a truth that was surely overwhelming for Joseph to grasp. Yet God gave Joseph the clarity he needed to move forward.

Joseph was afraid because he knew he would be publicly embarrassed. Everyone in Nazareth would assume he had broken moral law, and no one would believe the angel’s message. Still, Joseph was called to believe God despite his fear.

Matthew 1:23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

Trusting God’s Voice When Fear Is Loud

If you are struggling with a difficult decision, God wants to give you His direction. You must look for it, believe that He will provide it, and decide ahead of time to obey whatever He tells you to do. Becoming a man of courage means believing God even when fear is strong.

Obey God With Courage

The real test comes when you know what God wants you to do and realize how difficult it will be. This is normal for believers, because God often asks us to do things that are impossible without His help. Obeying God always requires strength and courage.

Joshua 1:7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.

It takes courage to obey God in a world filled with compromise. Society is full of men who do whatever they feel like doing, but obedience to God requires resisting that pressure. Joseph understood that obedience would cost him his reputation.

Matthew 1:24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

Joseph obeyed God immediately, and this obedience was only the beginning. He continued to obey God on multiple occasions to protect Jesus and fulfill God’s plan. He marched to the beat of a different drummer and lived with courage.

Joseph also exercised self-control in every area of his life. After taking Mary as his wife, he abstained from marital relations until after Jesus was born. A man of courage is able to say no to his physical urges and yes to what God requires.

Matthew 1:25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Living Differently When Obedience Has a Price

Are you able to resist the pressure of society and exercise self-control? If you are struggling with addiction or ongoing sin, God wants you to break free. A man of courage learns to obey God no matter the cost and refuses to excuse disobedience.

Conclusion: God Is Still Looking for Courageous Men

God is looking for strong men of courage whom He can use to change their world. Becoming a man of courage means living with righteous character, seeking God’s direction, and obeying Him with courage. When you choose to be strong and courageous in obedience, God promises that your life will have purpose and impact.

📘 Continue the Journey

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