InCourage
Pt. 1 – Dis-Couraged
I. Introduction
I wished I was Superman! I wished I could at any moment’s notice run to the nearest phone booth and change into my cape and handle every situation with supreme confidence and strength. However, the truth is that we aren’t supermen and we don’t handle ever situation without blinking. We face a scary world, a scary enemy, scary situations, and scary people. That is why believe that so many of us walk around dis-couraged. “Dis” meaning lack of or absence of courage. We know about God’s power. We know about the power of prayer. Yet, we continue to be fearful, panic filled, and discouraged. The thought “the other shoe has to drop” or I” can’t face another day” or “I don’t know what I am going to do” passes through our minds. It is a reality for us. And if we are not careful
There is one character that understands this plight.
VIDEO
Cowardly Lion -
Courage! What makes a king out of a slave? Courage! What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage! What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage! What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder? Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the "ape" in apricot? What have they got that I ain’t got?
What we haven’t got is courage. We have become like the men that Jesus describes when He said, “in last day’s men would lose heart”. Remember that phrase if you will.
There have been others before us who needed a dose of courage as well. Perhaps one of the best known passages of Scripture when it comes to courage is the account of Joshua. I want us to look at that passage again and see if we can’t become dis discouraged!
TEXT: Joshua 1:1-3; 5-9
1AFTER THE death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ minister,
2Moses My servant is dead. So now arise [take his place], go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land which I am giving to them, the Israelites.
3Every place upon which the sole of your foot shall tread, that have I given to you, as I promised Moses.
5No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.
6Be strong and of good courage (literally means to take heart), for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
7Only you be strong and very courageous, that you may do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
8This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.
9Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
You have to understand the setting here. Moses is dead. Seems like a simple and obvious statement. However, in that one simple statement you have to realize the loss and fear that must have swept over the Israelites and Joshua. Their direct pipe line to God, to food, to water, to every decision is gone. Their map is gone! They are alone! Not to mention they are now moving to a new home and facing new foes, obstacles, and challenges. Moses is dead. I think Joshua was discouraged. I think Joshua wanted to duck and run.
You will remember that Moses had already been told by God that he couldn’t enter the Promised Land due to his disobedience. So as long as he was alive the entire nation of Israel was restricted from moving into their destiny. How many of us are discouraged by what we should be thankful for because in reality it is God’s hand at work to release us into our promise? What or who are we hanging on to that is keeping us from moving forward because we are dis-couraged without it! It or they have become our security blanket!
We become comfortable with the known and the unknown frightens us! Change scares us! Joshua was there. Joshua was face to face with uncertain times! Their social standing was at stake. Their finances were at stake? The living arrangements were at stake. Their national security was at stake!
God tells Joshua that it is possible to be faced with all of these scenarios and still operate incourage!
II. Lessons on Courage
a. Courage and strength are not the same things!
You don’t necessarily get courage from strength. If anyone should have courage it should have been the lion in the Wizard of Oz. He is the king of the jungle, the strongest and fiercest animal in the woods and yet he had no courage.
You can be very strong and still be discouraged. Some of you are strong people! You have the ability to endure great pain and great heartache. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t be discouraged or that you are operating incourage. I would declare to you that without courage strength is no good. Some of you just strong your way through, but you really need some courage! Joshua is instructed to be strong and courageous. Not one or the other. The word strong in the instructions to Joshua means determined! So you need to be determined and brave!
You need both! Don’t think you are complete just because you are strong!
b. There is bad courage.
Notice that Joshua is told to be of good courage. If there is good courage there must be bad courage. I think what we are being taught is that we must base our courage on the right things. If we take courage in the wrong things we are destined for defeat. The Psalmist understood this and said, “some trust in chariots and some trust in horses.” That is bad courage. Chariots will fail you. Horses will fail you. But good courage is courage that is put in the right place! Good courage is courage placed in a sure thing! In God! Our courage should not be based in our own strength or abilities. Appropriate courage is courage placed in the appropriate place. What is the source of your courage?
2 Corinthians 3:5 - Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God.
If you courage is based on other people or other things you will be disappointed! Trust on Him and you will never come up short.
c. Courage is a prerequisite to blessing!
That is one of the reasons courage is so important. Without courage you are unlikely to obey what God has said to do! According to God without the needed courage you will be tempted to go to the right or left. Courage keeps you focused and determined to do what God says and to stay on the trail of obedience! Some of us just need a fresh dose of courage to remain faithful to His instructions!
What has He told you to do that you are afraid to walk out? Notice that it courage that determines whether you are obedient and obedience determines prosperity! If you have no courage you may just forfeit provision and blessing!
One man said it best, “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”
III. So if courage is so important how do we get it?
How did Joshua have courage? Facing an uncertain future, uncertain obstacles, never experience as leader? He learned some things that we need to learn.
a. The end is already resolved!
Check out the phrase God speaks to Joshua:
Have I given to you – past tense. I have already given them to you. The end is already sure. The end is already brought to past before you ever got there to begin.
How many of you have ever watched 24? Jack Bower is the lead character and in every episode it looks like he is doomed, no way out, sure to be destroyed, but you knew they couldn’t kill him off or the series ends? You know the outcome before the show starts. He always escapes. Always avoids destruction right at the last moment. I came to tell you that you are Jack Bower. As bad as it may look, even though peril may seem eminent, defeat may seem unavoidable the end is sure.
2 Timothy 1:12 - I couldn’t be more sure of my ground—the One I’ve trusted in can take care of what he’s trusted me to do right to the end.
Your end is resolved. You will be victorious. You will win. You will overcome. You should take courage this morning over sickness, over death, over pain, over lack, over stress knowing that in the end the end is already resolved. The last chapter has already been written and you are simply walking through the drama parts to get to the end!
b. We have the promise of His presence.
We used to sing an old hymn that spoke to our courage level!
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning,
safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning, leaning,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
We don’t have to be afraid or discouraged because like Joshua we have the promise of His presence.
If God be for us who can be against us?
If nothing can separate us and we know that He will not leave us or forsake us then why should we feel alone? Why should we feel fear? Why should we back down?
Our traveling companion is constant. He is constantly on guard. He never sleeps or slumbers. He never takes the day off. And if His presence wasn’t enough He even goes one step further and promises us that He puts angel guards around us!
We are surrounded!! Turn to someone and say you are surrounded. You can’t escape!
When you can’t see Him He is still there. When you can’t touch Him He is still on the job. When you can’t feel Him He remains faithfully at His post! You can’t outkick your coverage! You can’t escape His presence – make your bed in hell and he is still there. Take heart this morning! You are promised His presence! Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
c. Our success isn’t based on our success!
If Joshua’s success was based on his own abilities and track record he would have been shaking in his boots. If our success was based on our abilities and track record we should be a step beyond discouraged we should be downright paralyzed with fear. However, we are in the same boat as Joshua in that our success is based on God’s success rate not ours. God says, “I will not fail you.”
Have you ever known God to fail? Have you ever seen God come up short? Have you ever known God to find Himself in a situation where He doesn’t have enough power, enough provision, or enough strength? Have you ever seen Him defeated? NO!
If our ability to be victorious was based on our strength, provision, or power than I would tell you to be afraid. In fact, I would tell you we might as well all go to the local bar and waste our lives with drink and drugs because we would be doomed! However, we can take heart this morning because we have the promise of His success becoming our success! He bats 1000 every time. He always comes through.
d. His Sworn Word
God reminds Joshua of His sworn word.
Numbers 23:19 - God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
Isaiah 55:11- “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” It always carries out its purpose!
I want to remind you this morning of His word to you! What has God promised you? What has He sworn to you? You can take courage this morning. His word is sure. His word is His bond. His word is “yes” and “amen”. Not only has He said yes He then backs it up with action . . . “So be it.” In John, Jesus tells us to abide in His word. I know He is talking about the written Word, but I think we also need to learn to abide in His promised Word too! Abide in it. Don’t dismiss it. Don’t doubt it. Don’t forget it. Don’t discard it. Live in it! Take up residence in it. Take heart in it!
IV. Close
So courage is necessary and we already have promises that should cause us to take heart. So why would Jesus in John 14:27 say, “27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Why instruct us to not be troubled or afraid unless He knew there would be seasons in our life when we would be troubled and afraid.
85% of the people that walk in the doors of the sanctuary are in the state of crisis. Discouraged! Lack of courage! You can’t take courage in your own strength. However, you have a sure end, you have His presence, His success rate can be your success rate, and His Word is trustworthy!
I want to call you to be incourage this morning! Take heart.
8 out of 10. Stand up and let’s pray for them.
