Joshua 1:6-9
6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
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, that you may prosper wherever you go.
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. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
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.”
In these scriptures it talked about being courageous. This is not always easy to do when the Devil is coming at you in full force. However, God has handpicked you and placed you in the jobs, church, neighborhoods, and around the people in your daily lives. He has given us divine connections and influence with people who can bless us and help further the kingdom of God.
If you are a Christian then God placed you in these places to be able to help someone to know who God is. This take courage to speak to people around you.
If we look through the bible it is filled with stories about people who had found their courage through God to do what they did.
- Daniel in the Lion's Den (Daniel 6)
- Three Hebrew Boys (Daniel 3)
- Esther Going before the King (Esther 4-5)
- David and Goliath (1Samuel 17)
- Joshua Taking Over for Moses (Joshua 1)
- Deborah Going into Battle (Judges 4)
- Abraham Leaving His Father's House (Genesis 12)
- Peter Walking on Water (Matthew 14:22-33)
- Hannah's Desire for a Child (1 Samuel 1:1-18)
- Jesus' Betrayal (Matthew 26:47-56)
I am going to talk about a couple of these today.
1 Samuel 17:45-47
45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.
47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
When all of the rest of the soldiers stood around, too afraid to confront Goliath, David wasn't scared. Why? Because, David had faith in God and the God would deliver Goliath into his hands and God did just that.
Just like David wasn't afraid to confront the giant, we shouldn't be afraid to confront our giants either. Regardless of what giant we face, illness, job, loss, relationship issues, financial problems, we can step out in faith and know God is going to work everything together for our good. Don't be afraid of your giant but, be a giant slayer.
Psalm 27
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
It says when the wicked advance against me to devour me. This is exactly what Satan does in our lives. He tries to destroy or devour me but, we must have faith in God.
There is one thing that we must be careful of and that is not to put our salvation in anyone here on earth. I cannot save your soul, the person sitting next to you cannot save your soul, your best friend cannot save your soul, Jesus Christ is the only one that can save your soul and take you to heaven.
We need to have courage to stand up against Satan and say no, I have faith in God.
We need to have that faith that the bible says it can move mountains. it will let us walk on water. Faith that will fill our need financially and faith that will get us through the battle.
The three Hebrew children said that God could deliver them from the furnace and his hand but, even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.
That's what I call FAITH!
When my grandson was laying in the hospital and it seemed there was not hope we struggled at time but, we knew that God would bring him out.
When the Doctor's say you have cancer and there is no hope in site then get on your knees and have faith in knowing that God will bring you out.
When you have a financial problem and can't get out then you pray to God and know that God will bring you out.
My wife and I have had times when we could seem to get out of a financial problem however, we never stopped paying our tithes and God provided.
That's what Faith is!
Be courageous in the middle of the storm and have full faith in God.