Fighting From Victory

Fighting From Victory

Text: Joshua 6

Introduction

Illustration: A pastor attended a court hearing to protest the building of a tavern near his church and a public school. The lawyer for the tavern owners said to him, “I’m surprised to see you here today, Reverend. As a shepherd, shouldn’t you be out taking care of the sheep?”

The pastor replied, “Today I’m fighting the wolf!” Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Strong, “Be” Commentary Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 70.

Sometimes when we comes to passages like this one; a passage of war, death and destruction, some will resort to saying, “I can’t believe in a God like that.” What that person fails to realize is that the Christian life is full of a militant theme. Listen, the main theme of the Bible is God’s warfare against the devil and sin.

Quote: If you eliminate the militant side of the Christian faith, then you must abandon the cross; for it was on the cross that Jesus won the victory over sin and Satan. Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Strong, “Be” Commentary Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 68–70.

Quote: Too many Christians cultivate only a sentimental emphasis on “peace and goodwill” and ignore the spiritual battle against sin; and this means they’ve already lost the victory and are working for the enemy. Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Strong, “Be” Commentary Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 70.

1) Trust God’s Strategies

Their victory over Jericho was a promise of God’s word!

It was a battle fought FROM victory, not just FOR victory!

They were to claim it.

Claiming God’s promises is not a matter of preferential methods. Only God’s plan carries with it God’s promises.

The most impactful promises of God are those claimed by the faith of God’s people.

The KEY to claiming Jericho was to trust God’s plan over their own.

Trusting God instead of their own cleverness was essentially the main theological message.

God’s promise was given while the walls were still standing tall.

Excavations at Jericho indicate that the city covered perhaps eight acres and was protected by two high parallel walls, which stood about fifteen feet apart and surrounded the city. Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Strong, “Be” Commentary Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 71.

You might say, “That is simply an impossibility.”

God becoming a man, dying on the cross and rising from the grace is the ULTIMATE IMPOSSIBILITY!

It didn’t happen any other way because God didn’t choose for it to happen any other way!!!

QUESTION- Where would your faith be today without God taking you through the so-called impossible???

2Corinthians 10:4 “4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”

God strategically gave opportunity for their faith to be exercised.

Victorious Christians are people who know the promises of God, because they spend time meditating on God’s Word (1:8); they believe the promises of God, because the Word of God generates faith in their hearts Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Strong, “Be” Commentary Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 72.

Quote: Believing a promise is like accepting a check, but reckoning is like endorsing the check and cashing it. Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Strong, “Be” Commentary Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 72.

2) True Worship = Obedience = Victory

While Joshua was postured in worship, God gave him specific instructions for those who would be in the group who would march around the city.

Joshua gives us a beautiful picture of how one is to move from worship to obedience.

He had learned the a sign of authentic worship is one’s own obedience.

There was simply nothing more for him to do than obey!

This would be a break through for many of us today!!!

You must always remember the proper place of CREATOR & CREATION; POTTER & CLAY.

We are never given the title of “Great Criticizer of God’s Plans.”

Joshua returns to the camp and announces the plan to the priests and military.

God’s instructions were that the armed men march around Jericho once a day for six days, followed by seven priests each blowing a trumpet. The priests carrying the ark of the Lord would come next, and the rear guard would complete the procession. The only noise permitted was the sound of the trumpets. On the seventh day the procession would march around the city seven times, the priests would give a long blast on the trumpets, and then the marchers would all shout. God would then cause the walls to fall down flat so that the soldiers could easily enter the city. Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Strong, “Be” Commentary Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 73.

In biblical numerology the number seven represents completeness or perfection. The Hebrew word translated “seven” (shevah) comes from a root that means “to be full, to be satisfied.” Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Strong, “Be” Commentary Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 74.

Notice the specific kind of horns the priest were to blow.

Silver trumpets were used to announce things like “war.” NO WAR TO ANNOUNCE!!!

The rams horns were used to announce the “Year of Jubilee.” They were proclaiming LIBERTY!

Notice who Joshua told FIRST; THE PRIESTS.

God’s place in the battle

The authority and value of God’s presence was on display for Jericho to see; God was the epicenter of their success.

These people willingly put themselves in the most vulnerable position to present God as preeminent!

Jericho saw in full color who the Jews trusted!

No matter how foolish he would look, he was prepared to do what God wanted him to do. It’s straightforward trust and obedience that has enabled God’s people through all human history to make a difference. When that quality of trust and obedience is gone, we people of God so tragically mess up our own lives, the lives of our children, our colleagues, and ultimately, the very life of our nation. Jr. Huffman John A. and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Joshua, vol. 6, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1986), 106.

3) Remember To Give God The Glory

It was God’s powerful promise that brought down the walls of Jericho.

(vv17-19) They were commanded to devote the entire city to the Lord.

As we will learn, it was here where Achan made his fatal mistake.

It was God’s gracious promise that preserved Rahab and her household. (vv22-23 & 25-26)

The wall where her house was remained standing.

This was all because of her faith and the faith of her family.

While for a short time they were AFAR OFF and set OUTSIDE THE CAMP, they were later welcomed in.

God graciously chose Rahab to be an ancestress of the Savior.

It was God’s wrathful position toward wickedness that brought about the death of all the Canaanite people and the burning of the city.

They were unspeakably wicked people and continually declined all opportunities of peace.

They had had plenty of time to repent and turn to God.

God had been patient with them for over 400 years.

Let this be OUR LESSON: God will tolerate no compromise with sin in the lives of His people.

Quote: “Thank God that He will not make peace with sin in my heart! I bless His name for the thunder of His authority, and for the profound conviction that He is fierce and furious in His anger against sin, wherever it manifests itself.” — Campbell Morgan