Be Strong and of Good Courage — Prophetic Sermon

For Online Church Broadcast

INTRODUCTION

There is a man in this story. His name is Joshua. He is standing at the edge of a massive transition. Moses, the great leader, the deliverer, the friend of God—is dead. And now God speaks to Joshua, the servant who had been in Moses' shadow for forty years. But before we go further, I want you to see something: THIS IS YOU. You are Joshua. You are the one standing at the threshold of a new season, perhaps feeling inadequate, perhaps feeling the weight of responsibility, perhaps feeling the sting of loss or change. But God is saying to you what He said to Joshua: "Be strong and of a good courage."

The Holy Ghost brought me to this passage for someone watching right now. Before I preach, receive this word into your spirit:

YOUR SEASON OF COURAGE HAS COME.

VERSE 1 — "Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,"
Stop right there. Did you see that word? "After." The Bible does not say the death of Moses did not happen. It does not say Joshua was exempt from the grief or the transition. But it says AFTER. After the loss, after the change, after the waiting—God spoke. And I am sent to tell you today: your AFTER has come. After the failure, after the disappointment, after the closed door—God is speaking to you now.

VERSE 2 — "Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel."
Stop right there. Did you see that word? "Arise." God did not tell Joshua to mourn forever. He said arise. The past is past. The old leader is gone. Now it's time to move forward. And I prophesy to you: ARISE FROM THAT GRAVE OF SELF-PITY. ARISE FROM THAT PLACE OF STAGNATION. ARISE AND GO OVER YOUR JORDAN. Your promised land is waiting.

VERSE 3 — "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses."
Stop right there. Did you see that word? "Every place." Not some places. Not the easy places. EVERY place. Your foot must tread. You must take steps of faith. But as you step, God gives. I declare: EVERY PLACE YOU TREAD IN THIS SEASON SHALL BE YOURS. Your business, your ministry, your family—every place you set your foot, God has given it to you.

VERSE 4 — "From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast."
Stop right there. Did you see that word? "Coast." God was defining Joshua's territory. He was saying: this is your boundary, this is your inheritance. And I say to you: God is enlarging your coast. The wilderness season is over. The Lebanon of lack is behind you. Your territory is expanding. Your influence is increasing. Your coast is enlarged in Jesus' name!

VERSE 5 — "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
Stop right there. Did you see that word? "Not fail." God did not promise that Joshua would never fail. He promised that HE would never fail Joshua. Your success is not in your ability but in His faithfulness. And I declare: THE GOD WHO WAS WITH MOSES IS WITH YOU. He will not fail you. He will not forsake you. You are not alone.

VERSE 6 — "Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them."
Stop right there. Did you see that word? "Courage." Courage is not the absence of fear. It is obedience in the presence of fear. God told Joshua to be courageous because He was about to use him to divide the inheritance. And I prophesy: GOD IS ABOUT TO USE YOU TO BLESS OTHERS. Your courage will become someone else's inheritance. Your breakthrough will become your family's testimony.

VERSE 7 — "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest."
Stop right there. Did you see that word? "Prosper." Prosperity in God's kingdom is tied to obedience. He said: be strong and courageous to OBSERVE the law. The courage is not for boasting; it is for obeying. And I declare: AS YOU OBEY, YOU WILL PROSPER. Everywhere you go, God's blessing will follow you. Your obedience is unlocking your prosperity.

VERSE 8 — "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."
Stop right there. Did you see that word? "Meditate." The Hebrew word is hagah—to mutter, to ponder, to speak to oneself. God is saying: fill your mouth with My Word. Let it be your meditation day and night. And I prophesy: YOUR MOUTH IS A WEAPON. As you speak God's Word, you are creating your future. Your way shall be prosperous. You shall have good success.

VERSE 9 — "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
Stop right there. Did you see that word? "Commanded." This is not a suggestion. It is a command. God commands you to be strong and courageous. Why? Because He is with you. And I close with this: THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU. Wherever you go, He is there. Whatever you face, He is with you. You are not alone. Be strong and courageous. Your Promised Land is waiting. Take it!

DECLARATIONS

Say it with me:

1. I am strong and of good courage.
2. I will not be afraid, neither will I be dismayed.
3. The Lord my God is with me wherever I go.
4. Every place I tread shall be mine.
5. My coast is enlarged.
6. I will meditate on God's Word day and night.
7. My way is prosperous and I have good success.
8. I arise and go over my Jordan.

PRAYER

Father, I thank You for Your Word. I receive the command to be strong and courageous. I choose to obey. I will not fear. I will not be dismayed. I will meditate on Your Word day and night. I will observe to do all that is written. Thank You for Your presence. Thank You for Your promise. Thank You for my Promised Land. In Jesus' name, Amen.

CLOSE

Now go. Go in strength. Go in courage. Go in the power of the Holy Spirit. Your Jordan is parting. Your giants are falling. Your inheritance is waiting. Be strong and of good courage. The Lord your God is with you. Amen.

DECLARATIONS