Application: Be Strong and Courageous

Introduction

As the word of God told us in , the battle is not easy.

Ephesians 6:12 NKJV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ep

Unless we obey the LORD, we cannot win this battle our own. Though most Christian have this dilemma, we need to face the spiritual reality and ask God for forgiveness.

Like soldiers in a battle, everyone has its own state of spirituality in the LORD. Some of us might have been battling against vicious sins. Some might have been tired of fighting. Some might have been wounded and need someone’s help.

Everyone has his own spiritual battle, and everyone has its need of guidance.

Now, our aim for our study today is not to make you more wounded nor to make you more tired. But our aim is to help everyone of us here to realign our commitment to the only source of our strength and might to do the work God has entrusted to each of us.

In whatever profession you are, always remember that we are under God’s vineyard. Everyone of us must fulfill God’s purposes for His greater revelation and glory.

We are called by God to do his work and to fulfill his purpose. So its not our purpose, but God’s purpose.

Like how Jeremiah, was called by God, in

Jeremiah 1:5 NKJV

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

We are sanctified, and separated by God, for a specific purpose.

This morning in our preaching, I have mentioned that,

God reveal His purposes and will into His people as we walk along with Him in faith.

What is the significance of walking along with God to fulfill God’s purposes into our lives?

In , we can notice that God chose us out of the world to be holy and blameless.

Ephesians 1:4 NKJV

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

God, in His great mercy has chose us to be part of His Kingdom, to be a workman for Him for His praise and glory. He has sanctified us, to do his work. Thus, we can draw a conclusion that apart from God, we cannot do his work. We need Him. We need to walk along with Him so we can perform and do what God has called us to do, for His praise and glory.

Three (3) key principles that we need to check as we walk along with God throughout our journey to fulfill God’s purposes

Buildup your foundation in Christ

The New King James Version Chapter 2

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:19–22 NKJV

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

—> Foundation of the apostles and prophets

Build your foundation in a solid foundation. Christ is our solid foundation.

Connection in Christ (Personal relationship with Christ)

The element of the solid foundation

Communication in Christ (Intimate relationship with Christ)

The WORD of God

1 Corinthians 3:9–15 NASB95

9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

1 Corinthians 3:9-

The New King James Version Chapter 7

24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:

The New King James Version Chapter 7

26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand

Buildup your characters in Christ

We are God’s worker and He has called us for a very special work. Now, God called us not to be alone, but He has called us to be part of His Church.

Every person is unique. Each person are built up in a different way.

The New King James Version Chapter 4

4 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The New King James Version Chapter 5

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Buildup your hope in Christ

Christ alone is our hope.

Ephesians 2:1 NKJV

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,

In

The New King James Version Chapter 2

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

God’s Provision, Our Assurance

Having Christ is enough..

When we talk about opportunity, we are always excited. Its always easy to say yes. But as always, opportunity comes with greater responsibility.

To be part of God’s work, is an special opportunity not everyone have. We are called by grace, and not by of any works of man.

When God called us, He has called us together with our TIME and ENERGY. God called us to be a living sacrifice for Him.

Romans 12:1–3 NKJV

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Romans 12:1–2 NKJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

When we read , we can see that conforming to this world is not an option for God’s people. But then He has commanded us to have a transformed mind that is ready to discern the perfect will of God.

In , we can see our inheritance in Christ which is said to be every spiritual blessing in

Ephesians 1:3 NKJV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,