Today's Passage - Joshua 1:6-7

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Joshua 1:6-7   "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers 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.     The Lord encouraged Joshua, "Be strong and courageous" The Lord used the word "Be," as He was not concerned how Joshua felt about his circumstance was. First, because this was God's promise. 2 Corinthian 1:20 says, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ." Everyone of God's promise carries power. When God's word is spoken, it will not be withdrawn in vain. Whatever it is, it surely will be fulfilled. Once there was a pastor caming forward with a testimony. While reading Bible, whenever he read a promise by God, he marked a red T, indicating "test". If down the road the promise was fulfilled, he then marked a blue T, meaning "true", i.e. the promise was true. After a while, he found that the Bible was full of red Ts and was full of blue Ts. Hallelujah! God's word will not fall through.   Was there a promise from God in your life? If not, you should come to God, searching for his leadership in you. The reason that you can stand firm in your spiritual life, and the reason that you have withstood all kinds of storms, is because you are standing on the promises of God, which are placed there by God to be your assurance. Maybe that was long time ago, even you don't remember. But God's spirit will remind you again: believing in God's promise. May God lift your faith once again, continue to pray for His promise in you, praying until God's zeal fulfills the promise.   Second, it is because the Lord is a victorious Lord. He has the whole universe in His hands. That's why God said to Joshua, "no matter where you go, you will be successful." Our God is a powerful God. There is nothing impossible in Him. Not only does He lead us forward, He will even make us successful in everything. Being a long time Christian, we no longer harvest hope of God. And we cease to believe that God will perform miracle through us. No wonder our lives are full of complaints and bitterness. If you truly believe that the God you believe is the all-powerful one, you would not go in front of him and complain how big your problem is. Instead, you will be like David, go in front of Goliath and tell him how great your God is!   Brothers and sisters, no matter what your situation is, the Lord is saying to you: "You should be strong and courageous." Proclaim the greatness of God to your circumstances and do not be bounded by your circumstances; on the contrary, believe in God's word and His deeds!      Pray with Pastor Tong     Lord, we thank you. Because you are a faithful, all powerful God who'll never change yesterday, today, and forever God.  Let us especially pray for the brothers and sisters who are weak in faith. When they are discouraged or even no longer have any hope, in the name the Lord we pray that they their faith will be lifted.  We pray that God make them follow you strongly and courageously. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!