Falling Fortresses Series

Joshua Series #9

The Amazing Race to Rest & Reward

“Falling Fortresses”

Review

The book of Joshua is all about the culmination of a promise made to Abraham hundreds of years previous. The journey up to this point in time is the subject of the first five books of the Old Testament.

I. Purge the Land 1-12

A. God Prepared Joshua for leadership 1 Listen, trust, obey

B. Joshua prepared the people to possess the land 2

1. Joshua commissioned spies and God saved Rahab 2

2. Joshua led the people through the Jordan 3-4

3. Joshua reinforced the people’s connection to Yahweh 5

a. Through circumcision

b. Through Passover

Battle Plans from Moses

Carefully Hear, Trust, Obey

Completely Purge the Wicked

Continually remember

Remember how you got here (Trust) – His power and strength

Remember why you got here (Humility) – because of His grace not my goodness

INTRODUCTION

We must continually fight against the influence of a devil-directed world system spouting false ideas and advocating life apart from dependence upon our Creator. We must deal with the self-centered longings (flesh) imbedded in our life.

We must fight against the devil and his disgusting demons that continually see to gain a place of operation in our life to defeat us.

Satan gains a foothold in our life when we allow him a foothold.

Ephesians warns us to deal with our anger or we will give a “place” to the devil.

There are any numbers of things that allow Satan a foothold.

One thing is clear; Satan cannot take ownership of a Christian.

He can however get a foothold or influence in our life.

Once he achieves a foothold he seeks to establish a fortress.

The difference between the two is the degree of influence he has been allowed to exert.

The argument over just where demons reside and what level of influence they are allowed is beyond our purpose today.

All I know is that they can have devastating influence in the life of a Christian when allowed.

Why the warnings to Christians to be alert if we are not vulnerable.

Timothy was instructed to gently correct Christians who were in opposition so that they God would grant them repentance so that they would come to the knowledge of the truth and escape the snare of the devil having been held captive to do his will.

Satan will seize as much control in our life as we will yield to him.

Whenever we have an area of our life that is out of our control, there is the possibility of a demonic stronghold or fortress.

If we put on God’s armor we avoid such level of influence.

If we don’t, we are subject to such influence.

Satan gains most of his territory through an attack on our thinking.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

What do these weapons destroy? Fortresses consisting of wrong thinking, speculations and unhealthy thoughts implanted by the enemy.

I believe everyone has some kind of fortress that needs to be addressed as real as the fortress set up in the Promises Land.

Last week we learned the basic battle strategy from Deuteronomy.

Guiding Truth #1 -- Remember God’s past victory.

Guiding truth #2 – God will expose the hidden enemies

Guiding truth #3 – The great and awesome God is with you

Guiding truth #4 – God will eventually clear them all out

Guiding truth #5 – Detest and abhor anything to do with the enemy

Today we learn a specific strategy from Joshua’s defeat of Jericho’s fortress.

Do we need this message today? Most certainly.

All of the warfare in Joshua provides insight into our battles with the enemy.

The basic principle is this…

Satan’s fortresses, no matter how formidable, fall

when we hear, trust and obey the captain of the Lord’s army.

4. Joshua personally encountered the Commander and Chief 5:13-15

When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” And the commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. Joshua 5:13-15 ESV