Tell the righteous that it shall be well Part 13 - Be strong minded

 Tell the righteous that it shall be well Part 13

Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. 11 Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, For the reward of his hands shall be given him (Isaiah 3:10, 11).

Be strong minded 

The book of Joshua opens by God promising Joshua conquest over the land of Moab; an area called Transjordan as it was east of the River Jordan. Nonetheless, we have not seen Joshua training as a soldier. However, we note he was a close associate of Moses; a man who had trained in the Pharaohs palace. Therefore, Moses must have trained him in the Mosaic law, true worship, warfare and gathering intelligence. God entrusted him to lead the children of Israel in the conquest of land of Canaan. The captivating character about him is that even when the other ten spies were afraid of attacking Jericho, he believed the Word of God more than the intimidating scenario they had identified while spying the city of Jericho. Yet, even after proving himself faithful God commanded him to be strong and very courageous. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9). This highlights a character about God and those whom He desires to walk with; courage.

Therefore, even if Joshua was a lay man, we are sure God was faithful to train him for war to accomplish the mission of leading the Israelites in taking the land of Canaan. Moses introduced God as a Man of war. The Lord is a man of war; The Lord is His name (Exodus 15:3). David a renown soldier whom God described as a man after his own heart even after denying him the opportunity to build the temple for he had shed a lot of blood in war introduced God as He Who trained him for war. Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle (Psalm 144:1). Therefore, God has no place for cowards, fainthearted and lovers of pity party. For sure, John classified cowards among the cluster of people who will never see heaven. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Revelation 21:8). God have no room for cowards due to the fact that the Kingdom business is militant in nature.

In the Old Testament we note God using men and women to accomplish His purpose. On one hand we note Jael Heber’s wife being honored to kill Sisera; commander of the Canaanite army. Though Gideon felt weak and not equal to task, God identified him as a man of valor. Therefore, God is ready to use us so long as we are available and have a character. On the other hand, we note God denying the fearful and men of no character, the opportunity to accomplish what He had initially intended that they would accomplish.  Barak as warned by Deborah the prophetess was denied the opportunity to kill Sisera commander of the Canaanite army. King Saul displeased God and Samson, gave himself to foreign women and did not accomplish much as God had intended.

Appreciating how God dealt with Jeremiah, there is an indication that God detests people with no character. God commanded Jeremiah to be candid and fearless when prophesying. Otherwise, God would dismay him before the Israelites. Therefore, prepare yourself and arise, and speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, lest I dismay you before them (Jeremiah 1:17). At a later instance, God challenged him to be strong and not easily wearied by men. If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan? (Jeremiah 12:5). Therefore, Kingdom business is not for the weak at heart, but fighters!

Fighters should not be easily discouraged. Were we to caption God, allowing His only begotten Son, to suffer humiliation and suffering for our sins. Then, we would relate love with meekness and not cowardice, strength and not frailty, courage and not timidity. We note, why the New Testament standards are higher. Firstly, the Holy Spirit indwells in us. Secondly, we have a High Priest who understand our weaknesses. Finally, through Christ, we became a new creation. Therefore, tolerance for cowardice in the New Testament is minimal. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force (Matthew 11:12). The message of the cross is enmity to the worldly systems and ways of doing things. Those who focus on corrupt methods to save their lives lose them. While the bold who are ready to lose their lives for Christ’s sake gains it. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it (Matthew 16:25).

When Christ ascended, He left us the Helper. One of His character is power. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Therefore, we are empowered and our weaknesses and frailty replaced with boldness. Hence, we may face adversity with raised heads. If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small (Proverbs 24:10). Quitters have no excuse, hence they no business being involved in the Kingdom matters. But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62). The Kingdom of God is for go getters. And when we separate ourselves for righteousness our desires are fulfilled as the fears of the wicked are granted are granted to them. The fear of the wicked will come upon him, and the desire of the righteous will be granted (Proverbs 10:24, 25). Just as faith attracts the desires of the righteous, so does fear attract what the unrighteous dreads. This reminds us of how an eagle thrives in the season of storms.

While all other birds fear for their lives and shy from stormy season, an eagle fearlessly fly into the fierce winds of the storm. The eagle takes advantage of the storm current to glide. Eagles glide either down by the power of the storm to pick fish from the troubled waters or up utilizing the pressure of the storm. Using the storm, the eagles release themselves to slide up beyond the clouds where it is calm. However, whenever we grow weary in the line of duty, God is faithful to renew our strength. Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:28-31). God will never allow us to faint out of unending battles with the enemy. Therefore, it is better to face a storm in the boat where Christ is rather than be in a boat in a calm sea where Christ is not.

 

Whenever we are in His presence, His tender mercies shield us from the enemy. He trains us for war and fights our battles. As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. 31 For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? 32 It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect. 33 He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places. 34 He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great. 36 You enlarged my path under me, so my feet did not slip (Psalm 18:30-36). Therefore, we are never dismayed but always assured moving from victory to victory.