Encourages believers to embrace strength and courage, understand their daily struggles, and journey towards glory, guided by God's Word and His presence.
Hey there, friends! We're gathered here today to break bread, share in fellowship, and get into the Word of God. Now, I know we all come from different walks of life, with our own unique struggles and triumphs. But there's one thing that binds us together, and that's our faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We're about to get into a pretty meaty piece of Scripture today, from the book of Joshua. Now, I know some of you might be thinking, "Joshua? Isn't that the guy who fought the battle of Jericho?" And you'd be right! But there's so much more to his story, and so much more that we can learn from his life.
But before we do that, let's look at a quote from A.W. Tozer. He once said, "God is looking for people through whom He can do the impossible. What a pity we plan only the things we can do by ourselves." Now, isn't that something? God doesn't just want us to do the easy stuff, the stuff we can handle on our own. He wants us to step out in faith, to do the impossible, because with Him, all things are possible.
Now, let's read our Scripture passage for today, Joshua 1:7-9:
"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. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; 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. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Isn't that a powerful passage? God is telling Joshua to be strong, to be courageous, and to keep His Word close to his heart. And you know what? He's saying the same thing to us today.
Now, let's bow our heads in prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day, for the opportunity to gather together in Your name. We ask that You open our hearts and minds as we look at Your Word today, that we may glean the wisdom You have for us. Help us to be strong and courageous, just like Joshua, and to keep Your Word always on our lips. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Alright, let's get into it. We're going to be looking at three main points today: Embracing Strength and Courage, Understanding Our Daily Struggles, and The Journey Towards Glory Land. So, buckle up, friends. It's going to be a great ride.
When we think about strength and courage, we often picture a mighty warrior or a fearless leader. But in the context of our faith, strength and courage take on a different meaning. It's not about physical might or the absence of fear. It's about trusting in God, leaning on His strength, and moving forward in faith, even when the path ahead seems uncertain or daunting.
The passage from Joshua: God commands Joshua to be strong and courageous. This wasn't just a pep talk. It was a divine directive. God was preparing Joshua for the challenges ahead, for the task of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. He was reminding Joshua that he wasn't alone, that God Himself would be with him every step of the way.
A reminder for us today: We may not be leading a nation, but we all face challenges in our lives. We all have moments when we feel overwhelmed, when we're not sure if we have what it takes to overcome the obstacles in our path. But just like Joshua, we can find strength and courage in God's promises.
Strength and courage are not inherent traits: They are not something we're born with or something we can acquire on our own. They come from God. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul writes, "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." Our strength comes from acknowledging our weakness and relying on God's power.
Strength and courage are not just for extraordinary circumstances: They are needed in our everyday lives. Whether we're facing a major life decision or a small daily challenge, we need to lean on God's strength and move forward with courage. This is what it means to live by faith.
Strength and courage are not static: They grow as we continue to trust in God and obey His Word. Just like physical muscles, our spiritual muscles need to be exercised regularly. As we face challenges and overcome them with God's help, our faith grows stronger. We become more courageous, not because we're becoming braver on our own, but because we're learning to trust God more.
Strength and courage are not for our benefit alone: They are meant to be a testimony to others. When we live out our faith with strength and courage, we become a living testimony of God's power and faithfulness. We become a light in a dark world, pointing others to the hope we have in Christ.
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