courage | 1 Way 1 Truth 1 Life

Did I not….

Posted on October 14, 2013 by wearemorethanconquerors837

Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:1-9

Where I worship, 217church, we are going through the book of Joshua. I noticed, as we read through the first book, that God doesn’t just ask Joshua to be strong and courageous. God doesn’t just ask Joshua to be strong and courageous. God COMMANDS him. In fact, He doesn’t just command him once. God commands Joshua three times. It is so important for Joshua to know to be strong and courageous that God commands him three times.

Joshua was commanded to carry out God’s will. He desired to do so, but what God’s will was, was something that many were afraid to do. Joshua was to lead all of Israel into the promise land. They were going into an unknown territory. But God was with them. God was with Joshua. God promised to be with him wherever he may go.

When God makes a promise He keeps it. God promises to be with those who know Him. God promises to be with those who do His will. God wants to be with us. He wants us to do His will.

Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

God didn’t just command Joshua to be strong and courageous. He also gave him some other things to do. He told him to obey the laws He gave to Moses. He told Joshua to meditate on it day and night. He is not to let it depart from His mouth. This is how we are to know God’s will. We need to be in His Word. The more we are in His Word, the more we know His will, the more we can be strong and courageous.

Sometimes it is hard to hear His commands. Sometimes it is easy to think He is not talking to us. Maybe He is talking to you right now. Maybe you have never listened to Him or you just ignore him. Maybe you have been afraid to be in His Word.

Ask God right now to speak to you. Ask Him to open your eyes, ears, mind, and heart to Him. Ask Him to allow the Holy Spirit to work in you. Ask Jesus to come into your life so you may know Him.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

I pray you will hear God speak to you and you are called according to His purpose.

Why Daniel Didn’t Eat That

Posted on August 13, 2013 by wearemorethanconquerors837

I recently did a Daniel Fast with a few other people. If you don’t know what that is you can click the link. I will explain briefly. It is based on the prophet Daniel and how he fasted for 21 days eating no pleasant food. During the fast there are certain foods you cannot eat like meat, dairy and anything processed. You can, however, eat as many great things like fruit, vegetables, and whole grains as you want.

A big point of this fast, aside from the nutritional benefits, is the spiritual journey. I used this time to get closer to God. There are things in my life that I am trying to get straight and in this time I prayed and focused on them and my relationship with the Lord. I noticed as I did this, my faith was tested, I know that anytime you get closer to God, the evil one does not like it. He comes to tempt you to break away from the Lord. He comes to tell you that what you are doing in meaningless. He comes and messes with your faith in Christ. He comes to mess with your family. But a faith not tested is no faith at all.

During this fast, I read again through the book of Daniel. I noticed some things I have not before. I remembered hearing a sermon once on Daniel and the pastor pointed out that Daniel is one of two people written about in the Bible that there is no mention of them committing a sin. The other is Joseph. This does not mean they did not commit sins because only One was sinless and that is Jesus Christ. Daniel just has no documented sin.

Daniel did however have a tested, tried, and true faith in God. In the beginning of the book, he and his three friends choose to not eat from the king’s table showing that they would only eat the clean food God said he could eat. For their faith God rewarded them with the gift of knowledge as well as giving Daniel the ability to interpret dreams and visions.

To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. Daniel 1:17

In Daniel 2 we see the gift from God used to help Daniel interpret the King’s dream.

We see the faith of Daniel’s friends being tested in chapter 3 as they refuse to worship the statue of king Nebuchadnezzar. The penalty for not doing so was one would be placed into the fiery furnace. The king had the furnace burn seven times hotter for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. But their faith saved them and a fourth person appeared in the furnace with them. Was it Jesus?

He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Daniel 3:25

Then, of course, there is probably the most popular story of Daniel and that is him in the lions’ den found in chapter 6. Daniel was favored by King Darius and others in the kingdom didn’t like that. They tried to find dirt on Daniel to get rid of him. They could not find any. So they manufactured some knowing that Daniel faithfully prayed and worshiped God. They tricked the king to make a decree saying only he can be worshipped. The penalty was being thrown into the lions’ den. Daniel, being faithful to God, was caught praying. He was thrown into the lion’s den and God saw to it that he was unharmed. As a result, king Darius saw that Daniel’s God was real.

Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth: “May you prosper greatly! “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed ,his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and winders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” Daniel 6:25-27

Something I focused on during this fast was trying to have the faith of Daniel. I have faith, but enough to be tested after ten days of eating only vegetables? Is it enough to be put into a furnace? Is it enough to survive in the den of lions? I made it through and I believe my faith is stronger. It is growing stronger everyday. I do have days when it is tested and tried to the point of breaking but it does not.

This I so, but not because my strength, but because of His. The One who was truly without sin. The One who became sin for me and you. The One who gave Himself as a blood offering for our sins. I know Him. His name is Jesus Christ.

Do you know Him? He can set you free. One thing I know in having my faith tested is that we are all sinners.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23

But Jesus Christ came to free us from our sin.

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. Romans 6:18

I pray that in all you do, you meet and follow Jesus. I pray He works in your heart. I pray you have a faith like Daniel. I pray you put your faith in Jesus.