Sermon Tone Analysis

We’re going to pick up where we left off last time.

*We’ve been talking about* *“Absolute Victory”* *and* *the victory the Lord wants us to have*.

*Last time* we *left off with* *Joshua and the victory, he had at Jericho*.

*After that victory,* *they immediately marched upon the city called Ai**.* *But because they never sought the Lord* on that battle *they were defeated*.

*Joshua then began to seek the Lord on why* they were *defeated*.

*Through* his *prayer* *and* time *seeking the Lord*, the *Lord revealed to Him* that *they were defeated* *because of sin*.

*After* the *sin* was *revealed and cleansed*, *God then gave them direction* *to go up against Ai*.

*I) *Let’s look at what God said to them in *Joshua 8:1*.

*A) **Because God is no respecter of persons* *he to* *will give you the same victories* over your enemy.

*1) **The natural enemies* that *Joshua* *and* the children *Israel faced* *are a type and shadow* *of* the *spiritual enemies* that *we face*, which would be *Satan and* his *demonic forces*.

*2) **The qualities* that *Joshua had in his life* *enabled him* *to have* such *victory*.

*a) **If we demonstrate* these *same qualities* than *we too can walk in* total *victory*.

*B) *Those *qualities are*...

*1) **1st* there was *LOYALTY, STABILITY, AND FAITHFULNESS*.

*2) **2nd* he had *understanding of spiritual things and spiritual warfare*.

*3) **3rd* he *took the time to be along with the Lord* in prayer and in worship.

*4) **4th* he had the *courage to act boldly on the Word* of God *in faith*.

*5) **No.

5* he *knew that DOUBT AND UNBELIEF had no place in the life of a CONQUEROR*.

*He had to see himself through the eyes of God* *as a CHAMPION*, *CONQUEROR* and *VICTORIOUS*.

*6) *And *No.

6* *Joshua knew* *the importance of LIVING A HOLY LIFE*.

*a) **A life with sin would mean defeat* *or* very *little success*, *but those that walk a holy life* before the Lord *can walk in VICTORY*.

*II) **After Israel defeated Ai*, *Joshua* was *drawn into battle against* an alliance of *5 mountain kings*.

*A) **Joshua 10:8*.

*1) **He went on* *the assurance of God’s Word*.

*2) **1st* of all *Israel had God’s direction*.

*B) **When God gave Him* *this Word*, *He acted on it*.

*1) **To everyone’s surprise,* he *marched* his troops all *through the night **to battle*.

*2) **JOSHUA 10:9*

*a) *The word *“suddenly”* in the *Hebrew **means* *“By surprise.”*

*b) **In this battle,* *Joshua **prayed* for the *sun and moon* to *stand still* so they could *defeat* their *enemy before dark*.

*3) **JOSHUA 10:13-14*

*a) **Joshua* was *in **complete **cooperation and partnership **with God*.

*(i) **Joshua spoke directly **to the Sun **and **moon* *to stand still* *and* *God responded* *to* the *words* of a man.

*C) *Look at *V 16*.

*1) **After* the *kings went into* the *cave*, *Joshua ordered* *the cave* to be *shut with stones*.

(Guard)

*2) **After* the *battle* was *over* *Joshua had* *the 5 kings brought before him*.

*a) *Look what happened in *V 24*.

(JOSHUA 10:24)

*(i) *This *symbolized* *Israel’s total **victory*.

*(ii) **After* this *victory,* *Israel could have just taken it easy*, but *Joshua continued* to *press on to victory upon victory*.

*V 25.*

*3) **Before Joshua rested*, *31 kings and kingdoms would fall*.

*a) **Israel had an assurance* *in God* *that could not be quenched*.

*III) **We need to have this same confidence in God*.

*A) **Know* that *you have authority over the enemy*, *and* *know* that *God will lead you* on *from victory upon victory*.

*1) **God wants you to* *put your **foot** on your enemies’ neck*.

*2) **PSA 18:39-40*.

*a) *Now of course *people* are *not our enemies*, *but* *it’s principalities and powers*.

*B) *Look at *PHIL 1:28* (Little blind to us)

 

 

*1) *Listen to how the *AMP* words it.

*“And do not [for a moment] be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending] destruction; but [a sure token and evidence] of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God.”*

*2) **1* of our *enemies’* *most devastating tactics* is *FEAR* and *INTIMIDATION*.

*a) **If he can get you into this arena*, *he will begin to **control **you **with **uncertainty and confession*.

*b) *But *when* the *revelation of Jesus’ victory* *over the enemy* *comes alive* on the inside, *you can have victory in any struggle*.

*(i) **Joshua’s victory went far beyond* *his own ability*.

*(ii) **His **successes* could *not* have come *through* *human effort alone*.

*(iii) **He became **thoroughly convinced* that *he had access* *to God’s unlimited power*.

*IV) *There were *3 main principles* *that brought Joshua from 1 victory to another*.

*A) *These *same principles **can be keys for your own success*.

*1) *The *1st* was a *commitment to do all that God has commanded*.

*a) **JOSHUA 11:15*

*(i) **It’s important* that *we keep God’s Word* that* we **obey it* and that we *follow His directions*.

*(ii) **Don’t become slack **in doing what God has said*.

*b) **Determine* *to live a committed life **without comprise*.

*2) *The *2nd* *principle* Joshua revealed *was* *boldness to occupy new territory*.

*a) *We *must not come to a place* to *where we say*; *“We have come far enough.”*

*(i) **If we do, **we become stagnant*.

*(ii) **Stagnant water may look peaceful*, but *it becomes bitter*, it can *even become poisonous and deadly*.

*(iii) **We’re not to stay at the same level were at right now*, we are to *continue growing* in the Lord, *growing in holiness*, *growing in our commitment to Him*, *growing in our faithfulness*, *and* *growing in His Word*.

*b) **Joshua went from victory to victory* and *we’re told **to go from glory to glory*.

*c) **2COR 3:18*

*(i) **AMP* says, *“And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continue to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transformed into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.”*

*(ii) **Allow the Word of God **to saturate you daily*, *it will bring a continual change*.

*(iii) **We’ll pass from 1 degree of glory **to another*.

*d) **The question Joshua asked **is just as important today*.

*(i) *Look at *JOSHUA 18:3*

 

*(ii) **Don’t be stagnant, but **reach out and obtain God’s promises*.

*Stopping that stagnant feeling does not come by going for one church to another because you’ll become just as stagnant in that church.

What if there was only one church within driving range?

Church hopping does not change anything (as long as you’re going where the Word is being preached).

Your faithfulness, loyalty, and commitment are the first steps to you overcoming that stagnant or complacent feeling.*

*(iii) **Then you’re ready to occupy new territory by standing on the Word of God and obtaining His promises*.

*3) *The *3rd* *principle **to obtain victory upon victory* is to *have a deep confidence in God’s faithfulness to His promises*.

*a) **JOSHUA 21:45*

*(i) *The *Berkeley translation* says, *“Of all the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel, not 1 failed; they were all fulfilled.”*

*b) **2COR 1:20*.

*(i) *The *NIV* says, *“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are Yes in Christ.”*

*(ii) **Through our commitment **to obey the Word* of God, *to continue **to occupy new territory **without becoming stagnant*, *and* *having a confidence **that God is faithful*, *we’ll begin to move from **victory to victory*.

*(iii) **Continue to have that deep relationship **and **communion with God* and *not only will we go from **victory to victory*, *but also we’ll go from faith to faith **and from glory to glory*.

WOLCC Sunday, 5~/24~/98 the beginning of this message is from Conqueror # 4.DOC that I preached on Sunday May 17, 1998.

The rest of it is from Joshua2.DOC.

8~/28~/93 Sunday.

The message that came after "Continuing In Victory" is called "Vision For Victory."

Sunday, July 15, 2001