Victory in Battle
Today I felt led to minister on a subject called Victory in Battle. We are going to go through battles in this life. Some have asked for prayer that the enemy would leave them alone, but the only time that we’re going to be free from the enemy is when we get to heaven.
In this message today we’re going to be looking at Joshua and the children of Israel entering into the Promise land, (Canaan land). Some have said that the promise land is heaven, but that can’t be true, There’s no giants in heaven that we have to overcome, there’s no cities in heaven that we have to take. That’s talking about now, in this life.
I. Look at JOSHUA 1:3
A. What was it that the Lord said to Moses?
1. DEUT 11:24
2. This is also for us, that land is ours, but how do we take the land?
a. Do we walk the land & it’s ours?
b. If the H.S. leads us that way then that’s find but if we’re just it out of tradition then it’s not going to produce anything.
B. What are some of the ways that the NT says we are to take the land?
1. (HEB. 6:12) Says, “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
a. One of the ways is through faith & patience that we’ll take the land.
2. Another way of taking the land is by the words that you speak.
a. We know some of the scriptures: "Life & death are in the power of the tongue." They overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb & by the word of their testimony."
i. The word of their testimony is their confession.
ii. He also says by the blood of the Lamb.
a. The Blood has to be applied in our own lives for us to have victory.
b. Defeat would have come upon the Israelites if they had not applied the blood of the lamb of their door posts when they were still in Egypt. (1st Passover) The blood is essential for victory.
3. Another important area in taking the land is in our prayers & intercession.
a. (JAMES 5:16) Says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
b. (JAMES 4:2) says, “Ye have not because ye ask not.”
i. Prayer & intercession is needed for us to walk in victory & for us to continue in victory.
ii. As a matter of fact Kenneth Hagin says that a person 1st crosses over the Jordan river & sets his foot in the promise land when he gets saved and filled with the H.S., but that doesn’t mean that he has arrived, there’s still a lot of land to conquer.
II. One of the key ingredients to Joshua’s success was his courage to carry out God’s Word.
A. Courage is a part of faith. It’s seeing things through the eyes of God.
1. It takes courage to step out on God’s Word in the face of conflict.
a. It was courage that enabled Joshua to see from God’s perspective.
b. Courage is not only something that is good to have, but it was something that God told Joshua to have.
2. JOSHUA 1:7
a. Let me give you the definition of biblical “courage,” “To see things through the eyes of God (how He sees things) & not through our own senses, to be led by the H.S. & the Word of God & to carry out those leadings.”
b. It truly takes courage to follow God rather than the path of least resistance.
i. It can mean “making a decision,” or “taking a stand that is unpopular & may generate criticism.”
c. Both Joshua & Caleb took a very lonely stand when they 1st came from the promise land with a report of victory.
i. The others rejected them, but they stood firm.
ii. As a result of their stand, they were the only 2 of age to enter into the land.
3. Years later, it took this same courage to approach Jericho.
a. Joshua had to follow his heart (H.S.) & not his mind. He had to follow God’s plan & not his own reasonings.
i. His own reasonings would have told him that this city was invincible, if he would listened to those reasonings he would never have gone up against this city.
B. Someone that has courage can be likened to an “unsinkable spirit.”
1. No matter what happens in their life, the bumps or the attacks of the enemy, they always come back up.
2. Paul was one of these unsinkable people.
a. He faced more bumps & more hardships than almost anyone, but he always rose above them.
3. 2COR 4:7-9
a. He had literally overcome every kind of attack by the power of God within him.
b. The Phillips and the William’s translation of (V 9) says, “We may be knocked down but we are never knocked out.”
i. No matter what the attacks of the enemy are, never give up. Keep fighting until you win.
ii. Cast off the feeling of being forsaken with the Word of God which say “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”(HEB. 13:5)
C. The Bible says, in (PRO 28:1) “Thy righteous are as bold as a lion.”
1. The lion is fearless & violent & will back down to no one.
a. That same fearlessness must be stirred up within you.
b. Jesus said in (MATT 11:12) “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, & the violent take it by force.”
i. When you’re facing the enemy or difficulties, you need to unleash the forces of God’s awesome power.
ii. Be as bold as a lion with the authority in the name of Jesus, with the Word of God, with intercession, confession & faith.
III. Turn with me to 1KINGS 18:21-39
A. It took unshakable courage for Elijah to challenge these false prophets of Baal.
1. These false prophets tried to conjure up a response from Baal, but nothing happened.
a. When you trust in the wrong, you’ll find yourself helpless in a time of need.
i. These false prophets trusted in the wrong thing & they found themselves helpless in a time of need.
ii. If we begin to put our trust in the wrong thing (like money) we’ll find ourselves helpless in a time of need.
2. Look again at Elijah's short & powerful prayer in (V 36). He said, “Lord God, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel.
a. The results were dramatic. There was no question who the true God was.
b. God will honor your courage just as He did Elijah’s
3. But notice 1 very important point, Elijah said in (V 36) “I have done all these things at thy word.”
a. Elijah acted on what he had received instructions to do
B. Joshua learned this the hard way.
1. Joshua 7:2-5
2. If Joshua would have gone before the Lord before the battle he would have had the direction of the Lord on what to do.
a. That was to get the sin out of the camp 1st.
b. When they did & Joshua sought the Lord, they had God’s Word that the city was there’s.
i. They had courage in God. And Victory in Battle.
3. 2CHRON 20:17
a. Listen to the (RSV of this V, 2 Chronicles 20:17) “You will not need to fight in this battle; take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the Lord on your behalf.”
b. (1 Corinthians 15:57) Says, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” KJV
C. We’ll close with PSA 27:11 & 14
WOLCC Sun AM 2/9/92 and Sun Am 5/19/96