Being Strong and Courageous

Being Strong and Courageous
“Be strong and courageous . . . .” Deuteronomy 31:6

What does it look like for you, as a spiritual leader in the 21st Century, to be strong and courageous? The tendency, even in spiritual circles, is to establish a template and see how you fit. It is good to fight against this tendency. Every time you measure yourself against a template you leave out the role of The Holy Spirit. Every time you leave out The Holy Spirit you distance yourself in relationship from Christ. What are the living standards against which you can measure your strength and courage?

Perhaps the foundational standard is that declared in 1 Corinthians 15:58. After Paul’s “death is swallowed up in victory” speech he says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” The strong and courageous in the Lord know Him, abide in Him and toil in His Kingdom without regard for temporal measurements. The reward you receive on this side of heaven is the relationship you have in Him. Even as the world toils to convince you that your life is being wasted, with eyes fixed on Jesus, you know the opposite is True. There is no wasted effort in Christ.

Being steadfast and immovable requires living the principles of scripture in an environment that is hostile to Christ for the world hates Him (John3:20, John 7:7[1]). There are multitudes of principles that fly in the face of modern society. Issues of life and death, procreation, self concept, the role and definition of family, the role of and relationship of God and man, sexuality, work, recreation, wealth and the environment to mention only a few. God speaks to each of these and those willing to live by and teach His viewpoint will be scorned, belittled and attacked by those who just don’t want to hear it.

Living the principles of scripture means both knowing the principles and personally applying them in everyday life, emulating Christ. Too often people try to apply biblical principles to others which they themselves have not yet applied to their own life. The Truth is, personally living the principles of scripture is often witness enough to get you into trouble with the world.

Living the principles of scripture means walking by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7[2]). When the Bible and culture conflict it takes strength and courage to stand up and proclaim the inerrant Truth of scripture. When it appears the walk of faith is having only negative effects, it takes strength and courage to continue in the knowledge that there is no wasted effort in Christ.

© Written by Richard L. Roberts, director of Life Focus Ministries.
You can reach him at Richard@GrowLeaders.org.

[1] John 3:20 "For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
John 7:7 "The world cannot hate you; but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil.”
[2] 2 Corinthians 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight —

Be Strong and Courageous

Be Strong and Courageous
“Be strong and courageous . . . .” Deuteronomy 31:6

The first time this phrase is recorded in scripture is when Moses spoke them to the Children of Israel just before his death. For the most part, those who had experienced slavery in Egypt had died in the wilderness. Those who were left had not witnessed the plagues that came upon the Egyptians, had not experienced fleeing Pharaoh and his army, and had not seen the bodies floating in the Red Sea. They knew only the leadership of Moses. Now it was time for him to die.
At this time Moses spoke these words, “Be strong and courageous.” But he went even further than that by telling them why and how they could be strong and courageous. To paraphrase, “The norm,” he said, “is to be fearful and tremble. Live contrary to the norm. Do not be afraid because Yahweh your God CONTINUES (emphasis mine) to go with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”

The focus Moses gave to the Children of Israel was that Yahweh was their constant. He is the one who led through Moses and He is the one who would lead through Joshua. In Him they could be strong and courageous because He will not fail them or forsake them.

As a spiritual leader you need to hear these words, be strong and courageous, and take them to heart. You live in times that are dark and getting darker. Remaining steadfast and immovable (1 Corinthians 15:58[1]) requires strength, courage and focus. Your strength and courage must come from the same source as the Children of Israel, a focus on God, who He is and how He is at work within, through and about you.

There are legitimate reasons for you to fear. The devil is scheming against you (Mark 13:22, Ephesians 6:11[2]), your daily battle is real and your enemy is fierce (Ephesians 6:12[3]). Focusing on Satan’s power and schemes would cause anyone to tremble.

Like the Children of Israel, the right focus brings out the Truth. God is at work in you, through you and around you. Through His “divine power” He has already given you everything pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3[4]). He indwells you with the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19[5]) who will teach you ALL things (John 14:26[6]) and guide you into ALL Truth (emphasis mine) (John 16:13[7]). His proven history of caring for His own is exemplary!

Be strong and courageous, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2[8]), He will not leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5[9])!

© Written by Richard L. Roberts, director of Life Focus Ministries.

You can reach him at Richard@GrowLeaders.org

[1] 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
[2] Mark 13:22 . . .for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order, if possible, to lead the elect astray.
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
2 Corinthians 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
[3] Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
[4] 2 Peter 1:3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
[5] 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
[6] John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
[7] John 16:13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
[8] Hebrews 12:2 . . . fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
[9] Hebrews 13:5 . . . He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,"

Reformulating social reality

“We cannot progress in reformulating ‘social reality’ in obedience to the command to become part of the kingdom of God if we cannot detach ourselves sufficiently from the cosmos (world) to critique it on the basis of both sociological theory and biblical values.”

Looking Both Ways, page 166
By:Richard Perkins

Truth and Feeling
“If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free..” John 8:31-32

“. . . I don’t feel that you are right, so I know that you are wrong.[1]”

There is a subtle battle raging between feelings and Truth[2] and feelings are winning. Many hold to the philosophy of the opening quote, feelings trump Truth.
Some, on the other hand, have responded with an over emphasis on Truth. “Oh, you shouldn’t feel that way because the Truth is . . .” Such a statement discounts the reality of feelings when they are in conflict with Truth. At times such an attitude equates feelings with sin, bringing two possible results. First, a person with feelings contrary to Truth may be burdened with guilt for having feelings instead of living by Truth. Second, a person may intentionally put feelings above Truth, judging Truth by feelings instead of vise-versa.
The Truth is there need be no battle between feelings and Truth. It is not a matter of which is real, both are. It is a matter of balance and dominion. When a conflict between what is True and how you feel comes up, where you put the weight of your decision to act is vital.
When you allow feelings to dominate, making Truth its servant, discontentment and/or depression will be the eventual outcome. This is inevitable because feelings do not change what is True. Truth has a way of being consistent. All the feelings to the contrary will not change life as God has made it.
Conversely, when Truth dominates, making feelings its servant, life is richer. There is freedom to live life abundantly[3] when Truth is the filter.
In all cases, Truth must be the dominate filter through which feelings are assessed before action is taken. Truth does not eliminate or change feelings; it directs them in the right avenue of action.
Satan would have you feel abandoned and betrayed by God. He would have you feeling lonely and depressed. The Truth is that God has said He will never leave you or forsake you[4]. With Truth as your filter, you know that feelings to the contrary are false, regardless of how real they feel.
There is one vital ingredient in keeping feelings under the dominion of Truth and living in freedom. That ingredient is to know Truth by abiding in God’s Word. The Holy Spirit will teach you and guide you to the Truth[5] of every situation when you are willing to be taught and led by Him.
How do you feel about that?

© Written by Richard L. Roberts, director of Life Focus Ministries.

[1] Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand, pg. 385
[2] Truth is the person of Jesus Christ. John 14:6
[3] John 10:10
[4] Hebrews 13:5
[5] John 16:13

Measuring what is sane and normal

“Christians must be extremely careful not to accept without question notions of sanity and normality which are based not on any theological principles, but on the social conventions of the day.”

Soul Friend, page 112
By Kenneth Leech