Sermon Central
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A Battle You Can't Win
Contributed by Kevin L. Jones on Feb 14, 2015 (message contributor)
Summary: In a war between nations each side desires complete victory...the last thing that an army wants to do is surrender. Spiritual warfare is different. Before we will ever experience complete and total victory in the Christian life, we must surrender!!!
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A Battle You Can't Win
Have you ever been in a place where you just couldn't seem to get ahead? You know... those times when it seems that you take one step forward and 2 steps back. If you remember the old country song it says (you can't get too far like that!)
Maybe you have made one of these statements:
...I just can't win!
...I am fighting a losing battle!
...It is a lost cause!
This phrase "lost cause" speaks of "a cause that has been defeated or one whose defeat is inevitable." This phrase originated in the mid-1800's and was used to describe the efforts of the Confederacy. Sadly, many people can make the same statements about their Spiritual lives. Maybe you are one that would say (spiritually speaking): I just can't win! ...I am fighting a losing battle! ...It is a lost cause! Maybe you have gone beyond just saying those things and you have quit the fight all together.
In a war between two nations each side desires complete and total victory...the last thing that an army wants to do is surrender. Spiritual warfare is different. Before we will ever experience complete and total victory in the Christian life, we must first surrender!
I have some good news and some bad news concerning the spiritual battle that you may be fighting today: The bad news - "You" can't win the battle! The good news- Jesus has already won the war! If you are born again, you have access to a warrior who HAS NOT and CANNOT be defeated!
I want to consider this subject for a while and preach on the thought "A Battle You Can't Win" Let me clarify that statement before some of you get discouraged and tune me out. I am referring to "A Battle You Can't Win", But I am not saying that the battle can't be won! The battle can indeed be won and you can experience great victory, but it will come through Jesus... not your own efforts! I like what Paul said in - 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.You can have victory... but it will ONLY come through JESUS CHRIST!
In this life we will face great challenges and there are times when it seems that victory is not possible. And sometimes the reason for that is that we are trying to fight the battle alone. Maybe you have been fighting so hard for so long that you just can't go on any more. In order for you to move toward victory you must fix your eyes upon Jesus!
That is what happened in the life of Joshua, Here in Joshua chapter 5, Israel was about to go to battle in the city of Jericho. Before the battle begins Joshua goes to inspect the area. It was at that moment that Joshua had a divine encounter. There on the battlefield he encountered the true leader of Israel. Joshua came face to face with a pre-incarnate Jesus Christ. This was a humbling experience for Joshua. But it was an encounter that prepared him for victory!
I believe there is much that we can learn from the actions of Joshua as he prepares for the upcoming battle. Just like Joshua, there are battles that we will fight in this life. The first thing I would like to consider is found in verse 13. Notice:
I. THE BATTLE WE MUST FIGHT v13
At this point and time Joshua was all alone outside the walls of Jericho. This may be a picture of how you feel in the battle. There are times when we feel all alone. And at times, other than the Lord Himself we may be all alone. But the battle must be fought. Consider:
A. THE POSITION IN THE BATTLE- v13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho
Joshua was in a position of leadership. God had selected him to lead His people (Israel). We find a great promise from the Lord to Joshua in Joshua 1:5 “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Joshua was faithful to do what the Lord had called him to do! No doubt he clung to the promise that the Lord would be with him and never fail him nor forsake him.
Whether you realize it or not you are in a similar position to Joshua.
You have been called by God
You have been chosen by God
You have been commissioned by God
If you are saved you have been enlisted into God's army. There are battles that must be fought! These battles may be long These battles may be intense but like Joshua you have a promise from your Lord - Hebrews 13:5 ...He has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.
