Lesson 3: A New Way To Conquer

A. INTRODUCTION

1. God may not give you victory over your next problem the way He did over your last problem.

a. Jericho – walk, blow trumpets and shout.

b. Ai – military strategy.

c. Gibeon – miraculous hail and the sun stood still. “The Lord cast down large hailstones from heaven” (Joshua 10:11). “So the sun stood still and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies” (10:13).

2. Can’t live on yesterday’s victories. Just because you had a great victory (deliverance) in the past, doesn’t guarantee victory over your next problem “All their armies . . . made war” (10:5).

3. Your past prayerlessness may cause future problems. Israel was deceived and didn’t seek God when making an alliance with an enemy. “Did not ask counsel of the Lord” (9:14).

4. Forgiveness of past omissions will not eliminate future problems. “We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel” (9:19).

5. Even those who repent (leave) heathen cultures may cause you problems. “The inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel” (10:1).

a. New converts can cause you problems.

b. World hates new converts. “Attack Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua” (10:4).

6. Those who help you in ministry may be the source of future problems. “Joshua made (Gibeon) . . . hewers of wood and drawers of water . . . for the altar of the Lord” (9:27, KJV).

B. STRATEGY FOR VICTORY

1. You will not choose your next spiritual battle.

a. Not choose time. “Marched all night” (10:9).

b. Not choose your enemy. “The five kings of the Amorites” (10:5).

c. Not choose the place. “Camped before Gibeon” (10:5).

d. Not choose the way to fight.

e. Not choose the weapons of warfare. “More died from the hailstones” (10:11).

2. One sin strengthens another sin against you. “Adoni-Zedek (said) come up and help me, that we may attack” (10:3-4).

3. Don’t tell God how you will fight, listen for His instruction; He may give a different strategy. “The Lord said to Joshua . . . I have delivered them into your hand” (10:8).

4. Sometimes other people determine your battles. “Come up to us quickly, save us” (10:6).

5. Act on God’s promise, “Fear them not” (10:8). “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (I Cor. 10:13).

6. Sometimes you must act first before God helps. God wants to see your resolve. “So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he and all the people of war” (10:7).

7. Watch for the division of labor. God expects you to do what is your responsibility, and then God will do what He only can do. “The Lord routed them before Israel” (10:10).

8. Timing is crucial. Joshua forced an all-night march to catch the enemy unprepared. “Having marched all night” (10:9).

You can’t win a victory tomorrow

If you don’t take advantage of today

9. Sometimes we must say what we want for victory, before we experience victory. “Joshua spoke to the Lord . . . in the sight of Israel: ‘Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon’” (10:12).

10. Don’t ever be satisfied with half a victory. Joshua routed them and they ran away, but he knew they had to be destroyed or they would fight another day. “Routed them . . . chased them along the road” (10:10).

11. Sometimes you need strength you don’t naturally have.

a. Marched all night. “Went up from Gilgal all-night” (10:8).

b. Chased the enemy all day. “Chased them along the road” (10:10).

c. Fought all next night. “The sun stood still . . . till the people had revenge” (10:13).

12. How did the miracle take place?

a. “Large hailstones” (10:17). God used forces of nature.

b. “The sun stood still” (10:13).

(1) Stopped rotation of earth on its axis.

(2) Stopped earth’s orbit.

(3) Bent light rays.

13. Use faith to gain a victory.

a. Say-it-faith. “The Lord heeded the voice of a man” (10:14).

b. God is a rewarder. “He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6, KJV).

c. Speak to barrier. “Whosoever shall say to this mountain, be thou removed . . . he shall have whatsoever he saith” (Mark 11:22, KJV).

14. Your next victory is your greatest victory. “There has been no day like that, before or after it” (10:14).

a. Base your next victory on your last victory.

b. Every victory gets greater, like every step goes higher up a mountain.