VICTORY OVER THE ENEMY
THEME: Christians must never forget that we are travelers in a land that is currently under the influence and power of Satan. Satan is about the business of attacking Christians with a well-prepared, intentional, and strategic plan to keep us from living a life which gives God glory. The good news, however, is that Satan is an enemy who has already been defeated by Jesus Christ. Through our relationship with Him, God offers us all of the wisdom, strength, and courage we need to successfully battle our enemy and win.
LOGO: You are in real danger when your head is not in the game.
HOOK: Believe it or not, I grew up playing sports. I am a sports fanatic. Any of you who have played sports have learned that the quickest way to get injured in a sporting event is to stand around not paying attention while a play is in progress. LOGO.
This is an earthly example of the spiritual lesson we are going to see from God’s Word.
We are in a battle and that means that there is a real enemy. He is out to have victory over you, and therefore, you are in real danger when your head is not in the game.
** Barna Research Group poll: 62% of Americans agreed w/ “Satan is not a living being, but is a symbol of evil.” 52% of those professing to be Christians also agreed. That is why the enemy has so much success. It is not because of his innate power or strength because the bible clearly states that he is a defeated enemy. It is because we are not vigilant.
Read Joshua 9:1-6
Here are the three keys to having victory over the enemy:
I. WE MUST BE SOBER FACING THE ENEMY.
II. WE MUST BE SPIRITUALLY MINDED IN FIGHTING THE BATTLE.
III. WE MUST STEADFASTLY FINISH THE FIGHT.
I. We must sober facing the enemy because we are in a spiritual battle with dangerous enemy.
A. We must recognize that Satan is out there and he is up to no good. Read I Peter 5:8
• Satan is dangerous: “seeking whom he may devour.” What is at stake for Israel?
Why attack the Israelites?
1)God is working - vs. 9:1 “when they
heard”
Since Satan cannot achieve his desired goal of unseating God from His throne and receiving the praise and glory to which only God is entitled, the next best thing Satan can do is wreak havoc in our lives so we fail to give God glory and praise by our lives and our actions. Review Isaiah 14:12-15 which explains Satan’s fall from heaven.
2)Israel is being obedient:
Gilgah is the place where they had consecrated themselves to God. We are separated unto God for His use. Living in victory means God living in us and working through us.
Recite Eph. 2:8-10
I Peter 1:13-16
Satan is out to put a stop to God’s glory and our usefulness.
B. Satan is deliberate in how he hunts and attacks. I Peter says he is “like a roaring lion” This is the picture of a hunting lion. Lions are cunning and crafty hunters. This is not a comical figure who wears a cape and carries a pitchfork. Satan is a dangerous and well-prepared enemy. His attacks are cunning and follow a well-defined strategy.
• Eph. 6:11
• Gen. 3:1
Satan uses the enemies of Israel in a cunning, subtle, deliberate attack. See the lies the Gibeonites told Joshua and Israel.
• played to their pride
• they tried to sound like they acknowledged God.
• they said,” we can’t hurt you - we’re from far away.”
When the 5 kings attacked, they:
• used Israel’s own integrity by attacking Gibeonites
• They picked their own battle ground.
Satan attacked Israel 2 ways:
1) subtely with Gibeonites
2) overtly with the 5 Kings
Satan takes time to plan his actions and uses multiple strategies, such as the subtleties of cultural influences and then bringing an overt attack against you personally.
C. Satan is determined - He ”walks about, seeking whom he may devour.” He is relentless and never gives up. The Israelites are battling the enemies they face in Canaan and they never stop. Why wouldn’t they quit after all they have seen God do? I would have given them a wide berth after Jericho – wouldn’t you? (Ai notwithstanding, because they came back and routed them the second time).
Satan has set out to engage in an intentional battle to cause us to reject God and suffer the same fate he will suffer. If we do accept Christ and become a Christian, his next plan of attack is to keep us from giving God the glory by our actions and to keep us from winning other converts to Jesus Christ.
He understands eternity better then we do. He knows the stakes for which we are battling and we too often get distracted from realizing this a war for souls and God’s eternal glory. That is why he does not give up.
Consider another example – the life of Job. Read chapters 1 and 2. He plots and connives and even when his first strategy does not work, he comes back again and tries another one. He is a determined hunter.
How long do the children of Israel have to battle for Canaan? The battle never stops. Nor does ours until we reach eternity.
Satan is a determined, dangerous, and deliberate enemy. When he comes after you, he comes gunning for you with a well planned strategy to wreak havoc in your life so you will not worship God with your life.
II. We must be spiritually minded fighting the enemy.
We often are fighting subtle attacks designed to put us off. We cannot rely upon our own skills, intelligence and analysis.
From an intellectual standpoint, Joshua examined everything well.
checked their home
checked their language
checked their provisions
Problem? Vs. 14 - “Did not ask of the Lord”
We must absolutely learn that our battle and therefore our weapons are not human or earthly. See II Corinthians 5. Paul explains clearly that our weapons are spiritual, mighty in God, and effective in the spiritual battle of battling strongholds.
In I Peter 5, from which we have quoted, this point is clear. Peter says we are to “resist the devil, steadfast in the faith.” This means you fight by faith using prayer and scripture. It is that simple.
III. We must be strong fighting the enemy.
I Peter 5:9 says “Resist him.” This is echoed in Ephesians 6:1 when it says “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” God tells Joshua in 10:8 “Do not fear”
Not only must we learn that there are spiritual battles going on around us, we must learn to fight those spiritual battles! Most of us think that if we duck or keep our heads down that we will not get shot at. What that really means is that you have already been defeated because Satan has kept you from the battle. Satan has won because his objective is to keep you from living a life which gives God glory. He has won! DO NOT LET HIM WIN BEFORE YOU EVEN START FIGHTING!
How do they fight with strength?
Repeat strategy for victory.
1) recognized Promise
2) relied upon His Provision - “the sun stood still”
IV. We must steadfastly finish the fight!!
READ Joshua 10:19 pursued down the enemy and killed them before they could enter the stronghold.
Strongholds represent spiritual strongholds of sin. When you’ve got the enemy on the run, defeat him!! Push to the end.
II Timothy 4:7 Paul says “fought…finished”
THEN
Joshua captured the 5 Kings
Read Joshua 10:24 - 27
“laid them flat” ---- shows defeat
“feet on necks” --- captains “your enemies”
This is serious!!! These are your enemies
You must see them as that.
Hung the dead
Buried them in cave as monument to defeat
What would have happened if they had not finished the fight? Destroyed the evil and eradicated it?
