One of the basic commands of any believer is to stay in the will of God with a spirit to be strong and courageous. “Only be strong and courageous, that you may observe to do according to the law which Moses My servant commanded you; DO NOT turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you will prosper wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:7) Those who walk faithfully, obeying the Word of God, will by God’s sovereign grace develop a strong and courageous spirit. This is the fortress for victorious Christian living. Those who are trained well in the Word of God will be able to withstand the three enemies of our soul. Considering three enemies of our soul that reek of the spirit of the world. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life —is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (I John 2:15 & 16) Men of valor emanate courage and strength against any adversaries of our soul. Joshua with his “mighty men of valor,” defeated ten kings at Gideon when the men of Gideon sent for Joshua at Gilgal. “Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Do not fear them. For I have delivered them into your hands; not a man of them shall stand before you.’’’ God is looking for men of valor to make them strong. “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole world, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” (II Chronicles 16:9) We see young men in spiritual warfare who are strong and courageous in the letter of I John: “I have written to you young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.” (I John 2:14b)
In the work Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian and Hopeful spied a sign on a fence, “By-Path Meadow”, running parallel to the rugged road to the celestial city. Foolishly thinking that the meadow along the difficult road would be an easier travel, they went through the gate. Stepping out of the will of God they ended up in darkness and being taken captive by Giant Despair to his castle called Doubting Castle where they received beatings and starvation. They violated the command God gave to Joshua 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.” (Joshua 1:7) Only by living the truth seated in the word of God can we be strong and courageous. As one has said, a passion for God is the greatest antidote towards sin. We grow in strength and courage by keeping ourselves virtuous in the way, walking according to the law of God, keeping his testimonies with the whole heart. “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart.” (Psalm 119:1-2)
The apostle Paul in his second letter to Timothy writes; “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God.” (II Timothy 1:8) He writes specifically of his persecution on his first missionary journey. “— persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra — what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
In the command in Joshua 1:7, to be strong and courageous is not an option. The apostle Paul has emphasized to Timothy; “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” (II Timothy 1:13)
We are in the Lord’s army and He will infuse in us the strength to persevere in the way. We are flying the flag of allegiance in our souls for Christ alone. Christ our Lord leads us to be triumphant. “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in everyplace.” We have been given a heart of grace to know Him. “The Lord declares, ‘I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God.’” (Jeremiah 24:7)
We have the command to be strong in the Lord with the armor of God. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God THAT you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11) All through the passage of the whole armor of God is the spirit of valor. The admonitions are: “may be able to withstand the wiles of the devil” (v11) “that you may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all stand.” (v13) “Stand therefore.” (v14)
A final word of God for us who are valiant in the faith. “Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our adversaries.” (Psalm 60:12) Words I trusted to keep me strong and courageous in the spiritual warfare of the ministry at Bethel Colony of Mercy.
Where the grace blows,