“Chasaq” – Be Strong
5 September 10
· Luke 9:15
“He steadfastly set His face to Jerusalem”
· ‘Set His face’ = to turn resolutely, to strengthen, set fast – to go to the Cross
· The nature of Jesus:
i) Lamb – tenderness, kindness, loving, compassionate John 1:29
ii) Lion – strong, full of authority, determined, full of purpose
· The Church today only knows how to be soft, it’s time to know how to be strong
· Jesus was and is a Lion – he came to advance a Kingdom, and to overcome his enemies
· The Jews were confused: OT battles against natural armies, the NT battles unseen eternal spirit dimension
· 1 Chron 12:8
“… mighty men of valor, trained for battle … faces like faces of lions’
- Saul – removed from the throne: rebellion, would not give it up, he wanted life on his terms
- David – God chose a better man to rule – to rule according to Gods terms
- Men joined themselves to David – a type of Jesus Christ
- Faces like Lions; full of strength and purpose – mighty men of valor!
- David changed a nation
· Theme for Father’s Day: ’Kia Kaha’ (Maori) = “Be Strong”
· War Cry through OT and NT: ‘Chasaq’ (Hebrew) = “Be Strong”
a) Old Testament Examples:
Deut 31:6-8 Be Strong – ‘Chasaq’ – ‘Possess the land – overcome’
· A new generation had arisen to go forward and possess the land of promises
· Israel faced 31 hostile, strong, armed empires – walled cities, great armies
· Og – king of Bashan, bed 9 cubits = 4m
· Chasaq – Be Strong – take the land, possess the promises of God
· Requires strength to overcome and prevail and take hold of Gods promises
Josh 1:7 Be Strong – ‘Chasaq’ – Obey the Word of God
· Key to success – meditate in the Word of God and act upon it
· It takes strength to stand up and walk in the principles of Gods Word
1 Chron 28:10 Be Strong – ‘Chasaq’ – Build the House of God
· Solomon was called to build a home for God to dwell in
· It takes strength to stand up and walk in the principles of God’s Word
· Build your life so that the Presence of God fills and overflows to impact others
Haggai 2:9 Be Strong, Be Strong – ‘Chasaq’ - Work, restore the house
· Joshua – called to restore the house of God broken down by sin
· Joshua faced opposition and resistance in the process of restoring
· It takes strength to resolve and to restore and build lives
b) New Testament Examples: Same War Cry – “be Strong”
· 1 Cor 16:13
“Watch, stand fast in faith, quit ye like men, be strong” (KJV)
· Keep your eyes open for spiritual danger, stand true to the Lord, act like men, be strong
· Believers are challenged to ‘be strong’ – Kia Kaha – ‘Chasaq’
· Have the face of the Lion and the nature of a Lamb
· Extend the authority of Christ – bring forth His presence
· ‘Chasaq’ = to fasten upon, be firm, to take hold of, prevail over
= deep inner resolve or inner strength
= inner strength of God to speak into their heart “Chasaq”
· Soldiers needed the General to speak into their heart “Chasaq”
c) Throughout the New Testament man are called to be strong:
Eph 6:10 Strong in the Lord
Rom 4:20 Strong in Faith
2 Tim 2:1 Strong in Grace
· Not strong naturally but by drawing upon the life of God
· Be strong in the strength only God can give you
· Be full of God, God is in you – you are strong
· Christ is within you – His glory manifested through you
· Not in your own strength, but the strength of the indwelling Christ and not to ‘try hard’
· Greek = 407 = Andrizomai = ‘to act like a man’
· Greek = 2900 = Krataio = ‘be strong’
· “Strong”
· To hold fast to Christ, strong in the Lord, strong in integrity
· To overcome temptation and sin
· To overcome lust, fears
· To fulfill your God given assignment
· To apologize when getting it wrong
· To build your marriage, family, legacy
· To set boundaries for children
· To protect family from ungodly influences
· To protect what God has entrusted
· To speak truth in love
· To overcome apathy and indifference
· To advance the Kingdom of God
· “Kia Kaha” – “Chasaq” – “Be Strong”
· Phil 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”