Sermon Tone Analysis

Did you recognize that sound bite?

The accent, the passion, and the resolve in the voice is a dead give away… the speech came from William Wallace and the movie… is Braveheart.

This speech is perhaps one of the most known speeches in Hollywood history.

It captures a moment where the sons of Scotland were about to face off with the armies of England.

England was fighting for control… Scotland was fighting for freedom.

It was the first of many battles they would endure as they worked to reach the new normal they hoped to achieve.

Now I can’t imagine what it would be like to be on that battlefield, to stand toe to toe with an army larger than yours, stronger than yours, and better trained than yours.

But the cause… their fight… their reason for being there made all the difference in the world.

This truth combined with the leadership they followed gave them the needed courage to stay, to fight… and to win.

But I can only imagine what that army felt… I can only imagine what thoughts were moving through their minds as they faced the enormous task ahead.

The path to go home… was by far the path of least resistance.

They could turn around, make it back to their beds, and survive.

The path to move forward… required of them to face an army.

It required a brutal fight… it required for each man to give 110% as they were outnumbered.

A choice had to be made.

Would their feelings compel them to go home… or would they move forward with courage despite what they felt about the situation?

Be strong and courageous.

Those were the words God repeatedly told Joshua as he stood on the banks of the Jordan.

Three times God said it… and three times God meant it.

The thrill of entering the promised land was real true enough… but the reality of facing the opposition ahead was something unavoidable.

In order for the people of God to enter the promises of God, they would have to walk in a strength and courage that could only come… from God.

But before we look at the people as a whole… I want us to look at the one who would be leading.

Remember, God was speaking to Joshua and look once more at the promise that was made to him.

First, God made clear what Joshua would need to BE - be strong and courageous.

What was ahead would take great strength… we talked about that strength last week.

It would also require a great deal of courage.

What good is strength if it lacks the courage to take the first step?

Secondly, God told Joshua what he would do - Joshua would lead these people.

Leading in and of itself is a daunting task.

Leading comes with a great deal of responsibility.

Leading means you must look after those who are following.

Joshua was in a position to lead… as he was being led.

Joshua would lead the people… as he followed God.

Third, God reminded Joshua of the promise - they would inherit the land He promised to give them.

God ALWAYS makes good on His promises.

God reminded Joshua of the promise… and made clear it was now time to enter that promise.

God also made clear the land… would be GIVEN to them.

GOD WAS IN THIS… which meant the work had already been accomplished.

Joshua simply had to make a choice...

What was the choice?

JOSHUA HAD TO CHOOSE TO BE WHAT GOD WAS CALLING HIM TO BE: STRONG AND COURAGEOUS.

Courage is a remarkable thing.

And the definition of this word might be a surprise to you today.

The word courage comes from the Anglo-French word that means… more heart.

So, a courageous person is one that displays more… mare than… more heart than fear.

Courage is NOT an absence of fear… it is the ability to do something… what is required… in the face of fear.

A courageous person is a person who is distinguished by having more heart.

He or she is wholehearted in what they are doing.

This means they are all there, and is dialed in or focused.

They may not be perfect, but they have integrity.

All of the person is moving in the same direction.

This includes the spiritual, physical, mental and emotional self.

If strength, as we talked about last week...

If strength is related to trust in God, courage is what happens when God’s strength permeates your soul.

Living with more heart has to do with the resolve and focus that flows from a convinced heart.

A convinced heart is a heart that trusts God and His Word.

It is what happens when we take God’s promises… to heart.

With this definition in mind… what is clear is that there are steps a person must take to becoming more… when the world is doing all it can to make us feel… less.

Less than a man… less than a woman… less than succeeding, less than peaceful, less than having it all together, less than having the right answers, less than knowing which direction to go, less than valued… less than… victorious.

Conformity to the world demands that you be stripped of God’s calling… a calling to BE more than… a calling that will move you into a new normal.

Never forget the words given to us in Romans.

In Christ, we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS… MORE THAN anything the world might try to say about us or label us.

And this verse is given after a passage that talks about present suffering… and future glory.

Look at Romans 8:18

What lies ahead, is incomparable with the suffering we might experience in the present.

The key is not to get stuck in the present… but to take courageous steps toward the future God has in store.

So what do these steps… look like?

What things must a believer do to BE courageous?

The act of courage is what will result but we must BECOME before we can take ACTION.

So step one in becoming courageous for the things of God...

Step One: Be Honest.

This step takes me to the third time when God commanded Joshua regarding the new normal that was ahead.

As I read this passage, a couple of things jump off the page at me.

God reaffirms to Joshua the command that was given to Him.

GOD was leading the way.

God had given the command.

GOD WAS IN THIS.

Next, God tells Joshua not to be afraid.

God speaks to how Joshua was feeling in the moment.

God’s speaks to the fear that was present in his heart.

Lastly, God tells Joshua not to be discouraged.

Why would Joshua be discouraged?

The leader of the people, Moses, had died.

Joshua was facing the task of not only leading the people, but leading them into new territory.

This was a lot to take in!

I made a statement last week that I want to revisit for a moment… your breakthrough might be waiting for you to realize… you cannot do this without God.

This brings up another very important point we must consider… THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOU… the call, the promises ahead, the commands we follow, are all about serving God and fulfilling HIS plan.

When God speaks, it is never just for you or about you.

The call to occupy the land, to enter a new normal, isn’t to fulfill your wildest dreams and to make you every desire to come true…

When God calls you to be courageous, such a call will always affect you AND the people around you, even people you have not yet met.

Every week, when our volunteers work to answer the call by serving in the various ministries of the church, that choice impacts many lives who come, who receive, and who change because of the Word given to them.

Our choice to follow God is a choice that will impact many people in accordance with God’s plan for your life, your family, your community, and so on.

For Joshua, the call was to lead God’s people into the new normal.

It wasn’t just for Joshua to enter the land, it was for Joshua to lead a people into the promises of God.

And in this moment, we get an honest glimpse of where Joshua’s heart was… he recognized the enormity of the command, he was afraid, he was discouraged… but in his honesty, God provided what was needed for Joshua to take the first step.

So what does this honesty look like?

We need to be honest with God regarding how we feel when we approach Him.

First, understand that God already knows how you feel!

But He cannot pour into your life until you are willing to open up to Him!

PRAYER IS THE KEY IN THIS! Talk to God! Lift up your needs and your feelings before Him! Be honest with the Lord and He will give you the guidance you are looking for!