Be Strong – To the things that you WILL face!!!
Deuteronomy 31:1-8
On behalf of the staff and body of Mount Vernon Baptist Church, I congratulate you as graduates for achieving this great accomplishment in your lives. Whether it be finishing high school or finishing a college/graduate degree – we salute you for working hard to achieve your goal.
This week, many of you will be facing something that is completely different – a life of change. Studies have shown that 80% of your high school buddies, you will never see them again. You are at a crossroads in life – a new day if you will. This can be a “scary, nerve wrecking” proposition. I was in your shoes in the fall of 1992. About to leave Sand Mountain to go to Tuscaloosa as a freshman at the University of Alabama. In our last service at Carlisle on August 5, 1992 – one of our senior saints, Cousin Bonard Brewster came and game me some of the greatest words of wisdom that I have ever been taught in life: “remember where you came from.”
Joshua was about to enter into the greatest challenge of his life. Moses was at the end of his 120 years and God was ready to appoint Joshua as the one who’d take the children of Israel to the “Promised Land”. To give a modern day illustration – this would be the equivalent of someone being given the keys to lead the Southern Baptist Convention to the promised land. Joshua had fears – had concerns – was afraid.
Your challenge is not much different. The world that you are stepping out into is a MESS. The values and morals that you have been taught are going to be challenged, at a greater degree than they already have been. I challenge you this morning, as God’s Word teaches us around 365 times – Do Not Be Afraid!!!! Fear Not!!!!! God tells us that He will be there for us. What a promise.
Through Scripture, I challenge you, “To Be Strong, to the things that you WILL face”
TEXT
I. BE STRONG – In the midst of pressure
• Peer Pressure
o Matthew 4:1-11
4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
How can we BE STRONG in the midst of pressure?
1. Defeat Satan through Scripture
2. Defeat Satan through Prayer
• Pressure of School
o “As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools”
o You are about to realize that what you’ve been taught in church and at home will be tested and tried in the days ahead. There is a liberal theology that is being taught in most ALL schools. I challenge you to do this:
KNOW WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYS, NOT WHAT SOMEONE TEACHES, BUT WHAT THE WORD SAYS!
2 Timothy 2:15 – KJV
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Psalm 19:7-11
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.
• Pressure of work
o “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”
o Life is not fair, do not expect to have everything handed to you. You must work for what comes your way.
o Be prepared – treat others as you would want to be treated yourselves!
• Pressure of Relationships
o Friendships will be gained, tested, and lost. Just make sure that you keep the main relationship in tact – your relationship with Jesus Christ!
James 4:7 - NKJV
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
II. BE STRONG – In the midst of problems
There will be problems in life!!!
1 Peter 5:8-9
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because[a] your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
• Marital Problems
o Ephesians 4:31-32
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
• Financial Issues and Problems
o Matthew 6:33
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Philippians 4:19
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
• Job Problems and Job Loss
o John 14:1
Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
Psalm 138:7 – ESV
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.
How can we BE STRONG – the answer is Christ Jesus – He is our strength! He is our peace!
III. BE STRONG – In the midst of politics
Remember this – God’s Word is right – all others are WRONG
Your belief system is going to be challenged. Let me give you a pertinent example from today’s world. Marriage is defined in God’s Word as between a man and a woman. Not a man and a man and a woman and a woman, but a man and a woman!
Genesis 1:27
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Genesis 2:21-25
So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
Hebrews 13:4
Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
As you know, the President of the United States made BIG news when he declared he has rethought his position on same sex marriage and is now in favor of such. His exact words on the matter were:
“... I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married.” President Barak Obama
Upon hearing these words, Rev. Franklin Graham lamented, “[It’s a] sad day for America.” I would echo those sentiments. Sad indeed.
GOD AND MARRIAGE
Where did marriage originate anyway? Is it our place to define it and design it?
God is the one who created man and designed marriage. He made EVE for ADAM, “a helper suitable to him.” She was like him in that she was human and made in the image of God, but she was unlike him in that she was female (the physiological differences are pretty obvious). God brought woman to the man and performed the first wedding ceremony.
He desired for the two to become one under the bonds of holy marriage. God is so wise. He made a man and a woman different, so He could make them one ... and be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth with children.
HOLD FAST TO THE TRUTH
Do not get confused by well-meaning friends, smooth-talking politicians, outspoken celebrities, situational ethics or the desire for political correctness. God alone designed marriage ... and God alone defines marriage: One man to one woman for life. And it is not up for repeal, erasure, modification or amendment.
Traditional marriage is the foundation and bedrock of society. As David said in Psalm 11:3, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” May we as followers of Jesus Christ do our part to boldly and lovingly stand up for the truth of God and protect the foundations, no matter the pressure, the slander or the name-calling.
Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also” (John 15:18-20).
Take a stand for Jesus and His Word. And at the same time, love those caught up in sin and the deception of the evil one. God will bless you for being faithful to Him and speaking the truth in love.
God’s Word is RIGHT, all others are WRONG
Finally, this morning:
IV. BE STRONG – In the promise of God
