BE: Be Courageous
One of Strong’s definitions of courageous is “to be steadfastly minded.”
When you are courageous, you have an unwavering mind. You have a determined mind. You have a committed mind. You have a persistent mind.
Joshua, one of the 12 spies that went to check out the Promised Land, was courageous in the face of the 10 spies that had an evil report. All of these men had seen the same obstacles.
What made the report from the 10 spies evil? It was against the Lord’s command and against His promise for all of them to enter the land the flowed with milk and honey. It was a report of doubt and negativity.
The 10 spies spoke FEAR into the hearts of God’s people. They convinced the people that the adversity they would be face would be too great for them to stand.
God’s promises are not without adversity!
Now let’s fast-forward 40 years and Joshua is about to take the Promised Land.
Joshua 1:5-7 “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.”
This is KEY in being successful in the Kingdom – DO NOT TURN AWAY FROM THE LAW (God’s Word)!
If you are only courageous by depending on your own abilities, talents, and personality, you will fall short of fulfilling the full plan God has for your life.
Joshua 1:8-9 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 23:1-8 “And it came to pass a long time after that the Lord had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age. And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:
And ye have seen all that the Lord your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the Lord your God is he that hath fought for you. Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.
And the Lord your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the Lord your God hath promised unto you. Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;
That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: But cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day.”
If you are truly going to be courageous in GOD – you MUST cleave to Him. Lean on Him, not your own strength or talent.
2 Chronicles 32:7-8 NLT “‘Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side! He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!’ Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people.”
Whatever enemy you are fighting today, remember they are merely men!
The enemy will continue to raise war with you even if you are courageous. But you must remain determined, unwavering, and committed to God, even in the adversity. He’s greater than anything that can come against you. You can be courageous because you have Someone greater on your side!
2 Chronicles 32:16 NLT “And Sennacherib’s officers further mocked the Lord God and his servant Hezekiah, heaping insult upon insult.”
The insults might be piling up, like they were in this story. If you read the rest of the story of Hezekiah, you see that God’s people win BIG.
Whatever you are facing, be courageous! If you are walking in the Will of God for your life, YOU WILL WIN. Don’t get discouraged by looking at the odds right now. There’s a bigger picture and God always has the final say.
How do you know if you’re walking in His Will? First, follow the gospel outlined in the book of Acts. Repentance, baptism, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost are the first steps for you to take.
Second, if you’ve already experienced the gospel, ask yourself if you are doing everything God as asked of you. If you know there are things you need to make right, today is the day.
The Bible is full of examples of people who turned the tide when they made it right with God.
Be courageous today. Stand firm in what you know to be true. God has a plan and He never loses!
