JOSHUA
HOW TO FIGHT SPIRITUAL BATTLES
By Rev. Dr. Jerry Schmoyer jerry@schmoyer.net
http://india.christiantrainingonline.org/
Main idea: fighting for victory in life
Magic: Samson pad – power in Jesus, not us
INTRODUCTION
THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN once who thought it would be great to be a soldierwhen became a man war going on near his home, joined local armythought it would be great: prestigue, glory, travel, spoils of victory, etc before long, though, changed his mind – enemies trying to kill him!
True of GOD’S PEOPLE, too
commit to follow God, live for Him
surprised when find in a battle!
Salvation = joining God’s armyy
Salvation doesn’t mean life fine, smooth
-doesn’t end the battle, really just starts it!
-In effect switching sides in conflict – Satan/world/flesh not let go easily
-find self in middle of war don’t like, understand, want
TRUE OF JOSHUA’S TIM AS WELL
IN HIS DAY it was the Egyptians, Cananaites, etc.
IN YOUR DAY still battling, but different enemies
FORCES ATTACKING GOD’S PEOPLE:
Satan – prince of this wrold, attacks God’s kingdom
Flesh – sin nature, tendency to be selfish, prideful,
World – values and priorities of world system
Weapons used against me: swords, spears, arrows
Weapons against you different:
Greed Selfishness Fear Lust Pride
GOOD NEWS: we don’t fight alone
We don’t fight in our own strength
THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD!
TRANSITION:
What they went through physically is a picture of what you go thru spiritually
let me try and explain it all to you …
OT physical events to teach us spiritual truths
I Cor 10:11; Romans 15:4
START of the war between God and Satan was in EDEN
Continued from then on – Genesis 3:15
Since Satan can’t hit God easily, hits God’s people
OT times: against Jews (anti-Semitism)
NT times: against Christians
REVIEW SO FAR
Battle started in Genesis 2!
CONTINUATION: SPIRITUAL WARFARE SO GROW
I. INTO THE LAND 1-12
A. CLAIMING THE LAND 1-5
1. JOSHUA COMMISSIONED 1
NEW LEADER – Joshua – 80 years old
MOSES HARD ACT TO FOLLOW!
Ex thru Deut – #1 leader
Ever follow very great, effecient leader? Esp if you are more ordinary, quiet man
SLAVE in Egypt Joshua = Jehovah is Salvation
Same as Jesus in Greek
SOLDIER perhaps in Egypt, where got to know Moses
SERVANT Moses’ assistant, helper, since in Egypt
1 or 12 spies into land – only he & Caleb faithful
Tried to kill them and Moses
Had been wandering last 40 wasted years!
PROMISES FROM GOD given Joshua
TRANSITION
Important to understand how they went from defeat and wandering to victory in the land
apply to your life, too
2. JERICHO CONVASSED 2
1. PREPARATION IS A MUST
True in football, basketball, etc
Don’t be surprised when attacked, when battles rage in life – prepare ahead
PEOPLE 3 days to prepare selves, things to enter land
2 SPIES into Jericho to gather information, prepare army with intelligence
NOT lack of faith
BUT common sense
LEARN ABOUT SPIRITUAL WARFARE so prepared
3. JORDAN CROSSED 3-4
2. STEP OUT IN FAITH
FLOOD STAGE, 12’ DEEP UP TO ½ MILE WIDE
Follow ark through (Follow God’s Presence into Pr Land)
RED SEA: God parted waters while people watched
JORDAN: step into water, as foot hits water opens and cross
As mature God expects more of our faith!
WET FEET CONCEPT – what stands in way of your being in center of God’s perfect will?
That’s your Jordan to cross!
Step in faith first!
3. FOLLOW AFTER GOD
ARK goes first, must follow His leading and direction carefully
Follow God through difficulties, etc.
4. REMEMBER PAST VICTORIES
Pile of rocks on other side
WAY TO REMEMBER God’s deliverances, etc.
4. JEWS CIRCUMCIZED 5
5. CONSECRATION COMES FIRST
SET APART FOR God 100%
JEWS: circumcision
Passover
US: Discipleship after salvation
Turn from all sin, set aside flesh
Commit to battle in power of Jesus, blood shed
TRANSITION
Battle strategy in 3 stages: conquer through middle to divide
Then fight southern nations
Finally fight northern nations
British Field Marshal Edmund H Allenby did same in WW I
B. CONQUERING THE LAND 6-12
1. CENTRAL CAMPAIGN 6-8
6. SEEK GOD’S BATTLE PLAN
Humanly impossible to defeat Jericho, only through God
Joshua got alone with God to pray, listen
– spend time seeking God’s guidance, listen!
Discovered he wasn’t alone – WE are never alone
Discovered he was 2nd in command
– we aren’t in command, Jesus is commander
Discovered he had already won the battle
– our battles are already won!
Now had to go fight it as Jesus directed and would win!
– we must fight them!
God’s directions may seem very strange
– march around city 7 days, 7x 7th day, walls fall!
7. FOLLOWING JESUS BRINGS VICTORY
Walked 1x day for 7 days, on 7th day shouted, walls fell outward, all killed but no Jews died
Fight in total obedience to God and His plans
Be patient, do it His way, no matter how strange
Persevere until HE gives the victory – never quit
Don’t get ahead of His plan
God keeps His promises!
THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD
8. SMALL SINS BRING LARGE CONSEQUENCES
Ai attacked next, small outpost
Joshua not seek God, people not pray, seemed like easy for them on own
Defeated – 36 men killed!
Achan had kept some money & materials for self, hid in tent – no little sin to God
Consequence of sin on all – our sin affects others
Achan and family killed, sin removed
– quickly confess, remove any & all sin
Then clear victory, Ai destroyed
– after confession God gives victory
TRANSITION
Having split the country, now easier to attack south then north, south first
2. SOUTHERN CAMPAIGN 9-10
9. NEVER ACT IN YOUR OWN STRENGTH
Gibeonites came to make surrender as slaves so not killed
as God commanded
Deceived Joshua and Jews into thinking they came from far
away but didn’t
Joshua and leaders thought could handle this without going
to God but were deceived
Make treaty to protect those called to destroy!
Satan very deception – us no match
Unless always totally listening to God make mistakes
Think, plan, own strength without God = disaster!
10. GOD STOPS AT NOTHING TO BRING VICTORY
Other nations in south come together, attack Gibeonites because treaty with Israel
Jews had to go help defend them, fight for them
God used it for good – opportunity to defeat so nations
God sends hail down to kill and destroy southern nations –
can’t fight against God!
Jews winning battle but many escape in dark of night
Joshua prays for sun to stop in sky so can round up all and
none escape – it does!
No matter what is necessary, God will bring us victory
We don’t see the battle in the heavens
TRANSITION
After south defeated, then attacked northern nations
3. NORTHERN CAMPAIGN 11a
11. PERSEVERE UNTIL VICTORY IS COMPLETE
Other nations in south come together,
attack Gibeonites because treaty with Israel
More time to gather
Some cities 50x as large as Jericho
Giants that sacred them away 40 years earlier in this group
Fighting gets harder, not easier, as time goes on
Stretching faith muscles as battles get harder
Each battle fought a bit differently, no 2 exactly alike
CALEB great example in patient endurance whole life
Asked for land with the giants
– defeated them when nation afraid to before
Believed God’s promises, key to victory
4. SUMMARY 11b-12
12. THE BATTLES NEVER END
Warned there will be battles in future as long as in land
Jews today still battling enemies in land of Palestine
Battles go in cycles, time to refresh, grow, get stronger
We will have battles as long as we live on this earth
But we will have God’s help as well
Stay strong, skillful in warfare
Stay alert, always watching for attacks
TRANSITION
INTO the land complete Joshua 1-12
IN the land now covered 13-24
Conquered, now must settle, claim, grow in the land
God wins our battles so we can live for Him
II. IN THE LAND 13-24
A. COLONIZING THE LAND 13-21
1. 2 ½ TRIBES (EAST OF JORDAN) 13
2. CALEB 14
3. 9 ½ TRIBES (WEST OF JORDAN) 15-19
4. LEVI 20-21
B. CONSECRATE LAND 22-24
1. SANCTIFICATION 22
2. SEPARATION 23
3. SERVICE 24
Served God through Joshua’s whole life
JOSHUA; CONQUEST – battles in the time of Joshua
LIFE IS A BATTLE FOR US
In each case THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
1. PREPARATION IS A MUST
Daily time with Him, read, pray, worship, sp warf
2. STEP OUT IN FAITH
Don’t let FEAR of people, failure, pain keep you
3. FOLLOW AFTER GOD
Taking your life in a direction you aren’t sure
4. REMEMBER PAST VICTORIES
Not enough money for bills, working
5. CONSECRATION COMES FIRST
Commit life to Him: salvation, Discipleship, bapt
6. SEEK GOD’S BATTLE PLAN
Watch decisions, things you think you can do without God’s help
Financial investments, job moves, new rel
7. FOLLOWING JESUS BRINGS VICTORY
Get advice from others, but only Godly believers
Make sure lines up with God’s Word
8. SMALL SINS BRING LARGE CONSEQUENCES
‘Little’ sins of attitude, thoughts allow in own
9. NEVER ACT IN YOUR OWN STRENGTH
Lust (food, sex, materialism) can’t defeat on own, ask for, rely on Him
10. GOD STOPS AT NOTHING TO BRING VICTORY
Miracles done for you in past
Doesn’t remove obstacle – have to fight
Gives us strength to keep fighting until victory
11. PERSEVERE UNTIL VICTORY IS COMPLETE
Don’t quit, slow down,– keep fighting!
Weary with problem relationship at work family
Tired of struggling with same sin
Give up praying for person God put on heart
12. THE BATTLES NEVER END
See as opportunity to trust God, see His del
Watch His deliverance, His victory in your life
CONCLUSION
Power in Jesus., not us (give examples)