What is Your Battle Plan?
Joshua • Sermon • Submitted
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· 25 viewsJoshua persevered through the many battles. We need a similar battle plan
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What is your battle plan?
What is your battle plan?
This is the primary question that I want us to be thinking about throughout our time together this morning.
More accurately, each of us need to be asking the question, “What is my battle plan?” and we should be doing this on a regular basis.
1 When Jabin, king of Hazor, heard of this, he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph, 2 and to the kings who were in the northern hill country, and in the Arabah south of Chinneroth, and in the lowland, and in Naphoth-dor on the west, 3 to the Canaanites in the east and the west, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, and the Jebusites in the hill country, and the Hivites under Hermon in the land of Mizpah. 4 And they came out with all their troops, a great horde, in number like the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. 5 And all these kings joined their forces and came and encamped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel. 6 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for tomorrow at this time I will give over all of them, slain, to Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.” 7 So Joshua and all his warriors came suddenly against them by the waters of Merom and fell upon them. 8 And the Lord gave them into the hand of Israel, who struck them and chased them as far as Great Sidon and Misrephoth-maim, and eastward as far as the Valley of Mizpeh. And they struck them until he left none remaining. 9 And Joshua did to them just as the Lord said to him: he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire. 10 And Joshua turned back at that time and captured Hazor and struck its king with the sword, for Hazor formerly was the head of all those kingdoms.
1 When Jabin, king of Hazor, heard of this, he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph, 2 and to the kings who were in the northern hill country, and in the Arabah south of Chinneroth, and in the lowland, and in Naphoth-dor on the west, 3 to the Canaanites in the east and the west, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, and the Jebusites in the hill country, and the Hivites under Hermon in the land of Mizpah. 4 And they came out with all their troops, a great horde, in number like the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. 5 And all these kings joined their forces and came and encamped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel. 6 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for tomorrow at this time I will give over all of them, slain, to Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.” 7 So Joshua and all his warriors came suddenly against them by the waters of Merom and fell upon them. 8 And the Lord gave them into the hand of Israel, who struck them and chased them as far as Great Sidon and Misrephoth-maim, and eastward as far as the Valley of Mizpeh. And they struck them until he left none remaining. 9 And Joshua did to them just as the Lord said to him: he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire.
As I read this and studied this passage several important facts stood out to me especially as it relates to the greater context of the book of Joshua and the entire Scriptures. I hope to help us see the need for having a battle plan, and in the process give us some key ingredients, qualities or characteristics that should make up our plan.
Last week we set the foundation for the battle plan. We discussed the source of power with which the Israelites fought and thereby the source with which we ought to fight, if we truly desire to be victorious.
Be Strong in the Lord!
Be Strong in the Lord!
First and foremost, we have to recognize, trust and rely in the Strength of God, not our own frail abilities. We must praise Him for the power that He gives us and continually look to Him for wisdom, knowledge and strength.
Relentless
Relentless
Perseverance-
Patience-
Endurance-
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
********find a verse that teaches our need for these qualities
36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Each of these describe the character necessary for the battle against the hordes of hell.
4 And they came out with all their troops, a great horde, in number like the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. 5 And all these kings joined their forces and came and encamped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel.
4 “Come up to me and help me, and let us strike Gibeon. For it has made peace with Joshua and with the people of Israel.” 5 Then the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered their forces and went up with all their armies and encamped against Gibeon and made war against it.
joshua 11
1 When Jabin, king of Hazor, heard of this, he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph, 2 and to the kings who were in the northern hill country, and in the Arabah south of Chinneroth, and in the lowland, and in Naphoth-dor on the west, 3 to the Canaanites in the east and the west, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, and the Jebusites in the hill country, and the Hivites under Hermon in the land of Mizpah. 4 And they came out with all their troops, a great horde, in number like the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. 5 And all these kings joined their forces and came and encamped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel.
This describes the reality of our fight. As we have been studying the book of Joshua, we have seen obstacle after obstacle, some natural (Red Sea, Jordan River, plunder that tempted Achan) Some man made (Walls of Jericho) and then there were the inhabitants of the land.
This describes the reality of our fight. As we have been studying the book of Joshua, we have seen obstacle after obstacle, some natural (Red Sea, Jordan River, plunder that tempted Achan) Some man made (Walls of Jericho) and then there were the inhabitants of the land.
This describes the reality of our fight. As we have been studying the book of Joshua, we have seen obstacle after obstacle, some natural (Red Sea, Jordan River, plunder that tempted Achan) Some man made (Walls of Jericho) and then there were the inhabitants of the land.
The enemy kings and the people of the land must have seemed to the Israelites to be a massive force of resistance to the fulfillment of God’s promise, a major inhibiting obstacle in the path of the possession of the land that God had sworn to give them.
The enemy is described as a great horde, in number like the sand that is on the seashore.
Not only that but they had many horses and chariots and they were coming just after the fight against all the kings and cities in the Southern part of the land. One battle after another.
The enemy is strong and mighty. The sins that we can be tempted to commit are numerous and varied.
Readiness-
Readiness-
If we look back at the victories that Joshua won, he was not operating in defense, he was always on the offensive. He was moving forward. Often times it has been said of both successful military strategy as well as successful sports programs, that the way to win is to have a good offense. That is not to say, defense is unimportant, but to win you must possess a good offense.
Onrush
7 So Joshua and all his warriors came suddenly against them by the waters of Merom and fell upon them.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
We have a job to do, which God has prepared for us. He hasn’t just prepared the job for us, He is also preparing us for the job. He has gifted us with the Holy Spirit, to strengthen us with His might.
15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
Prepared
Tactic
Strategy
Assault
Maneuver
Attack
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; 38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
Heb 10:
Righteousness
Righteousness
6 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for tomorrow at this time I will give over all of them, slain, to Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.”
Holiness
Just
Loving
Aligned with God’s will and character
God desired to reveal the idolatrous and faulty faith of the enemy. They were trusting in their horses and chariots, but God showed he was stronger than any created thing. God told Joshua to hamstring their horses because the horses were used in their pagan worship rituals.
We do what we do, because we want what we want, we want what we want because we think what we think, and we think what we think because we believe what we believe.
We need to make sure we are believing the truth, which comes from God and God alone. When we believe truth and what is right, we think truth and right. When we think truth and right we want truth and right when we want truth and what is right we do was is true and right.
20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
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15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
This righteousness that I believe God call us to, this desire to align with the will of God, is something that must take place in our hearts. Once the change happens in our heart, the rest will take care of itself.
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks!
What is your battle plan?
What is your battle plan?
What has been your battle plan?
What is the fruit of your plan?
What would others say your battle plan is?
Would you be convicted of relentless, readiness in righteousness? I don’t ask this in the sense that we desire to be people pleasers. I am in no way suggesting we should use men’s opinions as a test for whether or not we are doing what is right. Rather, I believe if we are relentless, ready and righteous; those qualities will be evident to the people around us.
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Are you relentlessly ready in righteousness?
If so, praise the Lord! Continue! Persevere! Be relentless, ready and righteous.
If not, Join the battle! Prepare yourself, through prayer and reading, meditating on and memorizing God’s Word!
Persevere in Righteousness for the Glory of God!