Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

Text - Joshua 6.20; Joshua 7.4-6

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

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.””

Israel’s Defeat in Ai

Two things contributed to Israel’s defeat in Ai

the sin of Achan

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

accursed things are things devoted to God and to be destroyed

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

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 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

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

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

humbling recognizes the power of Almighty God over the mighty enemy

Joshua consecrated the people and exposed the trouble in their midst

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

Joshua listened to God’s instructions

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

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