Joshua 1:5,9 (NKJV) No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you…. 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.”
God’s presence with us is something that belongs to us in the abundant life. Truly knowing this will help us to take hold of our well-being in Christ.
Both Joshua and Caleb were against the odds when the other 10 spies gave their negative report to Moses. While no one could deny that there were giants in the land, the difference was that God stood with them. God had to assure Joshua of His presence with Him at a time when Joshua had just taken over the leadership from Moses, and he was to be strong and courageous despite the giants in the land. Likewise, we must not lose hope and faith amid the long-drawn-out effects of COVID-19. Yes, there are negative statistics, facts and reports that are speaking loudly to us, but we won’t lose hope and faith because God is with us.
Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV) Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
God is a God of covenant. He will not abandon His people in time of crisis because covenant partners are to face all kinds of situations together. Joshua 21:44-45 records Joshua’s testimony regarding the faithfulness of God to his people before he died, where he reminded them how God had honoured every word of His and how one Israelite was able to chase a thousand because God was fighting for them. Likewise, God instructed us not to be covetous but be content because He will not leave or forsake us. The same assurance was also given in Romans 8:32 where the Apostle Paul assured us that if God did not spare His own son but gave Him up for us all, why would He not also willingly give us all things. He went on to say in Romans 8:38-39 God’s love would not depart from us even in times of distress, famines, nakedness, peril, persecution, or sword.
We need to take to heart these and the many other Scriptures written in the Bible which establish the truth that God will always be with us and for us. In fact, the Holy Spirit has taken residence in our hearts, He is the seal of our salvation, we belong to God’s family, and God is our Heavenly Father who will never abandon His children despite our imperfections and weaknesses because He loves us unconditionally.
Sermon Series: Work on Your Well-Being (Part 2)
祂与我们同在且要帮助我们
约书亚记1:5，9 你平生的日子，必无一人能在你面前站立得住。我怎样与摩西同在，也必照样与你同在。我必不撇下你，也不丢弃你。9我岂没有吩咐你吗？你当刚强壮胆。不要惧怕，也不要惊惶。因为你无论往哪里去，耶和华你的神必与你同在。
在丰盛的生命中，我们拥有上帝的同在。明了这一点将帮助我们抓住我们在基督里面所有的福祉。
当那10个探子给摩西作了负面汇报后，约书亚和迦勒却力排众议。没有人可以否认 那土地上有巨人，区别在于神站在以色列人那一边。当约书亚刚刚从摩西手里接过领导权时，神向约书亚保证祂会与他同在，并要求他刚强壮胆，尽管那地有巨人。同样的，面对新冠疫情长期的影响，我们也不能失去希望和信心。是的，我们看到了负面的数据，事实和报告，它们对我们大声吼 叫，但我们不会失去希望和信心，因神与我们同在。
希伯来书13:5 你们存心不可贪爱钱财。要以自己所有的为足。因为主曾说，我总不撇下你，也不丢弃你。
神是盟约的神。祂不会在危机时抛弃祂的人民，因为盟约伙伴将共同面对所有情况。约书亚21:44-45记录着约书亚在他死前，为神对祂的子民的信实作了见证。他提醒他们，神是如何信守了祂的每一句话，尤其是祂要为他们而战。他提醒他们，以色列人能以一人追敌千人是因为神为他们而战。同样，神指示我们不要贪婪，要知足，因为祂不会离开我们，也不会丢弃我们。罗马书8章32节也有同样的保证，使徒保罗向我们保证：如果上帝既不爱惜自己的儿子为我们众人舍了，岂不也把万物和祂一同白白的赐给我们么？接着又在罗马书8:38-39节中说：神的爱不离不弃，哪怕是在患难、饥饿、赤身露体、危险、逼迫或刀剑之时。
我们要记取这些以及圣经上其他的经文，这些都建立了这样一个真理就是：上帝永远于我们同在，永远站在我们这一边。事实上，圣灵住在我们心里，祂是我们救恩的印记，我们是神家的，神 是我们的天父，祂永远不会离弃祂的孩子们，即便我们不完美还有缺点，因为祂无条件的爱着我们。
讲章系列：为你的幸福而努力 （第二部分）