Don’t Settle For Less

We are going to fast forward a bit from where we were. It would take months to get through this whole book, and there is so much good stuff, so we kinda have to pick and choose a few things. We left after the defeat and Ai, and Israel got right with God after Achan’s sin. They went back, and did it the right way and defeated Ai. They head south, and start a series of conquests, one that included a day when the “sun stood still” to give them more time to finish a battle at Gibeon. Then they turned north and defeated many other cities. They then started to divi up the land by tribe, and spread out over the promised land, and there was an allotment of the land by tribe. That doesn’t mean all the Canaanites were driven out yet, there was still work to do. Some were alloted land but never were able to, or never decided to, drive out the other inhabitants.

Now remember, the Promised Land represents in Bible typology a fullness and fruitfulness and joy and victory. They’re living in Canaan now. It’s a picture of a Christian living in victory, living the Spirit-filled life. But there was something wrong, because there were still Canaanites in the land. Now the Canaanites were not God’s people, they were the opposite. They were living in terrible sin and worshipping all kinds of other Gods. They represent the power of Satan entrenched in our environments, to keep us from having the full blessing that God wants us to have. And these people—God’s people—were keeping company with Canaanites. They were taking the easy way out, the path of least resistance and disobedience. God had his reasons, he wanted them gone. So let’s jump to Chapter 17.

Let’s look at it here—Joshua chapter 17, beginning in verse 12—

Joshua 17:12–13 (NKJV)

Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities, but the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land. And it happened, when the children of Israel grew strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.

There was no reason that they did not, but they would not; they would not drive these Canaanites out of the land. They decided to just make them slaves but keep them around. Now they were keeping them from their full inheritance, keeping them from total victory.

Now I want you to have victory, and so I want to lay three things upon your heart tonight.

I. The Problem of Sinful Compromise

The first thing I want you to see is what I’m going to call the problem of sinful compromise. Now God’s plan for His people was total occupation. God told Joshua and the children of Israel to take the land from border to border, and to take it totally. Every grain of sand they were to take. But God said, “You are to drive them out of the land.” (Numbers 33:52)

God’s plan for you is victory. are you living in victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil? That is God’s plan for you. A Christian who is not living day by day victoriously is an abnormality, First Corinthians chapter 15, verse 57, says, “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)

We are to have victory over the world. We’re not here to get along with the world; we’re here to overcome the world. And when I say “the world,” I’m talking about a system set up against our Lord and His Christ. We’re here not only to overcome the world, but we’re here to overcome the flesh. The flesh is not to be condoned; it’s to be crucified. You cannot peacefully co-exist with the devil any more than you could peacefully co-exist with a roaring lion. The devil is described in the Bible as a roaring lion. (1 Peter 5:8) You’ve seen these people who try to make pets of lions and tigers? They end up losing an arm!

Now, think about these Canaanites. There were three kinds of Canaanites that they failed to drive out, and they represent the things that keep us from victory.

A. They favored the Canaanites.

First of all, there were the Canaanites that they favored. Notice in verse 13:

Joshua 17:13 NKJV

And it happened, when the children of Israel grew strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.

They said, “There’s no reason to drive these Canaanites out. We can make them pay tribute to us. We can tax them. We can make slaves out of them. They are good for us. They are beneficial to us. And so, rather than driving them out, we will domesticate them. We will tame them. We will cause them to serve us.”

How does this relate to us?

Are there some sins that we don’t take seriously? Are there some sins that we kinda play with?

Many times we actually think that we can somehow tame it and use and get benefit from it.

B. They feared the Canaanites.

But not only were there the Canaanites that they favored; even worse, there were the Canaanites that they feared. Look in verses 15 and 16 of this same chapter:

Joshua 17:15–16 (NKJV)

So Joshua answered them, “If you are a great people, then go up to the forest country and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and the giants, since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you.” But the children of Joseph said, “The mountain country is not enough for us; and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both those who are of Beth Shean and its towns and those who are of the Valley of Jezreel.”

This group was saying, there are too many of us, we need more land. So Joshua said, ok just go into the forest area there, and clear it out. But they said, “you’re telling us to get rid of these Canaanites, but you just don’t understand. They have chariots of iron. These are giants. We can’t handle them. We can’t tame them like we tamed these others. The ones we have tamed, they’re the ones we favor. But these are the ones we fear, and we can’t deal with them.”

You see, Satan will come at you in one of two ways: either as an angel of light or as a roaring lion. He will come to entice you, or he’ll come to terrify you. You think about most of the thing that trip us up as Christians, it’s usually things we don’t deal with, things we cuddle up to and shouldn’t, or, it’s something we are afraid of that we shouldn’t be

Now the devil has many people convinced that they cannot live in victory. There is no sin that you cannot overcome; no temptation so terrible, no problem, so big, no power so great, that you cannot overcome in the strength of the Spirit of God. Don’t get the idea that somehow you are a helpless victim.

C. They fellowshipped with the Canaanites.

And then, sadly, there are the Canaanites that we fellowship with— I want you look at Judges.

It tells about the same history—Judges chapter 1, verse 32:

Judges 1:32 NKJV

So the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out.

It doesn’t say they could not, but “they did not.” They made good neighbors. They settled down. They dwelt among them. They were living with their pagan neighbors. before long, they were acting like their pagan neighbors. And what their neighbors were doing didn’t seem sinful anymore, and Israel started to live like their enemies that they should have driven out, and began to imitate their ways. They settled down and made peace with the world. They fellowshipped with the world.

Now I’m not saying that we ought to drive out our literal neighbors who don’t love Jesus today. We’re to witness to them. These Canaanites were demon-possessed people who should have been driven out. And they represent the power of Satan, and they represent the power of the world.

Now, what happens? What happens?

1. They had a friendship with the world.

First of all, there’s friendship with the world. James 4:4—listen to it:

James 4:4 NKJV

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Are you a friend to this world? I’m not talking about, are you a friend to lost people? You ought to be a friend to lost people. They crucified Jesus because He was a friend of sinners. But are you cozy with the ways of this world? There’s the friendship of this world.

2. They had a love of the world.

If you’re a friend of the world, then the next step is that you’re going to begin to love the world. First John 2, verse 15—the Bible says,

1 John 2:15 NKJV

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

This world is not our home. Yes, we love our family and our friends, and I love parts of the earth, and we love seeing parts of God’s beautiful creation But we long for heaven. Our heavenly home. Because as much beauty there is in this world, there is also lots of hatred, and suffering, and cruelty and war and greed and selfishness,

But he’s talking about that worldly system, that fights against God Those worldly pleasures that pass away and never satisfy.

So we graciously show love to the people of the world, but we don’t get cozy with the predator

3. They were conformed to the world.

And then, after you are friendly to the world, and begin to love the world, then you’ll conform to the world. The Bible says in Romans chapter 12, verse 2,

Romans 12:2 NKJV

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

I remember in college- living around the track team, in my room, day in day out, and it really effected me, i had to get out of that environment, i was being conformed, That’s why Jesus visited those places, but he didn’t live there. My boys- we scrutinized there placement, their new environment, it has meant the world to them, it’s amazing how powerful that is.

4. They were condemned with the world.

And once you are fellowshipping with the world, and then you love the world, and then you’re conformed to the world, you’ll be condemned with the world. First Corinthians 11, verse 32:

1 Corinthians 11:32 NKJV

But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

You run with the world, and you’re headed for problems.

Now here’s the whole thing: There was the problem of sinful compromise. Are there some Canaanites in your life? Seriously: Are there sins that you favor, and you think that you can tame them? Are there sins that you fear, and you think you cannot overcome them? Are there sins that you fellowship, and you’ve made peace with them?

II. The Problem of Self-Confidence

The second point is this: the problem of self-confidence. We’ve talked about the problem of sinful compromise, but that is compounded now by self-confidence.

So the distinction here is being a self confident person, standing on your confidence in Jesus living in your heart, vs. you just being confident in your self apart from God. Look, if you will now, in this same chapter in verses 14 and 15:

Joshua 17:14–15 (NKJV)

Then the children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given us only one lot and one share to inherit, since we are a great people, inasmuch as the Lord has blessed us until now?” So Joshua answered them, “If you are a great people, then go up to the forest country and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and the giants, since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you.”

Now here’s a people who are living in self-confidence. Now they were living in sinful compromise, but at the same time—the irony of it—they’re boasting about their greatness.

They weren’t even obeying God, they were afraid, And they’re saying, “Look how great we are!” “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)

There’s nothing that will put you more out of the reach of the devil than genuine humility. And if you’re proud, you’re going to find God as an enemy. The Bible says, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6)—James 4, verse 6.

Now these people so long ago were boasting about their greatness—“We are a great people”—and they failed to drive out these Canaanites. Don’t you think that’s a little bit of irony? Let me give you some New Testament irony that will match the same thing, in Luke chapter 9. There was a demon-possessed boy, and the disciples attempted to cast the demons out of this boy—and they failed miserably, And then Jesus came and cast the demons out of this boy, and the disciples could not do it.

Look, in Luke 9, verses 40 and 41. The man said to Jesus,

Luke 9:40–41 NKJV

So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”

And Jesus healed this boy—

But now, just a few verses later,

Luke 9:46 NKJV

Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest.

Here they are failing—pitifully failing—and then they’re talking about who’s going to be the biggest shot in the kingdom, who is going to be the greatest. It’s the same thing that happened last week in Ai, they got proud and lost sight of God and payed the price.

III. The Problem of Senseless Clutter

Now here’s the third thing and the final thing I want you to see.

Now what all of this is about is this: that the tribe of Joseph and these others came to Joshua and said, “Now, Joshua, look: we are a great people, and we want to grow. We want big things done for us, and we don’t have enough room. Why, there are so many trees and so many Canaanites. Joshua, what we want is more land.” Now, notice what Joshua said here in Joshua chapter 17, verse 17:

Joshua 17:17–18 (NKJV)

And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—saying, “You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one lot, but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong.”

Now, what was Joshua’s solution to these people, what did Joshua tell them to do? Joshua said, “You see that mountain over there? You want more land? You want a bigger inheritance? Get you some axes and cut down those trees that clutter that mountain. There’s plenty of room here, but you’re going to have to clear out those trees.” Joshua is saying, “Why should you have more land?”

Listen to me, church. “Why should you have more land, until you’ve dealt with the land that I have given you, until you have cleared what I’ve given you?” What he’s saying is “First things first.”

How many in this auditorium would like a bigger opportunity? What are you doing with the opportunity that God’s already given you? You want more? What are you doing with the money that you have?

What Joshua is saying: “Look, you’re asking for more opportunity. You’re asking for a bigger place. You see that mountain? Go clear it up.”

Now, let me show you the two-fold priority. I’m talking about not settling for less than the best.

A. We need to clear out the harmless things that clutter our life.

First of all, we must clear out the harmless things that clutter our lives— There’s nothing wrong with trees. Trees are beautiful. But if you want to build a farm, or you want to put out pastureland, or you want to build a house, or whatever you need, then you’ve got to clear the ground.

Now the reason that many people are not living in victory is their lives are cluttered. You don’t have enough time for prayer. You don’t have enough time for Bible study. There’s something cluttering your life. And what is cluttering your life may not be a harmful thing—overtly harmful; it may not be a sinful, wicked thing. But if it is cluttering your life, you need to get rid of it. There ’s enough time in every day to do gracefully everything God wants you to do.

You say, “Well, then I need to find time.” No, you don’t. You need take time; you need to make time. And the way you make time and take time is to clear the clutter out of your life. It might be television. It might be church work. There’s enough time to do everything that God wants us to do. But what we have to do sometimes is just get the clutter out of our lives. Some people are so busy doing good they don’t have time to be godly, to get alone with God. You don’t waste any time when you’re at Jesus’s feet.

B. We need to clean out the harmful things that corrupt our life.

But which comes first? Which comes first: cutting down trees or fighting Canaanites? You may be surprised, but God’s order is first cut down the trees, and then drive out the Canaanites. That’s what God says: first the trees, and then the giants. In other words, what God is saying is, “Get the clutter out of your life. Get down to worship. Worship comes before work; worship comes before warfare— but this coming year, I want to clear some wood. I want to get those harmless things that clutter my life out so I can clean out the harmful things that would corrupt my life: get rid of the Canaanites. Wouldn’t you like that? You see, listen: God’s plan for you—I want to say it again—God’s plan for you is victory.

Have you ever done this, I have, you’ll open the Bible, and you’ll say, “God, show me what this means.” Now I want to ask you a question: Why should God show you anything if you’ve not obeyed what He already shown you? Why should God give you more land if you’ve not cleared the land that God’s already given you? That’s the point. Why should God give you more land? Some of you are saying, “I wish I had more resources, more money.” What are you doing with the money you have now? How faithful are you? Most of us have about all God can trust us with.

Get rid of the things that clutter your life so you can clean up the things that corrupt your life and live in victory.

Don’t settle for less! It’s like Israel, they’d come so far and God had done sooo much, don’t stop now! Don’t start compromising now! Don’t cozy up to sin, or selfishness, and try to make a pet out of something that wants to kill you! Don’t start conforming to the world now! God is giving you victory! Finish your life in obedience! Walking in victory!