Victory in Jesus Deserves Covenant Renewal

Title: Victory in Jesus Deserves Covenant Renewal

Text: Joshua 8:1-35

Series: God’s Kingdom Mission

Kid’s Pause:

The book of Joshua is about God continuing his Kingdom Advancement by giving his nation of Israel a land where the Savior would be born.

REVIEW PICTURE OF PRIESTS WITH HORNS...

SECOND PICTURE OF STONES BEING PLACED

Statement: Today, is the story of because God gives the nation of Israel victory over the city of Ai, they build a pile of stones.

prayer

INTRODUCTION:

When you hear certain verses in the New Testament, you can sometimes their tremendous passion. These verses are exclamations. For example, in II Corinthians 9:15 you hear this amazing language that exalts the gift of God.

2 Corinthians 9:15 KJV 1900

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

In Romans 12:1, you hear similar language that is expressed in sacrificial language.

Romans 12:1 KJV 1900

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Verses like these are good reminders of kind of response the sacrifice of Jesus Christ deserves. If the Lord has given all, then is seems that those who have the Lord should give their all to Him. But how often is our response not always commensurate to His sacrifice.

Thomas Boston(1676–1732) was a church of Scotland minister living in the late 1600's. Boston’s name is best known through his involvement in the Marrow Controversy.

This controversy centered around a stain of legalism in the theology of the day. The story is told of Boston and holding first Communion at his church. When he became pastor of Ettrick he found such carelessness of life among the members, and such gross indifference to the ordinance of God, that he refused to allow the Lord’s Supper to be administered for the first three years of his pastorate. Then, at the first Communion, he gave tokens only to fifty-six persons whom he deemed ready to come to the Lord’s table.

Twenty-four years later he again held Communion. After three days of preaching and preparation, on the Saturday afternoon, he, and his elders, gave tokens to 777 persons to commune the next day. The Communion to them meant putting away sin, and renewing their covenant with their Lord, ... Those Communion seasons were to them times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.

—United Presbyterian

[McGowan, A. T. B. (2016). Boston, Thomas (1676–1732). In M. Davie, T. Grass, S. R. Holmes, J. McDowell, & T. A. Noble (Eds.), New Dictionary of Theology: Historical and Systematic (Second Edition, p. 130). London; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press; InterVarsity Press.]....

Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 941). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

* Connection: So it is today. As we survey the landscape of Christians, it is not uncommon to see those who are God's people resemble Achan more than they resemble Rahab. It is not uncommon to see those who are saved appearing to live according to the fashion of this world, with little or not commitment to their professed Lord. It is as though there is spiritual amnesia -- as though we have not forgotten in our heads, but our lives show that we have forgotten in our hearts.

What we have in the passage before us is a passage where the Lord gives victory to his covenant people over their enemies and there is an immediate commensurate response to Him.

BODY

Prop:

Renew your covenant to the Lord, who alone gives victory over our enemies.

(1) The Lord promised victory over the enemy (v. 1-2)

A new beginning: The opening of the chapter gives us a reminder of how the book began, with God’s encouragement to Joshua that he need not fear. It is another way of confirming with Joshua that the Lord will be with him.

The particular promise involves kingdom: includes: the king of Ai, reminding us all that this is a kingdom mission. The kingdom of God is pressing forward.

KID’S PAUSE:

PICTURE OF JOSHUA KNEELING BEFORE THE COMMANDER OF THE LORD’S HOST.

STATEMENT: IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE LORD IS THE REAL CAPTAIN IN THE STORY OF JOSHUA. JOSHUA KNEELS TO THE LORD.

Application: Today, as we consider the kingdom of God, we cannot overlook the fact that Jesus Christ came preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and that Jesus gave the keys to the kingdom to the church. In other words, today, the local church is the visible outpost of God’s kingdom. We should take seriously the local church today because God is spreading his rule, he is conquering lives, through the mission that has been given to the church.

Notice also that the promise involves land: Remember the opening promise that God had given to Abram over 400 years earlier in Genesis 12:1,7-8. The Lord never breaks a promise.

Genesis 12:1 KJV 1900

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

Genesis 12:7–8 KJV 1900

And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him. And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.

1001 Illustrations that Connect Illustration 883: Keeping Promises

KEEPING PROMISES

Topics: Church; Community; Integrity; Promises

References: Exodus 20:16; James 3:1–12

Toward the end of his three volumes on the history of the French Revolution, Thomas Carlyle concluded that the revolution failed, not because of corruption in high places, but because ordinary people in their ordinary places neglected to keep their promises.

(2) The Lord’s servant planned for victory over the enemy (v. 3-13)

The Lord’s Plan (v. 2) - The Lord told him to ambush

The Lord’s Servant Planned to Obey (v. 3-13) Notice that Joshua planned his obedience to the command of the Lord, and he was personally involved in the obedience.

The Servant’s PLAN TO OBEY (V. 3)

My Favorite Illustrations The Secret of Success

The Secret of Success

A military tactician said that battles are won before they are fought. That was his way of saying that victory depends on prior preparation. One general called it “Making a good ready.” The same principles apply in spiritual warfare. God in Christ has made all necessary prior preparation in effecting His eternal purpose of redemption to give us victory over sin.

There is something to be said about planning to obey versus planning to disobey. Often today, we make much about the obedience and the disobedience; but what about planning for obedience. Why is this important? The planning reveals the faith of Joshua. He believed what the Lord had told him, and he was going to put a plan in place that was obedient.

Kid’s Pause: Picture of Joshua talking to the Captain.

Statement: When Joshua recognized who this Captain really was, he immediately obeyed this Captain who told him to take his shoes off. Why? Because this was a sign of reverence / of worship. In other words, our obedience is a way in which we worship the Lord.

Application: This is a word of admonition to Christians today. Is it not shameful how little preparation is made for obedience to the commands of the Lord. We know that we should be faithful to love the Lord and faithful to love his people, but we are prone to make last minute ill-thought, ill-prepared decisions that lead us down a path of disobedience. As Christians we should be planning:

- To be together.

- To share the gospel.

- To love the brethren.

- To sing congregationals.

- To abstain from fleshly lusts.

- To obey authority.

If we believe what the Lord has said, and indeed faith is the victory that overcomes the world, if we have been graced by God’s Spirit, if we have been brought into relationship with the Lord, then we should plan to obey. If you don’t plan to obey, then you are setting yourself up for disobedience out of convenience.

In particular, the planning for obedience meant that there was a real enemy. Some of you are frustrated with your sin, but you have no planned commitment against it. Satan, our flesh, and this world are real!

Illustration: II Corinthians 2:8-11, Ephesians 6:10-11

2 Corinthians 2:8–11 KJV 1900

Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Ephesians 6:10–11 KJV 1900

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

(3) The Lord gave complete victory over the enemy (v. 14-29)

The ignorance of the King of Ai (v. 14)

Something should be said about what this reveals regarding this king. First, it shows to us the devilish desire and rebellion within the enemies of God. It is rebellion because the king of Ai was not different than the other kings. He had heard about the God of Israel and what he’d done in Egypt and to Jericho.

We often see glimpses of good in people today, but anyone who refuses the LORD has this same sin inside of them, regardless of their good works.

Secondly, the narrator points out the ignorance of this king. Anyone who is an enemy of God is in darkness and is unaware of the the seriousness of his predicament.

The intentional delusion by the Lord’s servant (v. 15-17)

When you consider the ignorance and pride of the king and you couple this with clarity, wisdom, and the light of God’s people - it was a set up for a major destruction.

Kid’s Pause: Picture of battle with 2 wounded.

Statement: The Lord brings judgment to his enemies.

Application: Such is the plight of everyone who today has not considered the message of the Lord. You ask, what is that message? The message of the Lord is that He is the holy Creator, and his wrath is justly over all of mankind because all have sinned and come short of his glory. The message continues though. This Creator has kindly/lovingly sent the Ultimate Message — His Son Jesus Christ who lived, not in rebellion, but in perfect righteousness to the Father. He died for our sins and rose again. Only those who receive Jesus can escape the judgment of this holy God. Do not be deceived into thinking that you will get away. All will stand before the LORD one day to give an account.

The Inescapable Destruction (v. 18-22)

It becomes clear that the Lord is the One who gives the victory here. The people of Ai are demoralized when they see their city. They are engulfed in a sea of the army of Israel. They are destroyed.

Application: Judgment should not be taken lightly. Hebrews 10:28-31

Hebrews 10:28–31 KJV 1900

He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

The Inclusio of the cursed king (v. 23-29)

These verses form a bit of what is called an inclusio. An inclusio is a particular writing in literature where the writer will begin with a topic, theme, or person and conclude with that topic, theme, or person. Notice the status of the king of Ai in verse v. 23 and notice his cursed status in verse 29.

This is a curse because of Deut. 21:23. The heap of stones was a memorial of the curse — a message to all.

But this story does not have only one pile of stones, this story actually has two piles of stones, and the next pile of stones is very different. Notice...

(4) The Lord's people renewed their covenant to Him (v. 30-35)

The altar of uncut stones (v. 30-31)

The types of sacrifices offered are to call to remembrance the covenant at Sinai from Exodus 24. The writing of the law was a reminder of their covenant document. The ark of the covenant of the Lord is in the center of everyone. Moses, the servant of the Lord is called to memory - memorializing when they had first covenanted as a nation with God.

It is here that the Lord’s nation renews their covenant right after an amazing victory that they had received. It seems quite reasonable that they would renew covenant at this point, does it not.

Kid’s Pause: Two Pictures/Piles of Stones - One for the Cursed King & One was an Altar of Sacrifice

So this pile of stones was vastly different. While one pile of stones was a reminder of the cursed state of all the enemies of God, this pile of stones was an altar where Israel remembered and renewed their covenant with the LORD. One pile of stones represented a curse. Another pile of stones pointed to covenant. One pile of stones represented pride, rebellion, and judgment. The other pile of stones represented sacrifice and peace.

There is only one place in all of history where both piles of stones become one altar and that is the cross of Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:13 - “redeemed” and “cursed”

picture of the cross

Galatians 3:13 KJV 1900

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

On the cross, Jesus Christ was made a curse for us. On the Cross, Jesus Christ was also the sacrifice that brought us peace. On the Cross, Jesus Christ suffered the complete wrath of God; and on the same Cross Jesus Christ shed the blood of the New Testament for us.

CONCLUSION:

What is it exactly that this story confirms for us? The Lord gives amazing victory to his covenant people over their enemies. What is the only reasonable response? Is it not to renew their covenant to Him?

So it is with us. Because of the great victory that God has given to us in the Lord Jesus Christ, we should regularly, faithfully, renew our covenant to Him.

In just a few moments, we will remember the new testament through observance of the Lord’s Table.

I am asking you to consider the great victory the Lord has given you and re-covenant with Him and his people.