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| Courage |
We continue this week with the story of the sick man healed at the Pool of Bethesda. [John 5:1-15].Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” (John 5:5-6, NKJV)
Powerful Beyond Comprehension:
Isn't it amazing to know the power which drives and shapes our fate lies within us? Yet, we are so quick to blame others and or circumstances. Victory in life ALWAYS involves looking inward, and then only seeing outward from the inward look. We each have amazing powers, beyond comprehension, resident within us. We need to positively release this to affect our generation, our world, and ourselves.
Stand Like Men:
The question is, will we? Will we release it, or let it lie dormant? The next scripture we look at is 1 Samuel 4:9. The NKJV reads,
Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Conduct yourselves like men, and fight!”
These were the wise words of the Philistines’ elders to the fighting men. In other words, they said,
“Don’t go down without a fight. Even if you end up losing, let posterity speak well of you. Let it say ‘You did your best.’ Let it say, ‘You stood your ground and defended that which is yours.’”
These are the exact same words God has for you and me today. The only way we are going to overcome and not be servants to the elements of this world is to,
“BE STRONG AND CONDUCT OURSELVES LIKE MEN.”
God's power needs our faith and courage for it to be released on our behalf. It is not God alone. It is not us alone. It is God and we bring about His power and purposes upon the earth and in our individual lives. Our lack of faith and/or courage can and does limit God's efficacy. Just imagine what could have happened to the Philistines if they had given up without a fight. They would have lost a battle God had given to them.
How many battles do we lose on a daily basis only because we give up without a fight? We refuse to do even the minimum, appearing. We are rather focused on the challenge and our demons, rather than lifting up our eyes to where our help comes from. We seat under the tree of despondent, rather than proving our God, like Jonathan, [1 Samuel 14], Joshua and Caleb [Numbers 14]. Our God has given us the Land, but we have to go out and possess it with full confidence of faith.
The Ball is in Your Court:
“Don’t go down without a fight. Even if you end up losing, let posterity speak well of you. Let it say ‘You did your very best.’ Let it say, ‘You stood your ground and defended that which is yours.’”
Do you want to know how important this is? See how many times God repeats it in His admonition to Joshua [Joshua 1:5, 6, 9] God seems to imply it was the only thing that could stand in Joshua’s way to and of success. It was the only thing that could hinder him from being with Joshua as He was with Moses. Has it were, God was saying, this is the key to receiving His promise. He will be with us, as He was with Moses if only we will do our own part in being strong and conduct ourselves like men.
Do you think it could be any different for us? Do you think it could be any different for you? There is a whole lot God can and will do for us. Only we can shorten His hands. Only we can limit Him. Are you limiting God in your life? Are easily giving up? Are you going down without a fight? Are you giving your best, or barely passing by? Are living in the past, or in the present? Are you taking ownership of the journey of your life? Are you defending that which is yours?
It's all in your hands. The world is waiting for you to show up. Will you? Are you?
© 2017 Akin Akinbodunse
Link to Study Series:
Choose Life (Part Fifty-Three): Drink From the Waters (Part Eight).
Choose Life (Part Fifty-Five): Brace Up. Pull Your Weight.
Link to Other Resources:
Unchanged Word of God (David Jeremiah)
Don't Tell Me There Ain't No God (Gary McDougall)
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