Be Strong & Courageous The Why, How & What of Biblical Courage Joshua 1:1-9

Be Strong & Courageous Why?

WHY must I have courage? Because you were born to face & conquer giants for His glory

“But the spies who had gone up with Joshua said, ‘We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are... All the people we saw there are of great size... We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.’” (Numbers 13:31-33)

WHY must I have courage? Every promise of God has the opposition of Satan & the riches of this world against it Courage is required

“Again, the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” (Mt 4:8-10)

A Sinful World Fights Against Life “...with pain you will give birth to children... Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you... By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food” (Gen. 3)

“ For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay” ( Romans 8:20-21)

God is calls us to life and blessings where the enemy’s giants now reside. “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous.” (v6-7)

Growing in God’s plans and power for your life means learning to... solve problems, then, overcome pain, and finally, conquer principalities

“He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance.” (Psalm 78:70-71)

“If anyone would come after me [to true life], he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)

COURAGE: “strength in the face of pain, difficulty or fear”

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world” (Ephesians 6:12)

COURAGE: “The ability to say ‘yes’ to an invisible God in the face of invincible giants that say ‘no.’”

Be Strong & Courageous How?

How can I have courage? Be FOCUSED on His WORD & FILLED with His PRESENCE

“Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous”

The Bible & The Holy Spirit: theology or reality? pretend or priority?

Be Strong & Courageous What?

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.” (Is 5:20-21)

Mt 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven”

1 Peter 4:14-16 “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you... if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”

1. “No other gods before me.” (no false religion/success before Me) 2. “No graven images (idols)” (don’t make Me into your image) 3. “Do not misuse My name” (don’t misrepresent/misuse me)

4. “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy” (center your life & schedule around me) 5. “Honor your father and your mother” (trust My order, authority and timing) 6. “You shall not murder.” (don’t take justice into your own hands )

7. “You shall not commit adultery.” (honor marriage & sexual purity) 8. “You shall not steal.” (don’t get power by weakening others ) 9. “You shall not give false testimony.” (don’t lie and pervert justice ) 10. “You shall not covet (develop your own life & be grateful)