Notice below the number of times God brings the command to “be strong and courageous” before Joshua.

Joshua 1: 6 - 9

"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; 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. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

What is courage? There’s one very important thing we need to notice about courage. Courage is seen in the person whose back is against the wall, when the odds are against them, when the pressure is on, when the flaming arrows are close, when the pain is intense, when the attack is at hand. 

              

God had given Joshua a project to complete. His first task was to lead his army into Canaan and drive out the people who lived there. There were seven nations living in Canaan, all of them larger and stronger than Israel. By all human standards Joshua was facing an uphill battle. He had every reason to turn and run. That’s why God encourages him so many times: "Be strong and courageous".

Do you ever feel like you’re facing an uphill battle? Do you feel like the odds are against you? Honestly, there are hundreds of times in our lives with situations that, to our eyes, seem impossible!  There are many times in our lives when we need to hear God’s command to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous.”

Real success is not a matter of strength and courage alone, but strength and courage that comes from the knowledge that God is walking with us.

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There can be no denying the pure power of the Gospel. This story below by Joshua Harris is another illustration of why Jesus is the name above every other name!

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features, except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files…had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "People I Have Liked". I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was.

This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalogue system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn’t match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content.

Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I Have Betrayed". The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read", "Lies I Have Told", "Comfort I Have Given", "Jokes I Have Laughed At". Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I’ve Yelled at My Brothers." Others I couldn’t laugh at: "Things I Have Done in My Anger", "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents". … Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature. … When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts", I felt a chill run through my body.

I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: "No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In an insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn’t matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. 

   

And then I saw another file. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With". The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand. And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that the hurt started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key.

But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn’t bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn’t anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn’t say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. "No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn’t be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don’t think I’ll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished." 

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"Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.'" 

INSPIRE is incredibly fortunate to directly benefit from a Generational Blessing. INSPIRE will be a member of CHRISTIAN INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES' church network - one of the largest global ministry networks today. INSPIRE will also be home to the Australasian headquarters for Christian International Ministries - CI Australia and New Zealand.

One of the key values at INSPIRE will be "SPIRIT" - a church that values the presence of God and the power of the Holy Spirit at work in people's lives. Being relationally connected with CI will mean INSPIRE will be equipped with the 7 Anointings of CI Ministries. Anointing simply means - the enabling power of God to get things done.

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So what exactly is this thing called Disappointment?

DISAPPOINTMENT is faced when our expectations or hopes have failed to be met. Everyone experiences disappointment in their life. But if it lingers in your heart it can prevent you from moving forward into a new season of promise. When not dealt with, disappointment can be like a tick that has embedded its head under the skin of an animal. As the tick feeds off the animal’s blood supply it injects venom into the same blood stream causing paralysis, restricted vision and severe dehydration.  

3 Decisions to Break the Power of Disappointment

In the book of Ezra in the Bible, the people of God return to their homeland after 50 years with excitement, only to be immediately hit with immense disappointment. They realise that the glorious Temple of God has been utterly destroyed by their enemy. All that remains is rubble and ruin. Rather than just staying defeated and giving up, the people of God make three specific decisions to break the chains of their disappointment to enable them to move forward.

1. REBUILD the ALTAR

The people of God first decide to re-build the altar even before they start to rebuild the temple. Why? Worship must always come first when defeating a spirit of disappointment. To overcome disappointment - build a fresh altar in your heart and lay that disappointment at the feet of Jesus.  

2. RELAY the FOUNDATION 

After rebuilding the altar, the people of God then relay the foundation of the Temple of God. Little by little, day by day, week by week, they work to clean up the mess. When you are disappointed and don’t know what to do, get to work and relay the foundations in your life. Get the basics right:

• Read God’s Word 
• Pray 
• Get Organised 
• Re-visit your Goals 
• Get to Work 

3. PAUSE to PRAISE GOD

Once the altar was rebuilt and the foundation was laid, the people stopped and gave thanks to God. They did not wait until the entire building was complete to praise God. Don’t wait until your life is perfect to praise God. Start praising Him for what He is about to do as you break out of your current disappointment and take steps into a new season of promise.  

Breakthrough Time

If you are facing disappointment in your life right now and you sense it is holding you back, then study Ezra Chapter 3. Be encouraged to rebuild the altar in your heart, relay the foundations in your life and pause to praise God. Get ready to breakthrough! 

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We are so excited about launching INSPIRE in early 2010. What an incredible season 2010 will be: 

• A year of new beginnings, a fresh start and innovative direction
• A season to form new friendships and refresh old ones
• A time to partner with positive & generous people 
• A time to accept the call to build God's beautiful House
• A season to truly impact Brisbane

Building a 3D CHURCH

INSPIRE will be a church that reaches and impacts the city of Brisbane. 

INSPIRE will focus on 3 Dimensions:

Dimension 1:     Connecting people to God
Dimension 2:     Connecting people to Church 
Dimension 3:     Empowering people to be released into their marketplace calling for city impact

When something is 3D it has 3 dimensions to its image. 



A 3 dimensional image adds detailed depth to a projected vision.  

A 3 dimensional church is a church that reaches new people, positions people to serve their church, but more importantly empowers people to serve and influence their city! 

A church with these three dimensions is focussed on a deeper kingdom persepctive so its people can truly be activated to impact their community outside the four walls of the local church.   

If you are interested in the vision of INSPIRE and would like to get involved please register your interest here: http://www.inspirebrisbane.com/register.html 

We pray that you will join us on this incredible journey.

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• it empowers people to live a committed, consistent, faithful, persistent and undefeatable life 
• it equips people to move forward toward the realization of that vision 
• it enables people to discipline their thoughts, decisions and actions to fulfill the vision

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