R851 When God Speaks About Strength and Courage

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The strength and courage that comes in trusting God see you're listening to The Encouraging Word featuring the Bible-based preaching of Dr. Don Wilton and his message Godspeed about strength and courage as we open the word of God together today will be heading to the book of Joshua as we do so we want you to know actually Dr. Don Wilton another we hear for you. Would love to pray with you and for you, you can connect with us on our website at tewonline.org that's DEW online.org a great place to follow Dr. Donald social media or maybe listen this message or share with a friend. We can also give us a call at 866899 word 866-899-9673 would love to connect with you about today's message with Dr. Don Wilton believably important things from God's word. As we tried to discover what God says to us when he speaks about strength and courage and I'm going to invite you to turn with me in your Bibles to Joshua in the Old Testament in chapter 1, you want to follow along. There are some remarkable principles, you are in God's word that is gonna bless you today and I'm going to have something to say about it. I just wonder loss on these blessings to you.

I'm going to read to you from Joshua chapter 1 and beginning at verse one. The Bible says that often the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of nun, Moses my servant is dead now that you know all these people get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land that I'm about to give them to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot as I promised Moses your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, from the great river Euphrates, all the Hittite country.

The great sea on the waste. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I'll be with you. I will never leave nor forsake be strong and courageous because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all my servant Moses gave do not turn from it to the right or to the left so that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth meditate on it day and night, so that you may do everything written in it. Then be prosperous and successful about Malcolm Montague.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. So Joshua ordered the offices of the people go through the camp and tell the people get your supplies ready three days from now.

You cross the Jordan here, to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you form your own. I'm going to skip over all lot of the I want to read to verse 16 and 17 in Leonce, and Joshua, whatever you have commanded us. We will do an wherever you send us.

We will go just as we fully obeyed Moses so we will obey you only may the Lord your God be with you. As he was with Moses. I began this study in my own heart by asking an important question when we most need strength and courage. What occasions present themselves to us. I simply share with you three thoughts number one when the news is not good. I should imagine that. Hardly a week goes by that I do not have the privilege of partnering with somebody who receives bad news. Life is food with bad news. No matter how much we try to avoid runaway from the prepayments not there. You and I know differently, not life is filled with bad news and that's when we become most vulnerable and susceptible. That's when we capitulate.

That's when we lose strength and courage when the news is not good when your marriage begins to file when the D word is mentioned when you summing your daughter, rebel maybe get involved in drugs or alcohol. Perhaps the telephone rings and it's the police department thanks you just been to the doctor's office and the doctors giving you the news that you absolutely did not want to hear that diagnosis you have cancer, you have some disease and sickness.

The news is not good. I could list a whole lot of things you went to the office and you'll boss called you and said you'll work is no longer required. You suddenly find yourself without a drop Go back and tell your family about. We could go all when we need strength and courage when the news is not good, but number two when the future is not bright folks. We already future minded people we can't help. I can't help it. I'm going to the beach. I cannot wait to do this next week we got to do that we gotta go on vacation here. We gonna do this activity we already future oriented people when we need strength and courage in the news is not good when the future is not bright and then number three when the journey is not present.

I want you to take a poll of yourself today and ask yourself whether or not you enjoy going through a broken marriage. I want you to go to a parent today and say you know. Do you enjoy the fact that your son is so rebellious. Don't you just love all the tension in your home. Maybe you've seen the worst. Your husband died your wife your best friend.

The journey is not pleasant. Being diagnosed with that sickness.

The doctors made it very clear radiation therapy treatment take these tablets that I know they going to make you feel ill, but we believe that going to work.

It's one thing to take a tablet. It's another thing to experience the journey, some frames there are so many times that you and I know that we need strength and we need coverage.

We already vulnerable people. God had something special to site and Joshua now want to share these things with you today. I want you to note some things and write them in the annals of your heart to God's going to bless you. When God speaks about strength and courage. First of all, he gives a personal word I want you to notice something here in verse one. When this happened. The Bible tells us that God himself had a conversation with Joshua himself. When I was just a boy growing up we used to sing a wonderful chorus.

I hear it every now and again about how great is God and we would sing the chorus would go something like this. He rules this mighty universe and yet he is so small that he drills within my heart. You know, one of the distinguishing features facts of being a believer in Jesus Christ is that when I accept them into my heart and live. He is my personal savior.

I have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. And when God speaks to me and to you concerning the manner of strength and courage.

He gives a personal word.

Now how does he do this well. Often times through circumstances, God allows things to happen. Some of you today even before you began to worship something happened. It was a circumstance to perhaps too numerous to for me to try dimensional give you illustrations. The circumstances of life.

Even the strange circumstances of life like having a friend Amanda or stubbing your toe on the sidewalk or running out of gas somewhere and someone comes and helps you like God is just same to Guardian Angel to give you a special word right you took a wrong turn when you were going for you treatment at the hospital and you went down the right car going state of the left coronal when you did. You ran into the right person and had you not taken the wrong car door, you would not have run into that person.

God speaks to you personally, through circumstances, often he speaks to us through friends and family.

I don't know where we would be without our friends and family. Do you have amazing how sometimes a husband or wife or son, daughter, close friend just say is the right thing at the right time in the right place and have no idea that what they did was say the right thing. On Friday I had a meeting with some friends of mine. I'm telling you they they have no idea how much they placed me by some of the things that they say in the bottom line life to find me gave me strength and courage for the journey.

How does he speak to us personally, often through the church. That's what's wonderful to be in God's house churches like us all across America all around the world meeting on being preempted in this message this morning. Happens every Sunday quiet essay Terry Thelen's@be strong, be of good courage, something somehow prayer that was saying maybe someone shook your hand a little while ago.

You just needed a handshake. You know you would've preferred a hug and a kiss but you'd save over a handshake spaceship. She's pretty and sitting right next to you, but she just doesn't get it does but you say preferred and you know exactly, something happened God spoke to you personally through church. He speaks often through his word I just read the word of God just now when I was studying this passage long before I preached on it. God spoke to me. He speaks often through his Spirit is spirit which dwells in us had that same swear, you just look at somebody and say I can't explain to you but I just know this that still small but powerful voice of the Lord just speaking to you in ministering to you embracing your heart is the bottom line, when God speaks to us about strength and courage. He gives us a personal word doesn't just for you just for me. Number two. He makes a definitive statement. I praise you gotta listen carefully. This will bless you, I promise you in major ways verse two, when God speaks when he spoke to Joshua. He began with a definitive statement. What was he's definitive statement Garrett is Moses is day any questions I'm going to show you something today. My precious friend because we as human beings struggling with this issue as much as any other issue in the journey of life and that is making a definitive statement about the circumstance or the circumstances that have closed our lack of strength and courage to begin with. I made to invite you. Perhaps at some time to take your Bible get a piece of pie, but and sit down and write a definitive statement about you. My daughter is pregnant. My son is taking drugs. I lost my job. I have no finances. I cannot make my house payment. I am pregnant.

My father died, my wife died.

She's with Jesus. Write it down, make a definitive statement God came into the presence of Moses scenting down and seeing Josh and saving Joshua Carol.

The now want you to show something votes. I want you to listen because we all made the way we are muddying. It is essential that we come to grips with the condition in which we find ourselves erupt back and discover more about definitive condition in just a moment, God's during your heart and perhaps you have some questions about the scriptural questions that you like to have someone talk about as we study the word together.this number down. Dr. Don reminds us that we all need to aim friends and even at 2 AM. You can see 998668999673 or meters online online.org now that's today's message when God speaks about strength and courage with Dr. Don Wilton came to Joshua and made a definitive statement. I'm going to show you what happened why we need to do this because they will immediately follow things that are necessary to give me strength and courage to make me whole again lead the come to stand up straight again. What's this about what happened when you make a statement. First of all, you're putting yourself in a position season decisions must be made when I am emotionally tied up.

This is what happens is this lady and she loses her husband. She loved her husband, her best friend and she loved him. They did everything together and he's gone home to be with the Lord Jesus Christ came the loneliness, the separation now watch what happens then playing which we all have that loneliness that grief that separation prevents us from making decisions. That's why most people who have been hurt or find themselves in a trough or in the Valley thing that they struggle with is the ability to make a decision now I can understand that that that is an extra marital lien typical thing to come to grips with God came to Joshua made an announcement, Moses is dead. You see friends we we are afraid to make statements like that because it sounds like we sign will therefore I'm going to forget these people all day for Monday to push this out of my life. Therefore I don't care. God didn't make that statement to the detriment of Moses in fact Moses testimony grew and grew and grew. He became greater and greater and greater ease influence was more and more present and prevalent. He became a mighty man of valor and still is to this day we're still reading about him in 2006, with still being encouraged by him and strengthened by him, but in what needed to Joshua with a statement my is pregnant. I do not have a job, my marriage is in serious trouble.

I have messed up. I made a mistake. I have been St. Louis to prison. Whatever it might be number one.

Decisions must be made.

Now watch this. Number two conclusions must be reached. You will never reach a conclusion. Now what is a conclusion I conclusion wraps it up. It helps you to put some kind of finality on what ever it is you never reach a conclusion or formulate a conclusion unless a decision is my and decisions must be made in order for conclusions to be reached so that new goals can be sent.

What does payment hurt due to all of us stops us from making decisions. It prevents us from reaching conclusions. It eliminates the setting of new goals we just capitulate.

We stop, we withdraw and when you goals are established, it is only then that I can go and seek help. I cannot seek help from all the help that is available to me if I haven't made a decision. If I don't have conclusions that I'm pertaining to, if I don't have goals that I'm trying to put time to what's the good of mankind get help. I have many people to come and sit down and talk to me and they are hurting so badly and they find themselves in such circumstances, and I just cannot make that and accept that definitive statement I cannot make a decision by cannot reach a conclusion that got new goals and so when they come for help that I don't even know what they were asking for and so they'll sit there and go round and round and round and round and round and you can talk for hundred dollars at the end of it, but I look at you now say well thanks, but I still feel exactly the same and it is sold.

Number five, faith, hope and trust must be restored.

There is a progressive development that God gives to me. I watch those folks was God have to say when he speaks about strength and courage gives us a personal wording makes a definitive statement number three includes all affected people. I want you to look at the second part of verse two, he says now been you and all the people you know that the human condition is so affected by what everybody else is affected by that the consideration as to the effect upon other people preventing those who are being from being able to overcome what they being affected now watch those folks don't talk to mothers about this night know about that.

It's one of the most beautiful things in life I want. I called them concentric circles of concern get a piece of paper and draw a circle, put your name and and then drool the circles connected into that circle of all the people that are impacted by your life. I know you will be that your husband or wife or sons or daughters your grandchildren your best friend put all circles interconnected so one circle gets affected. You get hurt you.

Through the cracks you have that diagnosis you going through a difficult journey.

The reason why you find it difficult to deal with what is happening to you is because you're concerned about the manner with which your claim is going to affect everybody else because you love your children now watch what happens folks. What is a person do them well you suppress, you say well I'm hurting but I'm not going to show anybody. While I know that this is tough for me but I'm just going to push it down now what happens when you start pushing things down when you internalize you become a walking volcano. That's right folks shows what happens. That's where your headaches come from your aches and pains that feeling like you cannot go on anymore those inexplicable things you start to put on all kinds of weight you feel sluggish you cannot get out of bed in the morning you never seem to get a grip on life. Life just gets Claudia and Claudia and Claudia and I will likely it's coming out of something that is very precious you concerned about the way it's going affect children. You want to protect them is what God says says listen when I speak to about strength and encouragement, and courage. I'm going to talk to you in a manner that is going to include all of people God does not operate in isolation. He loves us that much. He went to Joshua and he said this, he said. Now you and all the people get ready watch what God is going to do friend let me tell you something. The greatest thing that you can do today is to take a personal word from God, make a definitive statement about what it is that is causing your problem, understand and accept that God is going to include all affected people by your circumstance he is going to help you to take care of those that you care about most of all, and a number four. Here is the specifics of these promises. Well you can do right throughout this passage tells us the very details of these promises as he speaks about strength and encouragement. He'd he looks caring to the heart of Joshua and he says listen because the boundary had these are the number of people I want today. By this time, this place, why does he do that.

Why does he affirm the specifics of these promises because number one. He is the God of decision number two.

He is the God of direction and number three. He is the God of the trial. Now, folks watch this when you and I experience pain.

What are the three things that suffer most number one.

The decisions that I have to like number two. The direction that I need to go and number three. The details of my journey you listening who is God.

When God gives to see specific promises. He reminds us that he's the God of decision.

He reminds us that he's the God of direction. He said listen in all your ways acknowledge me and I will you got it.

Direct your path is the God of detail you say listen you talking about micromanaging God micromanages you and me. By the way, did you know that you were micromanaging you off for me and one the pre-might God put every intricate detail into the human body. Personally, he made us exactly as we all within number five.

He requires a response when God speaks to us concerning strength and courage requires a response 16 and 17 also clear. This is the clarion call of Christian discipleship. I want you to know my friends that God does not accept anything less than wholehearted acceptance and obedience. He shows us himself. He reveals his word says what you gonna do with it.just be heroes of the word news of the word.

Now watch this into its flat. I'm going to give you the five actions required for strength and courage action number one preparation God said to Joshua, get ready friends.

Very few things in life come without preparation.

Number two claim in verse six God's word talks about inheritance.

Do you know that because God loves us and because Jesus Christ died for us upon the cross, he has given to us an inheritance and unbelievable inheritance.

God has made available to us all that is necessary to have strength and courage for the journey.

Claimant action number three. Remember from verse six and following remember what God is done.

Don't forget take a look back and see what God is done. Number four uphold the Bible says uphold the law of God, take hold and uphold and then number five I love this one action digest. The Bible says in verse eight. Do not let this book apart from you.

In fact, digested is what he tells us at a time of worship like this take the word of God swallow and live it digest laid it down into every corner every fabric of your human being and becoming God driven person and when you do that you will find strength and courage that you never knew existed.

Powerful messages are that kind God driven person that we know we need to be if you're like me, none of us are, and none of us are as strong as we like to be in our faith that we can take decisions every single day to renew our faith work and and that's true if you arty belong to Jesus Christ and below to pray with you about that next if you haven't given your heart to Jesus you this getaway closing talk. Are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer with me right now. Dear God, I know that on the seventh and I know that Jesus died for me today. I repainted my sin and by faith I receive you into my Jesus night, my friend. I would welcome you today into the family of God. This is exciting. You you just pray that welcome to the family of God. Maybe it's the first time or maybe you be dedicating your life. Either way, we have wonderful resources to put in your hands just called and asked for them at 86689866899673 like to connect with us online. Our website tewonline.org. He has a wonderful set of resources that can help you grow know someone needs we have our online store online like having increasing books 4 hours a day, you will find serving reach card. I think here this evening. Encouraging Word is a new or threatening God to supply our needs time to St. Dr. Don's got a message of buying the phone number 86899 word 66899967