Be Strong and Corageous

Introduction:

“Hold your ground! Hold your ground! Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. The day may come, when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not his day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the age of man comes crashing down, but it is no this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear, I bid you stand, men of the west!” This quote is from the future king of Gondor, Aragorn, in the film “The Return of the King.” He and a band of men went to face an insurmountable enemy, and the king rallied his soldiers together with this speech. The Lord gave Joshua a similar speech in Joshua 1:6-9. We are going to look at this and see that it will rally him to inherit the land (6), to follow the law (7-8), and to not be dismayed (9).

Thesis: We must be strong and courageous if we are to obey God and inherit our promised land.

To Inherit the Land (6)

1. The Lord tells Joshua to be strong and courageous.

There will be challenges for us to face (Eph 6:10).

These challenges will try to cause us to doubt (Matt 14:30, 31).

These challenges will try to cause us to fear (Pr 29:25).

We must push through these challenges and be strong and courageous (Pro 3:5-6).

in doing so, we will reach the end to our reward (2 Tim 4:7).

2. In being strong and courageous, Joshua will help Israel inherit the land.

If we wish to inherit our promised land one day, we must stay strong in the Word of God (Jn 5:24).

With God on our side all things are possible (Phil 4:13).

We must also help others inherit their eternal life (Matt 28:18-20).

To Follow the Law (7-8)

1. Again the Lord tells Joshua to be strong and courageous, and to follow the Law given through Moses.

We must strive to follow the law that we have been given today (Rm 3:31).

We must submit to the Law (1 Pe 5:6).

We need not doubt that we have the whole law (2 Tim 3:16).

2. The Lord also says the Law must not depart from them, but meditate day and night.

We must keep the Word in our hearts to avoid sinning against Him (Ps 119:11).

This is a constant struggle for Christians today, but we must stay strong (1 Pe 5:8, 9).

We must also meditate day and night on it (Ps 1:2).

To Not Be Dismayed (9)

1. The Lord ends His address to Joshua by repeating Himself to be strong and courageous, but He adds also to not be frightened or dismayed.

We should not fear today (2 Tim 1:7).

We should not be dismayed from doing His will (Isa 41:13).

2. The Lord gives the reason for not fearing, He will be with Joshua.

The Lord will be with us today (Jn 15:4).

But only if we love and obey Him (Jn 15:10).

CONCLUSION: Joshua needed to be encouraged before he led the Israelites into the promised land. Over and over again, he is told to be strong and courageous, and this will help them inherit the land, follow the law, and to not fear or be dismayed. Are we being strong and courageous in the Church today? Are we going out and helping others inherit their promised land? Are we following the law that God has given to us? Or are we too frightened and dismayed todo the work of the Lord?