Bill Johnson - Be Courageous, You Are Not Alone
Every time I found that God revealed He was with an individual or a group of people, it was always connected to their impossible assignment. He revealed His presence because He told them to do something they could not do. Verse 9 says, «Have I not commanded you to be strong?» I’m picking up on this idea that maybe we should be strong. «Have I not commanded you to be strong and of good courage? Do not be afraid nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.» That last phrase is critical. Years ago, I did a study where I tried to find every place the Lord said He would be with somebody.
We see it with Moses; the Lord says, «I’m going to be with you.» We see it with Gideon, facing the insurmountable task of this army with only 300 soldiers. The Lord says, «I will be with you.» We see it throughout the scriptures, with the prophets and others in various positions. The Lord repeatedly says, «I will be with you.» We see it in the Great Commission, Matthew 28:19–20: «Go into all the world,» and it ends with, «And I will be with you always.» The point is that every time I found that God revealed He was with an individual or group, it was connected to their impossible assignment. He revealed His presence because He told them to do something they could not do.
Let’s rephrase that: We sing the song «I Love Your Presence,» and we do; we love the presence of the Lord. However, the manifestation of the presence of God is to guarantee that we are assigned to the impossible. He could comfort us in many ways, but it’s more than just His presence to comfort me; it is to equip and enable me to confront challenges that Jesus would face if He were in my position. He says, «Be strong and courageous.» Do you understand that He would never command me to be strong if it weren’t within reach? In other words, if I could not will my way into it, then it would be a cruel command. He didn’t say, «Feel courageous»; He didn’t say, «Hover until you feel strong.» He said, «Just be it. Be strong.» Now, if God is commanding me to do something that is the product of ten years of obedience, then it’s a cruel command, because I am in trouble right now. I have a problem at this moment, and He comes to us with a command: «Be strong and don’t fear. Be courageous. Do not be dismayed.» Why? Because I am with you.
For me, the implication is that if I am overwhelmed by the size of my problem, I have lost sight of the presence of God and His promise that prevails over my life. It was what helped the ten spies to not lie but emphasize the size of the giants and the enormity of the problem. It wasn’t a lie; they described that problem without the prevailing word of God over their lives and without the abiding, manifested presence that was visibly seen among them every day in the wilderness—the visible manifestation of the glory of God: the pillar of fire by night, the cloud by day. It was there day after day, yet they didn’t remember that when they entered the Promised Land and saw giants. They saw big people instead of a big God.
I’ve mentioned in recent weeks that for most of us, our miracle or breakthrough begins the moment we stop being impressed by the size of our problem. Many people define themselves by the magnitude of their problems. «Oh, it’s been rough.» I don’t mean to suggest we shouldn’t share or pray with one another; I understand that. So I know this could be misapplied, but it’s worth the risk. If I can get some of you to apply it, it will be good. Your giant is your next meal. «Give us this day our daily bread.» God, create the table in such a way that I am so overwhelmed by who is at the table and what You have placed there for me to eat that I never again become impressed with the enemy watching me.
One of my most favorite verses is Acts 10:38. Whenever I see the time 10:38 on digital clocks, I pause in my heart and acknowledge the reality of Acts 10:38—one of the most important scriptures in my life. It says God was with Jesus, and He anointed Him to heal every disease and destroy all the powers of hell that He encountered. Because God was with Him, it states, «Jesus went about doing good, healing all who were oppressed by the devil.» Listen to this phrase: «For God was with Him.» The very fact that the presence of God was manifested with Him emphasizes the role He had as a man, with the presence of God with Him. Why? Because He’s looking for a generation that will say an equal yes and look at the giant and say, «You are my dinner.» «Well, I don’t want to make the devil mad.» He’s already mad. «You are my dinner.»