Time for CourageJoshua 1:1-9

Joshua 1:1-91 Now after the death of Moses the

servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,

2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given

unto you, as I said unto Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon

even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

5 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.

6 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

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.

Hiligaynon9

Dumdoma ang akon sugo, “Magpakalig-on ka kag magpakaisog! Indi ka

magkahadlok ukon magpakaluya, kay Ako, ang

Guinoo nga imo Dios, maga upod sa imo bisan diin ikaw

makadto.”

Introduction

• Fear is a crippling emotion. – The Lord never intended for His followers

to dread the future. – Although we may feel afraid at times, we

should never let fear control us.

• One of my favorite passages on overcoming fear is found in the story of Joshua. – God said: “Be strong and courageous! Do

not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go"

– The promise that God gave Joshua that day is no less true for us now.

– There is no need for fear when we lean on the powerful presence of the Lord.

Why did Joshua need courage?

• Joshua had seen how the people rebelled against Moses. – Now, he was in charge of leading them to

take the Promised Land from skilled warriors.

How did God challenge Joshua to be courageous

1. God reassured him of His presence

– Joshua 1:5-6 “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.”

2. By God’s Promises– God promised Joshua that he would

find success if he faithfully meditated on and obeyed the Scripture.

• Joshua 1:8 “Indi mo gid pagkalimtan ang libro sang Kasugoan. Tun-i ini sa adlaw kag sa gabi, kag magkabuhi ka suno sa tanan nga nasulat sa sini nga kasugoan. Dayon magainuswagon ka kag magmadinalag-on””

What are the ways God wants Joshua to acquire courage?

• Courage – is a quality of mind or spirit that enables us

to meet danger, opposition, or the challenges of life with fearlessness, calmness, and firmness.

– Someone who has courage may still feel afraid but--through the power of God--can act with confidence.

1. The Lord wanted divine wisdom, not human logic, to guide the nation.

– For example, If Joshua’s confidence had been in himself and his military experience, he may have resisted God’s plan to defeat Jericho.

– Ex: church looking for a lot

2. If he obeyed the law of Moses, he would have success.– Joshua 1:7 “Pero magpakalig-on ka kag

magpakaisog, kag magkabuhi ka suno sa bug-os nga Kasugo-an nga gin hatag sa imo sang akon alagad na si Moises. Indi mo pagpatumbayaan ang bisan ano nga bahin sini, kag mangin madinalag-on ka bisan diin ka magkadto.””

3. The Lord made a marvelous promise to Joshua– He would be with him no matter

what happened.– Joshua1:5 “wala sang may

makadaog sa imo samtang nagakabuhi pa ikaw. Magaupod ako sa imo subong sang akon pag-upod kay Moises, kag indi ko gid ikaw pag pabay-an. ”

• If you have accepted the Father’s gift of salvation, you have the same assurance – John 4:16-17 “And I will pray the Father, and he

shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

What can we do to develop courage?

1. Meditate on God’s Word – reading the Bible each day– choose a chapter and really think about its

message– Ask God for help interpreting– applying it to your life.

• Result of meditating:– Quiet your spirit.– Sharpen your perception

• Psalms 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”

– Purify your heart • Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick,

and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

•  • ”

– Clarify your direction • Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all

thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

2. Recall past experiences of God’s faithfulness – Remember the way you relied on the Lord

in previous crises and how His goodness carried you through difficulties

3. Observe the courage of others– As fellow believers share their testimonies

of the Lord’s faithfulness, let their stories reinforce your faith in Him.

4. Ask the critical question: If I don’t obey God, what will happen? – Every action, whether good or bad,

has a consequence. – Rebelling against the Lord may seem

like an easier path, but it will be ultimately be painful.

– Trusting and obeying Him always brings spiritual blessing.

5. Recall His promise to be with us at all times

– The Lord told Joshua that He would never forsake him.

– Through Scripture, you and I have been given the same assurance today.

– Our omnipotent God has all power to guide us and bring success in our lives.

Conclusion• Are you facing a frightening situation? • The secret to overcoming fear is to

focus on God, not your circumstances.– Peter walking on water.

• As you meditate on the Lord and observe His work all around you, problems will seem smaller and more manageable.

• Every challenge is surmountable in the presence of our holy, all-powerful, and awesome God.

• Take your eyes off circumstances and turn them toward your great Defender and Deliverer.

• The heavenly Father has all things under control––there is no need to be afraid.