Be Strong Courageous in Body Mind Spirit For the Long Journey

Be Strong and Courageous in Body, Mind, and Spirit: For the Long Journey

John 20:21-22

Pastor Tammy Long

For Your Heart Today

In John 20, the disciples are gathered together, trying to make sense of everything that has just happened. Jesus has been crucified, there are reports that He is alive, and they are holding fear, confusion, and uncertainty in that space.

And then Jesus comes to them. He speaks peace, shows them His scars, and when they recognize Him, they are filled with joy. Then Jesus says, "As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you." And He breathes on them and says, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

This is a defining moment.

But what follows is a journey. Over time, we see them learning to live aligned with the Father, filled with the Spirit, and growing into a strength and courage in body, mind, and spirit that they did not have before.

Something has shifted. They are empowered.

And the same is true for us. We are given the same invitation-to receive the Holy Spirit and to be sent to live as Jesus lived, empowered by the same Spirit and formed over time for the long journey of walking with God.

4 Takeaways

1. Being sent is about alignment, not just assignment.
   We are sent to live connected to the Father, just as Jesus did.
2. We are not sent alone-we are sent with the Spirit.
   God's presence within us empowers the life He calls us to live.
3. Transformation happens over time.
   Strength and courage are formed as we continue walking with God.
4. We are invited into the same journey.
   To receive the Spirit, to be sent, and to be formed for the long journey of life with God.

Breath Prayer

Inhale: Risen Lord
Exhale: Send me in Your Spirit

Full Manuscript - Estimated Reading Time: ~22-26 minutes

Be Strong and Courageous in Body, Mind, and Spirit: For the Long Journey

Defining Moments

Sometimes in life, there are times that become defining moments-moments where you can mark the before and after.

Before that conversation… before that diagnosis… before that loss… before that decision…

And then there's the after.

Moments that shift something so deeply that nothing is quite the same again. Often, we can point to the exact experience, the exact moment when everything changed.

If you were with us last Sunday, we met the disciples in one of those moments. We found them in a room behind locked doors-fearful, anxious, uncertain, confused-heavy with everything they had just lived through with Jesus' arrest, crucifixion, and death.

Even after the women came back with the testimony that they had seen Jesus-that He was alive-the disciples were still trying to make sense of it all, still unsure of what to do with what they had heard and what to do next.

And then Jesus suddenly appeared.

He comes to them right where they were. Standing among them, He says, "Peace be with you"-not as a casual greeting, but as something they need to receive in that moment. Peace for their confused minds. Peace for their tense bodies. Peace for their heavy spirits.

He shows them His hands and His side-the scars still there-and when they recognize that it is truly Jesus, they are filled with joy. Not just that He is alive, but victorious over death. He is the Lord.

The story they feared had ended is still unfolding. The story is continuing. It's a new day and a new chapter.

As we continued the story, we heard Jesus say, "Receive the Holy Spirit," and He breathed on them. We talked about the intimacy of that breath and how the Holy Spirit enables God's peace, presence, and power to live out the journey God has for each of us.

Now, you may or may not have noticed there was one statement Jesus made in that passage that we did not give much attention to last Sunday. And it's not a small statement.

In fact, it's critical to this defining moment and important for us to remember as we conclude this series, Be Strong and Courageous in Body, Mind, and Spirit.

So this morning, I want to return to that room and hear Jesus' words again and pick up the story with the disciples.

John 20:21-22 (NLT)

Sent as Jesus Was Sent

"As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you…"

It's only a few words, but this is one of those big moments-the kind that takes a while for it to sink in, because there is a lot happening here.

First, as we've already said, and to everyone's amazement, Jesus is alive. There had to be tons of questions about that alone.

And just as they are wrapping their minds around this truth, feeling His peace and filled with joy, He then entrusts them with an assignment.

"As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you."

Now, that statement is more than just an assignment-it's about alignment and continuity.

All through John's Gospel, Jesus has described His life as one who is sent by the Father-one with the Father, living in step with the Father, speaking what the Father gives Him to speak, doing what the Father gives Him to do.

And now, in this defining moment, He says to the disciples: the same way I have lived, aligned with the heart of my Father, I am now sending you to do the same.

And He breathes on them, saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

Because the life they are being sent to live out now is not something they can live on their own. They will need the presence and power of God for what lies ahead-God's very Spirit living within them.

And when Jesus breathes on them, we see a glimpse of something more. The disciples don't know it, but we see a foretaste of what is still to come-the fuller outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. God's presence will now dwell with humanity in a new way, the same way God's Spirit dwells with us today.

Now, let's look at the next verse for just a moment, because right after Jesus says, "Receive the Holy Spirit," He says something that can feel a little surprising at first:

"If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

At first reading, this can feel a bit out of place. It can make us wonder what Jesus is saying and what that has to do with receiving the Holy Spirit.

But if we think about it for a moment, we can see the connection.

As Jesus breathes on them and they receive the Holy Spirit, Jesus is affirming their authority. Not the authority to decide who is forgiven-only God forgives sin-but the authority of their message.

Actually, Jesus had already given them authority before His death and resurrection (e.g. Matt. 10:1-8; Luke 10:1-20). But now, as they receive the Holy Spirit, that authority is empowered.

Jesus is entrusting them, as those who are now sent, aligned with the Father, and filled with His Spirit, to proclaim the good news that through Jesus, sins are forgiven.

And as people receive that message, the disciples can say with confidence what God has done-that through Jesus, their sins are indeed forgiven.

In other words, Jesus is inviting and sending them to be strong and courageous, aligned with the Father, empowered by the Spirit, to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.

And this is a defining moment for them-a moment that changed everything-the moment they first knew Jesus is alive and the moment they are entrusted with His mission as the risen King.

But what's important to see is that this empowerment doesn't happen all at once. They don't walk out of that room suddenly fearless and bold.

The Spirit is within them, yes. But what Jesus initiates in this moment is the beginning of a transformation journey in which they will continue to grow stronger and more courageous as they stay aligned with Jesus and the Father.

What Happens Next

So, let's fast forward for a moment and see what happens next as the Holy Spirit does its work.

Let's take Peter, for example. The man who once stood in the shadows and denied even knowing Jesus-by Acts 2, less than two months later, now stands in the open before a crowd and speaks at Pentecost. Not cautiously or carefully, but boldly naming who Jesus is, naming what has happened-Jesus' resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit as evidence, with the disciples speaking in other languages that day, and all it means from biblical prophecy.

We're told thousands respond to Peter's message and become followers of Christ. The same Peter who once stepped back is now stepping forward.

In Acts chapters 3 and 4, when Peter and the other disciples are brought before the authorities and told to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, they don't run and hide. They don't tone down their message or revise it to be politically correct.

Instead, they say, "We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

The disciples have a steadiness now, a courage that holds, even under pressure.

In Acts 5, we see this same strength and courage in the apostles when they are beaten. It would have made sense to step back, protect themselves, and consider a safer strategy without cost. But we're told they leave rejoicing-rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus. And they continue, day after day, to teach and to speak.

Something has definitely changed-not just in what they are doing, but also in how they are living their lives.

We even see the power of the Spirit beyond the apostles.

In Acts 6, we meet Stephen. He wasn't one of the Twelve disciples; he was one of the first deacons in the early church, chosen to serve. Most likely, he had not walked with Jesus during His earthly ministry. There's no indication he had formal theological training. And yet, he is described as a man full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit.

When Stephen is brought before the religious leaders, he does not shrink back. He speaks with conviction and courage, telling the story of God and pointing them to Jesus.

And it cost him his very life.

In Acts 7, Stephen becomes the first martyr of the church. He is taken outside the city and stoned. And even in that moment, the Spirit is at work.

As he is dying, Stephen looks up and sees the glory of God. He entrusts himself to God, and then he speaks words that echo the same words of Jesus on the cross-asking God to forgive those who are taking his life.

The same grace we saw in Jesus, now by the power of the Spirit, is lived out in one of His followers.

We can follow the same strength and courage in other followers of Jesus, as well as the disciples who once hid behind locked doors, now living boldly in the open.

Something has changed. They are experiencing transformation in real time from the inside out through the power of the Holy Spirit.

As we hear these stories, we might conclude that this kind of strength and courage only shows up in grand moments like these-in public speaking, in standing before authorities, in facing persecution or even death.

But actually, we're simply seeing what happens when the Spirit begins to shape a life.

And that kind of strength and courage isn't just reserved for extraordinary moments.

Sometimes strength and courage look like speaking God's truth when it would be easier to stay quiet.

Sometimes it looks like standing firm in what you know to be right, even when it's uncomfortable or unpopular.

Sometimes it looks like continuing to show up, to love, to serve, to forgive as Jesus would, when everything in you says, "I've got nothing left."

Sometimes it's being honest before God, yourself, and others about limitations, needs, concerns, and hurts-and letting God meet you there.

We're not just talking about courage for a moment.

This is a way of life that the Spirit empowers 24/7.

The Bigger Journey

So, when we step back and look at the lives of the disciples and the power of the Spirit at work within them on their life's journey, we recognize it's not just about them.

This is the same journey we're on, too.

From the very beginning of this series, we've been asking what it means to be strong and courageous-not just in a moment, but as a way of life.

We saw it in Joshua, where God called him to be strong and courageous in the aftermath of Moses' death. He was still carrying grief, stepping into something he didn't feel quite ready for, and yet the promised land remained before them. The call and mission had not changed.

We saw it in Elijah. When his strength was depleted from faithful service and threats to his life, he was ready to give up and die. When his body was exhausted, his mind overwhelmed, and his spirit worn down, God met him there-caring for his body with rest and a meal, inviting him to step away from the noise of the earthquake, the wind, and the fire, to listen instead for God's whisper and notice the nearness of His presence, so he could continue on with his mission.

We saw it in Jesus, too, as our model of what it means to live fully aligned with God-strong and courageous in body, mind, and spirit-living from that place of connection, heart to heart with the Father, grounded, present, sustained by the Spirit every step of the way, through His own sacrificial death for us and the victory of the resurrection-a mission accomplished.

And now we've seen it in the disciples as we consider what this looks like for us under the reign of the risen King-the invitation to continue what Jesus began, with the power of the Spirit at work within them and us.

Called, sent, and then formed over time into people who can live that calling-strong and courageous.

God has always been on a mission to restore this broken world with His love, and from the very beginning, our mission has been to walk with God on His mission for what lies ahead, whatever that may look like for each one of us.

But here's what we can't forget-it's a lifelong journey.

For the disciples in our passage, everything we saw of their unfolding journey is still ahead of them, because in this moment, they are still in the room, still wrapping their minds around what has just happened, what Jesus is saying, and what they are to do next.

And yet, this is the moment that changed everything-the moment they knew Jesus was alive and the moment they were entrusted with His mission.

They don't yet see what their lives will become or where this will lead. But a gift has been given to them-someone who will be with them and empower them for everything that lies ahead.

We Relate

The truth is, their story is our story.

We know something about defining moments-those before-and-after moments in our own lives where something changes, where we begin to see God's hand, His power, His presence in ways we hadn't before.

I can look back over my own life and recognize those moments. Sometimes it wasn't dramatic. Sometimes it was a huge shift. But it was a defining moment because I began to experience God differently after that.

From stories many of you have shared with me, I see God at work in your lives, too-moments where something changed, where there was a shift, even if it wasn't immediately clear at the time.

Sometimes those moments don't come in ways we would choose. They come out of circumstances that feel devastating, situations that, in the moment, we can't imagine being used for anything good.

And yet, even there, God's story is still unfolding. And as we stay with Him, as we remain aligned with Him, Jesus speaks the same words to us.

We, too, have been called.
We, too, have been sent.
We, too, have a purpose and a mission.

And whatever that may look like in our lives, the same Spirit that Jesus breathed into His disciples is the same Spirit at work within us-giving us what we need, strengthening us, forming us, and guiding us as we step into what God has called us to.

But if that kind of life is formed over time, then how do we actually live that way?

We know there are many ways we stay connected to God-through prayer, through Scripture, through worship. These are rhythms that shape our lives over time.

And one way we've been practicing in this series is by paying attention to our body, our mind, and our spirit.

Because this kind of life-this kind of courage-is not something we manufacture in a moment. It's something God forms in us day by day as we learn to stay connected to Him in every part of who we are-for the long journey.

I recently got a call from Kaiser reminding me I'm behind on my annual wellness check. And it made me think about how important those check-ins are, and how easily they can be neglected or forgotten.

They give us pause to help us become aware of what's going on in our bodies-what might need attention, what might need care-before it's critical.

In a similar way, this BMS inventory is designed to be a spiritual practice-to allow us to pause and notice what's happening in our body, our mind, and our spirit, and to bring that to God.

Not just so we feel better, but to realign where we need alignment, to connect with God so the Spirit breathed in us can continue His work-forming us, shaping us, making us more and more like Christ-

so that, like the disciples, we can live as people who are sent into the world-for the long haul.

And that's what this inventory has been inviting us into. Not a test or a way to measure how we're doing, but a way to pause and notice, to become aware of where we are, so we can meet God there.

So let's take a moment together.

You don't need anything in front of you. Just let these words guide you as you open your heart to the Lord and notice.

What are you feeling right now in your spirit-your emotions, your interior life?

Is your spirit heavy, numb, grounded, hopeful?

Do you sense fear, grief, longing, gratitude, or something else?

Just notice.

And as you notice, bring that to God.

God, what am I carrying that you invite me to bring to you?

And then simply ask-

What is one small, faithful step you're inviting me into?

That's enough to begin. Let the Spirit meet you there.

And this is something we can return to-not just for our spirit, but in our whole selves.

We can notice what is happening in our bodies-when we're tired, tense, or depleted-and bring that to God.

We can notice what is happening in our minds-when our thoughts are scattered or heavy-and bring that to God.

And we can continue to notice what is happening in our spirit-what we're carrying beneath the surface-and bring that to God.

As a way of staying connected and staying aligned-body, mind, and spirit-for the long journey as the Spirit empowers us.

Because this is how we stay connected to Him for the long journey of our mission.

For we, too, are called and sent like the disciples.

If you'd like to continue this practice beyond this moment, you can access the BMS Inventory here.

The Mission Continues

So, as we come to the end of this series, we find ourselves in a moment that can feel like both an ending and a beginning.

There are parts of this journey we would not have chosen. There are voices that have shaped us, guided us, and loved us that will not be present in the same way moving forward. And we feel that.

And at the same time, the call remains. Our mission is still before us.

And so we continue.

Because God is with us.

The same Spirit that was given to those who have gone before us has been given to us. The same God who formed them over time is still at work, forming us.

Because God is faithful.

And He is not finished with us yet.

So let us be strong and courageous-not just individually, but also in community-for the long journey and for the glory of God.

Let's pray.

Closing Prayer

Thank You for Your presence with us, for the way You have been meeting us, and for the work You are continuing in us.

Make us strong and courageous-not in our own strength, but by Your Spirit at work within us.

Lead us, form us, and guide us in the way You have for us.

We trust You for the journey ahead.

In Jesus' name, Amen.