1. Characteristics of Courage
Joshua 1:1-3

2. Characteristics of Courage
Joshua 1:1-3 (NIV) 1 After the death of Moses
the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to
Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 "Moses my
servant is dead. Now then, you and all these
people, get ready to cross the Jordan River
into the land I am about to give to them--to
the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place
where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.

3. Characteristics of Courage
The Lord selected Joshua to be Moses’ successor long before
Moses’ death. Joshua was a military leader, a political leader,
and a spiritual leader. He was quiet and unassuming, but he
was not intimidated by his responsibilities or the task that lay
before him. He was a battlefield genius, particularly in the
areas of careful planning, strategy, and execution. He was a
capable administrator for the nation, effective in maintaining
harmony among people and groups. He was a spokesman to
the people for the Lord. Though he did not receive the Law as
Moses had, he communicated the Lord’s will and the Lord’s
message much like Moses. Besides the Lord being on his side,
Joshua manifested one of the core elements necessary for
successful pleasing of God. His life was the embodiment of
courage. In today’s message we will examine some of the
characteristics of courage.

4. Characteristics of Courage
 Courage
 The state or quality of mind or spirit that enables
one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-
possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery.
Courage is the grace of fearlessness; it is born of
truth, dominated by righteousness and its highest
form is begotten by the fear of God.

5. Characteristics of Courage
West Point’s Cadet Prayer
"Make us choose the harder right instead of the
easier wrong, and never to be contented with half
truth when whole truth can be won. Endow us with
courage that is born of loyalty to all that is noble and
worthy, that scorns to compromise with vice &
injustice and knows no fear when right and truth are
in jeopardy."

6. Characteristics of Courage
 Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has courage to
lose sight of the shore
 Courage is fear that has said its prayers – Karl Barth
 C.S. Lewis said, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues,
but the form of every virtue at the testing point.”
 Failure is only postponed success as long as courage
coaches ambition. The habit of persistence is the habit of
victory.

7. The Feet of Courage
Joshua 1:2, 11 (NIV) 2"Moses my servant is
dead. Now then, you and all these people, get
ready to cross the Jordan River into the land
I am about to give to them--to the Israelites…
11
"Go through the camp and tell the people,
'Get your supplies ready. Three days from
now you will cross the Jordan here to go in
and take possession of the land the LORD
your God is giving you for your own.'"

8. The Ground of Courage
 Joshua 1:6 (NIV) 6 "Be strong and courageous, because
you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to
their forefathers to give them.
 Joshua 1:9 (NIV) 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong
and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be
discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you
wherever you go.“
 Joshua 1:18 (NIV) 18 Whoever rebels against your word
and does not obey your words, whatever you may
command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and
courageous!"

9. The Action of Courage
Joshua 1:7-8 (NIV) 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. 8 Do not let this
Book of the Law depart from your mouth;
meditate on it day and night, so that you may
be careful to do everything written in it. Then
you will be prosperous and successful.

10. The Face of Courage
 Joshua 1:9 (NIV) Have I not commanded you? Be
strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do
not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will
be with you wherever you go.“
 Isaiah 50:7 (NIV) Because the Sovereign LORD
helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have
I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be
put to shame.

11. The Mind of Courage
 Meditate: Joshua 1:8 (NIV) Do not let this Book
of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on
it day and night, so that you may be careful to do
everything written in it. Then you will be
prosperous and successful.
 Remember: Joshua 1:13 (NIV) "Remember the
command that Moses the servant of the LORD
gave you: 'The LORD your God is giving you rest
and has granted you this land.'

12. The Strength of Courage
 Joshua 1:5 (NIV)5 No one will be able to stand up
against you all the days of your life. As I was with
Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave
you nor forsake you.
 Joshua 1:9 (NIV)9 Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do
not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will
be with you wherever you go."

13. Characteristics of Courage
"Jesus . . . wants us to see that the neighbor
next door or the people sitting next to us on a
plane or in a classroom are not interruptions
to our schedule. They are there by divine
appointment. Jesus wants us to see their
needs, their loneliness, their longings, and he
wants to give us the courage to reach out to
them"

14. Characteristics of Courage
 The Feet of Courage – commitment to travel
 The Ground of Courage – command of God
 The Action of Courage – commitment to obedience
 The Face of Courage – commitment to endure
 The Mind of Courage – commitment to think
 The Strength of Courage – commitment by God to be
present