Joshua 6

I)       Fighting the good fight of faith

A)    File:  Joshua 6.doc

B)    Audio:  Fighting the good fight of faith       

C)    Series:  Victory in the promised land

D)    Preached:  July 8, 2007.

II)    READ 6:1-27

III) The Christian life is full of battles: 

A)    Gen 3:15 – “I will put enmity between your offspring and her offspring” Offspring singular referring to Christ but Jesus said:

1)      The world hates us – that it first hated him.  (John 15)

2)      A situation of enmity being associated with Christ.

B)    Peter, refers to Satan as our “adversary.”  1 Peter 5:8

C)    James, we must resist the devil. James 4:7

D)    Paul to Timothy:  “wage the good warfare” (1 Tim 1:18) “fight the good fight” (1 Tim 6:12).

E)     Paul, Eph. 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

F)     The courageous Syrian preacher and martyr John Chrysostom (347–407) “You are but a poor soldier of Christ if you think you can overcome without fighting, and suppose you can have the crown without the conflict.”[1]

G)    Indeed, we are in a battle, we must look to what God’s people have done in the past to win.

H)    Here are several keys to winning:

IV) We fight from victory, not for victory.

A)    v2:  already given.  Evident by v1 – locked up in fear.

1)      v16:  Joshua says “shout for the Lord has given you the city.”  It’s clearly not “shout so the walls fall down and we can take the city. 

2)      A confident position to be in.

B)    Likewise, all our spiritual battles are the same – we fight from victory.

1)      John 12:31 “Now will the ruler of this world be cast out.”

2)      Col 2:15:  “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame by triumphing over them in Him.”

3)      Eph. 1:22:  “He put all things under His feet.”

4)      That’s why Rom. 8:31 “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

C)    Nevertheless, we fight!  Sideline Christianity is not an option!

1)      If you do not fight – you will not receive the promises!

2)      But victory is assured. 

V)    We defeat the enemy by faith.

A)    Hebrews 11:30:  “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.”

B)    Interpret these plans:

1)      v3:  All the men of war:  Numbers 26:51 says 601,730!

2)      V4:  Seven priests and the ark:  The Levites (including priests) were exempted from the census of fighting men – it was assumed they would not fight.  Their job was to take care of and guard the tabernacle.

3)      vv3-4:  A seven-day plan.  Somewhere here they break a Sabbath.

4)      Ram’s horns – usually trumpets were used.

C)    This demonstrates the difference between walking by faith and by sight – following the spirit as opposed to the letter of the law. (See Galatians) – Everything here. though it seems unusual, it is quite significant:

D)    All the men of war:  God includes everyone in the walk of faith.  All the fighting men must see this.  Future battles will require only some of the men.

E)     Seven priests and the ark:  Priests were God’s spiritual leaders – showing this to be a spiritual battle.  The ark represented God’s presence.

F)     Seven days – breaking the Sabbath:  MARK 2:23-28.  Christ, the one who gave the plan to Joshua, is Lord even of the Sabbath.

1)      True faith in God is an understanding that He made the law and He has the authority to make exceptions.

(a)    The Pharisees had faith in following the Law.  The disciples had faith in Jesus.

(b)   True faith must be faith in God and not in His law.

2)      If the Israelites ignored this plan to observe the Sabbath, they would be guilty of unbelief.  But we know that victory comes by faith:

G)    1 John 5:4 “And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.”

H)    Indeed it was faith that brought down the walls of Jericho – faith to follow God’s plan, even if it made no sense.

1)      We defeat the enemy by faith.

I)       Follow me through this transition.  Even though the Israelites had a victory of faith, it was God’s plan and His power that brought the walls down – even God who brought them this far.  In fact, it could be argued that it was God who created opportunities to develop their faith by showing Himself to them, saving them, being patient with them, giving them past victories, demonstrating His power.  All the faith in the world would be nothing but for the object of that faith to be the living God!  Therefore:

VI) We must give God the glory. (and obey His commands)

A)    vv18-19.  Specific orders

B)    This is basically a tithe:  Giving the first fruits of victory to the Lord.

1)      Although we fight by faith, the victory is truly His so He deserves the spoils of war.  However, He doesn’t ask for them all. Indeed He doesn’t need them.  But He asks for the first fruits of our labors as a form of worship.

2)      Tithing – not giving ten percent of what YOU have to the Lord, rather it is giving the Lord His first 10% of what is all rightfully His, then enjoying the remaining 90%.

C)    With the Lord – the means is as important as the ends.

1)      Example – King Saul, 1 Sam. 15.  “strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have.”

(a)    Samuel – sheep, oxen? 

(b)   Saul – a sacrifice to God.

2)      1 Sam. 15:22, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?”

3)      “You have rejected the Word of the Lord and the Lord has rejected you!

VII)          For the Christian:

A)    Seek instruction, follow the instruction in faith, give God the glory, and enjoy the victory in the Lord.

B)    Enter the promises that Christ has given.

C)    Eternal life begins now!

VIII)       For the unbeliever:

A)    Locked up in fear.  Surrounded by God’s people blaring the trumpet call of Christ!  Surrender.

1)      Notes:

B)    We must remember that following God is warfare – Declared in Genesis 3:15. (See Eph. 2:1-3, 6:10-18; Col. 2:13-15; Rev. 19:11-21;). 

1)      It will not end until the return of Christ (Isa. 2).

(a)    See McArthur quote – only the dead have seen the end of war.

C)    Several strange things about the plan:

1)      All the men of war:  Numbers 26:51 says 601,730!

2)      A seven-day plan:  somewhere here they break a Sabbath.

3)      The Levites (including priests) were exempted from the census of fighting men – it was assumed they would not fight.  Their job was to take care of and guard the tabernacle.

4)      This demonstrates the difference between walking by faith and by sight – following the spirit as opposed to the letter of the law. (See Galatians)

D)    Much language like the book of Revelation:

1)      An embedded seven (See Rev. 8-9).

2)      Seven trumpets.

3)      Everybody is destroyed except the faithful who are taken out.

E)     The means is as important as the end:

1)      God had a specific way

2)      Do not take victory for granted

F)     The Victory is first for God and second for us.

G)     

H)    How can we do all these things?

1)      Have we not seen that we are unable to do things for God and to please God?

2)      Are we not sinners, unable to be holy?

3)      Here is how:  We must remember this thing:

(a)    We fight from victory, not for victory!

(b)   vv 2,

IX) Quotes

A)    You are but a poor soldier of Christ if you think you can overcome without fighting, and suppose you can have the crown without the conflict.”  The courageous Syrian preacher and martyr John Chrysostom (347–407)[2]

B)    Find some good old Christian ‘warfare’ songs.

C)    7163 Who is Enemy?

1)      When World War I broke out, the War Ministry in London dispatched a coded message to one of the British outposts in the inaccessible areas of Africa. The message read: “War declared. Arrest all enemy aliens in your district.”

2)      The War Ministry received his prompt reply: “Have arrested ten Germans, six Belgians, four Frenchman, two Italians, three Austrians, and an American. Please advise immediately who we’re at war with.”[3]

D)    On May 12, 1962, General MacArthur spoke to the graduating class at West Point. In his speech the General quoted Plato to the effect that “only the dead have seen the end of war.”[4]

E)      

July 8, 2007, Fighting the Good Fight of Faith.

Joshua 6:1-27. 

I)       The Christian life is full of _______________________. (Gen. 3:15; John 15, 17:14; 1 Peter 5:8; James 4:7; 1 Tim. 1:18, 6:12; Eph. 6:12;)

A)    John Chrysostom ““You are but a poor soldier of Christ if you think you can overcome without fighting, and suppose you can have the crown without the conflict.”[5]

II)    We Fight _______________ victory not _______________ victory. (vv 2, 16; John 12:31; Col. 2:15; Eph. 1:22; Rom. 8:31;)

III) We defeat the enemy by _______________________. (Hebrews 11:30; 1 John 5:4; Mark 2:23-28.)

IV) We must give God the _________________________.[6]   (And obey His commands) (vv 18-19)

Joshua 6:1-27 Word Find:

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[1]Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Strong (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996, c1993), Jos 6:1.

[2]Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Strong (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996, c1993), Jos 6:1.

[3]Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : A Treasury of Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and Christian Workers (Garland TX: Bible Communications, 1996, c1979).

[4]Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : A Treasury of Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and Christian Workers (Garland TX: Bible Communications, 1996, c1979).

[5]Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Strong (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996, c1993), Jos 6:1.

[6] I) battles; II) from…for; III) faith; IV) glory;