Victory, Not The Direction You May Think
The Victorious Life • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 11 viewsFirst mention of Joshua is when he submits to Moses request for him to lead the battle against Amelek.
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Over the next few weeks we are going to be talking about “The Victorious Life”. I want us to experience victory God’s way! I believe we are going to see some surprising things about what victory in our life looks like through the lens of God’s Word.
When you think of victory, what do you think of?
We often think of climbing over some obstacle. Overcoming unfavorable odds. Conquering some enemy. Defeating the opponent. Outscoring the opposing team. Climbing the mountain.
If we are thinking about victory as success in business it is rising revenue on a chart or increasing profits over a quarter.
If we are thinking about victory as success in business it is rising revenue on a chart or increasing profits over a quarter.
If we are thinking about victory as success in business it is rising revenue on a chart or increasing profits over a quarter.
Quite literally, if we were to draw what we see victory as it often looks like upward movement. It is elevation.
Victory in our lives starts in a different direction than what worldly wisdom would have us believe.
Over the next few weeks we are going to be talking about “The Victorious Life”. I want us to experience victory God’s way! I believe we are going to see some surprising things about what victory in our life looks like through the lens of God’s Word. The Kingdom of God is not like the wisdom of the world, examples… for something to live it must die, the person who loses their life will find it.
The Kingdom of God is not like the wisdom of the world, examples… for something to live it must die, the person who loses their life will find it.
Joshua was Israels conquering leader. It was Joshua who led Israel into the land promised to them by the Lord. It was Joshua who subdued the armies and peoples who resisted Israel claiming the promise land. Joshua was a victorious leader, he knew what it took to overcome enemies, and obstacles. I believe there is a lot that can be gained by looking at the life of Joshua.
The first mention of Joshua is prior to a battle between Israel and the Amalekites in .
Amalek is the son of Eliphaz whose father is Esau. Amalek is the grandson of Esau. So Amalek represents both a political and theological enemy.
Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
Amalek sets himself and his people the Amalekites against Israel, blocking their way in the wilderness on the journey to the promise land.
There will always be an enemy that is intent on blocking you from your promise.
External - friend, family, co-worker, it can come from people you would never expect.
Internal - flesh, fear, doubts, self sabotage.
“Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God.
Dt 25:
Amalek was intent on destroying what God was doing among his people while they were tired and weary from coming out of Egypt.
The enemy will never attack you when you are fit to fight.
And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.”
Exodus 17:9
First mention of Joshua.
We know nothing of Joshua’s childhood. We don’t know what injustices and trauma, or victimization he suffered under slavery in Egypt. We know nothing of his personal story.
Is it because when it comes to having victory there are things more important than knowing how you were a victim?
Amalek is the grandson of Esau.
Every person has been a victim. Victimhood is one of the commonalities between all people and life experience.
So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.”
Exodus
What? Why would Joshua just do as Moses told him?
Joshua is the one with his life on the line. If this strategy, or lack of strategy goes poorly Joshua along with everyone he is leading is dead or prisoners of war.
Even though Joshua does not know the strategy, plan, what will happen, etc.
Joshua submits to the directions of Moses. He went the direction of down when everything inside of him had to be saying “do everything you can to get on that hill”. Why?
Somewhere at sometime Joshua learned that true power is not climbing up, but submitting.
Submission is a key in the victorious life.
Joshua will be elevated to lead Israel and replace Moses as God’s man. But first he must be submitted before God will elevate him.
You go your way.
Submission is scary! It is not submission if you know the guaranteed outcome. It is not submission if you agree with the plan. It is not submission if you are not challenged by submitting.
Do what is good for you.
Victory requires SUBMISSION
Victory requires SUBMISSION
When Israel needed to defeat Amalek - Joshua had to submit to God and Moses.
Joshua needed Moses on that hill with his hands in the air. Joshua needed Moses standing between God and the battlefield.
When sin needed to be overcome - Christ submitted to the cross.
Moses needed Joshua in the field. Moses needed Joshua to submit to God’s directions.
God became flesh. Lower than the angels. ()That was not low enough.
You have made him a little lower than the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
And set him over the works of Your hands.
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
He submitted to the cross. That was not low enough.
So He went to a tomb. That was not low enough.
Died.
So He descended lower (). Took the keys to hell and death.
(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
All to overcome sin. The sin in your life.
Took the keys of hell and the grave.
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
1 Peter 3:18-
When God wanted victory he submitted!
We think we will have victory without submission?
The First Submission
The First Submission
And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
The will of God is that we submit to his plan.
John 3:14-18
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Believe in Jesus Christ. This scripture can not be alienated from Jesus direction to Nicodemus.
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
John 3:3-
What does Jesus say a person must be born of? Water and the Spirit.
Born of the Water - Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.
Born of the Spirit - Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
John 7:37-
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
Acts 1:
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Jesus is speaking of being born of the Spirit here.
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:
But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Want victory in your life over sin?
Submit to God’s plan - Believe, Repent, Be Baptized in Jesus Name, Receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Submit to a man of God.