WORDS

Be strong and courageous

God is with you, you have to be on track without deviating in order to win

01/05/2017

By: Bishop Jorge Pinheiro

Article by: Victor Correa

In Joshua 1.1, God cheers Joshua up after Moses’ death. Forty years were gone by and God left him in his position and he didn`t know what to do to the people. When God told Joshua that Moses died, it was because we have to face the reality, we can`t run away

When people try to commit suicide, they try to run away from the reality, like when they lock themselves in a room for depression or any other problem. The same way when they have drugs and water with the hope of portaltting their problems or resentment. It`s worthless running away from fears, problems, much less devil because wherever you go, they will follow you.

God`s promises for Joshua was that wherever he went and stepped on, He would be there to motivate him to keep going ahead. It was very big what God had in order to put in his hands. We have the same condition today; we have this promise; we are Joshua today and that`s why we have to face the reality and keep going with God. God goes together with you and no one will be able to resist, much less devil, demons, any man because God will be your guide. Get this promise for you. God just asks us to be strong and courageous. He doesn`t say He will make us strong, we have to become ourselves. “But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death”, says Revelation 21.8. The fearful ones are at the same level as evil ones and that`s why God asks us to be courageous as Joshua asked us. The ones, who aim at conquering, need to be strong and fearless. You can ask for God`s help against your fears and weaknesses, but strength and courage need to come out of you. It`s easy to have other people fighting on behalf of you, but it`s necessary for us to go to battle ourselves. It`s not fair to have others fighting in our cases because God is with us. It`s so important to be strong and courageous that God repeats the request. While God is with us, nothing will hit us. For us to become a successful person, we need to be strong and courageous the same why for those who are righteous and believers. Jesus reprimands shyness and coward condition and He linked shyness to lack of faith. The world is there to be conquered, but many Christians haven`t gotten it due to lack of courage, strength, and faith. The disciples were shy and mamny Christians also are before possible conquests wondering who they are. Be aware that you are God`s image and likeness. There`s no luck, God is with you There`s a way called Jesus Christ, but you can`t deviate to any sides because the way is straight. What makes people deviate is fascination of the world, which is a huge illusion used by devil to make us deviate from God`s track. Somehow, we need to avoid to look at our sides “our neighbor`s grass”. We have to look ahead without looking at other people`s lives, covet what you shouldn’t because they belong to others. The prosperity on your way will happen you become careful at applying what is written in God`s word. Transgressing the word is synonym for poverty and that`s clear. Many people don`t thrive for not obeying God. Deuteronomy 28 shows blessings from obedience. A third time at the same message, God emphasizes to be strong and courageous. Unfortunately, most of people are neither strong nor courageous before hard times because they run away, abandon, give up of their dreams. You can`t be this way. They are repeated three times as the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Strength and courage. If it were easy, everyone would be blessed and would prosper. The difference is that God is by our side. Out there, the unbeliever fights for being strong and courageous. The difference is that our victory in the Lord is guaranteed.