Sermon Tone Analysis

Feb 15, 2009

“Destroying the Enemy Brings Growth”          Josh 16 & 17

 

*Before* we *begin looking* at   *Josh 16**  *&  *17*

*1st  look* *back* with me to   *Deut 20:10-18*                                                  & we *shall *see *why* God* places terms                                                            upon* the *people *of* Israel                                          *when *coming* upon *foreigners *                                  

 

*Deut 20:10-18*

* *

*10)  w**hen you approach a city to fight against it **you shall offer it terms of peace *

* *

*11)  i**f it agrees to make peace with you                                                     & opens to you .. then all the people                                               who are found in it shall become                                     your forced labor .. & shall serve you *

* *

*12)  **however .. if it does not make peace with you but makes war against you                                           then you shall besiege it *

 

 

*13**)  w**hen the Lord your God                                                             gives it into your hand  */~/  note /*                                                               *(/ we don’t win the battle *..*

He does /)/                                    /*you shall strike all the men in it with                               the edge of the sword *

* *

*14)  **only the women & the children & the animals & all that is in the city .. all its spoil                                                           you shall take as booty for yourself                                               & you shall use the spoil of your enemies which the Lord your God has given you *

* *

*15)  t**hus you shall do to all the cities                                                that are very far from you .. which are                            not of the cities of these nations nearby *

* *

*16**)  **only in the cities of these peoples                                              that the Lord your God is giving you                                 as an inheritance .. you shall not leave alive anything that breathes *

* *

*17)  **but **you shall utterly destroy them                                             the Hittite & the Amorite, the Canaanite                      & the Perizzite, the Hivite & the Jebusite                          as the Lord your God has commanded you   *

* *

*18**)  */( why )/* .. **so that they may not teach you                                   to do according to all their detestable things which they have done for their gods                                             so that you would sin against                                            the Lord your God*

* *

*In* the *O.T.*  *..*  *they* were to *destroy*                                                     their *physical enemies*                                       who *might take them away* from                                             the *teaching */~// /traditions/ of *their only God*

 

*So* in the *N.T.*  *..*  *we* are to *destroy                                                                          *the *spiritual enemies*  /~//  *sin                                                               *that *so easily entangles us* & can *keep us*                                         from the *pure love *&* blessings*                                                        that the *Lord our God wishes* to *give us*

*John 14:23*

* *

*Jesus answered & said to him  */~/  us/*                                                         if anyone loves Me .. **they will keep My word                                           & My Father will love them                                                         & We will come to them & make Our abode                            */ our fellowship/* .. with them*

 

*B/ut/*/ as we *see*   from   /*Josh 16:10**  *&  *17:12-13*/                                   *Ephraim *&* Manasseh* did *not do*                                   as *God commanded them                                                 *& therefore  *..  *were *disobedient *to their *God*/

* *

*Here*   in   ( /Ch 16//  *.. *& especially/ )   *17:14-18*                                                      we *see *the *2 sons *of* Joseph  */ /                                             *“Ephraim & Manasseh”                                                              *

* *

*receive* their *inheritance  */~//  *land*

*but we* shall *see* that *Ephraim* & *Manasseh* *become dissatisfied* with their *inheritance *                                 

 *they* wanted *more  ..  complaining* because                           the Lord *didn’t give* them *enough room*                                 /( *NKJ* )   /*v14**   **“since we are .. **a great people”                                      *( /we *sense* the *pride* they had in *themselves* /)

 

*You see  …  Joshua* was *from*                                                        the *tribe *of *Ephraim  …  therefore   *                                they *felt* that *they* were  *..  entitled*                                             they *felt* that *they were  .. * a *special people*                                                                  who *deserved  ..  special treatment* [1]

 

 

*/BUT/*/  *..*  the *Bible speaks plainly*                                                         of the *problems* of *pride*/

 

*Prov 11:2*

*when **pride comes .. then comes dishonor*

*but with the **humble is wisdom*

* *

*Prov 16:18*

*pride goes before destruction*

*& a **haughty spirit before stumbling*

* *

*Prov 29:23*

*a **man’s pride will bring him low*

*but a **humble spirit will obtain honor*

 

So *Joshua told* his *brethren*                                              *if *they were *such* a *great people*                                                    *now* was their *opportunity* to *prove it*

 

( so he said   in   *v15* )  * *                                                     *perhaps* with a *touch* of *sarcasm*                                              

 

then *do what* Caleb *did  *                                                   & *defeat* the *giants*                                                                    & *claim *the *mountains                                                            *the *land *for *yourselves*

 

 

In *essence God* was *saying* thru *Joshua*                                 *if *you *don’t like what* you *have*                                                    *go up* & *possess* the *mountains*                                                  *but remember*  *..  *there are *giants* in the *land*                                    & *you* will *have* to *work*  /~//  *fight* for it                              (  /its *going* to *cost you something*/*  *) [2]

 

*You see  ..  each* *tribe* was *appointed* its *land* & *inheritance*  *..  just* as to *each* of *us *is* given* the *gift according* to *God’s measure* of *grace*

*1 Cor 12:7, 11, 18*

*7)  **but to each one is given the manifestation                            of the Spirit .. **for the common good  */~/  for everyone/

* *

*11)  b**ut one & the same Spirit works all things  **distributing to each one individually                        just as He wills  */~/  He gives it .. not us                                   ( note   v18 )/

*18)  b**ut now .. God has placed the members                                   each one of them in the body .. **just as He desired*

 

As we *look* at   *16:10**  *& * 17:12-13*                                   & *we saw* that *they* did *not*                                                      *put* the *enemy out* of their *land*

 

*OK  …*  *they made* their *mistake  ..  BUT                                                                   *the *question* that *we must face  ..  *is this                         is the *enemy * /~//  *satan still sharing*                                  *your land *with* you*                                           *have you too  ..  not driven* *him out*  

 

*v18*   *Joshua* lets them *know*                                                    that the *fight* will be *difficult*

*v18**   **but the hill country shall be yours                                              **for tho it is a forest .. you shall clear it                                   */ever try to cut down trees .. it is *very difficult*/*                               & to its farthest borders it shall be yours                for you shall drive out the Canaanites                           **even tho they have chariots of iron                                   & tho they are strong                                               */in other words  *..*  the *battle* will be *difficult*                                        *make no mistake about it* /* *

 

/The *question* that *faces                                                      each *&* every one* of *us  .. * is *this*                                                           /

/ /

/Do *you want* to *walk*                                                               with the *blessings* of *Christ*                                                     *well*  *..*  it will be *a tough battle*                                                          *make no mistake about it*/

 

*/Do/*/ you *see* the *inference* here                                                  *God* is *saying*  *…*  to *Israel* & to *us*                                                  /

/ /

/Are *you willing* to *fight* for the *land*                    the *blessings  ..  that* are *yours   *                                           *or* do you *feel slighted    *                                                       /

/ /

*/Well/*/ the *battle* is the *only way*                                            *you* will *get* it *all*                                                                  /

/ /

/It is *spiritual warfare* says Paul/   *Eph 6:10-ff*

/ & *you ..* & *you alone* *                                                       *will *have* to *clear out* the *trees*  ~/  *sin* /

/ /

/& so *Joshua says* * *                                                           *don’t come* to *me *&* complain*                                         *there* is *plenty* of *land  ..  go *&* get it*/

/ /

/& *God* is *saying* to *you* & *me*                                       *there* are *multitude* of *blessings*                              *go out there* & *receive them*                           /

 

*Are* you *looking for more opportunities*                              within your *life  ..  greater doors* of *service*                                       are there *trees*  /~//  *sin* that *mars* your *vision*                           that *blocks* your *progress*                                      that *hinders* your *victory*                                        then *cut them down  ..  get rid* of the *sin*                              that *so easily entangles* you                                               & *fix your eyes* on *Jesus*

*Heb 12:1-3*

*1)  **therefore since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us .. **let us also                  lay aside every encumbrance .. & the sin      which so easily entangles us .. & let us run with endurance the race that is set before us *

* *

*2)  **fixing our eyes on Jesus the author & perfecter of faith .. who for the joy set before Him endured the cross .. despising the shame                     & has sat down at the right hand                                    of the throne of God *

* *

*3)  f**or **consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself  */~/ why/*                         **so that you will not grow weary & lose heart *

 

*Do* you *feel like you* have *enough blessings*                  

 

*Listen please  ..*  *if *there is                                                       any* land  */~//  any *inheritance*                                                    that *we need* to *get more of*                                    *no matter how full we may feel*                                                   

 

It is our *walk*  /~//  *relationship* with *Christ*                                                        *we need* to *plead with* our *Father*                                   to *enlarge* our *capacity*                                                                to *see more *&* more *of* Christ *in* us*

 

*How* do we *get more* of *Him*                                                  it is *accomplished directly* *by* & *thru*                                        *confessing our sin*                                                 & our *obedience* & *faith *in* Him*

/you *want more* of *Him                                                                then cut down* the *trees* ~/ *sin*  /

 

 

 

Verses:

Deut 20:10-18

John 14:23

Prov 11:2; Prov 16:18; Prov 29:23

1 Cor 12:7,11,18

Eph 6:10-20

Heb 12:1-3

 

 

 

\\ ----

[1]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993).

/Be strong/ (Jos 13:1).

Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

[2]McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981).

/Thru the Bible commentary/.

Based on the Thru the Bible radio program.

(electronic ed.) (2:33).

Nashville: Thomas Nelson.