2. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.“ Joshua 1:9
3. Commanded: to issue an order or orders. the act of commanding or ordering. an order given by one in authority.
4. God has instructed you and I – He has given us a clear order to be strong and courageous. He takes it even further by stating not to be afraid and not to be discouraged. Why? Because He will be with you wherever you go.
5. How many of you have had those moments of fear and moments of giving up? Where you have found yourself clearly stating, “I can’t do this.” The minute we give in to that fear and to the discouragement, we are now saying, “God you are not with me” or “God you are not big enough for this.”
6. He was big enough to part the waters for the Israelites, big enough to write His law on two tablets, big enough to use a woman by the name of Esther to liberate a people, big enough to open the eyes of the enemy and cause them to see the sky filled with horses and chariots of fire – an army. In fact, Elisha’s word to the servant was, “Don’t be afraid.” “Those who are with us are more than those with them.”
7. He was big enough to use a young teen boy to kill a giant, big enough to use a man to lay on top of a dead boy and bring him back to life, big enough to cause blind eyes to see again, big enough to cause a lame to walk again.
8. He was big enough to feed a multitude with just five loaves and two fish, big enough to stop the storm with his word, big enough to create the universe you and I live in, big enough to wake you up every morning with breath.
10. What is He not big enough for? The answer is nothing. Your God is big enough!
11. So follow His instructions – Be strong and courageous – yes in the midst of the storm, in the midst of the fog, in the midst of the chaos, in the midst of the pain, in the midst of the bills, in the midst of the lost –
12. Be strong and courageous – do not be terrified – do not be discouraged For the Lord YOUR God will be with you wherever you go.