Holding on to His Promise

 

Rev. 22:7, 12, 20

Subject: Calm Assurance/Strong Faith

Theme: Take Jesus Christ’s Promise to Heart to Finish Strong

Introduction:

Assurance and direction bring strength and resolve to our experiences though we are certain to face many challenges. We are assured of ultimate triumph through the precious promises of the Lord.

Relevance: real faith…our otherworldly confidence in God is strengthened by His promises. These promises prepare, stir, and assure us resulting in power to endure the trials and unfair situations of life.

Message:

I.               Prepared by His Promise (Rev. 22:7).

Christ Himself seeks to prepare His people for His return with this promise.      

   A.  A Motivating Promise.  “Behold, I come quickly:”

From Jesus himself come these words of assurance and motivation.

       1. Pay Careful Attention to the Promise.  “Behold”

The command “Behold” is an imperative! We must give our attention to this motivating and stirring truth, that Jesus could come at any time.

       2.  Be Prepared Considering the Promise. 

            a.  Three times at the close of this book Christ says, “I come quickly!” (vv. 7, 12, 20).

            b.  The word “quickly” in Rev 22:7 means “swiftly come to pass in succession.”

                  — This means that his coming will be quick and without delay.

                  — It will not be “soon” according to human timing (after all, John wrote this two thousand years ago), but it is certain to occur; it is imminent.

            c.  The churches have expected Christ to return since the days of the Apostles, and He has not yet come; but when John's prophecies begin to be fulfilled, they will happen very quickly. There will be no delay.

            d.  We do not know when Christ will appear, and it behooves us to be ready. Jesus clearly told his followers to be prepared, because they don't know when Lord is coming. 

Matthew 24:42, Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Matthew 24:44, Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

   B.  A Clarifying Promise. “blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”

Jesus announced a blessing for those who obey the prophecy of Revelation.

       A.  What Does it Mean to Keep the Sayings of the Prophecy of this Book? (Rev 22:7)

             1.  Basically, the word “keepeth” means to guard, to watch over, to preserve intact. 

                    a.  It has to do with maintaining, observing, and fulfilling the commands of God in this book.

                    b.  “[Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book] That receives them as a divine communication; that makes use of them to comfort himself in the days of darkness, persecution, and trial; and that is obedient to the precepts here enjoined.”  — (from Barnes' Notes)

                    c.  Thus, the Book of Revelation is to be Received, Used, and Obeyed.

             2.  What exactly is a Christian to obey as detailed in The Revelation?

                    a. We are to be faithful to Christ. God commended the Philadelphians for keeping Christ's words and not denying his name (Rev. 3:8).

                    b.  We are to be spiritually and morally clean and prepared for Christ’s return (Rev. 7:14; 22:14).

                    c.  We are to endure patiently (Rev. 14:12-13).

                    d.  We are neither to add nor detract from Revelation's words (Rev. 22:18, 19).

             3.  Serving God begins with our faithful service to him now. Remain Faithful!

       B.  What is the Blessing? (Rev. 22:7) “blessed is he”

           1.  The command given to Record the Vision (Rev 1:11,19), has been carried out; this book was designed to be a blessing to believers according to (Rev 1:3).

Rev. 1:11, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Rev. 1:19, Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

Rev. 1:3, Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

           2. “Accordingly a special blessing is pronounced on those who believe and heed the prophecy of the book. As stated earlier, this last book of the Bible, so neglected by the church and with its meanings confused by many expositors, contains more promises of blessing than any other book of Scripture. This reference to blessing is the sixth beatitude in the book (the seventh is in v. 14).”  –John Walvoord

           3.  Like the beatitude in Rev. 1:3, this one promises a blessing to believers who obey God by heeding the warnings of this prophecy.

Application: Preparation, motivation, clarification, and inspiration. We must be prepared as Paul insisted in 2 Ti. 4:1, 2: “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; [2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” Again, it was Peter who required in 1 Peter 3:15-16, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: [16] Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.” The need to be prepared is pressed upon each of us as believers. It is our lot to be firm, stable, established, ready, and to make the necessary arrangements! In other words, we need to stand firm in our faith in God, be stable in our walk with Him and be ready to meet the Lord Jesus at any moment.

II.           Stirred By His Promise (Rev. 22:12-13).

Clearly the coming of Christ in the Rapture is a stirring promise to be embraced by every child of God. The Promise of Christ’s Return here seems to be related more to the Rapture then the Revelation. We are so stirred to serve, trust, and rest in the Lord’s promises!

        A.  It Will Be Surprising (Rev. 22:12).  “And, Behold, I come quickly”

              1.“The coming of Christ is the preeminent theme of both the Prologue and the Epilogue (Rev 1:7; 22:7,12,20). By quickly (v. 12) is not meant that the Second Advent would occur soon after John completed the writing of this book. Rather, it means that the events of the Second Coming will occur so fast, one event quickly following another, that many will be taken completely by surprise.”   — (from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary)

              2.  Bear in Mind that the Second Coming Has Two aspects: The Rapture and The Revelation. The first is before the Tribulation and the second is after the Tribulation. The next event on God’s prophetic calendar is the Rapture of the saints.

        B.  It Will Be Rewarding (Rev. 22:12).  "My reward is with Me"

              1.  At the Judgment Seat of Christ!

Believers will be judged according to their works; and rewards will be given to those who have been faithful. This implies that God is mindful of our sufferings, and our service, and nothing will ever be done in vain if it is done for Him.

The Bible records God rewarding his people for good works according to his justice.   No act of mercy will be forgotten; no true believer will be abandoned. (For more on rewards, see Matt 16:27; 19:27-30; Luke 6:23,35; 1 Cor 3:8,13-15; 9:25; James 1:12.)

              2.  We Have the Responsibility of Serving the Lord. 

Throughout church history, there have been those who have (to use Dwight L. Moody's words) become "so heavenly minded that they were no earthly good." They quit their jobs, sold their property, and sat and waited for Jesus to return. All of them have been embarrassed, of course, because it is unbiblical to set dates for His coming. It is also unbiblical to become careless and lazy just because we believe Jesus is coming soon. Paul faced this problem with some of the believers in Thessalonica, (2 Thess 3).

              3.  There Will Also Be Rewards in the Kingdom.

Christ reiterated that He would bring a reward for his people, according to what each had done (Rev. 20:12-13.) Our reward will include a place in God's kingdom (see Matt 25:34-40; Mark 9:47; 10:29-30), not because of our good deeds but because of God's gracious promise to people of faith (Luke 12:31-32).

               4.  Some Rewards Will be Personal and Individual.

Although all God's people will be saved and will enjoy the reward of eternity with him, several rewards seem to be given to individuals, according to what they have done. God will look at each individual's heart; thus, it may be that a quiet saint praying daily beside her bed will receive even greater reward than a flamboyant, well-known preacher. It may be that the woman who used her gifts to the fullest extent will be rewarded more greatly than the one who believed but was too afraid to reach her potential. God will not bestow his rewards in ways that we humans might. Each believer's job is to serve God to his or her fullest potential with a heart that is right with him (1 Cor. 3:5-15).

        C.  It Will Be Completing (Rev. 22:13). He will Personally Complete what He began in your heart! Christ repeated the words he had spoken at the beginning of the Revelation: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last" (see Rev. 1:8,17).

                1.  Christ as the Creator. (Alpha, Beginning, First)

The Creator began and will end time itself. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet; it's like saying he is the A and the Z, or even A-to-Z.

               2. Christ as the Completer. (Omega, End, Last) 

Rev 22:13 is a great encouragement to anyone who seeks to serve the Lord. Whatever God starts, He will finish; for He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last.

Philip. 1:6, Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Philip. 2:12-13, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [13] For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Application: Stirred, stimulated, motivated, encouraged by this promise from the Lord Jesus to spring into actions of service, trust, and rest in Christ! I am reminded of the words of Moses when he said in Exodus 35:21, “And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.” The encouragements of the apostle Paul seem to belong here as well. He said in 2 Tim. 1:6-14, “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the gift of God, which is in thee (inner fire from God) by the putting on of my hands. ⁷ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. ⁸ Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; ⁹ Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, ¹⁰ But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: ¹¹ Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. ¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. ¹³ Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.” May we be possessed by a passion to serve, trust, and rest in the Lord’s promises.

III.        Assured by His Promise (Rev. 22:20-21).

Assurance based on Christ’s promises yield great confidence, faith, and rest in the Lord.

   A.  The Final Promise of the Savior (Rev. 22:20).

        1.  We must keep expecting Jesus Christ to return (vv. 17, 20-21). Three times in this closing chapter John wrote, "I [Christ] come quickly" (Rev 22:7,12,20). 

        2.  But He, has "delayed" His return for nearly 2,000 years! Yes, He has; and Peter tells us why: God wants to give this sinful world opportunity to repent and be saved (2 Peter 3:1).

   B.  The Fervent Prayer of the Saints (Rev. 22:20).

        1.  John adds the hope of all believers to the declaration of Christ by praying, “come, Lord Jesus.” 

        2.  If our study of Revelation has been truly led by the Spirit, then we will join John in the Bible's last prayer. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" To this John replied in a brief prayer, Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Are you ready?

         3. John could pray this because he was fully convinced of our Lord’s promise! 

   C.  The Final Provision for the Saints (Rev. 22:21).

Rev. 22:21, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

“This expression, so common in other New Testament books, brings this final word from God to an end. For those who believe that Christ in His first coming provided salvation, there is the wonderful promise of His coming again to bring full and final deliverance. As the book began by introducing a revelation of Jesus Christ so it ends with the same thought that He is coming again.”— John Walvoord

Application: Assured and therefore comforted by our Lord’s promise. Assurance is part of the experience of trusting in the promises of a completely trustworthy God. Faith takes God at His word, being fully persuaded that God has the power to do what he has promised (Rom. 4:21, Heb. 11:1-2). Assurance springs not from the power of positive thinking then but the power of the gospel. The Gospel is indeed good news, but since the gospel is God’s gospel (Rom. 1:1) it can be trusted because He is powerful to save, faithful to his word (Rom. 3:3), unable to lie (Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:18) and unable to change (Mal. 3:6). And since the gospel promises are according to the Scriptures (1Cor. 15:3-4) certainty is possible because these same Scriptures are God authored and therefore infallible and trustworthy (2Tim. 3:16-17; Luke 1:4; 2Pet. 1:20). Believers in Christ are assured of salvation because our God and salvation are true, sure, perfect, and unchangeable in Jesus Christ forever. It is okay for the believer to rest in the Lord Jesus every day of life. 

Conclusion:

“Probably no other book of Scripture more sharply contrasts the blessed lot of the saints with the fearful future of those who are lost. No other book of the Bible is more explicit in its description of judgment on the one hand and the saints’ eternal bliss on the other. What a tragedy that so many pass by this book and fail to fathom its wonderful truths, thereby impoverishing their knowledge and hope in Christ Jesus. God’s people who understand and appreciate these wonderful promises can join with John in his prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus.””— John Walvoord

Real faith always rests on the promises of God. Faith is essentially trusting in what God said, promised, wrote, or committed Himself to. It is not merely rooted in our own desires, ambitions, prayers, plea bargains, or wishful thinking…no matter how much we want it or how fervently we pray for it. This is why we should want to will of God above all else…His will often highlights his promises or feature His actions. Anytime we place confidence in something God said or promised, we exercise faith in God and His will. God’s promises give rise to real faith in our hearts. Yes, God is the worthy object of our faith, and His promises provide the very content or substance of our trust. 

Our spiritual confidence is strengthened by these clear promises from the Lord Jesus. They prepare, stir, and assure us resulting in strength to endure through the challenges and unfair circumstances of life. Take the Lord Jesus Christ’s Promises to your own heart so you too can finish life’s race strong, full of faith, and even more committed.

Courage to Hope Again

Discouragement can be described as a considerable loss of confidence or enthusiasm. That sense that our assurance has run from us like mice from a sinking ship, and we just don’t seem to have the energy to engage yet another round of challenges. The rapid fire of painful experiences has left us with a feeling or belief that we cannot rely on God and His Word as we previously thought we could. Our firm trust in the Lord has been violently displaced by burning doubts and we feel wounded…desperately injured…too paralyzed to do anything. Continuing to hope in the Lord is suddenly not high on our list of priorities….

A series of difficult challenges can cause us to slump into a dispirited mental/emotional state where we lose hope…. A darkness grips us… and we feel completely at it mercy…frightfully powerless. Any substantial anticipations of positive outcomes have entirely escaped us. In part, it is that state of becoming predominately dishearten…losing the determination to continue. At times…even suicide seems plausible. We wonder why we should hope again, bother anymore, or even try.

In such times, we need courage to remain true to God, to live out His plan for us, and to hope again. We need hope to traverse this hard journey through our own souls. Beloved, this is especially important when we encounter discouragement, disappointment, or despair in the aftermath of painful adversities. During such testing conditions, we need courage like a drowning man needs a life vest. Our lives depend on it. It is courage that enables us to dare to trust and hope again.... To overcome the fear of being let down…frustrated again...disappointed again…we need “good courage.”

HAVE COURAGE TO RECOGNIZE GOD’S POWER, PRINCIPLE AND PRESENCE

Courage to Hope and to Believe God

Joshua 1:9, 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.

I love the question God asked His new national leader, Joshua, “Have not I commanded thee?” This inquiry provokes God’s leader to look away from the disheartening death of Moses and the incredible challenge of leading God’s people to God Himself. It is a call to recognize the Power of the God of Moses and the God of Israel. Beloved all hope rest in a fundamental trust in Him. His great power surpasses all others, and no one can compare or contend with our God. Anything He commands He will fulfil by His mighty power. Such power promotes encouragement in a significant way. Amid discouragements, doubt your doubts and recognize the truth of God and His awesome situation-changing power.

Another key tactic God uses can be described as real and substantial encouragement to overcome the threatening and undermining power of fear and dismay. Here is the principle, though God’s power is peerless, it can be limited in our individual experiences by our fears. Fear can paralyze us when we should be active, and dismay means our hopes have been utterly shattered by our fears. God stems this tide of terrors with this quick warning against the bone-crushing force of hope-stealing horrors. Respect the power of fear in your life, and limit its influence through trusting God regardless.

One more observation from Joshua 1:9, is helpful at this point—God’s Presence. Again, what stirs courage in the heart like the fresh realization that someone with something meaningful to offer is standing with you every mile of the way? This is not merely a highly capable and well-intention friend; this is Jehovah God Himself talking to you and me. Contrary to the unwarranted suspicions of our fickle minds, God NEVER abandons His people when life hurts. He stands with us to encourage, inspire, empower, and sustain us as we dare to hope again. Beloved, against all odds He still…still…still remains with you through it all. In the good days and awful days, He stays close by to supply us with the courage to continue. Note the observation of W. MacDonald,

Three times Joshua is told by the Lord to be strong and very courageous (vv. 6, 7, 9). The size and duration of the task ahead, the pressures of leading such an obstinate people, and the absence of his spiritual mentor, Moses, were perhaps heavy on Joshua’s mind at this time. But the Lord was not calling him without enabling him. There were good reasons for Joshua to be strong: God’s promise (vv. 5, 6), a sure victory; God’s Word (vv. 7, 8), a safe guide; God’s presence (v. 9), a sustaining power.

The wonderful news is the same benefits are available to every precious child of God caught in the grip of their terrors, disappointments, and despairs because of hard circumstances. We are not left to stew in our confusions and discouragements, God is with you and me all the way. Beloved, take this journey in your own soul through disillusionment back to the place of unparalleled confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is where the HOPE is!

DON’T ALLOW THE DARKNESS TO DESTROY YOUR HOPE!

In times of adversity, things can sometimes seem so bleak and so dark that we are on the verge of giving up hope. The darkness may be amplified by the voices of others, the pressure of the scenario, the intense feelings of hopelessness, and the messages we tell ourselves. Together these communicate the wrong messages to us. We must beware!

Resist the Preachers of Gloom and Doom

Job 2:8-9, And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.  [9] Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. [10] But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Others around us may foretell doom and encourage us to face what they see as inevitable. Job's wife was one such person. After Job was covered with painful boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, she said to him, “Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.” (Job 2:9). This frustrated retort came from a heart that had been crushed by painful developments hyper-compounded and evident fears she was about to finally lose her husband. Her children were dead, their wealth was gone, her husband was very sick, and her hopes were soundly obliterated. All prospects of good have abandoned this suffering soul….

Job wisely responded to her, “Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” (v. 10). The Scriptures add this important line: “In all this did not Job sin with his lips.” (v. 10). Jobs was still hanging on to God and what he knew to be true. This is fundamentally how we silence the preachers of gloom and doom. We believe what God disclosed about Himself and refuse false messages from others...including ourselves. Self-talk like, “God does not care,” “There is no point in looking to God,” “Why bother anymore…especially after all you have been through...." "What difference does it make?” Such messages, if tolerated will eat away at your hope and shatter your confidence in God’s promises.  

COURAGEOUSLY CHOOSE TO HOPE IN THE LORD AGAIN

When you are faced with negative circumstances and then negative opinions and comments from others, you need courage to stay positive—to continue to believe that the Lord is with you!  It takes real courage to say and really believe that God is going to intervene in our darkening situation.

    1.  You Must Choose to Hope in the Lord During the Troubles.

A.    Hope and Faith Are Not Automatic Responses in Times of Hardship and Trial.

Beloved, such responses must be deliberately cultivated with every opportunity. Casual efforts or passively gaining or sustaining this perspective will not meet your challenges in a successful manner. Remember God spoke directly to Joshua to strengthen him for the months and years ahead. You and I have the Scriptures to afford God many chances to speak to us deeply, repeatedly, encouragingly, powerfully, and profoundly. While chapter 1 of Joshua is a great place to start, the entire book is an excellent source of hope-building courage!

B.     They Require an Exercise of the Will, Bolstered with Courage.

At times, you must say aloud to yourself, “I know that God has a purpose in this. I know that God will bring me through this. I know that God is a good and loving Father, and He is doing a good and eternal work in my life.”

If no one else speaks hope to you, you need to speak it to yourself. Believe me there are too many Christians out there with a “wet blanket” ministry. They kill every spark of hope that may dare to surface. Avail to yourself specific passages, biblical accounts, and verses that stir you to hope in the Lord God, Jehovah. I also believe faithful Christians should be the most “hope-filled” people on the entire planet. Why not if our hope is centered in the Lord and His Word?

    2.  You Must Recognize the Lord’s Presence as You Face the Troubles Cause by Enemies.

Part of the need for courage also may reside in the fact that…

            A. We have the Need to Withstand the Enemies Who are Moving Against Our Lives. 

In other words, those who are causing your adversity.

Moses realized that would be the case for Joshua and the Israelites, and he said to the Israelites, “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” (Deut. 31:6).

It is helpful to know God will not fail us or forsake us as our enemies bare down on us. In addition, having Bible-centered hope does not erase the possibility that things could get worse before they get better.

            B. It Takes Courage to Believe God While Things Get Worse!

It takes courage to continue to believe in God and to have hope in God's power over your enemies while your adversaries are pummeling you into the ground or threatening to do so.

Recall Goliath no doubt found David's claims about the goodness and greatness of God to be ludicrous as he stood in the Valley of Elah and watched a stick of a lad run toward him. But at the end of the day, David had victory in his hand and joy in his heart. (See 1 Sam. 17.)

Ask the Lord to give you courage to continue to believe in Him and in His presence with you as you go through hard-times. Ask Him to renew your hope and faith. I have no doubt He'll honor your request. Psalm 31:23-24, O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. [24] Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. (Read Rom. 4:16–21 also).

 

Beloved, God glorifies Himself in us and through us not simply so that we might be saved but so that we might reflect His life on this earth. He desires that we be conformed to His likeness so that when others see us helping people, declaring the truth of His Word, and trusting in Him regardless of our challenges and despite our adversities, they will want to know more about the love of God and the power of God in us. When we are courageous to do what the Lord both commands and empowers us to do, we truly are His witnesses because we reflect His presence in the world. (C. Stanley)

Our lives have a purpose far beyond comfort, ease, or pleasure. Our lives are intended to be used by God, to fulfill His purposes on the earth.

Take courage today, no matter what you are facing. God will give you courage when you ask Him for it. He will honor your courage in remaining true to Him and His Word, and in giving to others out of your need. A wonderful blessing is in store for the courageous!

Courage to Reach out to Others

JOSH. 1:1-9 

1.   Courage is Require to Face and Endure the Times of Difficulty.

In many ways, hard times of trouble are like boot camp; it is rigorous, painful, and challenging. Adversity causes us to adopt new routines and habits, to develop aspects of our being—physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual—that might have been undeveloped or underdeveloped previously. Troubles sometimes puts us under the authority of people who affect our lives in ways that are foreign to us. In all these areas, we need courage to keep our balance as we feel hit by so many new feelings, facts, restrictions or limitations, obstacles and challenges, and offerings of advice and help.

2.  Courage is Required to Make the Necessary Personal Changes in Times of Difficulty.

Courage is required not only to face and endure times of adversity, but also to make the changes in our lives that adversity compels us to make. In either case, we can trust the Holy Spirit to help us in times of adversity and to grow and change so that we live in keeping with the example set by Jesus Christ.

3.  Joshua Knew about Adversity and Times of Difficulty.

Certainly, forty years of wandering in a wilderness qualified him to understand hardship, trials, and troubles—physical, relational, spiritual, and no doubt emotional and mental pain. Joshua also knew that the Lord was with him and his people. As a close associate of Moses, Joshua had grown in his faith and leadership abilities. The time came for the people of God to cross the Jordan River and inhabit the land of promise, and Joshua was named the leader to succeed Moses.

4.  Three Times, the Lord Spoke to Joshua about Courage:

Joshua 1:6-7, 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. [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.

  

Joshua 1:9, 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.

Note the three things that required courage of Joshua: (1) to make decisions that affected other people under his leadership {vs. 6}, (2) to keep the laws and commandments, even as changes were occurring {vs. 7}, and (3) to remember continually that the Lord was with him {vs. 9}, the implication being despite what circumstances might indicate to the contrary.

2 Tim. 1:7, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

We need courage in the same three areas of our lives as we face adversity.

LESSON:

COURAGE TO REACH OUT AND TOUCH OTHER LIVES

Reaching Out to Others Takes Courage

Joshua 1:6, 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.

REALIZE THAT GOD GIVES US COURAGE TO HELP OTHERS

We need God's wisdom to know how to deal with people. Our times of heartache almost always involve people we love.

Courage to Help When I Need Help

We need courage to get beyond our pain and help our children, parents, spouses, associates, and other loved ones and colleagues to cope with the pain they also are likely to be feeling. It takes tremendous inner fortitude to get beyond ourselves—to put aside our inner hurt and frustration—and to be concerned about others when we are sick, facing a loss, or in emotional turmoil. Yet, that is precisely what the Lord wants us to do. That's why the Lord gives us courage.  

RECEIVE GOD’S BLESSINGS AS YOU GIVE OF YOURSELF

In fact, in getting outside ourselves and helping others in need we often find the strength to get through adversity.

Getting Help As I Give Help!

Time and again, I've watched people who were going through hard times reach out to help those who were hurting just as much as they were—although perhaps in a different way—and have seen them benefit, not from what they received from others, but from what they gave to others. This principle of God defies human reasoning, but it is absolutely true in God's kingdom.  The worse thing we can do is shut ourselves off from everyone else because we are afraid!

Luke 6:38, Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

We assume that when we give, we have less than we had before. But in God's eyes, when we give, we open ourselves up to receiving in a way that results in a blessing, both materially and spiritually.

Just when you think you have nothing to give, that's the time to give! It takes courage to do so!  

The Lord promises to give you that courage. Ask Him to help you, to guide you, and to show you the person or people to whom you should give. Ask Him to reveal to you the best gift possible, in the best timing and for the best results.           

1.  Touch Lives Through Fervent Prayer.

James 5:16, Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

2.  Touch Lives Through Service and Ministry.

Luke 22:26, But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

3.  Touch Lives Through Doing Good Deeds.

Romans 12:21, Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. 

Self-examination should not be limited to areas of sinfulness or pride; it may also involve areas of weakness we need to strengthen and develop.  Fear is often a natural response to difficulties, and troubling circumstances.  But God wants us to use these challenges to grow in the areas of courage, hope, and faith.  Remember we should never waste an adversity. Learn all you can from each one. Realize that you can grow when you are willing to examine yourself closely and make the necessary changes.

When troubles come your way, look inward to see what God is trying to show you about yourself.  Use these self-evaluations to identify areas which need improvement and refinement.  In this respect Difficulties can be used to your advantage to further your spiritual progress in the Lord.