COURAGEOUS AND HOPEFUL
God sent Moses into the land of Egypt to rescue and deliver His people from their slavery to the Egyptians. He throws 10 major plagues at Pharaoh in order to get him to release His people from their bondage. God literally parts the Red Sea, and the Israelites walk across on DRY ground to complete the deliverance mission. Moses tells God’s people that God will give them what he called the “Promised Land”, a land flowing with Milk and Honey. He will settle his people down in this land and then separate them into the 12 tribes of Israel. The test was a long backpacking trip in the desert. It ended up being a 40 year backpacking trip in the desert with the entire nation. During this trip, God provides for all their basic needs of food, water and navigation. God wanted them to hold fast to him and to obey his voice. However, the only thing the Israelites did faithfully was disobey and get themselves into major trouble with God.
At one point, God was so mad at their rebellious attitude, he was going to nuke the whole nation. Moses went and stood in the gap and pleaded before God for his people, and God relented and changed his mind. A little over 2 years into this backpacking adventure, Israel blew it for the last time, and it cost the nation dearly, particularly the men over 20 years old. God told Moses to send 12 spies into the land to scout it out and then come back and report what they had seen. 10 came back with bad reports. The said the enemies were giants (Philistines) and their kingdoms were too fortified and that Israel could not defeat them. REMEMBER what these men had witnessed God do on their behalf to get them out of Egypt, and the fact that heaven rained their food for them every day and God lead them with a pillar of fire and a pillar of cloud!!! When God heard them and saw their negative attitudes, and their lack of faith and abundance of fear, he told them that all of the men over 20 would not see the promised land. He said they would wander in the desert until they all died, and that their sons would be their shepherds, bearing the brunt of their infidelity toward God.
Joshua and Caleb, two young men, under 20, would be the ones who would be able to go into the Promised land because they had “whole heartedly” followed God. They had full faith and belief in God that He could defeat all of their enemies once they went into the Promised Land to conquer and possess it. Joshua ended up being the man that succeeded Moses and lead Israel into the promised land. In Israel’s economy, Joshua and Caleb would have been considered Teenagers. Just like you guys.
They did not shrink back at fear when faced with giants, literally, that could have crushed them and taken their lives. They knew and understood that God had their backs and that with him, nothing was too big or impossible. Your generation needs you to stand up with this same kind of faith and courage. God told Joshua to be strong and courageous, for He was with them. The same promise from God is for you. Be strong and courageous. He is your hope and your salvation, and with Him, NOTHING, and I do mean nothing can stand against you. With Jesus, you have the authority to bind Satan, cast out evil, break strongholds and follow the calling that God has on your life. When you follow God’s call courageously, you will affect and change your generation, one person at a time. When you shrink back in fear and disobedience, you allow Satan to come in and influence your friends, your family, and even YOU for the worse. The biggest victory Satan has in a believer’s life is to render a Christian useless and ineffective! Stand up, stand out, reflect the hope that’s in you and be courageous, You will never be sorry!
SCRIPTURE:
Deuteronomy 31:6, 23: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” 23The LORD gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you.”
Joshua 1:7, 9: 7 “Be strong and very courageous. 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. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” 1 Chronicles 22:13: 13 Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the LORD gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.
1 Timothy 4:10, 12: 10 (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
1 Peter 3:12-15: 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
No comments:
Post a Comment