A call to be courageous
Deuteronomy 31:1-8
Introduction-
We have been in the book of Deuteronomy for several weeks. We have looked at covenants or binding agreements between us and God. We have looked at walking in the light. God pulls us out of darkness and into His marvelous light. The security and safety we have being under the protection of our God. This morning I want to talk to you about being courageous. About stepping out in faith. About entering into unfamiliar territory. Remember last week, I need you. You need me. We journey together as we serve the Lord as a body of believers to make an impact in our lives and those around us here in Middletown. Let’s look at the aging Moses and the words he gives Israel and their new leader Joshua. It is more than a passing of the mantle. It is God taking them where they have not been before.
Deuteronomy 31:1-8
Remember the words God gave the Israelites 29:14 “I am making this covenant , with it’s oath, not only with you who are standing here with us, today in the presence of the Lord our God but also with those who are not here today”
Keep His commandments and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are now entering to possess. Courage is doing things under pressure. Courage is fear with legs, not being paralyzed. Courage is doing what you know needs to be done, and trusting and relying on God to help you because you know without Him, it is impossible. If it is not bigger than you, then God is not in it. 31;6- “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you.” you know why Moses could deliver that pep talk to Joshua? Because God had spoken it to Moses, and Moses believed God to be faithful Moses passed it on to the leadership and the leadership passed it on to the people of God. It may be new ground for us, but God has been delivering this message to His people everytime they are up against new battles or new ground that has to be covered.
Examples of courage
1. Moses before Pharaoh
God directing Moses to go up against the powerful Pharaoh. “Let my people go” Moses realizing that it is bigger than him.
2. Ester as she risked her life to save the Jews. Knowing that if she heard God wrong, that the King would instantly have her killed. Trusting God that she heard God right.
3. David as he faced Goliath.
Why hasn’t anyone else stepped up to the plate? We are God’s people and one big obstacle is not going to stop us from receiving what God has for us. I will and I can use my talents to go up against the Goliath’s of today and be successful because I know that God is in it. He says I have faced the lions and bears before and He has brought me through. He will do it again. I said it on Wednesday night, There are 3 basic needs of people. Physical, emotional, spiritual. As a church, we need to seek to meet all of these needs. “Warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak.” There are different kinds of ministries and all are important. All ministries are born out of need. The purpose is to build people up. Here’s the great thing about God delivering a sermon this morning to us. For some, He will be telling them to step out in some new area of their life and not be afraid. To others, He may not be saying that you have to lead the charge, but need to be on the teaam and move with the things that God is doing and wanting to accomplish. Burning a candle on both ends shortens the life of the candle, and can create burn out. But not lighting the candle is a waste of a perfectly good candle. We cannot fulfill God’s purpose and plan for our lives if we are constantly living in fear.
Illustration-
The hitting great Hank Aaron came to the plate and had a conversation with catcher Yogi Berra. Yogi was giving him a hard time with the way that he held his bat. ‘Trademark on the bat should face toward you so that you can read it” said Yogi. Hank took a couple practice swings before the pitch, Crack Aaron sent a deep fly ball over the left field fence. As Aaron was rounding third getting congratulated by the third base coach and heading toward home, he stopped after touching home plate and looked at Yogi Berra. They did not send me up to the plate to read Yogi.
Doing what God has called us to do. Courage starts on the inside. Godly courage defined is doing what we know to do and trusting God to help us because without Him it would be impossible.
Pessimist- A negative person who looks on the gloomy side of things.
Optimist- looks on the hopeful and encouraging side of things.
Moses was preparing them for change. Everyone says that they want change. Until it affects them. Most will want others to change before they change. Can you imagine going from slavery and oppression to a land promised with milk and honey and the Israelites were still complaining to God and his leadership. We look to the future, we have a choice. Face the future with God or face it without God. Facing it with God means that we will not always have all the answers, and it will most assuredly be bigger than us so we must trust God. Without God, most go into survival mode and never accomplish what God wants because they cannot get themselves to break new barriers or new ground. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11
“God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” Ephesians 3:20
God can do more than we can imagine because He is God. It is bigger than us It takes God That is what makes it amazing And we will be able to do it because the power of God is at work within us
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” 1 Cor. 2:9
The challenge for most churches is to make changes needed for growth without losing some of the core to fear. The challenge for individuals, it is easier to stand on old familiar ground than when God tells you to step out in faith.
Illustration-
I like the illustration about a man who has slipped off the edge of a cliff. He is hanging there and crying out for someone to save him. Anyone out there Can anyone save me No one answered. The Lord then spoke to him and told him to let go and that God would catch him and save him. He thought for a moment. Anyone else out there
Moses was preparing them for change. Face that change with courage. Change seems to move you beyond your limits. So many people live below what God intends for them because they have feared change. Looking back 111 years to 1899, when the president of the patent office made a ridiculous statement that everything that can be invented has been invented. We laugh at that statement. But without change, and without stepping out of comfort zone, without breaking new barriers that statement would of been true.
Courage spreads like fire. It takes someone to lite the match. It takes someone to put the group together to be warmed by the fire. It takes someone like Moses, better yet a group of Moses to get people motivated to believe God is in it. Can you imagine the intensity of the church if Christians really believed that “All things are possible with God? If we believed “greater is He that is within you, than he who is in the world.” It is impossible to walk with Jesus and not sense His presence and strength and courage to do what others are telling you cannot be done. Courage is a by-product of walking with God.
David knew that he would defeat Goliath because God was in it and God had done it before.
Moses knew even though he was scared that Pharaoh had to release the Israelites because God said it would happen. Make no mistake, courage stretches you- the rubber-band seems to be at the max most of the time. That same stretched rubber-band will catapult you into new territory and up and over new barriers that have stopped you before.
Illustration-
no one could say that George Smith didn’t have courage. A daring jet test pilot in the 1950's, back when the sound barrier was first being broken, he could face anything. Until he had to bail out of a jet going 805 miles per hour. (Guidepost 1958). Though he survived, he was afraid of ever flying again. Then, during his hospital stay, a nurse gave him an antidote to fear. He took her words to heart. Courage she said, “is knowing the worst, and discovering that, in God’s world, the very worst can’t really hurt you”
wow In God’s world. Where anything is possible In God’s world. Where we have the promise of eternity. With Jesus, the worst cannot hurt us.
Im closing:
“The Lord your God goes with you” that is confidence
Let that sink in a minute.
Jehovah God is with you. The great “I am” is in it. The author and finisher of your faith leads and lights your way. He will never leave you or forsake you” That you can trust.
I believe God gave me this message this morning, not because He expects us to always live without fear, but so that fear will not stop us from moving forward.
Past excuses.
Past all the ones who say you can’t do it. Beyond logic and manmade strength- to God’s wisdom and trusting God for the miraculous. The fear of the economy with people out of work, the stock market being uncertain. The fear of terrorism, the threat of war. Looking through our eyes, it can be discouraging. But looking through God’s eyes and knowing the power and strength that is behind us, “We can do all things through Christ which strengthens us”
Altar Call
