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“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
— Joshua 1:9
That is the central theme: divine courage grounded in the presence of God, exercised through faith, built upon the Word, and sustained to the end.
The lyrics of *Celtic Faith* weave together several key texts:
These are not isolated promises. Together they describe a pattern of life: a disciplined, courageous walk of faith in the midst of conflict, grounded in the Word and carried by the faithfulness of God.
Let us see what the Word of God says about this life of faith and courage.
---
### Joshua 1:9 – A leader facing impossible responsibility
The words, “Be strong and courageous” come at a critical moment in Israel’s history. Moses is dead. The greatest prophet and leader Israel has ever known has been taken from them. Joshua, his assistant, now stands on the threshold of the Promised Land, facing:
God speaks directly to Joshua:
> “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. Be strong and courageous…”
> — Joshua 1:5–6
Notice the order:
1. God’s presence promised – “I will be with you.”
2. God’s command given – “Be strong and courageous.”
3. God’s conditions stated – careful obedience to the Word (Joshua 1:7–8).
Courage was not a natural temperament issue. It was a commanded response to the revealed presence and promises of God, maintained by meditation and obedience to His Word.
### 2 Corinthians 5:7 – Faith in the unseen
Paul writes to believers in Corinth, a city dominated by paganism, immorality, and worldly wisdom. In 2 Corinthians 5 he is speaking about our earthly bodies as “tents” and our future resurrection body as a permanent dwelling with the Lord.
> “We are always confident… For we live by faith, not by sight.”
> — 2 Corinthians 5:6–7
Faith here is the operating principle of the Christian life. We are governed not by what we see, feel, or can calculate, but by the unseen realities revealed in the Word of God—especially the resurrection and eternal judgment.
### Psalm 27:1 – Confidence under pressure
David writes:
> “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?
> The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”
> — Psalm 27:1
David knew real enemies, real dangers, real betrayal. His confidence is not that there are no threats, but that God is greater than every threat. Therefore fear is irrational, unbelief is unreasonable, and courage is the only logical response to who God is.
---
### 1. “Be strong” – ḥāzaq (חָזַק)
In Joshua 1:9:
> “Be strong and courageous…”
The Hebrew word for “be strong” is ḥāzaq. It means:
This is not passive. It implies an active laying hold of strength, almost an inner “grip.” God is not telling Joshua, “If you feel strong, proceed.” He is commanding him to take hold of strength.
Isaiah 27:5 uses the same idea:
> “Or let them lay hold (ḥāzaq) of my strength, that he may make peace with me…”
Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the decision, in the fear, to lay hold of God’s strength.
### 2. “Faith” – pistis (πίστις)
In 2 Corinthians 5:7:
> “For we live by faith (pistis), not by sight.”
Pistis means:
It is not mere mental agreement. It is confidence that produces obedience. Biblical faith has three elements:
1. Knowledge – You hear what God has said.
2. Assent – You acknowledge it is true.
3. Trust – You commit yourself to it personally.
Romans 10:17 links pistis directly to the Word:
> “So faith (pistis) comes from hearing, and hearing through the word (rhēma) of Christ.”
When we see that faith is firm reliance upon what God has spoken, the lyrics “For we live by faith, not by sight” become a call to reorder our entire lifestyle around what God has said, not what our senses report.
---
### Verse 1
**“Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,
for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”**
This is almost a direct quotation of Joshua 1:9. Notice the structure:
1. Command: “Be strong and courageous.”
2. Prohibition: “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
3. Reason: “For the Lord your God will be with you…”
#### 1. Courage is commanded
This means:
Jesus repeatedly commanded, “Do not fear” (Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:32). God never commands what He does not also enable. The enabling is in His presence and in His Word.
#### 2. Fear and discouragement opposed
“Do not be afraid… do not be discouraged.”
Fear looks at circumstances. Discouragement looks at self. Faith looks at God.
#### 3. The ground of courage: God’s presence
“For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
This is the decisive factor:
Hebrews 13:5–6 takes this same promise and applies it to all believers:
> “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.’”
Notice: God says, and then we say in response. That is the pattern of faith.
---
### Chorus
**“For we live by faith, not by sight;
the Lord is my light and my salvation.”**
Two scriptures are joined: 2 Corinthians 5:7 and Psalm 27:1.
#### 1. “We live by faith, not by sight”
This is more than believing in God occasionally. This is a lifestyle.
Living by sight means:
Living by faith means:
Faith is not irrational. It is supra-rational. It reasons from a higher starting point: what God has spoken.
#### 2. “The Lord is my light and my salvation”
David does not say, “The Lord gives me light.” He says, “The Lord is my light.” Similarly, he does not say, “The Lord gives me salvation,” but “The Lord is my salvation.”
God Himself is:
When God is your light, confusion must give way. When God is your salvation, fear loses its grip.
---
### Verse 2
**“Faith comes from hearing,
and hearing through the word of Christ.
With God, all things are possible.”**
#### 1. “Faith comes from hearing… the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17)
Paul is explaining why some believe and others do not. The sequence in Romans 10:14–17 is:
The “word” here is rhēma – the spoken, applied word. It is Scripture made alive and specific by the Holy Spirit.
Faith does not come by:
Faith comes when the Holy Spirit takes the written Word (logos) and makes it a living word (rhēma) to your heart.
If you lack faith in any area, you do not have a psychological problem. You have a word problem. The remedy is exposure to, and meditation upon, the Word of God.
#### 2. “With God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26)
Jesus speaks these words after the rich young ruler walks away. The disciples are shocked at His statement about the difficulty of the rich entering the kingdom.
Jesus replies:
> “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Two vital truths:
1. There are real impossibilities “with man.” Human ability is limited.
2. There are no impossibilities “with God.”
Faith is not pretending that everything is possible to you. Faith is recognizing that everything is possible to God and aligning yourself with Him.
Luke 1:37 echoes this: “For no word (rhēma) from God will ever fail.” When God speaks, that word carries within it the power to fulfill itself.
---
### Bridge
**“I have fought the good fight,
I have finished the race,
I have kept the faith.
He who began a good work in you
will bring it to completion.”**
Now we move from beginning in faith to finishing in faith.
#### 1. “I have fought the good fight… kept the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12 / 2 Timothy 4:7)
Paul instructs Timothy:
> “Fight the good fight of the faith, take hold of the eternal life…” (1 Timothy 6:12)
Later, near his own death, he declares:
> “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
The Christian life is not passive. Three images:
Note: It is called “the good fight.” Why? Because in Christ, the outcome is assured if we remain in Him. We do not fight for victory, but from victory—Christ’s victory on the cross (Colossians 2:15).
#### 2. “He who began a good work in you… will bring it to completion” (Philippians 1:6)
Here we see God’s faithfulness:
> “…he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Three key truths:
1. The origin of the work is God. You did not begin the work of salvation in yourself.
2. The process of the work is God. He continues, shapes, corrects, and sanctifies.
3. The completion of the work is God. He brings it to perfection at the day of Christ.
Our responsibility is to cooperate through faith and obedience. His responsibility is to complete what He started. That removes pride and removes despair. Pride, because it is His work. Despair, because He will finish it.
---
### Outro
“Be strong and courageous.”
The song returns to the beginning. That is how God often operates. He states His command. He explains His promises. He reveals His faithfulness. Then He repeats the command.
Why?
Joshua 1:9 is not simply a comfort. It is a summons. God is saying to you:
---
### 1. First, we must root our courage in God’s presence and Word
Courage begins where God’s presence and God’s Word are believed.
Joshua 1:8 gives the method:
> “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night… then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Notice:
Courage is the fruit of a mind and mouth filled with the Word.
### 2. Second, we must choose to walk by faith, not by sight
This is a series of daily choices.
Ask in every situation:
Practical steps:
Faith is not denying reality. Faith is bringing God’s reality to bear on earthly reality.
### 3. Third, we must engage in the fight of faith
The good fight of faith is fought largely with your mouth, your mind, and your will.
Expect opposition:
Answer him with the Word, as Jesus did (Matthew 4:1–11). That is spiritual warfare at its core.
### 4. Fourth, we must trust God to complete what He has begun
When you fail or fall, the enemy will say:
At that point, Philippians 1:6 is your anchor:
> “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion…”
Your part:
God’s part:
This keeps you from pride when you seem to advance, and from despair when you seem to fail.
---
### Proclamation
Speak this aloud, deliberately, as an act of your will:
> In the name of Jesus, I declare:
>
> The Lord my God is with me wherever I go.
> Therefore, I choose to be strong and courageous.
> I refuse fear, and I reject discouragement.
>
> I do not live by sight; I live by faith in the Word of God.
> The Lord is my light and my salvation;
> the Lord is the stronghold of my life;
> therefore, I will not fear.
>
> Faith comes to me as I hear the Word of Christ.
> I open my ears and my heart to His Word.
> With God, all things are possible,
> and I align myself with His purposes.
>
> I fight the good fight of faith.
> I run my race with endurance.
> By God’s grace, I will keep the faith.
> He who began a good work in me
> will carry it on to completion
> until the day of Christ Jesus.
>
> I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
> I live by faith, not by sight.
> Amen.
### Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
I thank You that You are my light and my salvation. I thank You that You are with me wherever I go. I bring to You every area of fear, every place of discouragement, every battle of unbelief in my heart.
By Your Holy Spirit, write Your Word deeply in me. Open my ears to hear the Word of Christ, and produce in me the faith that pleases You. Teach me to live not by what I see or feel, but by what You have spoken.
Strengthen me to fight the good fight of faith. Guard me from turning back. When I stumble, lift me up. When I grow weary, renew my strength. I entrust myself to You, confident that You who began a good work in me will bring it to completion.
I choose this day to be strong and courageous, not in myself, but in You. Let my life be a testimony that with God, all things are possible.
In Your holy name, Lord Jesus,
Amen.
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