Be Strong and Courageous

Joshua 1:4–8 — Strong and Courageous

• Strength and courage are required for many human activities. We fight and win wars. We intervene in difficult relationships. We overcome adversity in life.
• But most of what we do isn’t overly heroic or noteworthy. 
• We build relationships. We get jobs. We work out. pay bills. raise families. We walk through life.
• It may seem mundane on paper, but all of those things require strength and courage too.
• Because as we go through life, we quickly discover that things that seem easy often aren’t.
• Life can get hard./// And the good news is that when we read what God did in the lives of those who followed Him, we learn something about the God we serve.
• The God who was with Joshua is the same God who is with you. He is with you on assignment
• His nature has not changed. His character has not changed. His promises are still true.///
• And when God calls you forward, He does not send you alone.
• Today we’re going to walk through how to be strong and of good courage and prosper in the assignment God has given you.

• Realize God is with you 

• • The first part of walking in the promises of God is realize that God is with you. He is. 
  • God speaks to Joshua- V 5 I will be with you, I will not leave you or forsake you
  • I put myself in the text and think: “I’d be scared and worried that I’d have what it took”
  • The assurance from the Lord directly to Joshua obviously empowered him to walk in it

• God spoke to Joshua his presence and his promise- I will go with you and empower you

• • 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
  • dismayed :become discouraged, intimidated, or overwhelmed by what you see in front of you.
  • Don’t let the size of the assignment, the strength of the opposition, or the uncertainty of the future cause your heart to collapse.
  • Fear is often about what might happen. Dismay is what happens when what you see starts draining your courage. Fear is I wont get the interview. Dismay is I’m failing this interview. 
  • Isa. 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. 
  • Isa. 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. 

• Strength starts with His presence, not your personality.///

• When you’re faced with your assignment you have to internalize that God is with you. 
• You are not alone. You are not being sent out in your own strength and power. He is with you
• God will bring you into assignments where your strength alone is insufficient, because He wants your dependence and He deserves the glory.
• Matt. 28:20 And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. 
• That’s not just for discipleship. That’s for the seemingly mundane aspects of your life that are overwhelming. Being alive is hard. Making life work is hard. ///
• But the Promise to Joshua was God’s presence. God’s promise to you is Christ’s presence. 
• I can remember when I was 28 and out of the Army. First time finding a job to support my family. College was easy. Army constant paycheck. 
• Now: Its on you. Sitting in car, fearful and worried- I cried out to God- I need your strength. I don’t have what it takes. He showed up. He gave me the strength and the purpose
• And you say- well that’s easy for you! No, no its not. And it wasn’t it took constant reminding and constant recalibration to stay in the word and listen to what God’s word says to me
• Heb. 13:5 I will never leave you nor forsake you. Rom. 8:31 If God is for us, who can be against us? Ps. 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of BILLS and LIFE I will fear no evil; for You are with me.  Ps. 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 
• Christ walks with you as you walk through the challenges of your assignment. He is with you

• Listen to what God says about you

• 3 times he says be strong and courageous to Joshua. 3 times. Once wasn’t enough. 

• • God didn’t say to Joshua- I told you once- that should be enough. He told him repeatedly. 
  • Here’s what I know– God wouldn’t say that if it wasn’t possible for Joshua to walk in it. 
  • Be strong and courageous. Be strong and courageous Be strong and courageous
  • Are you listening Joshua? Are you paying attending to what I’m saying? I’m with you and you are going to be strong and courageous. My presence with you will empower you to walk in it. 
  • You may feel weak. You may worry and doubt but still obey the command to be strong.
  • I can and will be strong and courageous. I’m not going to forget what God said to me. I can do it. 
  • And you may say- I’m not Joshua. I’m not possessing the land. Are these promises for me?
  • Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
  • So we read the things that were written. We learn. We have patience. We have hope. 

• What does God say?

• He says that He’ll strengthen your heart as you walk with him. 

• • Ps. 27:14 Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. 

• He says you don’t have walk in fear because he knows your name and you belong to him. 

• • Isa. 43:1 Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. 

• He says that he is for you so no one can stand against you

• Rom. 8:31 If God is for us, who can be against us? 
• And what that means is this- When you’re struggling in your marriage you can have strength. When your job seems overwhelming you can walk without fear. That means when you’re given a scary medical diagnosis you can know that he calls you by name and you are his
• The Christian walk is a real walk in a real world that has real challenges. Remind yourself! 
• Christ has said good things to me and about me. Jesus, I will remember what you have said
• ILL-Now I’m not God. Far from it. But I’m bigger than most men. Its interesting, at times, Faith and I will be walking through downtown seattle at night. Its scary down there! She says to me- Dad, I’m never afraid when I’m with you. I feel completely confident when I’m with you
• That’s the mindset we should have! God you are with me! I can walk in strength and courage
• 2 Tim. 1:7 God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 
• my encouragement to you Heb10:35 Do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 
• There is a great reward for you on the other side of fear. Blessings upon blessings in Christ
• Heb. 13:6 The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

• Stay with the Word

• • As Christians, our guide and foundation is the written word of God. It does not change
  • Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
  • God spoke To Joshua. It was written down. It became scripture and now it guides us
  • 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left,
  • 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.
  • There’s  principles for Joshua here. God had given the Law of Moses and the commandments
  • Joshua was to observe them, not turn from them, speak them, meditate them. Observe them
  • If Joshua was going to be strong and courageous his foundation had to be the word of God
  • Joshua wasn’t being sent out without marching orders and directions on how to walk. 

• His Courage without obedience could become recklessness. Away from the word he’s lost

• • God has clear directions that he had given in his word and Joshuas success is found in it

• Biblical courage stays submitted to the Word. It doesn’t invent its own way. ///

• • Joshua raised in the wilderness:- Ex 24:7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient.
  • All that the Lord has said we will do and be obedient. Plain and simple. Read and Obey

• This right here is the dividing line between those who walk in obedience and those who don’t

• • The word. People want his presence, strength and power, but they depart from the word. 
  • You can’t expect that a soft declaration of faith can sustain a life of victory. It just wont

• Matt. 4:4 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. And Jesus is the Word! His words are life! To whom else shall we Go? Stick w Jesus!

• As you walk through this life and lead yourself and your family you need to stick with the word
• That means when you’re faced with a decision- you go to the word. You do what it says
• You want your relationships to flourish? Do what the word says. You want your finances to flourish do what the word says You want the work of your hands to be blessed- Stick w the word
• Ps. 1:2–3 His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night… whatever he does shall prosper. 
• Many people want prosperity outside of the precepts of God. They feel as though somehow there’s a special provision for them. A workaround where they can circumvent the word. no
• Prov. 4:20–22 Give attention to my words… keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them. 
• Be relentless with you life- Ask- Am I living out the living words of Jesus? Am I with the Word?
• 2 Tim. 3:16–17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God… that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 
• Like your money. You resist the precepts of God in your finances and struggle. Do the word

• Prosper

• • The promise to Joshua was that he would prosper wherever he went. Battles would be won. Boundaries would expand. Israel would be blessed and inherit the land. It was a promise
  • And as you read through it, you will see. They will have challenges, but they will prosper. 
  • V7 that you may prosper wherever you go. V8 For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
  • The promise is not “follow God and get rich.” The promise is “stay in His presence, stay in His Word, obey Him courageously, and you will succeed in the assignment He has given you.”
  • Prosperity isn’t just material blessings. Its too simple and limited to only want the tangible. 
  • Israel wasn’t just going to prosper in what they received. They would prosper in who they were
  • Look at what the word says  Gen. 39:2–3 The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man… the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. 
  • 1 Chron. 22:13 Then you will prosper, if you take care to fulfill the statutes and judgments… 
  • The prosperity gospel has infected the church to the point where now its like we’re no longer allowed a measure of success because someone bastardized a simple Bible truth
  • Yes, Christians have challenges, but Walking with God produces prosperity in the things that matter to God. ///
  • I’m not ashamed to believe that God blesses obedience. I’m not ashamed to believe that God can establish the work of your hands. I’m not ashamed to believe that when you walk with Him, stay in His Word, and obey His voice, your life can prosper in the things that matter to Him.

• Walking with Jesus is life and that more abundantly. He gives us bread and not a stone. 

• • And it takes a measure of honesty- Are you in his presence? Are you reminding what he told you? Am I staying with the word of God? Often, many people are not doing this
  • And the definition of prosperity isn’t always in your hand. Heart, mind, ministry etc. 
  • You can prosper making 50k and you can be outside of God’s blessing at 500k. not equal
  • Biblical prosperity is not the absence of hardship. It is the presence of God, obedience to His Word, fruit in your life, and faithfulness in the assignment He has given you.
  • Isa55:11My word…shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. 
  • Has my life had challenges? Of course it has. Has there been lean times with struggles? Yes
  • But I have always prospered in the things of God. I have always been taken care of 100% 
  • Heb. 13:20–21 Make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight.

• Your question should not be why am I not prospering, it should be am I walking with him. 

• • Am I walking in obedience to my assignment under the precepts of God’s word. 

• Because when you walk with God, you will prosper in what matters. His assignment goes

• Ps. 90:17 Establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands. 
• Hebrews 4:8–10 READ shows us that Joshua gave Israel a real inheritance, but not the final rest. There remained something greater. Jesus is the greater Joshua. He leads His people into the rest, inheritance, and life that only He can give.
• So don’t measure your life only by what is in your hand. Ask: Is Christ with me? Am I obeying His Word? Am I walking in the assignment He has given me? If I am, then even in the hard season, I can trust that God is accomplishing His purpose in me.
• And like Joshua, there will be challenges, but challenges not= God is not prospering me
• Be strong and courageous. Stay in His presence. Remember what He said. Stay with the Word. Walk in obedience. And trust God with the outcome.