5 Biblical Powerful Biblical Principles For Missional Living
/In this video I am going to share with you 5 Biblical Principles for living a missional life found from Jesus' Sermon On The Mount.
5 Biblical Principles For Shining The Light Of Christ
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“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
#1: ALL CHRISTIANS HAVE THE LIGHT - NOT JUST SOME!
"You are the light ..."
Having the Light of Christ isn't for just a few special people. Every single person who has given their life over to Christ by faith has the light!
#2: CHRISTIANS ARE TO SHINE THE LIGHT IN THE WORLD - NOT CHURCH BUILDINGS!
"You are the light of the world ..."
To much of what we do to shine the Light of Christ happens in building tucked away from the real world. The people who need to see the Light of Christ are not coming into our church buildings. Christ told us to go shine His light in the world.
#3: CHRISTIANS ARE TO DISPLAY THE LIGHT - NOT HIDE IT!
"A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house."
We are not to hide the light away so nobody knows that you follow Christ. Instead, we are to shine His light in a way that lots of people can see it and benefit from it.
#4: GOOD DEEDS IS THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LIGHT - NOT JUST WORDS!
"let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds"
Doing good deeds or loving actions is a way to illuminate people's lives so they can see Christ and God's love.
#5: THE GOAL IS TO GLORIFY GOD - NOT OUSELVES!
"glorify your Father in heaven"
The goal of shining the Light of Christ is for people to glorify God the Father. It should never be our aim to get the glory for ourselves. The glory always belongs to God and God alone!
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Missional Living Is Kind
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Jesus said that the world would know that we are His disciples by our love for one another and the Apostle Paul said that love in kind, so one of the ways the world will know about Jesus is through our kindness. Watch this video to learn more and then take some time to evaluate your own missional living to see if kindness is part of it.
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5 Things To Be Clear About For Powerful Missional Living
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When it comes to living a powerful missional life that brightly shines the Light of Christ there are some things one needs to be absolutely clear about! Today we are going to look at 5 of them. We will be looking at Joshua 1:1-9 with the call of Joshua to join God on His mission and the 5 things God made perfectly clear for him so that he would be able to accomplish the task he was being assigned.
I. You Need A Clear Word From God! (v. 1-2)
"After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 'Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites."
Here we see God coming to Joshua explaining to him the situation about the death of Moses, about how He was appointing Joshua to become the new leader and commanding him to get the people ready to cross over into the Promised Land! Basically God is telling Joshua to GET READY - GET THE PEOPLE READY - YOU'RE HEADING OUT!
In this passage there is no indication that Joshua was confused about who it was that was talking to him. Joshua knew it was God!
There is also know indication that Joshua was confused about what God was telling him to do. Joshua knew exactly what God was telling him to do!
To be effective in missional living we need to tune our heart, mind and spirit to be able to recognize when God is speaking to us and to understand what God is telling us to do. There can't be any confusion on either point. We are following Jesus on His mission and as such we need to be able to understand when God is shifting gears or making course correction. WE NEED TO HAVE A CLEAR WORD FROM GOD!
II. You Need To Claim God's Clear Promises! (v. 3)
"I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses."
Did you catch the fact that God was giving Joshua a "Clear Promise"! God used the phrase, "I will"! It didn't say, "I might" or "It's more than likely" but it was a very definite, " I will". He gave the same promise to Joshua that He gave to Moses.
The Bible tells us in 2 Cor 1:20 that all the promises of God are "Yes" for those that are in Christ. When we know and by faith hold onto God and His promises we can claim those promises for living a powerful missional life. Knowing God's promises and knowing that God has said "yes" to those promises for us who are in Christ is powerful when shining the Light of Christ.
III. You Need To Receive A Clear Vision From God! (v. 4)
"Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west."
Did you notice how clear and specific God's explanation of what the Promised Land consists of? God gave Joshua the exact boundaries that the Promised Land would reside in.
When God assigns a mission He imparts a vision that is very specific! When God told Noah to build an ark, God was specific in the exact way he wanted it to be built. God's vision is always clear and specific.
What has God clearly called you to do? What does it look like? What things need to happen and take place for it to be done?
IV. You Need To Rest On God's Clear Assurances (v. 5)
"No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."
In this passage God give two assurances that Joshua could hold on to:
No one will able to stand against you all the days of your life;
God presence would never leave him.
In Matthew 28:18-20 we have what has come to be known as Christ's Great Commission. In it Jesus gives us, who are on mission with Him, 2 assurances. These two assurances are:
That Jesus has the authority to assign us this mission. We are on a mission under the authority of God himself.
And that His presence would be with us always!
Once you clearly internalize the reality that you are on a mission under the authority of Christ himself, who has all authority in both Heaven and earth, and that Christ himself, through the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit goes with us that's the makings of a powerful missional life!
V. You Need To Hold On To God's Clear Guarantee For Success (v. 6-9)
"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
3 different times we hear God telling Joshua to be strong and courageous. These 3 reminders was to emphasize God's guaranteed success!
Verse 6: tells Joshua to be strong and courageous because "He will lead them to inherit the land". There's no if's, and's or but's - Joshua would accomplish this mission.
Verses 7-8: tells Joshua to be strong and very courageous because obedience to the Law of Moses guarantees success.
Verse 9: Reminds Joshua to be strong and courageous - don't tremble or be dismayed because God is with him wherever he goes and because of God's presence success is guaranteed.
We too can be confident of our success to the mission that Christ has called us to because Christ is the Sovereign Lord of all creation. HIs will must be done!
How Patient Are You In Your Missional Life?
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Jesus told His disciples that the world would know that they are His disciples by their love for others. Love for others is the proof of a sincere relationship with Christ. Love is the Light of Christ that shines from us to others who still need to know Christ.
The Apostle Paul in I Corn. 13 says that "Love is patient" - therefore I like to say that "Missional Living is Patient". Watch this video and then evaluate yourself and ask how loving or patient are you with those who still need to know Christ.
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Missional Living Is All About Loving!
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Jesus told us what the proof of truly being His disciples, which is to be on mission.
"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35
Watch this video and then ask yourself: "Do I live the kind of missional life that proves I am a true Follower of Christ?"
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16 Proofs Your Missional Living Is Sincere!
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One of the most effective tools for living a powerful missional life is the ability to sincerely love those who don't know Christ. Listen to what Jesus says in John 13:35
"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Did you see that? The proof of our life in Christ and the proof of us living a sincere missional life is our ability to love others. How we love others will speak loudly to those who have not surrender their life over to Christ if our message is true or not.
IT'S OUR ABILITY TO LOVE! THEREFORE, LOVE IS THE PROOF OF SINCERE MISSIONAL LIVING!
But what does love look like when it comes to missional living? It's a nice thought but how do you put it into practice? Let's take a look at 1 Cor. 13:4-8 and see how the Bible describes love and through it we will get a better idea of how we are to love those who don't know Christ yet!
1. Missional Living Is Patient
How patient are you with people? Are you willing to allow time for the Holy Spirit to work in their life? Or are you pushy and demand people to respond quickly and immediately! When it comes to missional living we need to remember that we are working on God's time table and not our own.
2. Missional Living Is Kind
Kindness is a virtue that is an absolute essential when it comes to share Christ with people. Being helpful and meeting peoples needs people know you are not just all talk. Dale Carnegie has been quoted saying, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." When it comes to missional living that is so very true!
3. Missional Living Is Not Envious
Missional Living is never about what you can get from others but what you can give to them. When you are envious of people (their lifestyle, possessions etc..) it's nearly impossible to sincerely share Christ and His love for them. Why? Because your eye is on what someone has and not on whom (Christ) you can share with them.
4. Missional Living Is Not Boastful
Missional Living is never about bragging yourself or making yourself look good! Mission Living is bragging on Christ and making him look desirous.
5. Missional Living Is Never Proud
Missional Living is be willing to go to the homeless, the helpless, the beaten down and the forgotten. People filled with pride have no room in their heart to associate with the outcasts of this world. By the way those were the ones Jesus specifically targeted to go and share the Gospel to first.
6. Missional Living Is Not Rude
Missional Living is sincerely being nice to those of the world. There are to many people in the name of "sharing the Gospel" sound more rude and hateful. How is possible to sincerely share God's Good News and do it rudely? You can't!
7. Missional Living Is Not Selfish
Missional Living is not about "YOU" but about "OTHERS".
8. Missional Living Is Not Angered
Missional Living can take the insults, the slandering, and the abuse and still feel love and compassion even for those who are hurting them.
9. Missional Living Doesn't Hold Grudges
Missional Living doesn't keep any records of wrongs done to them. There will be times when someone will hurt you over and over again but its you unconditional love for them that God uses to soften their hearts and come to faith in Christ.
10. Missional Living Doesn't Enjoy In Evil
Missional Living abhors when evil men and activities advance.
11. Missional Living Rejoices In Truth
Missional Living is all about sharing the Truth. The truth of Christ which can set people free!
12. Missional Living Protects
Missional Living is about helping and protecting people and their reputations and not about harming them.
13. Missional Living Trusts
Missional Living is about trusting God to do His work as we are being faithful to our job of sharing the Gospel and making disciples.
14. Missional Living Hope
Missional Living always believes that at some point individuals that we are praying for and sharing with will come to faith in Christ.
15. Missional Living Perseveres
Missional Living never quits - never gives up - never stops. It's always advancing!
16. Missional Living Wins
Missional Living is about sharing with the people of this world how they can "WIN" IN CHRIST!
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How To Keep Moving Forward In Missional Living When Things Get Tough
/How do you keep going in missional living when things get discouraging and difficult? That is the question we are going to look at in todays Missional Living Devotional.
Missional Living: How To Know God's Dream For Your Life!
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Today in our Missional Living Devotional we are going to look at the need for having a dream if we are going to achieve great things as we live a missional life. But the question that needs to be raised is, “Where does that dream come from?” Do we create our own dream? Some people do. Do we allow some other person to tell us what our dream should be? Some people do!
Today I am going to suggest that as Followers of Christ we should allow God to give us the dreams that we pursue and not allow them to come from man. Why? To answer that let's take a look at what the Bible says 1 Cor. 2:9
“However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" -- the things God has prepared for those who love him”
Why should let God be the one to determine the dreams we pursue? Because no human being can dream up a dream big enough that can please God. When you allow God to give you your dreams for you to pursue you will be blow away.
Today we are going to use Jesus as our example. Allowing God the Father to reveal His dreams and purposes was Jesus’ way for knowing what he was to pursue while here on earth.
“Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.” John 5:19-25
I. God’s Dream For Us Always Relates To What He Is Already Doing!
“ …the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing” (v. 19)
A. God is already and always at His work! You don’t have get God working – He’s already working.
“In his defense Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working." John 5:7
B. God isn’t sitting up in Heaven twittling his thumbs waiting for us to ask him to do something. God is already busy about his work.
· The Call Of Moses (God said, "I have come down to … therefore I’m sending you.")
· The Call Of Noah (I have come down to destroy the earth but saving you … therefore build a boat)
This is not a work we do for God but it's a work we do with God. It’s His work that he’s already doing and will do it through us.
II. God Reveals His Dream For Us And Invites Us To Join Him! (v. 20)
· God’s dream for you life isn’t discovered but revealed to you by God. You don't hunt after God's will as if it was hidden somewhere - God shows you what His will is.
· How did Moses know he would deliver the Children of Israel from Egypt? God told him.
· How did Noah know he was to build a boat? God told him.
· How did Abraham know He would have a son in his old age? God told him.
· How did Joshua know how to defeat the city of Jericho and that the wall would come crashing down? God told him.
· How will you know what God’s dream for you is? God will tell you!
Two Important principles to remember:
- Whenever God spoke to someone they all knew it was God speaking to them.
- Whenever God spoke to someone they all knew exactly what He was saying.
Take A Look At The Prophet Jonah: He knew it was God talking to him; he knew what God wanted but he just didn’t want to do it. Even after he did it and the people repented he griped and complained because he knew that if they repented he would forgive them.
III. God Invites Us To Join Him Because He Has A Relationship With Us! (v. 20)
It’s A Love Relationship:
1. It’s out of his love for us that He doesn’t leave us in the dark what is happening or what is going to happen.
2. It’s out of His love for us that he give us an eternal sense of purpose for life.
It’s A Friendship Relationship:
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” John 15:15-16
1. Did you notice that Jesus refers to His disciples (that includes us) as His friends! How amazing is that? What better friend can you have than Jesus? And what great compliment can you be given than for Christ to think of you as His friend?
2. Did you notice how much Jesus makes known to us from God the Father? EVERYTHING!
In other words Jesus holds nothing back! When it comes to a “Need to know basis” you’re in the need to know group!
IV. What Do You Need To Do To Get God To Reveal His Dream?
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:5-6 (NIV)
JUST ASK IN FAITH!
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HOW TO HELP THOSE UNSURE ABOUT GIVING THEIR LIFE TO CHRIST!
/How do you help those people whom you share the Gospel to but aren't ready to surrender their life over to the care and control of Christ? It's not that they are opposed to it but they are just unsure and need more information.
In this short training video we are going to ask and answer that question. I pray you find it to be helpful as you go out and shine the Light of Christ to your part of this dark world!
Please share your thoughts as a comment below! I'd love to hear from you!
6 Principles For Overcoming Temptations
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Temptations isn't something you'll ever grow out of as a Follower in Christ. At least not during this life time. Everyday, from the moment you get up until the time you lie your head back down to sleep you can be tempted to sin against God and people.
Temptation in and of itself isn't a sin. According to the Bible Jesus was tempted but didn't sin! If the most perfect person who has ever lived but did so being tempted, we should expect that we too will be tempted. The Bible does teaches that Christ's Followers can overcome temptation. We don't have to feel helpless and hopeless when it comes to temptation. Christ has made sure that we have all that we need to overcome it.
So today we are going to look at 6 Biblical principles that will aid us in our ability to identify and overcome temptation.
#1: Anticipate Temptations!
"Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:41 (NASB)
In this passage Jesus is warning Peter, James and John to be watching and praying as a strategy to overcome temptation. Jesus says this the night he is to be arrested and while he is in the garden praying for his upcoming arrest. Jesus has already told Peter that before the rooster crows he will deny him three times. An hour earlier Jesus had asked Peter, James and John to pray with him during this time of struggle but when Jesus comes back where he left them to pray he found them instead asleep. Jesus was warning Peter that a time of temptation was headed his way and he needed to be prepared. That preparation was to watch and pray.
How often during the day are you looking around to see if you can see the activities of the enemy and ready to anticipate Satan's temptations? If you're not anticipating that temptation will be coming how can you be ready for it when it does come? In boxing there's a saying, "It's not the hardest punch that knocks you out but the punch you don't see coming." Likewise, it's not the severest temptation that will make you fall but the temptation you see coming! And why don't you see it coming? Because you weren't anticipating it!
#2: Understand Where Temptations Will Attack You!
"But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived , it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death." James 1:14-15 (NASB)
Where will temptations attack you? Where you are weakest! Notice what that verse says! We are tempted when we are carried away by our own lusts. I'm not carried away by someone else's lust. Satan will always attack us at our weakest point. He is looking for the chink in our armor and when he finds it that's where he will attack. If you have a weakness for gossiping - then Satan is going to give you temptation opportunities to to gossip! If your weakness is in drugs then Satan is going to hit those triggers that will cause you to want to get some drugs. It is in the area of your weakness Satan will tempt you to sin!
#3: Cry Out To God!
"Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you and you will honor Me." Psalm 50:15
What should you do in your day of trouble - in your day of temptation? Call upon God! When we are being tempted and I mean right in the midst of temptation, we need to learn to cry out to God for help! We need to do it right then and there before Satan's temptation gets a strong hold on us.
Did you hear God's promise? He says that if we cry out to him in our day of trouble HE WILL RESCUE US! It's not a may rescue you; or you should be rescued but he said he will rescue you. When we cry out for help, as His children, He will show up to help us. When God shows up to help us Satan flees and runs away. Bam! You're Then Rescued!
#4: Find An Accountability Partner
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." James 5:16 (NASB)
Who do you have that you can call when you are going through a really difficult temptation? What Godly person do you know you can trust will not only can keep your confidence but also pray for your deliverance? Having that kind of person in your life will make the temptation experiences less daunting. Having someone you can call immediately when you are being tempted is such a great resource to getting through that time of testing.
#5: Run! Don't Resist!
"A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil. But a fool is arrogant and careless." Proverbs 14:16 (NASB)
Notice the wise man is the one who turns away from the evil or from the temptation to do evil. He leaves the situation but the foolish man is the one who is arrogant and careless.
First I want us to look at the foolish and arrogant person. Why are they foolish and arrogant? Because they think that they don't need any help to overcome temptation! They feel they can stand in the midst of the temptation and resist it. Understand this the Bible never tells us to resist temptation. It does say to resist Satan but never temptation. Why? Because the longer you stand in the temptation situation telling yourself you're going to resist it the only thing you are thinking about is the temptation. YOU CAN'T RESIST IT! Instead you need to RUN FROM IT!
"I Thought about the wrong direction in which I was headed and turned around an came running back to you." Ps. 119:59 (LB)
Once you realize that you are in tempting situation you need to run away from that situation. Don't walk! Don't saunter away! No! You need to RUN! Get yourself out of that situation! Get yourself away from that temptation as quickly as possible. And where do you run to? TO GOD! The best place to be to overcome temptation is in the presence of our Lord God! Why? Because that's one place Satan would never dare to try and tempt you. God is your refuge of safety! He is the Rock of your salvation! He is your high and mighty tower where you can find safety for your soul.
#6: Look For God's Escape!
"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." 1 Cor. 10:13 (NASB)
Did you read the part where the scripture says that God will always make sure that every temptation you experience there is a way of escape! The question isn't whether there's a way to escape - the question is are we looking for the escape that God has promised!
Take a few moments and share a comment below and let's us know what you have found to be helpful in overcoming temptation!
3 Things That Every Christian Should Know
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#1: Christians Should Know That God Is In Control!
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
Notice that the Bible doesn't say that all things are "good" but that all things, whether good or bad, work out for good for those who love God and called according to His purposes.
This is why Joseph was able to say to his brothers after they had sold him into slavery and after he had become second in command of all Egypt that what they did they intended to harm him but God intended it for good. GOD NEVER WASTS A HURT!
#2: Christians Should Know They Have A Heavenly Home!
“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 2 Cor. 5:1
Maybe this is why Jesus, on the Sermon of the Mount, taught not to store up our treasures here on earth but instead store them up in Heaven! What good is an earthy treasure when you're spending eternity in Heaven?
"This world is not my home, I'm just passing through. My treasures are laid out somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beacon me from Heaven's open door and I can't feel at home in this world anymore." Old Gospel Hymn
#3: Christians Should Know That They Will Be Like Jesus!
“We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2
Boy I sure can't wait! A new body, a new life, a new character that's just like Jesus! Come Lord Jesus, Come!
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3 Promises From God That Will Give You Courage
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Joining God in His activity is never an easy proposition especially when you first start out joining Him on His mission. Why?
- Because it requires COURAGE!
- Because it requires FAITH!
- Because it requires ACTION!
It's one thing to sit around and talk about joining Christ on His mission and how important it is but quite a different thing to actually get up and do it!
Hudson Taylor the great English missionary to China was thought by many of his friends to be a bit odd because he was willing to give up all the comforts of England and go to that foreign and less modern place of known as China. What was the difference between Hudson Taylor and His friends? COURAGE! Hudson Taylor was able to muster up the courage necessary to go shine the Light of Christ in China while the others were to afraid!
But what is courage and where does it come from? If we can answer these two important question maybe we too, like Hudson Taylor, will be able to more effectively join Christ on His mission and go where He would send us! Maybe, we too will be able to shine the Light for those who are still lost in spiritual darkness and lead them back home to God.
Let me quickly answer that first question and get it out of the way. What is courage?
"Courage is the ability to do something even though it frightens you; it is strength in the face of pain or grief. Some might say that a courageous person is brave and bold; strong and tenacious; or tough and valiant. Courage is the ability to go out and do something when everything inside of you is screaming to not go."
Courage is one of those virtues that everyone admires and wishes to have but few actually exhibit it. Many feel that courage can only be found in just a few people and that most people will never attain it.
However, courage is a necessary ingredient for a powerful missional life. Just to be able to say, like the Prophet Isaiah,
"Here I am Lord send me",
Requires courage. But where does that kind of courage come from? How can ordinary christians develop that mental state that will allow them to abandon all to join Christ in His work? The answer is simple!
Courage is found in the PROMISES OF GOD!
In this post we are going to look at 3 Specific Promises that God gave to Joshua when He commissioned him to be part of God's mission. Joshua's calling is found in Joshua 1:1-9. Three times in those 9 verses God instructs Joshua to have courage. 3 TIMES! Why? Because God knew that the commissioning of Joshua was going to cause Joshua tremendous stress and anxiety and so God was reassuring him that he could have courage to do what he was being called to do.
3 promises to match 3 admonitions to have courage.
These same 3 promises are for all of Christ's Followers and when fully accept will give you the courage to join Christ also on His mission. Let's take a look at Joshua 1:1-9 to learn of these 3 Promises.
3 Promises From God
#1: The Promise Of Success
"Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory." (v. 3,4)
This promise to Joshua was based on a previous promise that God had made to Abraham and again to his son Isaac and again to Jacob. God had promised that Abraham and his family line would inherit that land as God's gift to them.
Notice that the verses say that it "shall" be your territory but it doesn't say, "it might be your territory" or "it's possible for it to be your territory". No. God said that the promise land WOULD BE THEIR TERRITORY and that Joshua would bring them into it to possess it.
IT WAS A PROMISE OF SUCCESS!
In Matthew 24:14 Jesus make not only a prediction but also another promise of success that's important to all of us who are joining Christ on His mission. He says,
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (NIV)
What's the promise in this verse? That the gospel of the kingdom of God "WILL" be preached to the whole world! Again, there's no if's, but's or maybe's! The Gospel of Jesus Christ will be preach to every tribe, nation, language and people group in the whole world. IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN!
So, when we join Christ in His mission of sharing the Gospel to people all around us we are guaranteed success! We cannot fail! Why? Because it's a promise of success. When you join Christ in making disciple of all nations you will succeed because Christ has already appointed it success.
Knowing you can't fail in joining Christ on His mission should bring you such confidence. Why wouldn't you join Him if you couldn't fail? Why wouldn't you have courage if your success was guaranteed?
#2: The Promise Of God's Word
"Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (vs. 7,8)
This promise is stated over and over again throughout the Bible! The promise is simply this: Know God's Word, meditate on God's Word and OBEY God's Word you will be successful. It's really quite simple. Obedience to God and His word will bring the blessings of God into your life but failure to obey God and His word will bring about His disfavor.
Why is this true? Because God is the creator of all things and as such He knows how it is suppose to operate. When we operate our life according to the way it was designed we experience the blessings of a well operated life but if we chose not to live life according to the way God has designed it our life will break down and fall apart. IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE.
It's like a car. You can chose to run your car and never get an oil change as it is recommended to get every 3,000 miles. And you can actually run that car for many miles that way. But eventually there comes a time will the oil breaks down and your car engine locks up and won't run anymore. The car will actually break down many miles earlier than it would have if you had just gotten the recommended oil change. Our life is the same way. We can live life contrary to God's owner manual, the Bible, for a while. But eventually your life breaks down and will die much earlier than it would have if you had lived according to God's word.
If you're joining Christ on His mission and living life according to the Word of God you are promised success in your missional endeavors! Look at the end of verse 7, "...that you may have prosper wherever you go."
Why Wouldn't You Be Courageous If Your Obedience To God's Word Promised Success?
#3: The Promise Of God's Presence
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (v. 9)
Here God tells Joshua that there is absolutely no reason why he should be afraid and he has every reason to have courage because He (God) will be with him wherever he goes. He said the same thing in verse 5:
"No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you."
God's promise to Joshua was to never leave him or forsake him! Isn't that the most encouraging thing you could ever think of? If God's continuous presence doesn't give you courage I don't know what will!
Listen to what Jesus says at the end of when He is giving the Great Commission to go make disciples. He says,
"and low I am with you always even to the end of the age."
There's that same promise for us that was given to Joshua! Christ has promised to always be with us as we join Him on His mission of discipling the nations.
- Why shouldn't we be courageous?
- How could anything discourage us when we are assured that Christ will always be with us.
These 3 promise that will give you courage are given to those who are committed to joining Christ (God) on His mission. Begin to join God in shining the Light of Christ in your part of this dark world but do it without fear and filled with courage.
I'd love to hear your thoughts about this post. Leave a comment and share what's on your mind and let's see if we can get a good discussion going. Come back to read what others have to say and respond to their comments.
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7 Things Not To Do As A Follower Of Christ
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Matthew 6:1-7:6
Jesus, on the Sermon On The Mount, talks about many things that are important for a Christian should do in order to live a powerful missional life and to shine the Light of Christ brightly in their part of this dark world. But, Jesus also talk about things that a Follower of Christ should avoid and "NOT DO"!
It's important to remember that knowing what NOT TO DO is just as important as knowing what TO DO, especially when it comes to missional living. In this post we are going to identify 7 things that Jesus tells us not to do! It's just a list and doesn't go into any commentary as to why or how, so I would encourage you to read the passage for yourself and meditate on it so you can gain the full weight of what Jesus was conveying. SO, LET'S GET STARTED!
#1 Don't Do Good Deed's So Others Can See!
"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people, to be seen by them. Otherwise, You will have no reward for your Father in Heaven." (6:1)
#2: Don't Pray Like The Hypocrites
"Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. I assure you: They've got their reward." (6:5)
#3: Don't Fast Like The Hypocrites
"And when you fast, don't be sad face like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: They got their reward." (6:16)
#4: Don't Store Up Treasures On Earth
"Don't collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal." (6:19)
#5: Don't Worry About Your Life
"This is why I tell you: Don't worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more than food and the body more than clothing?" (6:25)
#6: Don't Condemn Others
"Do not judge, so that you won't be judged." (7:1)
#7: Don't Give What's Precious To Those Who Won't Appreciate It!
"Don't give what is Holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them with their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces." (7:6)
How To Experience Freedom From Guilt
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A survey in the UK found that 41% of the people said that they would enjoy everyday life more if they didn't feel guilty afterwards. In other words, lots of people are actively engaged in activities that they feel guilty about after they are done and as a result the joy of life is stolen from them.
A story is told of Noel Coward, the well known playwright, as a prank, once sent an identical anonymous letter to 10 notable men in London. The note said,
"We know what you have done. If you don't want to be exposed, leave town."
Within six months, all 10 men that received the letter had moved!
Everyone Has Felt Guilt At One Time Or Another!
Why? Because, other than Jesus, no one is perfect. The Bible says that everyone has sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.
However, the Good News is that God wants to wipe your slate clean so you don't have to feel guilty anymore but instead experience God's total and complete forgiveness! GOD WANTS TO:
- Give you a second chance.
- Help you start over again.
Listen to what Ephesians 1:7 says,
"In him we have redemption through the blood the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us wit hall wisdom and understanding."
And let's read Col 2:13-14,
" Where you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins having canceled the written code, with its regulations that was against us and that stood opposed to us he took it alway, nailing it to the cross."
Here's what these two verse are says! If you are in Christ God is not going to condemn you for your past mistakes because Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment for your sins and was resurrected back to life again to pay for your pardon. ISN'T THAT ABSOLUTELY AMAZING?
There is absolutely no reason why any of us should suffer with a guilty conscience any longer over you past sins if you have come to Jesus and received His forgiveness and freedom from guilt.
IF YOU'RE IN CHRIST
Your Sins Are Forgiven!
Punishment For Your Sins Has Been Made!
Christ Is No Longer Holding Your Sins Against You!
CHRIST HAS FREED YOU FROM YOUR SINS!
How Do You Experience Freedom From Guilt?
By Accepting What Jesus' Did For You Through His Death, Burial & Resurrection! By place your faith in the resurrected Lord Jesus!
