THE BRAVEST VIRTUE (5 OF 8)
Scripture: JOHN 18:3-8
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The Bravest Virtue (5 of 8)
Series: A Treasury of Virtues
Dr. J. Gerald Harris
John 18:3-8
I contend that the bravest virtue is fearlessness. Now, if fearlessness is among the treasury of the virtues, then fearfulness must be a work of wickedness. If you question what I am saying, look in Revelation 21, verses 7 and 8 (read).
Think with me for just a few moments about this matter of fear. Where do we see it surface first in the word of God? We don't have to go very far. In the third chapter of Genesis we find that God was looking for Adam and Eve. They had disobeyed God by eating of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And in verse 9 the Bible says, "Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, Where are you?"
And listen to Adam's response in verse 10. He said, "I heard the sound of Thee in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, and so I hid myself." Somehow sinfulness and fearfulness go together. I know in Proverbs 28, verse 1, the Bible says, "The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion."
Do you remember what happened in Judges, chapter 7? God had called Gideon to gather together an army of men to go and defeat the Midianite army. In the beginning Gideon had 32,000 men, but not all of them were fit for battle. And so God initiated a process whereby those fit for battle could be retained and those unfit for battle could be released. And do you remember what God said first? In Judges 7:3, God said, "Now therefore come, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart from mount Gilead. So 22,000 people returned, but 10,000 remained."
God simply could not use those who were fearful and afraid. He cannot use the cowardly. He cannot use those who are unfit for battle.
Let me give you another illustration. Do you remember in Matthew 25 where Jesus gave the parable of the talents and there was one man who received 5 tal ...
Series: A Treasury of Virtues
Dr. J. Gerald Harris
John 18:3-8
I contend that the bravest virtue is fearlessness. Now, if fearlessness is among the treasury of the virtues, then fearfulness must be a work of wickedness. If you question what I am saying, look in Revelation 21, verses 7 and 8 (read).
Think with me for just a few moments about this matter of fear. Where do we see it surface first in the word of God? We don't have to go very far. In the third chapter of Genesis we find that God was looking for Adam and Eve. They had disobeyed God by eating of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And in verse 9 the Bible says, "Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, Where are you?"
And listen to Adam's response in verse 10. He said, "I heard the sound of Thee in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, and so I hid myself." Somehow sinfulness and fearfulness go together. I know in Proverbs 28, verse 1, the Bible says, "The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion."
Do you remember what happened in Judges, chapter 7? God had called Gideon to gather together an army of men to go and defeat the Midianite army. In the beginning Gideon had 32,000 men, but not all of them were fit for battle. And so God initiated a process whereby those fit for battle could be retained and those unfit for battle could be released. And do you remember what God said first? In Judges 7:3, God said, "Now therefore come, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart from mount Gilead. So 22,000 people returned, but 10,000 remained."
God simply could not use those who were fearful and afraid. He cannot use the cowardly. He cannot use those who are unfit for battle.
Let me give you another illustration. Do you remember in Matthew 25 where Jesus gave the parable of the talents and there was one man who received 5 tal ...
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