Victories And Defeats

Intro

Text - Joshua 6.20; Joshua 7.4-6

Joshua 6:20 NKJV

20 So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

Joshua 7:4–6 NKJV

4 So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai. 5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water. 6 Then Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.

Title - Victories And Defeats

Series - Lessons From the Book of Joshua

Background

The first 2 battles Israel fought inside Canaan were against Jericho and Ai.

Jericho was a big city, while Ai was a small one

cities back then were ruled by kings

Israel won the fight against Jericho

Israel experienced her first loss at Ai

The Main Point

Being appointed to victorious Christian life does not mean we never lose even a single battle.

God allows us to lose some of our battles in order to emphasize the simple things that we often neglect but nevertheless make us victors.

Losing the battle in some areas of our life, does not make us “losers”, especially when we learn the lessons of out our experience and then act decisively and wisely.

Key Points

Israel’s Victory in Jericho

Three factors helped secure Israel’s victory

They were commissioned for success - they went out knowing God wants them to win the fight

They were battle-ready - God equipped them for the battle ahead

supernatural presence of God - they were equipped with the knowledge that the Supernatural God went with them

circumcision - they were set apart from other peoples of the land, as a people under covenant with the Living God

a taste of the land - God stopped manna and made them taste the produce of the land

They followed instructions - Joshua and Israel followed the instructions given by the Commander of the Army of the LORD

Joshua 6

the instructions were ‘unconventional’

march around the city with the Ark of God on the shoulders of the priests

seven priests will blow the trumpets at the front

march 1 time for 6 days, quietly

march 7 times on the 7th day

on the 7th time, give the shout of victory

the instructions emphasized -

the war is to be fought God’s way

Israel’s contribution is simple obedience to God’s battle plan

Obedience to God’s instructions is crucial to the Christian’s victory

God’s instructions are simple and straightforward

Matthew 11:28–30 NKJV

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Obedience allows for God to do things His way

“Go and wash in the Jordan seven times...”

2 Kings 5.11-13 “11 But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’ 12 Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?””

“Rise, take up your bed and walk”

John 5.6-9 “6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” 7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.”

Obedience exalts God in the ocassion!

Numbers 20.8-12 “8 “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.” 9 So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as He commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. 12 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.””

1 Samuel 15:22–23 NKJV

22 So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.”

Israel’s Defeat in Ai

Two things contributed to Israel’s defeat in Ai

the sin of Achan

Joshua 7:1 NKJV

1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel.

one man’s sin caused God to be angry against the whole nation of Israel

Achan committed the sin WHILE God was giving them the victory in Jericho

Achan’s Sin

Joshua 7:10–11 NKJV

10 So the Lord said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? 11 Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff.

accursed things are things devoted to God and to be destroyed

Joshua 6:18 NKJV

18 And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.

consecrated things are things to be used for God’s use

Joshua 6:19 NKJV

19 But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.”

2 things come out of the ashes of spiritual warfare

accursed things -

the works of the flesh - they are to be destroyed

Galatians 5.19-21 “19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

keeping back the things that were supposed to be destroyed is stealing from God!

consecrated things - they are to be set apart for God’s use

the things that were once used for dishonor

2 Tim 2.19-21 “19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”

resources - money, property, equipment

our bodies

Keeping back the things that were supposed to be put into the treasury of God’s house is also stealing from God!

Israel’s confidence in the flesh (carnal confidence)

Joshua 7:2–4 NKJV

2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, “Go up and spy out the country.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few.” 4 So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai.

Joshua listened to his men, but not to the LORD

Joshua did not wait for God’s instructions

carnal confidence versus confidence in God

carnal confidence

underestimates the power of the flesh

gives in to the needs of the flesh

acts without direction from God

confidence in God

recognizes the power of the flesh, as well as God’s power of it!

listens to God more than the flesh

Philippians 3:3–7 NKJV

3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.

Galatians 6:14 NKJV

14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

carnal confidence cannot stand the heat of the battle

Israel fled before the brave warriors of Ai

Decisive Actions that turned defeat into victory

Joshua and the elders of Israel humbled themselves before God

Joshua 7:6–9 NKJV

6 Then Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, Lord God, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all—to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turns its back before its enemies? 9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?”

humbling before God is renouncing our trust in the flesh and putting it back where it belongs - to God!

1 Peter 5:5–7 NKJV

5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

humbling recognizes the power of Almighty God over the mighty enemy

1 Peter 5:8–9 NKJV

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

Joshua consecrated the people and exposed the trouble in their midst

Joshua 7:16–19 NKJV

16 So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel by their tribes, and the tribe of Judah was taken. 17 He brought the clan of Judah, and he took the family of the Zarhites; and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man, and Zabdi was taken. 18 Then he brought his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. 19 Now Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I beg you, give glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession to Him, and tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.”

Consecration is “setting apart” your life in order the identify and root out the evil thing

Joshua listened to God’s instructions

Joshua 8:1 NKJV

1 Now the Lord said to Joshua: “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.

Joshua goes back to the fundamental rule of victory - stay with God!

John 15:4–5 NKJV

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Zechariah 4:6 NKJV

6 So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.

Psalm 60:9–12 NKJV

9 Who will bring me to the strong city? Who will lead me to Edom? 10 Is it not You, O God, who cast us off? And You, O God, who did not go out with our armies? 11 Give us help from trouble, For the help of man is useless. 12 Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.

Conclusion

God does allow His people to be beaten by the enemy, but only for this reason -

that they may learn to not put their trust in the flesh but in God - AT ALL TIMES!

SONG

I will triumph in the trials