Something For Your Spirit
Elder Thomas W. Burgess
Be Strong And Courageous, GOD Is With Us
Joshua 1:5-6 KJV
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.
To quote a song from the 60's, the lyric's say "Mama said there would be days like this there would be days like this my mama said" and we certainly are in the midst of some troubling times. There is trouble in the land, there is fear in the land, there is uncertainty in the land but let me remind you, no matter what is being said...if you are GODS child, if Jesus is in your life none of this includes you.
What makes me say that? "Yea though I walk through the valley and the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou are with me" is included in the Lords Prayer. Throughout the Bible, we are told not to fear, worry or let the issues of what is now being done by the powers that be bother us. Why? We have a comforter, we have His promises and we have His Word.
In the passage from Joshua 1, Moses has died and GOD has selected Joshua to replace him by giving him this command in verse 2...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. Verse 7...Only be strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded and ends with this..."turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
Verse 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. These Words are from GOD to Joshua but also apply to us.
For the person reading this saying, that is Old Testament that is true BUT the New Testament Book of 2nd Timothy 1:7 KJV tells us...For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. As GOD was with Joshua, He is with you and I. If you still find yourself concerned about this time, Ephesians 6:10-17 KJV...has what you need...Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11...Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12...For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13...Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14...Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15...And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16...Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17...And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
I am going to leave you with this...1st John 4:1-4 KJV...Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
To you my brothers and sisters in The Lord, fear is not for us because GOD, Jesus and The Holy Ghost are with us all the days of our life. Lost soul's needs Him, let the Christ in you speak thru you.
Thank You for Your Word Lord.