July 1, 2011

• Be STRONG and of great courage in the Lord

  Sermon : Be  strong, encouraged , and obedient no matter what we must face and/or the consequences of being obedient to the direction of the Holy Spirt

  Strength and blessing come from walking in the ways of God.

  Josh 1: 7        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 whithersoever thou goest.8  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.9    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.

  Josh 23: 9     For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.10        One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.11            Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.12 Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:13            Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.14           And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.15    Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.16          When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.(KJV)

  Amos 5: 14   Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.15            Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

  We need courage when we face all that God has called us to do. We must conquer in OUR assignment.

  With Joshua it was literally facing the enemy in city after city:

  Deut 31: 7    And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.8       And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

  The warfare can be having the courage to constantly be available to God to speak forth His word even when it is not popular:

  Acts 4: 18     And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.19   But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.20       For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

  21       So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

  Acts 18: 8     And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.9    Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:10            For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.11            And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

   

  Our warfare can involve extreme financial difficulties bringing us a concern about whether we will have all we need OR we can be so brainwashed by our culture that we see ourselves as nothing if we ONLY have what we “need” and nothing more!:

  Heb 13: 5      Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.6           So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

  ^{1 Tim 6:6}But godliness with contentment is great gain.
  ⁷For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
  ⁹But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. ¹⁰For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
  ¹¹But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. ¹²Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. ¹³I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; ¹⁴That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ

  God is WITH us in all of our battles:

  Gen 28: 15   And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

  Even IF the battle looks WAY more fierce than anything we can overcome, God is still there to help us!

  Deut 20: 1    When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.2    And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,3        And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;4          For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

  We can prevail against our enemies by letting the Lord be our strength,our deliverer:

  Ps 27: 1         The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?2     When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.3        Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.4            One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.5            For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.6            And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.7           Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.8           When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.9       Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.10        When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.11  Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.13  I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14            Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.(KJV)

  Jer 1: 6          Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. 7  But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

  8          Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.9  Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.10         See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant……………..18   For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. 19           And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.

  Isa 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

  Dan 10: 19   And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.

   

  God does not want us to trust in human strength

  Ps 60: 11       Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.12  Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

  Just as Joshua was commanded to be strong, so are we:

  1 Cor 16: 13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. N IV = “ Be men of courage” New King James: “Be Brave”.

  Eph 6: 10      Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.11           Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

  2 Timothy 2:1 ¹Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ²And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. ³Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

  ENDURE (used in v 3 above): to hold out against; sustain without impairment or yielding; undergo2. to bear without resistance or with patience; tolerate:

   

  Hebrews 12:¹Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
  ²Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
  ³For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. ⁴Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

   

  Heb 10:32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. 34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

   

  Even when we are “weak” in any way, we should know it is the Spirit of the Lord in us giving us strength to be strong:

  2 Cor 12: 7   And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

  8          For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.9   And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.10            Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

   “Escaping” the hardships:

  E.g. Jonah. He thought he could get out of his calling and he ended up in a whale.  The Israelites when they received the report of giants. They were scared . They did not want to be strong and trust God. They ended up dying in the wilderness and not receiving their promise.

  We could want to “run away” from the things God puts in our paths. Paying off debt. Facing and dealing with the consequences of our sins or the sins of someone very close to us. Dealing with personal failures while remaining among all who know us well.    . Continuing to love and communicate in hard times i n a relationship.   

  Note the contrast between Paul and Demas: ^{2 Tim 4:5}But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
  ⁶For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
  ⁷I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
  ⁸Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
  ⁹Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
  ¹⁰For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. ^{………………….14}Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: ¹⁵Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. ¹⁶At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. ¹⁷Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. ¹⁸And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen

   

  But every trial that we face and do the right thing in Jesus’ name causes us to grow up some more and become better warriors – strong and courageous in Him. PLUS: There will be a great reward for courageously enduring until the end!  Jesus said NOT TO FEAR the hardships – ENDURE!!

  ^{Matthew 10:16}Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. ¹⁷But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; ¹⁸And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. ¹⁹But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. ²⁰For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. ²¹And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. ²²And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. ²³But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. ²⁴The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. ²⁵It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? ²⁶Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. ²⁷What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. ²⁸And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
  ²⁹Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. ³⁰But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.³¹Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.³²Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

  The heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11 ENDURED hardship and will , in time, with us, receive the fulfillment of all the promises made by our Father to us

  ^{He 11: 32}And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: ³³Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, ³⁴Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. ³⁵Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: ³⁶And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: ³⁷They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
  ³⁸(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.³⁹And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: ⁴⁰God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

  The Lord Himself is praying for us in our weaknesses. He promises that no matter what we must face, it will ultimately end in good for us!

  ^{Ro 8:26}Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ²⁹For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. ³¹What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? ³²He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

   

   

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