A Golden Image and Three Valiant Hearts!

A nation, altogether given to idolatry…

Governed by a king that esteemed himself…

more important than the Living God…

Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Dan 3:1 

With great pomp, the king and all his administrators gathered,

                                to worship the golden image….

Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: Dan 3:3 -5

Refusal to obey the king…

                             Carried the death sentence…

And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.  Dan 3:6 

So, everyone bowed down…

Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Dan 3:7 

Save for three young men…

In the sight of all…

They steadfastly, publicly, resisted the king’s decree…

There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Dan 3:12 

The king’s countenance was changed…

Fury. Outrage. Indignation. Wrath.

Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.  Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?  Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; Dan 3:13 -15

The king demanded to know…

“…who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” Dan 3:15

The furnace was stoked…

…therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. Dan 3:19 

The sentence was given…

And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Dan 3:20 

And promptly executed…

Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Dan 3:21 

The flames were so HOT…

                                    the soldiers perished….

Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Dan 3:22 -23

While everyone was watching and waiting…

A marvelous thing happened!

Astounded, the king spoke…

“Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”

“True, O king.”

“Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither.”

Behold! The saving power of the Living God…

Unfolding for all to see…

And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.  Dan 3:27 

The king had no power over them…

The fire had no power over them….

Unflinching. Resolute. Fearless. Valiant

They yielded their bodies to the flames…

And the power of God was revealed…

“…because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort!”

The king was humbled…

In his own words…

“How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! “

“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. “ Dan 4:3, 3:28

Amen!

We never know what God can accomplish through one heart that is fully yielded into His hands.

Have you yielded to Him?

The Excellency of Knowing Him!

No life of ease for Paul.

He was met with perils on every side…

In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;  
2 Cor 11:26 

His body pushed to the extreme….

Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;  
2 Cor 11:24-25

And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.  
Act 14:19   

Physically, emotionally and spiritually…

In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.  Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 
2 Cor 11:27 -28

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.  
2 Cor 12:7   

Yet, in all these things….

The power of God was being revealed…

And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. 
Acts 19:11-12   

Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.  
Acts 14:3 

And his fame spread abroad…

And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.   And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.  
Acts 16:4 -5

And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,  Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.  
Acts 21:27-8

But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;   
Acts 17:5 -6

Even the devils knew him…

Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.  And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?  
Act 19:13 -15  

Paul held nothing back.

He gave EVERYTHING he had to give…

His reputation, his career, his ministry…

Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 
Philip 3:5 -7

He counted ALL things as loss…

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung…  
Philip 3:8

In fact, the ONLY thing Paul cared about…

In his own words…

That I may win Christ, And be found in him…

 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, 
and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable 
unto his death;  If by any means I might attain 
unto the resurrection of the dead. 
Philip 3:9 -10

To KNOW Him…

                     

                   the POWER of His resurrection…

                                                

                                        the FELLOWSHIP of His sufferings…

Is NO life of ease.

Paul was willing to pay the cost …

                                         for the EXCELLENCY of KNOWING Christ…

Are you willing?

Elijah, the Valiant.

A perplexed, idolatrous nation assembled,  

On a mountain top, in Israel…

Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.  So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.  1 Kings 18:19-20

One man stood up and spoke…

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.  1 Kings 18:21 

Stunned, the people were speechless.

Silence.  Indifference. Bewilderment. 

One man. One Challenge. One accord.

Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.  Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:  And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.  1 Kings 18:22-24

Game ON.

And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.  And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.  And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.  1 Kings 18:25-27   

Silence. No reply. Dead air.

And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.  And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.  

1 Kings 18:28-29 

No voice. No acknowledgement. No god.

One man. Inconceivable odds.

And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.  And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:  And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.  And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.  And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.  And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.  1 Kings 18:30 -35  

One powerful prayer!

And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.  Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.   

1 Kings 18:36 -37

 One HOT answer!

Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.  And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said…

 The LORD, he is the God;

the LORD, he is the God. 1 Kings 18:38-39   

One moment in history…

An entire nation was undecided…

Confused. Dumbfounded. Indecisive.

Enter: One valiant prophet of the Living God.

The results: Astounding. Breathtaking. Awe Inspiring.

Questions dissolved. Eyes opened. Hearts changed.

Eternity effected!

How long halt ye between two opinions?

Paul And Silas, the Valiant.

Paul and Silas were in Macedonia…

And while they were ministering in the city…

They were arrested, beaten and imprisoned….

And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,  And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.  And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

Act 16:19 -23

For casting out a devil…

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:  The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.  And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.  Act 16:16 -18

They were put in stocks…

And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:  Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.  Act 16:23 -24

Undaunted and unashamed, they sang praises to the Living God.

Everyone was listening…

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. Act 16:25   

God was listening….

    And God answered…

And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.   Act 16:26 

The earth trembled…

                                

                               The guard trembled…..

In that moment, eternity was forever changed…

And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.  But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.  Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Act 16:27-30

That very night, many souls were born into the Kingdom of light!

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.   And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.  And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.  Act 16:31-34

Undaunted. Unashamed. Intrepid.  Joyful. Fruitful.

Two men. One powerful God. One earth shaking, life changing message.

Many souls welcomed into the Kingdom.

Any questions?

The Forging of a Valiant heart!

Forge-- Any place where any thing is made or shaped.

Wherefore …

                  Brethren…

                              give diligence to make your calling and election sure…….

 Diligence.    Interested and persevering application; devoted and painstaking effort to accomplish what is undertaken; Persistence in service.

Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.  2Co 8:7 

And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Heb 6:11 -12

In addition to diligence, add…

Faith.  An entire confidence or trust in God's character and declarations, and in the character and doctrines of Christ, with an unreserved surrender of the will to his guidance, and dependence on his merits for salvation.

 For we walk by faith, not by sight: 2 Cor 5:7 

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb 11:6 

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.  Matthew 17:20 

Virtue.    Strength. Bravery valor. Moral goodness. Voluntary obedience to truth.

And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.  Luke 6:19 

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

2Peter 1:3 

Knowledge.    A clear and certain perception of that which exists, or of truth and fact;

And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

Rom 15:14 

That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;  Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:  1Cor 1:5 -6

Temperance.   Patience; calmness; sedateness; moderation of passion.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  Gal 5:22 

And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;  2Pe 1:6 

 Patience.   The suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness.

In your patience possess ye your souls.  Luke 21:19   

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  Romans 5:3   

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Col 1:10 -11

Godliness.   A careful observance of the laws of God and performance of religious duties, proceeding from love and reverence for the divine character and commands; Christian obedience.

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.  1 Timothy 4:8 

But godliness with contentment is great gain.  1 Timothy 6:6   

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,  2 Peter 3:11 

Brotherly Kindness. Good will; benevolence; that temper or disposition which delights in contributing to the happiness of others, which is exercised cheerfully in gratifying their wishes, supplying their wants or alleviating their distresses;

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.   Eph 2:7 

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;  Col 3:12 

Charity.   In a general sense, love, benevolence, good will; that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow men, and to do them good. In a theological sense, it includes supreme love to God, and universal good will to men.

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.  1 Cor 13:4 -7

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Col 3:14   

Diligence. Faith. Virtue. Knowledge. Temperance. 

Patience. Godliness. Brotherly Kindness. Charity.

…..for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:10-11

What are you forging in the furnace of life?

The Testimony of a Valiant heart!

Paul testifies of his walk with the Living God, 

in his own words…

Serving the Lord with all humility of mind…

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.  Col 3:12-13

Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; Philip 1:27 

And with many tears…

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. 2Co 2:4 

Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. Act 20:31 

And temptations…

For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.   2 Cor 7:5

He kept back nothing, publicly testifying to the saving power of the gospel…

And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.  Acts 20:20-21

Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

Acts 20:26-27

And faithfully warning them of coming dangers…

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Acts 20:28-31

Yet, every where he turned…

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 2 Cor 4:8-10

And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. Acts 20:22-23

There is no getting out of it…

Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.  Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.  2 Cor 11:24-28

How did this affect Paul?

In his own words…

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Act 20:24 

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  Philip 3:14

Trials. Afflictions. Bonds. Tears.

No shrinking back…

Steadfast. Immovable. Honest. Bold. Truthful.

No mincing words…

What is your testimony?

The Acts of the Valiant Hearts!

In the face of threatenings…

Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.

But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.  Acts 4:16-18

They prayed for more boldness…

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.  And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.  Acts 4:31

And after being beaten for their boldness…

And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  Acts 5:40

They rejoiced in suffering and continued, daily, to teach and to preach Jesus Christ!

And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.  

Acts 5:41-42

In the face of imprisonment…

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.  Acts 8:3

They scattered everywhere…and steadfastly continued to preach!

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Act 8:4 

 In the face of death…

But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.  And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:  But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.  Acts 9:22-24

They continued to speak, boldly about Jesus Christ!

And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.  Act 9:29 

Threatenings. Beatings. Imprisonment. Death. What condition was the church in while all this was happening?

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.  And all that believed were together, and had all things common;  And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.  Acts 2:43-47

Furthermore…

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.  Act 4:33 

And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.  And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.  And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)  Acts 5:11-14

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.  Act 9:31 

Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.  Act 14:3 

In the face of adversity…

They overcome the fear of man and continued on…

In the face of opposition…

They become conquerors of the hearts and souls of the lost…

In the face of  persecution and death…

They patiently endured  and multitudes were added to the church …

But the word of God grew and multiplied. Act 12:24   

And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.  Act 13:52 

Great Fear. Great Power. Great Grace. 

Great Examples of  Valiant Christianity!