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 swore 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.
(Jos 1:6-7)
This is a charge or command by God Himself to the Joshua as he takes over from Moses. It would have been seen as very big shoes to fill considering, for Moses the man whom God buried Himself (!) and declared as one whom God knew face to face. May it be for us that at the end of our short life on earth, although man many not know the significance of our lives on planet earth, but God knows. It is sad that we live life so that people may know who we are, what profits us if we gain worldwide recognition for our achievements in whatever field (be it ministry or career or personal life) but God doesn’t recognize one single bit. We have to consider very hard on not what people eulogize, but what God says.
There are 2 points that God asked Joshua to be strong and of good courage for. Firstly being the division of inheritance (as promised to the forefathers) and secondly in total, unquestionable obedience to the laws (Torah, especially the 10 Commandments or the Moral Laws of God) of God. Wouldn’t it seem strange that God would command as such while in our minute human intelligence we would say things like ‘Be strong and of good courage’ to conquer, to fight, to grab what belongs to us, etc. Don’t we naturally do those things in contrary to what God’s commands?
A. Divide the inheritance
In the physical Joshua did have to divide up the inheritance to the 11 tribes and 2 half tribes. But for us in today’s context we will look at it as examples and lessons of warning to us. To divide up the inheritance is to know what the key components for us to inherit are.
Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
(1Co 10:11)
1. The inheritance
Jesus’ first teaching in the Sermon of the Mount begins with the giving of inheritance to the faithful and it being given as our blessings.
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(Mat 5:3)
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
(Mat 5:5)
Which Jesus took from
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
(Psa 37:11)
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(Mat 5:10)
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
(Mat 5:20)
- God is interested to bless the poor in spirit, the meek, the one’s that bravely stand up for righteousness and ARE righteous will inherit blessings of Heaven and of Earth.
- Blessings on earth are more easily quantified in health, wealth, children, peace, protection, etc.
- Blessings of Heaven are mentioned 4 of 5 times in the Sermon of the Mount. Surely there is something of higher value in terms of inheritance the God was to bless us with
2. Inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
(Rom 14:17)
- From Paul’s writing, it clearly summarizes what the Kingdom of Heaven consists of: righteousness, peace and joy (not just regular joy, but emphasized as joy IN the Holy Spirit
- Jesus did teach in parables what the Kingdom of Heaven is likened. For example in Matt 13 are the parables of the Sower, Mustard Seed, Leaven, Hidden Treasure in the field, Pearl of Great Price, Net (bringing in the catch) and the house owner with treasures old and new
- The parables seems to emphasize on wanting the things of greater importance AND keeping it
- Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is an inheritance we as Christians must seek after first (Matt 6:33).
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
(Mat 6:31-33)
- The heathen (the God-less or those who don't put God first, 'Christian' or otherwise) seek the eternities of life which satisfies or gratifies the flesh, but the seeking after the Kingdom of God (Heaven, for God is the King there)
- In God’s economy, it’s seeking the important thing first (the Kingdom) and then all these things shall be added. If God is our Father, He will personally ensure that our eternities are taken cared for. For us, we seek and keep the eternal and our bonus would be our current needs. This way we don’t loose!
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
(Mat 7:11)
3. Criteria for inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven
- Jesus also gives the criteria for those who will receive the Kingdom
- The Sermon on the Mount teaches us that those who are poor in spirit (not proud, contented, depleted of fleshly things, non-complainers, esteem others, self-denying… don’t be like the Loadicean church in Rev 3:17), righteous and willing to die for standing on righteousness
- The Parables teaches us the deep desire (willing to give everything for the one of eternal value) and able to keep it. The former is an attitude (what pre-occupies our heart and mind) and the latter the appreciation and enjoyment of receiving and seeing it come to fruition. Bearing fruit of Spirit (Gal 5:22-23, Psa 1:3), the 100 fold multiplication (Gen 26:12 & Matt 13:8).
- From bearing the fruit of the Spirit, God doesn’t just leave us with that but don’t forget the external blessings of health, children, fruitfulness in our labor (nothing of our lives end up in vanity of vanities), live to the fullness of our days, etc…… the blessings of Canaan: the richness and sweetness of life (Exo 3:8, 3:18, 13:5, 33:3, Lev 20:24, Num 13:27, 14:8, 16:13, 16:14, Deu 6:3, 11:9, 26:9, 27:3, 31:20, Jos 5:6). The fact that it was mentioned so many times BEFORE receiving the promise speaks of God’s great desire to want to give us His blessing. He seems to have a sense of urgency to bless the Israelites and ultimately us.
4. What are we to inherit?
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
(Rom 14:17)
- Rectitude: Quality of correctness and being straight. One that has high moral virtue.
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
(Rom 3:20)
- However this is very hard, if not impossible to achieve….. How then will it be for us? Are we without any hope? No amount of deeds can justify us!
- Keep in mind that the Kingdom is inherited, therefore the righteousness is also passed down to us! This is our hope.
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
(Rom 3:22)
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
(Rom 3:25)
- It then by believing in Jesus Christ and the finish work on the cross. It is the only way to righteousness as ordained by God from the beginning. Even between Cain and Abel, only the latter’s sacrifice was acceptable because the offering of propitiation.
- Christ is the propitiation because by his becoming our substitute and assuming our obligations he expiated (atone) our guilt, covered it, by the vicarious (taking our) punishment which he endured.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
(Rom 5:1-2)
- By being justified (declared righteous) we than have peace with God. It is as though the door way is Faith, entering in Grace (in which is where our ground or standing), where we have Hope of the glory of God.
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
(Luk 10:20)
- Our joy comes thus knowing that we are saved by faith with an eternal hope that bears the very glory of God. Our hope is as sure as God’s zealousness for His glory.
In summary this is what we inherit:
i) Made Righteous, in respect to God
ii) Peace, in respect to the brethren in the faith (Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
(Eph 4:3))
iii) Joy in the Holy Spirit, in respect to ourselves; The Holy Spirit being the inspirer (comforter) of that joy that passes human understanding.
B. Obey the His Commandments
The word used is to ‘observe’ denoting being on guard with regard to all the commandments. Why does it take strength and courage to obey carefully? It’s probably because obedience requires strength and courage.
- Obedience may cost us. It will be definitely our pride and rights for others. The middle letter in the word PRIDE is ‘I’ and that has to die.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
(Mat 5:38-41)
- Obedience is total submission; self is no longer the master. Either He is Lord of all, or not at all.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
(Gal 2:20)
He must increase, but I must decrease.
(Joh 3:30)
- Obedience is able to forgive freely; especially those we find it most difficult to
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
(Mat 5:44)
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
(Mat 6:14-15)
- Obedience is following Jesus whole heartedly; a consistency that is required.
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
(Luk 9:23)
The rich young ruler that Jesus was talking to walked away with sadness due to perceived loss. What is our response? Is giving up the ‘now’ too difficult for us to gain the eternal?
C. Conclusion
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
(Mat 7:21)
From what the Bible teaches us, it would seem that it is seem that the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven and unquestionable obedience requires a lot of strength and a high dose of courage. Nevertheless, we must consider the abundance of life that Jesus offers in John 10:10. The contrary of that would expose us to be prey to the devil that comes to steal, kill and destroy. Fullness of Life on this side of heaven as well as the other is definitely worth the cost for Jesus Christ the Son of God gave ALL that we might have LIFE.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Enter the Gate of Life
Matt 7:
13 " Enter by the narrow gate; for wide [is] the gate and broad [is] the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 "Because narrow [is] the gate and difficult [is] the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
- Many great men and women in Scripture have chosen the right gate and way of living
- This is a matter of choice we have to personally make
- Just like salvation, we make our choice to believe in Jesus
- After salvation there's a choice to follow the gate and pathway we want to walk in our Christian pilgrimage
- The Israelites were saved out of Egypt and preserved by the blood, but didn't chose correctly thus perished in the wilderness
- God didn’t save us to die, but to have life and all its abundance! (John 10:10)
- Don't make the same mistake as the Israelites did during the exodus
1. Who is Jesus addressing?
Matt 5:
And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
- The Sermon on the Mount begins with Jesus' disciples coming to Him. If they weren't His disciples they wouldn't have give Jesus their time to sit and listen.
- Therefore the call to enter the narrow gate and walk the difficult way is meant for His disciples. Are there then those who claim themselves to be His disciples choosing the wrong gate and way? Unfortunately yes and many WILL go in by it
- There are but two ways right and wrong, good and evil; the way to heaven and the way to hell; in the one or other of these all are walking:
- There is no middle place hereafter, no middle way now
Matt 24:
40 Then shall two be in the field ; the one shall be taken , and the other left . 41 Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill ; the one shall be taken , and the other left . 42 Watch therefore : for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come .
- Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Samuel, the Nazirites, David, John the Baptist, Stephen, Paul, etc chose the narrow gate and difficult way
- We will look into the life of Abraham who in got out of the world's system and entered the narrow gate and walked difficult way.
2. Get out to enter in!
12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram , Get thee out of thy country , and from thy kindred , and from thy father's house , unto a land that I will shew thee:
- Abram made mistakes but God was with him
- His journey wasn't an easy one having no son till 100 (just he but Sarah also suffered ridicule) plus a difficult nephew who had only eyes for the world (and having to rescue him through battle and intercession)
Four I Wills
Gen 12:
12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram , Get thee out of thy country , and from thy kindred , and from thy father's house , unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation , and I will bless thee, and make thy name great ; and thou shalt be a blessing : 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed .
1. I will show thee
God will personally guide our pilgrim's progress and ensure our protection and providence. God showed the Israelites the way to the promiseland by His guiding presence. More importantly the laws and ordinances were given on their journey.
Psa 119:
105 Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet , and a light unto my path .
2. I will exalt you
Jam 4:
6 But he giveth more grace . Wherefore he saith , God resisteth the proud , but giveth grace unto the humble .
- Gen 6:8, Noah found grace in God's eyes thus preserved when everything around were destroyed
Psa 37:
34 Wait on the LORD , and keep his way , and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land (promises):
- Exaltation by God and not men, brings an inheritance of His promises
3. I will bless you
4. I will bless others through you!
The difficult way
1. God loves me and has a destiny for me
Rom 8:
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God , to them who are the called according to [his] purpose .
- First we have to know and know in our heart of hearts that God has an eternal good for each one of us
- Just as the Israelites were destined to the Promiseland following with abundance of richness (milk) and sweetness (honey) of life, and failed. So near yet so far. Can see and even taste of its goodness but can't claim
2. Lessons on the pathway of life
Psa 119:
71 [It is] good for me that I have been afflicted ; that I might learn thy statutes .
- Unfortunately important lessons in life can't be learned without pain
- We do need to learn them because our human or sinful nature contradict His
1 Pet 4:
1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh , arm yourselves likewise with the same mind : for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin ; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of [his] time in the flesh to the lusts of men , but to the will of God .
- Make no mistake that God's dealings with our sinful flesh can be severe
- Submit and not struggle, for His thoughts and ways are for our greater good (Isa 55:8-9)
3. Values of the pathway of life
Phil 3:
7 But what things were gain to me , those I counted loss for Christ . 8 Yea doubtless , and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord : for whom I have suffered the loss of all things , and do count them [but] dung , that I may win Christ ,
- Our pilgrimage will require us to shed baggage
- Shed things that don't have eternal value and take on a excellent, supreme knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Who is the Way (no other alternative), is the Truth (reality, no deception and without regret) and is the Life (Zoe : absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God) (John 14:6)
4. Reward in the pathway of life
Matt 5:
11 Blessed are ye , when [men] shall revile you , and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely , for my sake . 12 Rejoice , and be exceeding glad : for great [is] your reward in heaven : for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you .
- People in the church that choose the narrow gate and difficult way will go against the grain of 'normal' Christian life because they are willing to allow God to deal with our sin.
Eph 1:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world , that we should be holy and without blame before him in love :
- God wants us to end up holy (remember that He has a destiny for us, this is it! Even before the foundation of the world)
- So how serious do we think God is about sin if He has it in His heart right from the beginning
- Therefore our reward is of great heavenly value and eternal in nature
- Unfortunately the majority in our churches seeks after the 'now' rewards of earthly gains where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal (Matt 6:19)
- The cousin's understand this more than us, hence the following of the call to jihad which is willing to lose everything for heavenly gain. But we know what their end is.
Matt 7:
13 " Enter by the narrow gate; for wide [is] the gate and broad [is] the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 "Because narrow [is] the gate and difficult [is] the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
- Many great men and women in Scripture have chosen the right gate and way of living
- This is a matter of choice we have to personally make
- Just like salvation, we make our choice to believe in Jesus
- After salvation there's a choice to follow the gate and pathway we want to walk in our Christian pilgrimage
- The Israelites were saved out of Egypt and preserved by the blood, but didn't chose correctly thus perished in the wilderness
- God didn’t save us to die, but to have life and all its abundance! (John 10:10)
- Don't make the same mistake as the Israelites did during the exodus
1. Who is Jesus addressing?
Matt 5:
And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
- The Sermon on the Mount begins with Jesus' disciples coming to Him. If they weren't His disciples they wouldn't have give Jesus their time to sit and listen.
- Therefore the call to enter the narrow gate and walk the difficult way is meant for His disciples. Are there then those who claim themselves to be His disciples choosing the wrong gate and way? Unfortunately yes and many WILL go in by it
- There are but two ways right and wrong, good and evil; the way to heaven and the way to hell; in the one or other of these all are walking:
- There is no middle place hereafter, no middle way now
Matt 24:
40 Then shall two be in the field ; the one shall be taken , and the other left . 41 Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill ; the one shall be taken , and the other left . 42 Watch therefore : for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come .
- Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Samuel, the Nazirites, David, John the Baptist, Stephen, Paul, etc chose the narrow gate and difficult way
- We will look into the life of Abraham who in got out of the world's system and entered the narrow gate and walked difficult way.
2. Get out to enter in!
12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram , Get thee out of thy country , and from thy kindred , and from thy father's house , unto a land that I will shew thee:
- Abram made mistakes but God was with him
- His journey wasn't an easy one having no son till 100 (just he but Sarah also suffered ridicule) plus a difficult nephew who had only eyes for the world (and having to rescue him through battle and intercession)
Four I Wills
Gen 12:
12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram , Get thee out of thy country , and from thy kindred , and from thy father's house , unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation , and I will bless thee, and make thy name great ; and thou shalt be a blessing : 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed .
1. I will show thee
God will personally guide our pilgrim's progress and ensure our protection and providence. God showed the Israelites the way to the promiseland by His guiding presence. More importantly the laws and ordinances were given on their journey.
Psa 119:
105 Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet , and a light unto my path .
2. I will exalt you
Jam 4:
6 But he giveth more grace . Wherefore he saith , God resisteth the proud , but giveth grace unto the humble .
- Gen 6:8, Noah found grace in God's eyes thus preserved when everything around were destroyed
Psa 37:
34 Wait on the LORD , and keep his way , and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land (promises):
- Exaltation by God and not men, brings an inheritance of His promises
3. I will bless you
4. I will bless others through you!
The difficult way
1. God loves me and has a destiny for me
Rom 8:
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God , to them who are the called according to [his] purpose .
- First we have to know and know in our heart of hearts that God has an eternal good for each one of us
- Just as the Israelites were destined to the Promiseland following with abundance of richness (milk) and sweetness (honey) of life, and failed. So near yet so far. Can see and even taste of its goodness but can't claim
2. Lessons on the pathway of life
Psa 119:
71 [It is] good for me that I have been afflicted ; that I might learn thy statutes .
- Unfortunately important lessons in life can't be learned without pain
- We do need to learn them because our human or sinful nature contradict His
1 Pet 4:
1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh , arm yourselves likewise with the same mind : for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin ; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of [his] time in the flesh to the lusts of men , but to the will of God .
- Make no mistake that God's dealings with our sinful flesh can be severe
- Submit and not struggle, for His thoughts and ways are for our greater good (Isa 55:8-9)
3. Values of the pathway of life
Phil 3:
7 But what things were gain to me , those I counted loss for Christ . 8 Yea doubtless , and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord : for whom I have suffered the loss of all things , and do count them [but] dung , that I may win Christ ,
- Our pilgrimage will require us to shed baggage
- Shed things that don't have eternal value and take on a excellent, supreme knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Who is the Way (no other alternative), is the Truth (reality, no deception and without regret) and is the Life (Zoe : absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God) (John 14:6)
4. Reward in the pathway of life
Matt 5:
11 Blessed are ye , when [men] shall revile you , and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely , for my sake . 12 Rejoice , and be exceeding glad : for great [is] your reward in heaven : for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you .
- People in the church that choose the narrow gate and difficult way will go against the grain of 'normal' Christian life because they are willing to allow God to deal with our sin.
Eph 1:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world , that we should be holy and without blame before him in love :
- God wants us to end up holy (remember that He has a destiny for us, this is it! Even before the foundation of the world)
- So how serious do we think God is about sin if He has it in His heart right from the beginning
- Therefore our reward is of great heavenly value and eternal in nature
- Unfortunately the majority in our churches seeks after the 'now' rewards of earthly gains where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal (Matt 6:19)
- The cousin's understand this more than us, hence the following of the call to jihad which is willing to lose everything for heavenly gain. But we know what their end is.
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