The Battle is Not Yours, it's the Lord's

Joshua 5: 13-6:22

INTRODUCTION-Joshua represented the presence of God within the midst of the African/Edenic Hebrew people.

The city of Jericho, built thousands of years before Joshua was born, was one of the oldest cities in the world. In some places it had fortified walls up to 25 ft high and 20 ft thick. Jericho was a symbol of military power and strength, this mighty fortress the Canaanites thought was indestructible.

This book of Joshua tells the story of how God’s people answered the challenge to be free as they followed Joshua. The deliverer sent by God, would use Joshua to bring salvation and deliverance to His people.

Under Joshua Israel would attack the city of Jericho and put the fear into the heart of every person living in Canaan.

For the Word says, (God) would himself go before him and “I will be with you…for as I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Josh 1:5).

With this sacred -divine promise came a warning, “keep from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, never will I leave you nor forsake you”!

Context: My friends it is easy to see that Joshua was operating under the power of the Holy Spirit as He shows such faith and strength as he awaits orders from God -himself.

We now see him focusing his attention on the strategy needed to bring about a victory.

Joshua is a prime example of what loyalty, wisdom and strength looks like in the face of impending warfare against the enemy.

The drama unfolds...the Israelites are poised waiting for Joshua’s orders.

The introduction of God’s military warrior is a sign that God is not sending his people out to fight a battle without reinforcements or justifying his intentions, no the people of Israel, though unfaithful in the past, were told to line as Joshua instructs the priest to provide them with a FRESH NEW anointing-sanctify them.

As I prepared for this morning’s message, I got happy, I thought what of inspiration.

Is that what we need to fight our battles this morning?

That plan of action for God’s people -seemed -like something worthy of trying on the circumstances of our day.

Joshua’s plan was first to bring calm, he told them to clear their minds, then cleanse their body which ultimately would bring about a sanctification to their souls…this consecration, was accompanied by prayer.

NOW purified this motley crew are ready to bring down THE GREAT Jericho.

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Can you for a just a minute imagine what must have been going through Joshua’s mind as he listens to this angel of the Almighty God standing over him, get your people ready! And without flinching, Joshua immediately knew that he was in the presence of the LORD and bowed down at this soldiers feet.

Now remember the bible says that Joshua is 80, a man of wit, strength and valor, under his leadership he would now take the people into the Promise Land, but not without a fight.

Yet despite the facts laid before the people of God,

No-------- battle -SPIRITUAL OR CARNAL is meant to be fought alone…No -NO= NO every soldier is PART of an army, and when we are IN TROUBLE -DAVID SAID THAT HE WILL DISPATCH A LEGION OF ANGELS, 10,000 TO HELP,

My friends God is our everpresent help in the time of trouble. God sends HELP. HELP to the faithful, help to the obedient—HELP FOR Gen 18:14, there is nothing too hard for God’s help. And the Battle is not yours, it’s the LORD’s.

I am reminded…here that all our battles -no matter whether they be large or small sickness, or death, loss of job, finances -children or the lack there of, God assures us -my friends -Matthew 9:23-26 says for Jesus can help when no one else can.

One of the great discipline’s of living a holy life is prayer.

My prayer is that we are not easily discouraged walk away feeling defeated.

Oh my friends as I look back over my life of 80 -I think of God’s goodness toward me, I think how Jesus answered my prayers and then I get all filled up for how he is keeping me my soul cries out thank you Lord for saving me.

So why worrying over something that God surely knows all about?

Ask yourself -Why am I allowing this thing to ruin my day or worst cripple me?

David penned the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want....soo oooo then,

Cast that thing into the pit of hell -where t it belongs -----and walk on.

walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain…for the song writer said, you will never walk alone!

My friends I have discovered that many of our battles are in some way---self inflicted-

We give the devil too much credit…for the devil isn’t in control. you are.

the enemy only has as much power as you give it. shut Him down.

We make the mistake of trying to find answers for our depression or mental health outside the body of Christ—or won’t listen to the Holy Spirit say, I am your ever present help in the time of trouble...…I tell you the troubles of the mind are inside jobs…starting with a mind that fell away from Jesus…a mind that allows the devil to creep in and fill you with His thoughts…to do things His way that are not of God. For when its an outside problem -therein lies a way out…how about the woman with an issue of blood…she left home looking for help…she knew her help would come from the LORD…and when she came near enough to touch the hem of his garment…immediately the bible said, she was made well. Then Jesus felt his virture leaving and knew…somebody touched me. This woman’s faith earned her a space in eternity…a title with the LORD daughter…your faith..has made you well....go and be set free. Be set free…free from what your gossiping neighbor said about you, Be set free from a misguiding but well intentional friend, Be set free from even a bad report of the doctor when he says…I can’t find anything wrong SO go home and take two aspirins and call me in the morning.

BE SET FREE!

Oh God in his infinite wisdom knows who we are. Joshua is a find example—to show us what faithful Christian leadership and loyalty to God is all about. Instead of him running away from his responsibility like Jonah when God called him to go to Neneva, Joshua stayed the course. Instead of hiding from God or like Jeremiah begging God to find someone else because he felt he was too young, Joshua an 80 year old man concerned yet just as Jesus did when feeling perplexed, he went off to be alone to pray-to pray to the father for ---wisdom, for guidance and for strength to do the right thing in the face of all this turmoil.

Praise God that when matters of the heart, mind and spirit trouble us…we are not hopeless…we have an advocate to the father…and we can go to him in prayer.

Now with the instructions, guidance and preparations from God’s military advisor, Joshua is prepared to go out and get his people ready…he’s assured of a victory, he’s bumped up…he designs a formation and instructs the priest to--go out in front of the line and be prayed up.

Then have the musicians play victory music, do it consistently -every day, over and over and over.

Such strategy was the brainstorm of God...Of course the enemy was confused, who are these people that are singing and shouting -walking in circles for days upon days as though they are performing in front of an audience?

But that question we know was not for them to ask and for we now know…God was not just in the formation of the parade, but more importantly he was in the praise…you see when praising go up…blessings always come down…

What a word from God enjoy the process...

My friends God said I’ll be with you, God’s word is sure, he will lead you, he will guide you, he will protect you and yes -he will fight your battles.

OH Your walls of Jericho will come down…there MAY BE times when you cannot see your walls of affliction crumble... ESPECIALLY when you don’t know that this physical condition is temporary and a part of a much larger plan.

and yes GOD’S DESIRE FOR US IS FOUND IN ISA. “Wait on the Lord and be of good courage for He shall incline thine heart, wait I say on the Lord. “

Joshua was not a warrior like David—whose accomplishments made him an honored hero, the people sang his praises as he returned from battle...NO no one lined up to receive Joshua from battle, but Joshua’s service stands out among the best…for his obedience and loyalty unto God.

So AS I BRING THIS MESSAGE TO A CLOSE,

This book of Joshua’s accomplishments is one for the records…it’s FULL OF INSPIRATION AND WISDOM.

NOTICE HOW one man, a man of advanced AGE proved to not only himself but God that he could (with the help of God) do ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST THAT STRENGTHENS ME.

JOSHUA saw far beyond what so many others under Moses’ leadership would not. IN NUMBERS 13:32 AFTER 10 OF THE SCOUTS GAVE AN EVIL REPORT TO MOSES THE ISRAELITES FEARED THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE LAND WERE TOO STRONG TO CONQUER. THEY DID NOT TRUST THE LORD…IT WOULD END UP BEING JUST TWO, JOSHUA AND CALEB. THEY did not allow the walled in city with a depth of 25 feet to blind THEIR OR STEAL THEIR JOY...of a victory.

SO THEY MARCHED ON…THEY MARCHED ON SINGING AND PRAISING GOD FOR GIVING THEM THE HOPE THAT IS ONLY FOUND IN CHRIST JESUS…AREN’T YOU THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE SUCH A GOD WHO SEES OUR STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS AND STANDS WITH US THROUGH DANGERS SEEN AND UNSEEN THAT IN HIM WE HAVE THE VICTORY. SO MARCH ON…

DON’T LET A LITTLE TROUBLE TURN YOU AROUND. WALK ON THROUGH THE WIND, WALK ON THROUGH THE RAIN, LOOKING UNTO JESUS -WHO IS THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE END. THE ONE WHO STANDS WITH YOU…EVERY WAKING AND SLEEPING MOMENT OF THE DAY...

And notice when you stay the course, that 25 ft wall SUPPOSEDLY SO STRONG THAT IT COULD NOT BE PENETRATED came down. No in fact it was Joshua and Calib out of all the 600,000 with Moses, who did not turn and give up. No Joshua saw a way out of no way as he conspired with Calib to send SPIES into Jericho and find out what the city’s weaknesses were. As they did this they met Rahab, the harlot. A WOMAN OF COMPASSION—SOMEONE WHO SAW BEYOND WARFARE TO BRING ABOUT PEACE. HER JADED OCCUPATION did not dissuade JOSHUA -for when the battle was over, he kept his word to save she and her entire household. Oh my friends God can do anything but fail. Look at how he used this woman named Rahab.

DOORS WII OPEN IN HER NAME…CHRISTIANS WILL SEE THE HAND OF GOD IN HER NAME and when the book of life is written, her name will be included for her bravery and love of God.

Life Lesson: ROMANS 8:28

All things as Paul once said, do work TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD, to those who love the LORD and are the called. We must always ask ourselves as leaders-- is this for the good of mankind, the love of God and the hope of a better world, then by all means -lets do it. We can join the winners circle of saints that answered the call, to God I live, to God I serve, thanks be to God for the VICTORY IN CHRIST JESUS. AMEN