Monday July 2, 2012

In what areas are you lacking courage?

How will you change this?

 

Read Deuteronomy 31:1-11

 

Picture yourself lying on your death bed after a long and industrious life for Christ Jesus. As your children gather around to bid your farewell, what words would you speak to them? What would you say? Think seriously for a moment. What would you say to your children and grandchildren as you await that final parting?

 

Moses knows that he’s about to die. He’s 120 years old and God has told him in no uncertain terms that he will NOT enter the Promised Land. He will die on this side of the Jordan River.

 

And in his last speech Moses encourages the people and Joshua, their new leader, to be strong and courageous. The impact of these words is incredible. More than ever the church needs men and women to be strong and courageous. In an age where family is being attacked, marriage is being redefined and God’s Word is being doubted, even from within the Church, we need Christian men and women to be courageous.

 

Moses’ exhortation was on the basis of God’s leading and moving ahead of them. God would enter the land ahead of them. God would defeat the armies before them. God would pave the way for them.  The exhortation in the New Testament is not ‘God ahead of us’ but ‘God in us.’ That is why Paul can call the men (not a generic term like people or person) of the Church (See 1 Corinthians 16:13) to be men of courage. Men, step up! Take the lead. Stop hiding. Stop shying away. Be men of courage. Be men of action. Be men of leadership. Why? Because Christ is in you. You have the hope of glory living in you. You are filled with God’s Holy Spirit.

 

Sometimes our life may seem like a walk in the desert with a huge mountain ahead us that needs climbing. Despair? Quitting? Resignation to failure? Running the other way? None of these are options for the believers. Christ is in you. Conquer that mountain!

 

Prayer:

¥ Pray for the believers you know who are facing mountains before them. Pray that through Christ they will conquer and be victorious. Pray that God’s Spirit will raise up men of courage in your congregation and that they would lead in God given humility, love and service. Pray this especially for your eldership.

¥ Pray for a decisive growth in your congregation through conversions. Pray that every single person courageously steps out in faith to share the work of Jesus and that through this courage we see substantial growth in your congregation.