Take Bold Steps (3): A Sunday Service Sermon by Pastor Mensa Otabil

Introduction

In his sermon delivered at ICGC Christ Temple East, Teshie-Accra, on Sunday, August 25, 2014, Pastor Mensa Otabil, General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), presented the third part of his series titled “Take Bold Steps.” 

Pastor Otabil encouraged his congregation to live boldly and courageously for God, underscoring the importance of thinking big, stepping out in faith, and embracing the challenges of life with unwavering confidence.

Drawing inspiration from the biblical story of Joshua, who faced significant challenges as he led the Israelites into the Promised Land, Pastor Otabil outlined three essential principles for cultivating strength and courage in the face of adversity.

The Call to Boldness

Pastor Otabil began his sermon by reminding the congregation that boldness is an essential trait for every believer. “We must believe God for big and mighty things,” he stated, urging everyone to step out of timidity and embrace courage. 

He emphasized that serving God requires more than just a modest mindset; it demands boldness and a willingness to think and act on a grand scale. “You cannot serve God and think small,” he said. “If the Lord God, the Creator of the universe, is your God, He’s your Father. You have a big God, and you have to think big and do big.”

Pastor Otabil highlighted Joshua as a biblical example of someone who had to learn to act with courage and strength despite facing immense difficulties. 

As the new leader of Israel after Moses’ death, Joshua was tasked with leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, a feat his predecessor had not accomplished in 40 years. 

God’s directive to Joshua in Joshua 1:5-9 is a powerful message for anyone facing daunting challenges: “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life… Be strong and of good courage.”

Strength and Courage: Continuous Imperatives

One of the central themes of Pastor Otabil’s sermon was the repeated command from God to Joshua to “be strong and courageous.” 

Pastor Otabil pointed out that this command was given three times in the passage, emphasizing its importance. “You would wonder,” Pastor Otabil mused, “why would God tell Joshua to be strong and courageous? Because Joshua is a soldier. He’s not a civilian like me. He’s a soldier who has seen combat and has won victories.” 

Despite Joshua’s military experience, God recognized that even those with a history of success might feel fear and uncertainty when faced with new challenges. 

“Sometimes you may have won some victories in the past and seen the glory of God in the past, but you’ll be faced with some challenges and you will be afraid,” Pastor Otabil noted. 

This message resonates with everyone who has ever faced a situation where their past achievements seem inadequate to overcome present difficulties. 

Pastor Otabil elaborated on the dual commands of strength and courage. The command to “be strong,” he explained, is a continuous imperative. 

“The verb that is used is a continuous verb,” he noted. “That means that God is not just saying be strong for today, but He means be strong today, be strong tomorrow, be strong next week, be strong continuously.” 

This ongoing need for strength is necessary because life’s challenges are constantly evolving. “Problems you had 10 years ago may be different from the ones you are facing today,” Pastor Otabil observed, underscoring the importance of growing in strength to meet new adversities.

Courage: The Steely Resolve

The second command, “be courageous,” is about having a steely resolve in the face of life’s difficulties. Pastor Otabil explained that the Hebrew word for “courageous” means to be hardened, to be focused, and not to be easily swayed. 

“Even if you are a woman, be hard,” he encouraged. “Be focused, be alert.” This type of courage involves a determination to persevere, to “set [one’s] face to a task and be very alert, watching around and not missing anything.”

Pastor Otabil illustrated this point with the example of Joshua leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, a task that Moses himself had been unable to complete. 

He noted that sometimes, doing what has never been done before requires a special kind of courage. “If you’re going to be the only one going up, if you’re going to defy the narrative of Africa, if you’re going to defy the narrative of Ghana… you have to be strong, and you have to be courageous.”

Trusting in God’s Presence and Word

To maintain this strength and courage, Pastor Otabil emphasized two key principles: trusting in God’s abiding presence and relying on the transforming power of God’s Word. “God says to Joshua, ‘I am with you. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you,'” Pastor Otabil highlighted. 

This assurance of God’s presence is foundational for any believer facing trials. “He is with us at all times,” Pastor Otabil assured. “He is with us in the floods. He is with us in the fire. He is with us in the valley. He is with us in the mountain.”

The second principle is the transforming power of God’s Word. “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth,” Pastor Otabil quoted. “But you shall meditate in it day and night.” 

God’s Word provides the courage to face life’s battles and the wisdom to navigate them successfully. “God’s word brings light out of darkness,” Pastor Otabil asserted. “God’s word will make you move mountains.”

Conclusion

In closing, Pastor Otabil’s sermon serves as a powerful reminder of the need for courage and strength in the Christian journey. The example of Joshua teaches us that no matter our past victories or current uncertainties, we are called to continuously grow in strength and courage. 

By trusting in God’s constant presence and relying on His Word, we can face any challenge with confidence, knowing that with God, “it can be done, and it will be done.” 

As believers, we are called to “be strong and courageous,” not just once, but every day, as we take bold steps of faith in our walk with God.