Just like Jesus Christ was strong and of good courage and in obedience to God persevered until the end, the born-again Christians, who are the sons of God (both males and females), should also be strong and of good courage. Why do you have to be strong and of good courage? Because only if you are strong and courageous, you shall be able to fulfill your task, persevere until the end, and finish the race of faith. What does it mean to be strong and of good courage?
Why do you have to be strong and of good courage?
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. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 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 (Joshua 1:6-9)
In the previous article ‘How did the walls of Jericho fall?’ you read, how God commanded Joshua to be strong and of good courage. But before God spoke these words to Joshua, God had already spoken these words through the mouth of His servant Moses (a.o. Deuteronomy 31:3-8; 31:22-23).
God was with Joshua, but Joshua had to be strong and of good courage, God couldn’t do that for him. It was God’s commandment and whether Joshua would obey God’s commandment was up to him and depended upon his faith in God.
Joshua had to be strong and of good courage to:
- Take the promised land as an inheritance
- Keep the law and not deviate from it
- Not be afraid nor dismayed
Joshua lived in the Old Covenant under the law and belonged to the generation of the old man. But even the old man, who is carnal, had to be strong and courageous to walk in obedience to the will of God (Read also: ‘The old man‘ and ‘The battle and weakness of the old man‘).
Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it (Deuteronomy 11:8)
Joshua was faithful to God and His Word and was strong and of good courage and because of that Joshua was able to do the will of God. He knew his God and had faith in God and was therefore not afraid nor dismayed, but Joshua walked by faith and took the promised land in possession.
Joshua was not sense ruled, he was not led by what he saw and heard nor was Joshua led by his feelings and/or the circumstances, but Joshua was led by the words of God. And so Joshua walked by faith and stayed faithful to God and His Word and took the inheritance in possession
Jesus was strong and of good courage
For we have not an high Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin (Hebrew 4:15)
As he saith also in another place, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared; Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; And being made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him; called of God an high Priest after the order of Melchisedec (Hebrew 5:6-9)
Jesus, the Son of God, was strong and of good courage. Jesus was tempted in all things, by the devil, evil spirits and His people, including His friends, without sin.
Jesus experienced temptations, hardships, false accusations, resistance, and persecution of people, but Jesus was strong and of good courage, and despite all the temptations, hardships, false accusations, resistance, and persecution of people, including the religious leaders, Jesus continued to preach the Kingdom of God and call the people to repentance.
In everything, Jesus showed His love for God the Father, through His obedience and faithfulness to His Father. Jesus had submitted Himself to the Father and followed the Holy Spirit.
And so Jesus walked by faith in God and was strong and of good courage and persevered until the end (Read also: ‘Have faith in God‘ and ‘The obedience to God‘).
The sons of God are strong and of good courage
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin (Hebrew 12:1-4)
The disciples of Jesus, who had become sons of God through the regeneration in Christ and received the Holy Spirit, followed Jesus Christ the Author and Finisher of their faith, and walked in His footsteps (Read also: The Author of eternal salvation‘ and ‘Following Jesus will cost you everything’).
The disciples followed Jesus’ example and were just like Jesus strong and of good courage, whereby they were able to keep the words and commandments of Jesus Christ and stay faithful to Him and were not afraid nor dismayed, while they fulfilled their task and preached the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God and call the people to repentance and took the nations as their inheritance and persevered and finished the race of faith until the end.
They were not led by their senses and feelings, and the (horrible) circumstances.
And they were not misled by the devil and by carnal people, who seemed spiritual but preached false doctrines, but they remained faithful to God and His Word and didn’t deviate from it.
They loved God above all and their great love caused them to stay faithful to Him.
Be strong in the Lord and stand fast in the faith
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. 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 (Ephesians 6:10-13)
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)
If you are born again and have become a new creation in Christ and have the Holy Spirit abiding in you, then you should be strong and of good courage to persevere in faith and stay faithful to God and His Word until the end
You have to be strong and of good courage to do the will of God and take the inheritance in possession and not be afraid nor dismayed.
Because many temptations will come your way. The devil shall try to tempt you and lead you to sin and shall try to mislead you through the thoughts in your mind and/or by the people in your surroundings, whom he uses for his kingdom.
But if you know God’s Word and know His will and be strong and of good courage, then you will not be tempted and misled, but you shall resist and overcome the devil by the Word and refute the words of people with the Word.
It shall not always be easy to walk in the will of God and keep the commandments of Jesus, which are also the commandments of God. Because if you don’t speak, act and walk like the world, you shall experience incomprehension, criticism, anger, false accusations, rejection, condemnation, and maybe even persecution.
The cowards shall compromise and adjust the words and will of God, but the weak, who have become strong through regeneration in Christ, shall stand on the Word and overcome and be victorious.
Be strong and courages and endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:1-3)
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end> I will give unto him, that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son. But the fearful (cowardly), and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers (sexually immoral), and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death (Revelation 21:6-8)
Only by your love for God; God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit you shall keep His commandments and shall be strong and of good courage and stand in the faith and persevere
As long as you remain strong and of good courage and stand on the Word and walk by faith in the spiritual armor as a soldier of Christ, you shall be able to resist the devil and overcome and take the inheritance in Christ and inherit the Kingdom of God and eternal life (Read also: ‘Do you walk in the right armor?).
But the cowards, who have been led by fear and have adjusted the words of God and compromised with the world, shall not inherit the Kingdom of God and eternal life, but shall have their part in the lake of fire
Therefore be strong and of good courage and walk in obedience to the Word after the Spirit and stand in the faith! Know, that God is with you and He shall never leave you nor forsake you.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
