The Plot, the Promise, & the Peace that Follows
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Introduction:
On the night of December 5th, 1996 the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board Alan Greenspan, gave a speech at a dinner in Washington, D.C. For the average person attending, Mr. Greenspan offered nothing of great importance to them and spent his time rambling about his perspective of the global economy. However, to investors who had put thousands, millions, & even billions of dollars into the stock & bond markets, his message was critical.
In that speech Greenspan spoke ten sentences that in less than an hour began to rattle markets around the financial world. The stock market in Australia, which was trading at the time, suddenly took a nose dive when news of Greenspan’s comments came over the newswires; almost 3 % of its total value was lost by the end of the trading day. Japan’s markets dropped more than 3 % percent in value, & Germany over 4 %.
About 14 hours later the New York Stock Exchange rang the bell for trading to begin here in the U. S. & the Dow-Jones average plummeted more than 144 points. Now, what exactly did Mr. Greenspan say that would cause financial markets to begin to drop at such a rapid rate?
For starters he used the word bubble which suggested that the stock market was overvalued by speculation. When the stock market is doing well, and people are making money investing, one of the worse things that you can say is that it is a bubble. Why? Because bubbles pop and people lose money a whole lot faster than they gained money. You hear financial people using that term now because the stock market has grown at a pretty steady rate since the 3rd quarter of last year.
So, you might be asking, Brother Danny what in the world does this have to do with anything? Well when Mr. Greenspan stood up in front of that audience he was speaking from the position of Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board. It is the body that governs the Federal Reserve Banks which are instrumental in executing financial policy in the United States.
The chairman has the power to adjust interest rates, which dramatically affect the economy and investments. So when he or she talks, financial people listen because their money is at stake. In similar form, the individual who is a Follower of Jesus Christ, who is obedient to God, who has reverence for His Word, listens when God speaks because there is much more than money at stake.
This morning we will be looking at what obedience & reverence to God & His Word does for a person. I know that if you listen to Him & not quench the Holy Spirit you will be blessed by it.
Let’s ask God in prayer to reveal Himself & speak to us as we go to His Word.
The title of the message this morning is, “The Plot, the Promise, & the Peace that Follows”.
Scroll or turn with me if you will to the 11th Chapter of Joshua.
We went through the Joshua 10:28 last week. The remainder of Chapter 10 gives us the description of the southern cities being destroyed according to God’s command. We will pick up in the 1st Verse of Chapter 11 today.
1 And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph, 2 And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west, 3 And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh. 4 And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many. 5 And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.
The 1st observation we can make this morning is that there was a plot against Joshua, Israel, & ultimately God. So, we can see the plot. Similar to the 5 Amorite kings who conspired against Israel when they camped outside of Gibeon. But this alliance amongst several kings was a little different. What was different about it?
God’s Word tells us that they assembled their armies ready to fight. An army so large in fact that numbering the troops was about like numbering the grains of sand on a beach. No doubt this sight must have been intimidating to Joshua & the people of Israel.
This morning Brothers & Sisters in Christ there is a spiritual & physical plot against those who Follow Jesus Christ. Against those who have a Biblical Worldview.
The World tells us that if we take the teachings of the Bible seriously than we lack intelligence.
The World tells us that the Bible’s definition of what is an appropriate romantic relationship is wrong.
The World tells us that even though the Bible is clear on his creation of mankind we now can choose who is labeled male & female.
The World tries to tell are young people
The World tells us that believing in intelligent design and God creating all is nonsense and rather puts faith in Charles Darwin & his writings on evolution. Even though Darwin himself wrote that the fossil record did not support his theories. Don’t believe me, find Origin of the Species by Darwin and take a look at page 291.
The World tells us that it is offensive to publicly display the 10 Commandments.
The World tells us that it is perfectly fine to murder a child as long as they are in their mother’s womb for 24 weeks or less. And it was not too long ago when legislators were trying to pass laws to say you could murder a child even once a woman had given birth to them.
The World tells us that there are many ways to Heaven or there is nothing after life on earth even though the Bible tells us there is an eternal place of consequence called Hell for those who rebel against God & those who do not follow Jesus.
The World tells us that the events that are recorded and the prophecies that are shared in the Bible are too vague to be validated. Yet archaeological discoveries regularly find evidence of places & people that are discussed in the Bible. We see things that were prophesied be fulfilled in recent history. We also see non theological sources reaffirm history that is written in God’s Word.
You see there is a plot against God just as prevalent as the plot of these kings assembling their troops to fight Israel.
Brothers & Sisters this morning I can tell you that it does not stop with just the attempts to discredit God & His Word. It does not stop with people criticizing your worldview. But just like the troops that were so countless like the grains of sand on a seashore, there are times when it feels like we face those kinds of odds.
Just when we experience one struggle we try to overcome here comes a problem. And just when we think we are about to solve that problem life presents another obstacle. And just when you think you found a way to go over or around that obstacle there is another setback that you have to try to catch up from. And just when you get caught up there is another mess that you have to sort out. And just when you think that mess will be sorted out you get hit with another complication.
Brothers & Sisters & Friends there have been times in my life that it seemed as if the problems & the struggles were as many as grains of sand on the beach or troops in this newly assembled alliance in Joshua Chapter 11. Quite frankly there are times I made those situations more difficult because the attitude I had towards them. Relying on self instead of God. Trying to power through instead of relying on God’s strength. Our attitude toward the trials we face in life really does make a difference.
In the late 1980s there was this group that was offering a bounty of $ 5, 000 for every wolf captured alive. So these 2 guys decided that they were going to hunt down a wolf or 2 and get that money. They searched day & night searching through forests & hiking mountains all for the sake of trying to get the bounty.
One evening after being tired out from the day they camped out and fell asleep. All of a sudden one of them woke up and noticed they were surrounded by what looked like 50 wolves who were snarling and showing their teeth. Most of us would wake up to that and immediately panic. Not this guy. He simply nudged the other guy awake and said, “wake up, we’re rich”!
You see as a Follower of Jesus, as someone who relies on God, we have to remember to have the right attitude. We have to be dependent upon Him to see us through. When we pray, when we seek, when reach out for God - He will guide us. We see Him do this in the text this morning.
The Promise
The Promise
When faced with these kings and all these troops Joshua heard from the Lord.
6 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.
The 2nd observation we can make is that God speaks in times of difficulty & He does make promises of overcoming. So, we can see the promise. Brother & Sisters God has made promises to you as well. You can find those promises in His Word. Here are just a few of the many promises God makes to those who Follow Him.
Psalm 139 tells us that God knows each one of us intimately.
Romans 8: 38-39 tells us that God loves us & that no external force or being can separate us from that love.
The Gospel of John in Chapter 14 tells us that God does in fact hear our prayers & honors them.
Jeremiah Chapter 29 tells us that God has thoughts for our lives and not thoughts of evil.
The Gospel of Mark Chapter 9 tells us to have hope because all things are possible to those who believe.
Psalm 27:10 promises that no matter who on this earth forsakes us that we are never alone because God is with us.
John 3:16 promises that you have everlasting life if you put your faith in Jesus.
Galatians 6:9 promises that when you’re called to serve Him, no matter how tough our service to the Lord gets, it is worth it in the end.
Matthew 18:20 promises that as we come together as Believers that He is there in the midst with us.
These are just a handful of the promises that God gives you. But He promises Joshua that even though you are facing this great alliance, even though these kings have banded together, even though there is this massive army waging war - be not afraid. Christian, the worries that you have now, the anxieties that you have now, God is on your side & you should not be afraid.
7 So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them. 8 And the Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephoth-maim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining. 9 And Joshua did unto them as the Lord bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.
You see it all played out exactly how God said it would. No matter what you face in this life God has a plan to get you through it. You might think well Brother Danny God gave Joshua specific instructions. How to navigate all of these battles. Brothers & Sisters in Christ God’s Word tells us how to win the Battles that are important as well. Because the only Battles we should be concerned with fighting are Spiritual Battles.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
22 Ye shall not fear them: for the Lord your God he shall fight for you.
17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; And every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.
You see there is verse after verse after verse that addresses how as a Follower of Jesus Christ we should approach the spiritual battle we fight everyday. We see in Verses 10-20 that Joshua & Israel go through the war victorious. We don’t know how long this war lasted. Most people tend to think it was around 7 years. But Joshua kept following God, kept pushing through, & kept fighting.
There are so many of us who sadly don’t keep that same energy, we don’t keep that same vigor for Christ when times get rough. We know the scriptures, we have a head knowledge of what Jesus can do, but some of us become so deadened to the power of God because of the cynicism planted by this world constantly. We give up much to easily when it comes to spiritual warfare and we resort to acting like the rest of the world.
Understand this, in all the battles we have read about in Joshua. Of all the times we have read of Joshua leading Isreal into military action, how many of those battles have been defensive battles? None. All of them have been offensive.
Brothers & Sisters in Christ we should be proactively fighting the good fight of faith. We should constantly be on the offensive side of our spiritual battles. How do we do that? God’s Word tells us how.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
When you are faced with spiritual battles, trials, & hardships odds are it is because at some point you were faithful. Hopefully you still are. But Satan does not bother with those who don’t pose a threat to his agenda. If you are living like the world and disregard God then you will probably cruise along just fine. But if you are getting hit with battle after battle, understand that’s because your faith is being tried.
Leonard Ravenhill once said, “My main ambition in life is to be on the devil's most wanted list."
The Peace
The Peace
21 And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities. 22 There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained. 23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.
The 3rd observation we can make in the text is that peace will come for the Christian. We can see peace. The aftereffect of all of these God given victories is the possession of the land.
17 And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.
The promise that God had made has now come to pass. We saw that after all this wandering, all of these trials, and all of these battles, God gave them rest. He gave them peace. Why? Because of obedience. They had rest because of their obedience through the battle to God.
So, do we get rest as a Follower of Jesus Christ? Do we get rest on this earth?
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
So what peace is available to the Christian? If we still will be hit by the storms of this life, what rest do we have? Well if you are truly a Follower of Jesus you are no longer in opposition to God. You no longer have to wonder when you lay down at night if you have to go to heaven. You no longer have to walk around in shame or guilt over past mistakes. You have rest from all of these things.
Conclusion:
The life of a Follower of Jesus is not an easy one. It requires faith, spiritual endurance, & a complete surrender of self to God. No matter how tough of a person you are. No matter how strong you think you are. No matter where you are in a spiritual high or low, you need support. You need something greater than yourself.
Has any athlete had more fans than Michael Jordan? Probably not. Even so, Michael Jordan said something surprising about his need for emotional support to columnist Bob Greene. When Greene asked why he wanted his father to be in the stands during a game, Jordan replied, “When he’s there, I know I have at least one fan.”
Even the great Michael Jordan needs support. Loyal support. How much more do the rest of us need regular reminders that others are behind us—even when we aren’t at our best.
You need the support of your Brothers & Sisters in Christ but more importantly you need the strength of God. Because without a doubt the enemy plots against you, but God has promised to deliver you. When you surrender to Him, he will provide you peace.
Will you pray with me?
Larson, C. B. (2002). 750 engaging illustrations for preachers, teachers & writers (p. 172). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.