2026 Spring Retreat (2), "Be Strong And Courageous!"
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2026-05-03 13:56
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Be Strong And Courageous!
Joshua 1:1-9
Do you want to live a successful life? Then, be successful, not partially or temporarily but all and eternally. Though you may be successful in midterms or job interview or business, you can fail in your whole life. The matter is success in our whole life and eternally. How can we live such successful life?
First, overcome self-consciousness.
I want to begin my message with ‘Moses, the servant of the Lord.’ Moses was once a prince of Egypt. But he regarded his spiritual identity as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt. Your life and eternity will be decided by whom you follow. Follow God and be a servant of God. This is the most honorable and glorious. Moses lived like that.
Who was Moses? He was an unprecedented legendary charismatic leader. There is no leader like Moses in history. He was the center of the miracles in Exodus. He held the plate of the Ten Commandments. His face was filled with the glory of God. He talked with God directly. Israel, without Moses was unthinkable. But he was dead. The whole Israelites mourned for 30 days crying, “How can we survive without Moses?” They were full of fear and worries.
Joshua could have been confused, fearful and worried too. He was the successor of Moses and the new leader. But people were still missing Moses. Probably the Israelites were doubtful about Joshua’s leadership. “Joshua? Moses’ aid?” There would be a sense of rejection and self-consciousness in Joshua’s heart.
Satan tries to knock us down with a sense of consciousness or inferiority. Antonio Salieri was a talented court musician. But one day, Mozart appeared. Out of a sense of inferiority and jealousy he tried to destroy Mozart. But he was destroyed.
We feel miserable, angry and discouraged when we compare ourselves with others seemingly more talented or recognized or prosperous. No. that is not God’s will. We just need to be content and be thankful with what we have and who we are in Jesus. How did God help him?
Look at verse 5. “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” God reminded him of his past and gave him a promise. “Joshua, when I was with Moses, you saw what I did. I showed you my power and grace. I will be with you now and forever.” Joshua, a young leader indeed held the grace and promise of God. Then he did not compare himself with Moses. Indeed, he was free from self-consciousness.
Then, not only did Joshua enter the promised land, but also he conquered it and distributed it to the twelve tribes. And at the end of his life, he was honored as a servant of God like Moses.
Indeed, Joshua did even greater work of God when he remembered the promise of God. God is a God of Moses. But Joshua met his God. Today, each of us needs to meet ‘my God.’ Meet your God who gives you grace and promise. Then you will be free from self-consciousness. This is the beginning of living a successful life.
Second, never stop
Moses died. Moses was gone. Moses was an absolute charismatic leader whom all people relied. According to the trauma scale examined by Dr. Holmes and Rahe, the number one is the death of spouse or family member. Now to the people, it was a crisis. When such leader or system falls, people feel anxious. However, remember that a crisis is always an opportunity. This is a new beginning.
Verse 2 says, “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land.” Here ‘get ready’ is ‘Qum’ meaning arise! The Israelites remained in deep sorrow and despair by Moses’ death. Now God commanded Joshua not to look at dead Moses but arise and go to God’s promised land only looking at God. Never stop!
Satan makes us stay at a place of sorrow or failure or worry and fear. This is Satan’s strategy. But God gave us a clear goal and destination. “May your kingdom come on earth and your will be done.”
Have you started a life of faith? Never stop. Never stop in your worship, prayer and the work of God. Never stop carrying out your duty as a student, worker, a parent and gospel worker. this is a life of success.
Third, fight a good fight
Look at verse 3, 4. “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.”
The land God promised was indeed huge and vast to the slave people once. However, God would not give them the promised land free of charge. Instead, they must set their feet on the land.
The Bible is filled with God’s promise offering us an abundant and prosperous life. But such life is given not as a finished product. It demands our sweat, tears and blood to obtain it.
We like to get good grades, good health and good family. We like blessings from God. But we are not to wait for the apple to fall from the tree. We are to pick it up. In our life of faith, what we must be aware is spiritual laziness and complacency. Be ready to put your feet on the promised land. Live with a pioneering spirit.
You have to turn on the switch of faith. Canaan is the land filled with milk and honey. God said to his people, “Set your foot there.” But the Israelites saw the land with human eyes. “No, they are tall and strong. They are giants but we are like grasshoppers. Let’s go back to Egypt.” This is the eye of the world. But we are to see our life and the world with the eyes of God. Those who saw God’s promised land with the eye of the world all perished in the wilderness. Those who complained and doubted all failed to enter the promised land of God.
We like the promise of God. Some pray a lot. But there is no growth, maturity and fruit. Why? It is because they do not obey God. They hesitate to set their feet on the land of God. When did the Red Sea part? It was when they set their feet on the Red Sea. But we want to enter it after the Red Sea is part. So, we just wait. We wait until the situation is better. We wait until we graduate, find a stable job, buy a house and retire. Then we fail to experience the power of God and die.
The land God promised was vast. But in Israel’s history, they never occupied this land. Why? It was because they neither believed it nor tried to conquer it. Do you know how and when they went there? As captured slaves by Babylonian kingdom. They lost everything. And they went there with tears and regret.
The world record in high jump is 2.45 meter. We can't even jump twice our height. Here is a flea. When a flea jumps, it jumps 70 times its height. However, there is a way to keep flea from jumping. Keep it in a glass bottle. A flea jumps a few times and each time it crashes on the bottle lid. Then it stops jumping though the lid of the bottle is removed. This is ‘acquired sense of despair.” We are like that. God has given us great promises, but after trying a few times, we are stuck in a bottle, the bottle of sense of failure, fear, worry and ungodly human ambition. We do not jump anymore to put out into deep water.
How can we smash the acquired sense of despair? Start from worship. When I was in university, I heard from a pastor. “Attend Sunday worship service faithfully for 10 years. Then your life will be great.” It touched me. And I put my feet on church never missing Sunday worship service for the next 1o years.
And pray. Please don't make your scope of prayers small. “Lord, give me good grade and good job.” Yes, pray for that. And Make it big and great. Remember the promise of Jesus, “30, 60 and 100 times.” I believe that you have prayer topics. Multiply that by 30, 60 or 100 and pray. Make the scale of your wish bigger. Prayer is not that difficult. Still, some people even don’t or can’t pray because of fear and doubt. Why do people not pray? Because they do not know the next step.
Do you want success? Why? Explain to me. Why do you want to get good grade? Do you want to get a good career? Why? Here is an answer. ‘BMW.’ Do you like BMW? It is blessing, mission and worship. Success is a blessing from God. The next step is to go toward mission. And then worship. (I have seen people who lost worship after blessing) “Lord, give me a job, health, money and my own family.” Why? “Because I just need a job, money and health and a girl friend.” Then you will go here and there and commit sin like the prodigal son wasting your precious time, talent and materials.
Success and blessing come from God. You need to have a clear-cut reason to ask for them. Then your prayer will be clear and big.
Many say, “I will think about that.” In Matthew 25, a master gave his three servants 5 talents, 2 talents and one talent respectfully. Then the two who received 5 and 2 talents immediately put their money to work that they gained 5 and 2 more. Look at their immediate obedience. However, the one who received one talent thought, “Why only one talent to me? It is too small.” He just went off and buried it in the ground. Later, the master rebuked him, “You wicked and lazy servant.”
Many are like the one who received one talent from God. They think, argue, calculate or complain instead of obeying God’s word immediately. What will they gain at the end of their life? Let your life be a life without arguing or reasoning with God.
Joshua did not argue, “Lord, I am not like Moses.” Instead, he accepted God’s words. And he began to set his feet on the land God had promised. Joshua lived such successful and prosperous life. To you, where is God’s promised land to fight and obtain? Is it to gain all As or a good job or PR or buy a house? God says, “Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.” (Psalm 81:10)
Fourth, keep the word of God,
Look at verse 7, 8. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law; that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
We can guess Joshua’s heart. Moses was dead. There are 2 million people who were easily complaining. And there would be a war. He was afraid. At that time, God said, “Joshua, be strong and very courageous” three times. This is about mind.
You can lose everything. But you must not lose your heart. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.” How can we guard our heart? Hebrews 4:13 says, “the word of God is alive and active.” So, when my mind and the word of God are tied, the word of God heals me and makes me strong and very courageous.
Many feel lonely, frustrated, fearful and worried. Many are depressed and discouraged. How about you? How would you guard your heart? Tie your heart with the word of God. God said to Joshua to mediate on His word day and night. The word medicine comes from meditation. When the word of God and your heart are tied, this is medication to heal you and make you strong and courageous.
The abundance of the word of God in you is the best power to prepare for the future. I believe you study hard and you want to do well. Why then are you wandering? It is because of fear. If you are filled with the word of God, you can overcome the Word is abundant, you can overcome whatever happens in the future. Therefore, those people, family and nations who meditate on the word of God are incredibly powerful and productive.
In times of economic crisis and uncertainty, in times of war for hegemony, what we must rely on and hold on to is the Word. In America history, Lincoln is the most respected president. He had two mothers. His biological mother, Nancy passed away when he was nine. As she was dying, she gave Lincoln Bible saying, “This is your mother. If you listen and follow the Bible, you will get truth and prosperity.” His stepmother, Sarah was also great because she helped Lincoln know the power of reading. They said, "Heaven gave Lincoln no even one great talent, but gave him poverty and two mothers of great faith." Indeed the Bible made him. He was a man of the word of God. He overcame all the wilderness and difficulties and made a great history.
Look at verse 8. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
It seems that people are afraid and wander because of uncertain future or financial or relationship problem. However, it is because they do not listen to the word of God. Satan attacks our hearts to fall into fear and worry. At that time, listen to the word of God. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline.” If any of you are in fear, tie your heart with the word of God. You will be revived and prosperous.
"Be strong and courageous. Obey my law and meditate on it day and night. Then you will be successful and prosperous." Have an absolute love of God in your heart. When you love God with all your strength, God gives you unquenchable courage and wisdom.
Joshua 1:1-9
Do you want to live a successful life? Then, be successful, not partially or temporarily but all and eternally. Though you may be successful in midterms or job interview or business, you can fail in your whole life. The matter is success in our whole life and eternally. How can we live such successful life?
First, overcome self-consciousness.
I want to begin my message with ‘Moses, the servant of the Lord.’ Moses was once a prince of Egypt. But he regarded his spiritual identity as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt. Your life and eternity will be decided by whom you follow. Follow God and be a servant of God. This is the most honorable and glorious. Moses lived like that.
Who was Moses? He was an unprecedented legendary charismatic leader. There is no leader like Moses in history. He was the center of the miracles in Exodus. He held the plate of the Ten Commandments. His face was filled with the glory of God. He talked with God directly. Israel, without Moses was unthinkable. But he was dead. The whole Israelites mourned for 30 days crying, “How can we survive without Moses?” They were full of fear and worries.
Joshua could have been confused, fearful and worried too. He was the successor of Moses and the new leader. But people were still missing Moses. Probably the Israelites were doubtful about Joshua’s leadership. “Joshua? Moses’ aid?” There would be a sense of rejection and self-consciousness in Joshua’s heart.
Satan tries to knock us down with a sense of consciousness or inferiority. Antonio Salieri was a talented court musician. But one day, Mozart appeared. Out of a sense of inferiority and jealousy he tried to destroy Mozart. But he was destroyed.
We feel miserable, angry and discouraged when we compare ourselves with others seemingly more talented or recognized or prosperous. No. that is not God’s will. We just need to be content and be thankful with what we have and who we are in Jesus. How did God help him?
Look at verse 5. “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” God reminded him of his past and gave him a promise. “Joshua, when I was with Moses, you saw what I did. I showed you my power and grace. I will be with you now and forever.” Joshua, a young leader indeed held the grace and promise of God. Then he did not compare himself with Moses. Indeed, he was free from self-consciousness.
Then, not only did Joshua enter the promised land, but also he conquered it and distributed it to the twelve tribes. And at the end of his life, he was honored as a servant of God like Moses.
Indeed, Joshua did even greater work of God when he remembered the promise of God. God is a God of Moses. But Joshua met his God. Today, each of us needs to meet ‘my God.’ Meet your God who gives you grace and promise. Then you will be free from self-consciousness. This is the beginning of living a successful life.
Second, never stop
Moses died. Moses was gone. Moses was an absolute charismatic leader whom all people relied. According to the trauma scale examined by Dr. Holmes and Rahe, the number one is the death of spouse or family member. Now to the people, it was a crisis. When such leader or system falls, people feel anxious. However, remember that a crisis is always an opportunity. This is a new beginning.
Verse 2 says, “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land.” Here ‘get ready’ is ‘Qum’ meaning arise! The Israelites remained in deep sorrow and despair by Moses’ death. Now God commanded Joshua not to look at dead Moses but arise and go to God’s promised land only looking at God. Never stop!
Satan makes us stay at a place of sorrow or failure or worry and fear. This is Satan’s strategy. But God gave us a clear goal and destination. “May your kingdom come on earth and your will be done.”
Have you started a life of faith? Never stop. Never stop in your worship, prayer and the work of God. Never stop carrying out your duty as a student, worker, a parent and gospel worker. this is a life of success.
Third, fight a good fight
Look at verse 3, 4. “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.”
The land God promised was indeed huge and vast to the slave people once. However, God would not give them the promised land free of charge. Instead, they must set their feet on the land.
The Bible is filled with God’s promise offering us an abundant and prosperous life. But such life is given not as a finished product. It demands our sweat, tears and blood to obtain it.
We like to get good grades, good health and good family. We like blessings from God. But we are not to wait for the apple to fall from the tree. We are to pick it up. In our life of faith, what we must be aware is spiritual laziness and complacency. Be ready to put your feet on the promised land. Live with a pioneering spirit.
You have to turn on the switch of faith. Canaan is the land filled with milk and honey. God said to his people, “Set your foot there.” But the Israelites saw the land with human eyes. “No, they are tall and strong. They are giants but we are like grasshoppers. Let’s go back to Egypt.” This is the eye of the world. But we are to see our life and the world with the eyes of God. Those who saw God’s promised land with the eye of the world all perished in the wilderness. Those who complained and doubted all failed to enter the promised land of God.
We like the promise of God. Some pray a lot. But there is no growth, maturity and fruit. Why? It is because they do not obey God. They hesitate to set their feet on the land of God. When did the Red Sea part? It was when they set their feet on the Red Sea. But we want to enter it after the Red Sea is part. So, we just wait. We wait until the situation is better. We wait until we graduate, find a stable job, buy a house and retire. Then we fail to experience the power of God and die.
The land God promised was vast. But in Israel’s history, they never occupied this land. Why? It was because they neither believed it nor tried to conquer it. Do you know how and when they went there? As captured slaves by Babylonian kingdom. They lost everything. And they went there with tears and regret.
The world record in high jump is 2.45 meter. We can't even jump twice our height. Here is a flea. When a flea jumps, it jumps 70 times its height. However, there is a way to keep flea from jumping. Keep it in a glass bottle. A flea jumps a few times and each time it crashes on the bottle lid. Then it stops jumping though the lid of the bottle is removed. This is ‘acquired sense of despair.” We are like that. God has given us great promises, but after trying a few times, we are stuck in a bottle, the bottle of sense of failure, fear, worry and ungodly human ambition. We do not jump anymore to put out into deep water.
How can we smash the acquired sense of despair? Start from worship. When I was in university, I heard from a pastor. “Attend Sunday worship service faithfully for 10 years. Then your life will be great.” It touched me. And I put my feet on church never missing Sunday worship service for the next 1o years.
And pray. Please don't make your scope of prayers small. “Lord, give me good grade and good job.” Yes, pray for that. And Make it big and great. Remember the promise of Jesus, “30, 60 and 100 times.” I believe that you have prayer topics. Multiply that by 30, 60 or 100 and pray. Make the scale of your wish bigger. Prayer is not that difficult. Still, some people even don’t or can’t pray because of fear and doubt. Why do people not pray? Because they do not know the next step.
Do you want success? Why? Explain to me. Why do you want to get good grade? Do you want to get a good career? Why? Here is an answer. ‘BMW.’ Do you like BMW? It is blessing, mission and worship. Success is a blessing from God. The next step is to go toward mission. And then worship. (I have seen people who lost worship after blessing) “Lord, give me a job, health, money and my own family.” Why? “Because I just need a job, money and health and a girl friend.” Then you will go here and there and commit sin like the prodigal son wasting your precious time, talent and materials.
Success and blessing come from God. You need to have a clear-cut reason to ask for them. Then your prayer will be clear and big.
Many say, “I will think about that.” In Matthew 25, a master gave his three servants 5 talents, 2 talents and one talent respectfully. Then the two who received 5 and 2 talents immediately put their money to work that they gained 5 and 2 more. Look at their immediate obedience. However, the one who received one talent thought, “Why only one talent to me? It is too small.” He just went off and buried it in the ground. Later, the master rebuked him, “You wicked and lazy servant.”
Many are like the one who received one talent from God. They think, argue, calculate or complain instead of obeying God’s word immediately. What will they gain at the end of their life? Let your life be a life without arguing or reasoning with God.
Joshua did not argue, “Lord, I am not like Moses.” Instead, he accepted God’s words. And he began to set his feet on the land God had promised. Joshua lived such successful and prosperous life. To you, where is God’s promised land to fight and obtain? Is it to gain all As or a good job or PR or buy a house? God says, “Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.” (Psalm 81:10)
Fourth, keep the word of God,
Look at verse 7, 8. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law; that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
We can guess Joshua’s heart. Moses was dead. There are 2 million people who were easily complaining. And there would be a war. He was afraid. At that time, God said, “Joshua, be strong and very courageous” three times. This is about mind.
You can lose everything. But you must not lose your heart. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.” How can we guard our heart? Hebrews 4:13 says, “the word of God is alive and active.” So, when my mind and the word of God are tied, the word of God heals me and makes me strong and very courageous.
Many feel lonely, frustrated, fearful and worried. Many are depressed and discouraged. How about you? How would you guard your heart? Tie your heart with the word of God. God said to Joshua to mediate on His word day and night. The word medicine comes from meditation. When the word of God and your heart are tied, this is medication to heal you and make you strong and courageous.
The abundance of the word of God in you is the best power to prepare for the future. I believe you study hard and you want to do well. Why then are you wandering? It is because of fear. If you are filled with the word of God, you can overcome the Word is abundant, you can overcome whatever happens in the future. Therefore, those people, family and nations who meditate on the word of God are incredibly powerful and productive.
In times of economic crisis and uncertainty, in times of war for hegemony, what we must rely on and hold on to is the Word. In America history, Lincoln is the most respected president. He had two mothers. His biological mother, Nancy passed away when he was nine. As she was dying, she gave Lincoln Bible saying, “This is your mother. If you listen and follow the Bible, you will get truth and prosperity.” His stepmother, Sarah was also great because she helped Lincoln know the power of reading. They said, "Heaven gave Lincoln no even one great talent, but gave him poverty and two mothers of great faith." Indeed the Bible made him. He was a man of the word of God. He overcame all the wilderness and difficulties and made a great history.
Look at verse 8. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
It seems that people are afraid and wander because of uncertain future or financial or relationship problem. However, it is because they do not listen to the word of God. Satan attacks our hearts to fall into fear and worry. At that time, listen to the word of God. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline.” If any of you are in fear, tie your heart with the word of God. You will be revived and prosperous.
"Be strong and courageous. Obey my law and meditate on it day and night. Then you will be successful and prosperous." Have an absolute love of God in your heart. When you love God with all your strength, God gives you unquenchable courage and wisdom.