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Be Strong And Of A Good Courage
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Joshua 1:1-9 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, 2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. 5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. |
I. Strength and courage are attributes of great warriors.
A. The thing we need to keep in mind is we are in a war.
B. This war is not fought with bombs and guns.
C. Worship and praise is how our battles are won.
D. We are not to passively sit by and let people die lost.
E. One of the problems we face in the mid part of 2003 is the enemy takes the war more seriously than many saints.
F. We are not to be fearful and afraid.
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2 Timothy 1:7 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. |
G. This scripture alone is encouraging, however, look at it in context with those around it,
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2 Timothy 1:6-8 6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; |
H. Paul was telling Timothy to stir up the gift that was in him.
1. Another translation says to fan into flame the gift of God.
2. Matthew 3:11-12 speak of being baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire and fanning that flame.
I. If the Holy Ghost burns hot in us, we will not be afraid.
1. We will be strong and of a good courage.
J. Verse 8 of 2 Timothy 1 says not to be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord.
1. Don’t be afraid to witness.
2. Don’t be afraid to testify.
K. God did not give us a spirit of fear.
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1 John 4:18 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. |
L. If we love God and love souls, that alone will cast out our fear.
II. We’ve looked at fear and it’s non-place in our lives.
A. Let’s look at being strong and of a good courage.
B. Joshua chapter 1 starts out with the Lord telling Joshua Moses is dead.
1. Joshua’s mentor and leader was dead.
2. Joshua now stood in the place of leadership.
3. Over 3,000,000 looked to him for guidance.
4. The people were finally going to take the promised possession.
5. 40 yrs passed from the last time Joshua entered the promise to now.
6. He might have felt overwhelmed.
7. He might have felt a little fear.
8. He might have felt inadequate in the face of such a daunting task.
C. The Lord said no one would be able to resist them.
D. Then the Lord told Joshua to be strong and of a good courage.
E. He told Joshua this three times.
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Joshua 1:6,7,9 6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. |
F. Strong refers to being well fortified; able to sustain attacks; not easily subdued or taken; as a strong fortress or town.
G. The task of taking the promises of God were overwhelming, but Joshua was to be strong.
1. Strong against the attacks of discouragement.
2. Strong against the attacks of others.
3. Strong against the attacks of despair.
H. God has promised many things to this church.
1. We must be strong.
2. We cannot be easily subdued or taken.
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Ephesians 4:14-15 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: |
I. The next thing God tells Joshua is to be of a good courage.
1. What is courage?
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Courage COURAGE, n. [L., the heart.] Bravery; intrepidity; that quality of mind which enables men to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear or depression of spirits; valor; boldness; resolution. It is a constituent part of fortitude; but fortitude implies patience to bear continued suffering. Courage that grows from constitution, often forsakes a man when he has occasion for it; courage which arises from a sense of duty, acts in a uniform manner. |
J. Joshua needed boldness to believe God was going to give the promises to Israel as a possession.
K. There is a boldness that comes with believing God.
L. Some have called us cocky.
1. I call us courageous.
2. Some have called us brazen.
3. I call us bold.
M. When the lame man at the gate called beautiful was healed, Peter and John were questioned by the Sadducees.
1. They wanted to know by what power or name they did this miracle.
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Acts 4:8-12 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. |
N. Now listen to the testimony of verse 13.
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Acts 4:13 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. |
O. They knew they had been with Jesus.
P. Their courage gave them a testimony of friendship and closeness with the Master.
Q. Courage will give us a closeness to Him
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Hebrews 4:16 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. |
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Hebrews 13:6 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. |
R. I believe if we can be strong and of a good courage, we will see:
1. The promises of God become our possessions.
2. Revival and evangelism beyond our imaginations.
3. The power of God manifest miraculously.
4. Greater intensity in our praying.
5. More power in our praising.
6. Greater anointing in the preaching.
