Forces that discourage confidence and courage are mainly Doubt and Fear. I believe we can be more confident and courageous if we were able to conquer the two forces. Nobody can do it for you. The whole matter is in your hands. Wake up and do something.

1. BE A MAN OF CONFIDENCE AND COURAGE
"Be strong and of good courage . . ." Deuteronomy 31:7
Two of the most important aspects of a man are being confident and courageous. Most of us
have missed it in life because of lack of these two components. Courage gives men a
leadership position.
 Courage begins with an inward battle. Courage isn't an absence of fear. It's doing
what you are afraid to do.
 Courage is making things right, not just smoothing them over. The ultimate measure
of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where
he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
 Courage in a man inspires commitment from others. Courage is contagious.
 Your life expands in proportion to your courage. Courage opens doors, and that's one
of its most wonderful benefits.
Courage and confidence go hand in hand. Without them:
 Many men died before they are dead.
 Many are gripped by intense fear that they are immobilized.
 Many fear failure that they never fail except fail to attempt doing anything at all.
 Many lose opportunities because they fail to cease the moments.
 Many visions lost on the trash heap because those who got the visions fear to act.
 Fear is a reality; make it a stepping stone instead of a millstone on the neck.
I Sam. 17: 11, 26-27
11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and
greatly afraid.
26 Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man
who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this
uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
27 And the people answered him in this manner, saying, “So shall it be done for the man
who kills him.”
David was simply a young shepherd who visited his brothers in battle. It was a time when
Saul’s leadership had been rejected by God. The philistine giant by the name of Goliath had
been taunting the Israelites. Everyone was fearful (v.11). David heard this taunting and he
believed that he could defeat this unbelieving giant. He took only his sling and a stone from
his bag and defeated the Philistine. This took courage and confidence. But David had a great
confidence that it could be done and he had the courage to step up to the plate.
Most men don’t even dare. Thugs banged a house door hard wanting to steal. The man and
his wife were asleep. The man woke up his wife and asked her to go and check what was
happening after which he went to hide underneath his bed. This is lack of courage. What
would you have done?
Develop some back bone and be a man. When Gideon went to battle God told him to send
home all who were fearful and afraid. Perhaps we need to do the same thing in our own day
and age. One man with God is actually a majority, for if God be for us, who can be against
us?

2. 13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.14 Do everything in
love. 1 Cor.16:13-14
Every man needs confidence and courage. This enables him to set direction and focus.
 A confident man thinks doable where others say not do able.
 A confident man sees possibilities in impossible situations
 A confident man believes in his heart that nothing is impossible. Confidence has to do
with the heart and mind.
While a confident man sees in his heart and mind, it is courage that makes him take the steps.
Courage has to do with action.
 A courageous man is not afraid to fail.
 A courageous man is not afraid to take risks.
 A courageous man journeys against the grain sometimes, either saying yes or no.
 A courageous man is not afraid to stand alone when necessary.
It is important to develop your confidence and courage. You have to know the sources of
confidence and courage:
 Gifts
 Experiences
 God
a. Identify and use your gifts:
o A gift of listening
o A gift of Inquiry
o A gift of being available
b. Learn from experiences
o A lion and a bear. Oppositions build confidence and courage.
o Experiences provide a learning canvass for the brave.
o What are your experiences that can help you?
c. Trust God
o The Lord is the best source of confidence and courage
o The Lord will do what he did in the past.
o The Lord will deliver you….
o I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me (Phil.4:13)
o Is there anything you are going through now that you need to trust God for?
Forces that discourage confidence and courage are mainly Doubt and Fear. I believe we can
be more confident and courageous if we were able to conquer the two forces. Nobody can do
it for you. The whole matter is in your hands. Wake up and do something.