BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS
Joshua 1:1-16
INTRODUCTION:
The Lion’s Tail:
Adrian Rogers tells about the man who bragged that he had cut off the tail of a man-eating lion with his pocket knife. Asked why he hadn’t cut off the lion’s head, the man replied: “Someone had already done that.”( Source Unknown)
It’s easy sometimes to be cocky, and pretend to be brave..but what Joshua needed was true bravery, and courage. God not only directs Joshua to be “strong, and courageous”..but he dictates to him how to be so. To live the kind of Life that God wants us to in the society that we live in...we too need courage the way that Joshua did.....Sometimes its hard to be strong, and courageous.
What is courage?
How do we find it?
How do we live it?
Webster’s Dictionary defines it as "That quality of mind which enables one to meet danger and difficulties with firmness, valor." The word is derived from the French word coeur, meaning heart, and comes from the ancient idea that our character and the best of our emotions come from the heart. The movie Braveheart tried to portray such a life of courage against all odds. A better film and one that reaches deeper into the word’s meaning is A Man for All Seasons. This is the story of Sir Thomas Moore, a man of great wisdom and nobility, who refused to bow to the wishes of his king on a matter of principle and lost his life for it.
There is no better passage in Scripture that speaks of courage than Joshua chapter 1. Moses had been the Israelite nation’s leader for 40 years, and now Joshua was to take over. We find God, knowing Joshua’s doubt and fears, saying to him three separate times: "Be strong and courageous" and each time with a different emphasis. First, he promises Joshua, "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you." The second time, he adds "Be careful to obey all the law." The third time we see his deep concern for his possibly nervous servant: "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."
For the Christian, there is every reason to be courageous, no matter how dark the situation may be. How I need this courage as a pastor, for your company whose financial future looks bleak, I am preaching this to encourage you. But we can look back and know that God is faithful and had provided all that we needed in the past.
What great lessons we can learn from this passage. Joshua had doubts. So do we. He is the same loving God and Father, and his promises to Joshua apply to us now.
“We need to become men and woman of courage”
I don’t know what kind of challenging or discouraging situation you are facing today. But whatever it is, God’s message from scripture today is applicable to you. He is telling you to BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!
Our text is the Book of Joshua Chapter One. The people of Israel are facing one of the greatest challenges of their lives. They are actually preparing for THE BATTLE OF CANAAN. What God promised to Moses forty years ago is now about to happen. God gave them more than encouragement, it is actually a command. He said: BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!
If they are to possess their promise land, then they should be the man and woman of courage.
SOME EXAMPLES OF MEN AND WOMEN OF COURAGE IN THE BIBLE:
Daniel bravely ignored the edict of the king prohibiting all people to pray. His faithfulness to God sent Him to the den of lions. But God honored his courage and loyalty by saving him and destroying his enemies.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow and worship the Golden Image of the King. They were resolved to worship God and God alone. They were thrown to the furnace heated seven times more. But God reward their courage by saving them and even the King was convinced that there is no other God higher than their God.
Moses bravely proclaim God’s message to Pharaoh, “LET MY PEOPLE GO!” God confirmed His message by bringing 10 plagues to Egypt and finally making highway in the sea just to make his people free.
Esther defied the possibility of being killed by appearing to the throne of the king just to save her people. God honor her courage by touching the heart of the king and punishing their enemies.
They were ordinary people like us. But they are also called the men and woman of courage and faith. To be strong and courageous is not automatic.
Strength and courage have the source. It is revealed in Joshua 1.
What qualifications did he have to become the leader of a nation?
1) Was it because he was the aid of Moses the great leader of Israel?
2) Of the 12 spies, only he and Caleb showed complete confidence that God would help them conquer the land?
3 )He was one of the 2 living witnesses to the Egyptian plagues and the Exodus from Egypt?
The best qualification for a leader is that, God had appointed him to be a leader and those appointed by God will be equipped with courage and strength.
4) God had appointed him. Nu. 27:18-23
Numbers 27:18 -23 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. 19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. 20 Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. 21 He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the Lord. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.”
22 Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. 23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the Lord instructed through Moses.
If God calls you to be a leader we need to be strong and courageous.
l. STAND CLAIMING THE PROMISES OF GOD Vv.3-5
v.3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.
Though God’s servant Moses is dead. We must bear in mind that God is not dead. He is alive. Be of good cheer, we are serving a living God. His plans, and promises are the same.
The God of Moses is the God of Joshua. God makes his promises and He keeps them.
If Joshua is to be “strong, and courageous”…he must stand upon the promises of the word of God.
APPLICATION:
If we are to accomplish at FICC Church what God called us to do...we must stand on the promises of GOD.
The problem is many saints are sitting on the premises instead of standing on the promises.
ll. STAY COMFORTED BY THE PRESENCE OF GOD V5
V.5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. How can Joshua lead with confidence?
How can he face the battles that lie ahead ?
The same God that was with Moses…is with him.
He is a God that will not forsake and not fail.
Every place that the sole of Joshua’s foot touched was to become their land.
Every step that Joshua took, God was with him.
There is total victory in God’s presence.
There is divine confidence in God’s presence.
ILLUSTRATION;
THE ROCK BADGER is another comparatively small creature that can teach us important lessons. (Read Proverbs 30:26.) It somewhat resembles a large rabbit but has short, rounded ears and short legs. This little animal lives in rocky areas. The keen eyesight of the rock badger serves it well, and the holes and crevices in its craggy habitat provide a safe retreat from predators.
What can we learn from the rock badger?
First, note that this animal does not leave itself vulnerable to attack. Rather, it takes advantage of its keen eyesight to see predators from afar, and it stays close to the rock holes and crevices that can provide lifesaving shelter.
Note: In like manner we can enjoy the protection and comfort during the time of trouble when we stay comforted by the presence of “Rock of Ages” which is Jesus Christ. If Christ is for us who can be against us. He is the source of strength and courage.
lll. STICK CLOSE TO THE PRECEPT OF GOD V. 6-8
6"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 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. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; 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.
ILLUSTRATION:
Last February 28, 2013 I brought my son Jonathan David to school by car. We used to pass the straight road going to the school where he is studying but because we were late and I anticipated that there was a heavy traffic after the bridge which drivers could not see from the distance because of an elevated bridge. I took the road junction going in different route to the school thinking that it was a good idea. When we were at the foot of the bridge I saw that the traffic on the straight road was not heavy compared with the alternative road that we had taken. As we approached traffic light my 4 year old son kept on scolding me,” what is this daddy there is a stop light, next time you just go straight.” Again, after one kilometer of travel we have to pass another stop light and we waited for few minutes and again my son scolded me and said, “next time dad you go straight.” I calculated the delay it incurred was about 15 minutes because I did not take the straight road. In like manner the life that is lived in compromise will bring difficulty, disgrace, destruction and defeat. The uncompromising life makes us men and women of courage.
The Lord says, “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.
ILLUSTRATION:
Mark Antony was known as the "silver-throated orator of Rome." He was a brilliant statesman magnificent in battle, courageous, and strong. And he was handsome. As far as personal qualities are concerned, he could have become a world ruler. But he had a very vulnerable and fatal flaw of moral weakness, so much so that on one occasion his personal tutor shouted to his face, "Oh, Marcus, oh colossal child! Able to conquer the world, but unable to resist temptation.“ (Roman General Known by his illicit relationship with Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt).
A – Uncompromising life makes us courageous.
Joshua 1:7 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.
B – Obeying God’s Word makes us courageous.
Jos 1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; 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.
C- God’s command makes us courageous.
Jos 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
We are not only encouraged to be courageous but commanded to be strong and courageous.
lV. SHOW CONCERN FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD VV. 12-16
Strong and courageous people are always ready to help those who needed help.
V12But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 13 "Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: ’The Lord your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, fully armed, must cross over ahead of your brothers. You are to help your brothers 15 until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise."16 Then they answered Joshua, "Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.
During the previous years the tribes of Reuben , Gad and half tribe of Manasseh had asked Moses if they could settle just east of the Promised Land. The area was excellent pastureland for their large flock – Moses agreed on condition that they have to help their fellow Israelites to enter and conquer the promise land , then return home. Now it is the time for these 3 tribes to live up to their agreement.
There’s something else we dare not overlook. Even though Israel is small nation compared with Canaanites whose descendants were branded as giants, yet they had God who promised to fight for them.
Just like Joshua and the nation of Israel, we may see ourselves small in comparison to the enemy, but we have God on our side, He is going to help us.
God’s formula for success begins with, “Be strong and courageous.” I want to put on it truth that will make it complete. “For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Real success is not a matter of strength and courage alone, but strength and courage that comes from God. Not from wealth, physical health, not from military strength or anything that the world can offer.
Be strong and courageous.
Note: I don’t claim originality on sermon. Some illustrations, quotes and phrases were gathered from different sources such as SERMON CENTRAL. POWERPOINT IS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST just email me. Email ad: ficcjoel@yahoo.com
