Speaker: Sis. Techie Rodriguez ,Elder, The Lord's Flcok Catholic Charismatic Community

“ How To Become Strong Christians”

Divine Promise of Assistance to Joshua

J oshua, the aide of Moses, received a divine promise of assistance. “After Moses, the servant of the Lord, had died, the Lord said to Moses' aide Joshua, son of Nun: ‘My servant Moses is dead. So prepare to cross the Jordan here, with all the people into the land I will give the Israelites. As I promised Moses, I will deliver to you every place where you set foot. Your domain is to be all the land of the Hittites, from the desert and from Lebanon east to the great river Euphrates and west to the Great Sea . No one can withstand you while you live. I will be with you as I was with Moses: I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be firm and steadfast, so that you may give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers I would give them. Above all, be firm and steadfast, taking care to observe the entire law which my servant Moses enjoined on you. Do not swerve from it either to the right or to the left, that you may succeed wherever you go. Keep this book of the law on your lips. Recite it by day and by night, that you may observe carefully all that is written in it; then you will successfully attain your goal. I command you: be firm and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go.'” (Joshua 1:1-10).

T he Lord promised to be with Joshua and not to leave him nor forsake him. He asked Joshua to follow his instructions:

? “Be firm and steadfast.” (Joshua 1:6)

? “Observe the entire law.” (v.7)

? “Do not swerve from it either to the right or to the left.” (v.7)

? “Keep this book of the law on your lips.” (v.8)

? “Do not fear nor be dismayed.” (v.9).

A ll of us in The Lord's Flock have been called to do something important for the Lord. We, without exception, have been entrusted by the Lord to do his work. Like Joshua, we have been promised assistance by God. Let us therefore faithfully obey the instructions of the Lord – just as Moses and Joshua did. Let us follow what He commands in order to succeed. “Only then shall you succeed, if you are careful to observe the precepts and decrees which the Lord gave Moses for Israel .” (1 Chronicles 22:13 ).

E specially when we meet obstacles, we must be firm, steadfast, and courageous. We must cling to the Lord who gives us strength.

The Twelve Scouts and the Unsuccessful Israelites

T he Lord asked Moses to send twelve scouts to reconnoiter Canaan , the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey. Ten of the twelve scouts who returned spread discouraging reports about the land they scouted. The Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron. Joshua and Caleb pleaded to the people not to rebel against the Lord and to believe in the Lord's promise to give them the land. The scouts who gave the bad report about the land were struck down by the Lord and died – only Joshua and Caleb survived. (Numbers 13 and 14:1-38). The Israelites did not succeed in their initial invasion because of their disobedience. (Numbers 14:39-45).

W hen the Lord gives us instructions, we should always follow them. If we disobey God, we shall fail; our success is impossible.

Joshua's Conquest of the Promised Land

J oshua trusted in God's divine promise and eventually conquered Canaan . (Joshua 5:13-12:24). He obeyed the Lord's instructions, starting at Jericho and until he conquered thirty one kings in all. (Joshua 13). God's promise to Moses and Joshua about the land flowing with milk and honey was fulfilled after 40 years.

W hen we are asked by the Lord to do his work or when we consult the Lord about our plans, let us be firm and courageous. Let us cast out our fears. Let us have confidence in the Lord. Let us trust God; He does what He promises. Let us have confidence in what the Lord says. Let us not only claim God's promises; let us possess them!

How To Be Strong Christians

1. K now God

J oshua was a strong leader because he knew God. He had a courageous character. He obeyed the Lord who told him “Be firm and steadfast.” (Joshua 1:6).

J oshua and Caleb knew God and trusted his promises. They eventually reached and conquered the Promised Land. (Joshua 5 - 12).

I n order to be strong Christians, we should know about God and his promises. We should hear the Word of God. We should study the Holy Bible. The more we know about God, the more we can love him and the more we can become strong Christians.

2. H ave Confidence in God's Promises

T he Holy Bible contains God's many promises. “The promises of the Lord are sure.” (Psalms 12:7). God fulfills his promises. (Psalms 105:8, Nehemiah 9:8).

L et us have confidence in what the Lord says. Let us not only claim God's promises; let us possess them. “The Lord does not delay his promise.” (2 Peter 3:9).

3. H ave Faith in God

L et us have faith in God. “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1).

? “F aith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17).

? “B ut without faith it is impossible to please him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6).

“Have faith in God. Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea', and does not doubt in his heart but believe that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him.'” (Mark 11:22-23).

4. C onfess the Word of God

L et us confess and proclaim the Word of God. Let us speak about what we believe. Let us witness about what the Lord is doing for us.

? “F or one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.” (Romans 10:10).

? “T he Lord is my helper, [and] I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6).

? “L et your heart hold fast my words; keep my commands, that you may live!” (Proverbs 4:4).

5. D o Not React Negatively

W e may have others who persecute us. We may have enemies in our day-to-day life. Let us not be affected and not react negatively to these persons. Let is be silent. Let us pray for them. Soon they will become our friends.

“F or whenever anyone bears the pain of unjust suffering because of consciousness of God, that is a grace. But what credit is there if you are patient when beaten for doing wrong? But if you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God.” (1 Peter 2:19-20).

6. “W alk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

L et us not gaze on the things that we see but let us gaze on things what we do not see. We cannot imagine what the Lord can do. He will guide every step in our way.

? “D avid continued: ‘The Lord, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will also keep me safe from the clutches of this Philistine.' Saul answered David, ‘Go! the Lord will be with you.'” (1 Samuel 17:37).

? “F or this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

? “L et it be done according to your faith.” (Matthew 9:29).

L et us walk by faith. For every step of faith that we make, God is pleased. He will restore us. He will give us blessings and success.

7. S eek God's Guidance and Instructions

G od has promised his divine guidance to us. Let us attentively listen to God and seek his guidance. Let us follow his instructions. Let us not change anything in what He says.

“B e careful, therefore, to do as the Lord, your God, has commanded you, not turning aside to the right or to the left, but following exactly the way prescribed for you by the Lord, your God, that you may live and prosper, and may have long life in the land which you are to occupy.” (Deuteronomy 5:32-33).

8. S ubmit Everything to the Lord

A fter seeking God's guidance, let us submit and leave everything to the Lord. Let us trust, not in ourselves, but in the Lord.

? “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not;” (Proverbs 3:5)

? “Entrust your works to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3).

? “But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:39 ).