Josh (11-02-08)
Nov 2, 2008
“The Victory at Jericho” Josh 6:1-27
We would be a poor soldier of Christ if we thought that we could overcome this world in which we now live without engaging in spiritual battles
& we would be sadly mistaken if we supposed that we could have blessings without conflict
It would be a mistake to think differently because when .. not if .. when the battles come we would wilt under the pressure
thinking something unusual / abnormal was happening .. just to us
James & Peter tell us this truth
James says in James 1:2-4
2) consider it all joy my brethren when / note .. not if .. but when you encounter various trials .. ( why )
3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance
4) & let endurance have its perfect result so that you may be .. perfect & complete lacking in nothing
Then Peter states in 1 Peter 4:12-14
12) beloved do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you which comes upon you for your testing as tho some strange thing were happening to you
13) but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ .. keep on rejoicing so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation
14) if you are reviled for the name of Christ you are blessed .. because the Spirit of glory & of God .. rests on you
Our lives as believers involves challenges & conflicts / spiritual warfare whether we like it or not & thru these conflicts / battles God brings to us .. His blessings
( here is a problem )
Most Christians .. have not been taught that .. the main theme of the Bible is God’s holy warfare vs satan & sin
As life began .. & satan came against God & His creation = mankind / Gen 3:15 God declared war on satan in the Garden once mankind fell into his trap of temptation ( therefore God said to satan in the Garden )
v15 I will put enmity = hostility
between you & the woman
& between your seed / satan & her seed / J.C.
He / J.C. shall bruise you / satan on the head
& you shall bruise Him on the heel
& one day God will declare His victory when Jesus comes as The Conqueror to establish His Kingdom ( Rev 19:11–21 )
( listen please )
If we eliminate the militant side of our faith the battles .. then we must abandon the cross for it was upon the cross that Jesus won the victory over sin & satan [1]
( listen to Paul’s words in Col 2:13-15 )
13) when you were dead in your transgressions & the uncircumcision of your flesh He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us / what .. all our transgressions
14) having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us which was hostile / at enmity to us & He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross
15) ( hear this please ) when He had disarmed the rulers & authorities .. He made a public display of them .. having triumphed over them thru Him / His Son J.C.
( so there is .. spiritual warfare )
But our warfare is not against flesh & blood ( not like we read in Josh 6 / Jericho ) but our warfare is against God’s enemies in the spiritual realm ( Eph 6:10–18 )
10) finally .. be strong in the Lord & in the strength of His might
11) put on the full armor of God so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil
12) for our struggle is not against flesh & blood but against the rulers .. against the powers against the world forces of this darkness against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places / it is a spiritual battle
13) therefore take up the full armor of God so that you will be able to resist in the evil day & having done everything to stand firm
14) stand firm therefore having girded your loins with truth & having put on the breastplate of righteousness
15) & having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace
16) in addition to all .. take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one
17) & take the helmet of salvation & the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God
18) with all prayer & petition pray at all times in the Spirit & with this in view be on the alert with all perseverance & petition for all the saints
& the weapons we use in this battle are spiritual ( 2 Cor 10:3–5 )
3) for tho we walk in the flesh .. we do not war according to the flesh
4) for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh .. but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses
5) we are destroying speculations & every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God & we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ
Since Paul often used a military image to describe the Christian life we can not ignore the subject [2]
( as Paul says in 2 Tim 2:3 )
3) suffer hardship with me .. ( how ) as a good soldier of Christ Jesus
Israel’s conflict & victory at Jericho / Josh 6 illustrates 4 principles that we can learn from [3]
1) v1-5 before the warfare / battle begins v2 remember .. the victory is already secure
all believers stand in a position of certain victory .. because J.C. has already defeated our spiritual enemies
John 12:31
now judgment is upon this world now the ruler of this world will be cast out
Jesus has defeated satan at every stand
· in the wilderness .. Matt 4:1–11
· during His earthly ministry .. Matt 12:22–29
· at the cross .. Col 2:13–15
· His resurrection & ascension .. Eph 1:18–23
if God be for us .. who can be against us Rom 8:31
2) v6-16 during the warfare / battle remember that you have overcome the enemy how .. by faith
Jericho represents the world to the believer ( it is strong & formidable ) & their victory .. as ours .. came by faith
Heb 11:30 tells us that
by faith .. the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for 7 days
& John reassures us in our battles 1 John 5:4
for whatever is born of God overcomes the world & this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith
3) v17-21 after the warfare / battle is over remember to continue to obey God & give Him the glory for all that you accomplish thru Him
( never forget .. all we have belongs to Him )
17) the city shall be under the ban it & all that is in it .. belongs to the Lord only Rahab the harlot & all who are with her in the house shall live because she hid the messengers whom we sent
19) all the silver / gold / articles of bronze / iron are holy to the Lord / all that we have is His they shall go into the treasury of the Lord
4) v22-27 always remember your promises to God
Victorious Christians are people who know the promises of God because .. they spend time meditating on His Word ( 1:8 )
Josh 1:8
this book of the law shall not depart from your mouth .. but you shall meditate on it day & night so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it .. for then you will make your way prosperous & then you will have success
It was said that Mary Queen of Scots feared John Knox’s prayers more than she feared an enemy’s army
But is society today afraid of what God’s people may do .. probably not
& that is mainly because the church hasn’t done very much to display the power of God to a skeptical world
The church / believers are no longer as we once were ( Song 6:4 & v10 ) “as terrible / or fearful as an army with banners”
( & why )
( most likely because )
The church today is so much like the world that the world takes little notice of
What we do / who we are / what we stand for
We imitate the world’s methods
We cater to their appetites
We solicit their approval
We measure what we do according to their standards / not God’s
Is it any wonder that we don’t gain the world’s respect
But it ought not be their respect we are fighting for .. but God’s
Verses:
James 1:2-4
1 Pet 4:12-14
Gen 3:15
Rev 19:11-21
Col 2:13-15
Eph 6:10-18
2 Cor 10:3-5
2 Tim 2:3
John 12:31
Matt 4:1-11
Matt 12:22-29
Col 2:13-15
Eph 1:18-23
Rom 8:31
Heb 11:30
1 John 5:4
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[1]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 6:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 6:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 6:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.