Strong and Courageous

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."                                              Isaiah 41:10



     If you have ever experienced circumstances in your life that seemed daunting and overwhelming, then you can relate to an Old Testament man named Joshua.  God had called Joshua to be a general and to lead the army of Israel in holy conquest.  However, there were bigger issues involved in that conquest than just the invasion and possession of their Promised Land.  These same issues are the very ones that still touch our lives and affect our faith today.

     Joshua faced battles, impossible obstacles, health delays, and the need for God to prepare him and the Israelites to be His holy people.  If the Israelites would have attempted to overcome all these obstacles in their own strength, they never would have accomplished God's purposes. They did not know that God had already given them the land, but they found that when they learned to rest in God they would experience the manifestations of God's promises. All things done in God's name require our ongoing relationship with Him.

     The book of Joshua is a book of new beginnings. There are many believers in Christ today that need a new beginning in one or more areas of their lives. Too many of us have wandered in the wilderness for far too long instead of claiming our inheritance and enjoying the blessings in our lives that God has prepared for us " as the days of heaven upon earth" (Deuteronomy 11:21).

     This is the kind of life that God desires for us.  It is Jesus who wants to lead us in conquest now and to share with us all the treasures of His wonderful inheritance.  He has "blessed us with all spiritual blessings" (Ephesians 1:3), but far too often, we live like defeated paupers.

     The reason we accept crumbs from God's table is because we do not understand the authority that God has entrusted to each of us. As His Holy Spirit resides in us, we have been given authority in both heaven and earth. The problem is, we focus on the wrong things. In Joshua's case, he was called to replace Moses. Joshua had witnessed the miraculous power in Moses' life: he had seen the glory of God, he was highly honored, and he had been given great authority. From Joshua's perspective, these were very tough shoes to fill!

     It would have been easier to assume that God had apportioned the best gifts and miracles to Moses. However, God gave Joshua unique gifts and skills that Moses did not have. Moses was a prophet and a legislator, but Joshua was a general with exceptional military skills. Joshua was also a man of great courage, who wasn't afraid to confront the enemy and trust the Lord for victory. Joshua was designed and created with meticulous care for the exact calling on his life. And, God's miraculous power had not run dry, but it continued on, just as it does today.

     Over and over again, Joshua was encouraged to "be strong and of good courage".  Moses said these words to Joshua when he sent him to go into Canaan to spy out the land (Numbers 13:20), and again, when he installed Joshua as his successor ( Deuteronomy 31:7, 23). These words were also written in the book of the law, which Joshua was commanded to read and meditate on both day and night ( Joshua 1:8).

     If we are to conquer our enemy and claim our inheritance in Christ, we must have spiritual strength and spiritual courage. The first step for us to win the battle and claim our inheritance is to let God encourage us and then for us to encourage others ( to encourage is to infuse others with courage). Ephesians 6:10 tells us to "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."

     Training is necessary.  Before Joshua learned how to lead, he first learned how to serve others.  Joshua is called "Moses' minister" ( Joshua 1:1). This word is used to describe the workers in the Tabernacle, as well as servants of a leader.  Joshua learned how to obey as a servant before he commanded as a general- first a servant, then a ruler ( Matthew 25:21). Aristotle said, "He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander."

     God commissioned Joshua to achieve three things: lead the people into the land, defeat the enemy, and claim the inheritance.  God could have sent an angel to accomplish the same thing, but He chose a man and then He gave him the powert to accomplish the task.

     Since Joshua had a three-fold task to accomplish, God gave him three special promises- one for each task. God would enable Joshua to cross the river and claim the land ( Joshua 1:3-4), defeat the enemy (Joshua 1:5), and apportion the land to each of the twelve tribes as their inheritance ( Joshua 1:6).  God never told Joshua how He would accomplish these things because God's people live on promises, not explanations. When we trust God's promises and step out in faith, we can be sure God will give us directions when we need them.

     God sets before His church " an open door that no one can shut" ( Revelation 3:8) and we must walk through the door by faith and claim new territory for the Lord.  In our Christian faith it is impossible to stand still because the moment we do, we immediately start moving backward in our journey.  God's challenge to us is to "Move on" ( Hebrews 6:1), and that means continually moving ahead into new territory.

     If ever there were a time in history where God's children need to: be strong and courageous, take new territory, and defeat the enemy, the time is now! God, Himself, will equip us for every good work. Paul, one of the authors of Thessalonians, explains it this way, " May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." 
( 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

     As the world increasingly gets darker, let us follow Joshua's model of success. First, we remember God's great and precious promises. Then, we meditate on His Word and be obedient to it.  Lastly, we agree with what God has said and declare His Word over our circumstances. We release God's power through our prayers. When we have accomplished these things, we unwaveringly trust God for our victory!

                                   Jesus is the victorious commander of our lives!!!!


                                       "Soldiers of Christ, arise,
                                        And put your armor on,
                                       Strong in the strength which God supplies
                                       Of His Eternal Son. "
                                                                                  Charles Wesley