A. WHAT ABOUT OBSTACLES? (JOHN 5:13- 6:26)
1. Everyone faces obstacles that seem insurmountable. Money, job, family issues, people, health, physical limitations, past failures, lack of courage and faith.
2. The biggest obstacles are usually within not without.
a. Sergeant York had to win the war within (his pacifism) before facing the enemy.
b. General Schwarzkopf in Desert Storm worried about chemical warfare, SCUDS, Republican Guard; what price in Allied blood?
c. Joshua told three times, “Be strong and of good courage” (1:6, 7, 9).
3. Obstacles lead to discouragement.
a. We focus on problems rather than on God.
b. We focus on our inability, rather than on God’s ability.
c. We focus on our resources, not God.
4. God is aware of our obstacles and had a plan. “The Lord said to Joshua, ‘See I have given Jericho into your hand’” (6:2).
B. MEETING THE LORD BEFORE FACING YOUR ENEMY
1. We want God on our side. “Are You for us or our adversaries?” (5:13). On German soldier’s belt buckle, “God is with us.”
2. The Lord wants to take over. “No, but as commander of the Lord’s army, I have now come” (5:14).
3. We must yield to the Lord’s strategy. “And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, ‘What does my Lord say to His servant?’” (5:14).
4. Joshua didn’t develop a battle plan, God gave it to him.
Why Destroy Canaanites?
1. Sacrifice children to god Moloch
2. Sexual perversion
3. Use of magic and sorcery
4. It takes four generations to change thinking
C. PRINCIPLES OF VICTORY
1. Not every obstacle falls down when you march around once in obedience.
a. Games are won in last quarter.
b. Never quit.
2. Victory takes your feet (doing) and your mouth (saying). They had to march and blow trumpets.
3. The obstacles of life have a way of yielding to:
a. Hard work.
b. Persistent work.
c. Obedient work.
4. Some things have to give when you don’t give up.
a. Seven days.
b. Seven times on the seventh day.
c. God’s favorite number.
5. The finish line is the most important place in the race of life. The thirtieth lap was unlucky for Jericho.
6. We get victory over obstacles when we shout in unity.
7. We need two things; patience and persistence. You can’t enjoy the seventh day’s victory on the first lap.
8. We need to know what not to say, i.e., speech discipline. “You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of your mouth” (6:10).
9. Must be obedient on first lap to have a chance to obey on the last lap.
10. Must use common sense at all times. Defense soldiers before and after. “Armed men went before them. But the rear guard came after” (6:13).
11. God likes to repeat. Repeat marching seven days and seven times. God wants us to repeat qualities of courage, faith, obedience, and yieldedness.
12. God didn’t knock down walls on the third day because He wanted to teach us patient-faith. “Never growing careless, but imitating those who have faith and perseverance to inherit the promise” (Heb. 6:12, Jerusalem Bible).
13. Be focused on the goal, don’t quit too soon. “Every place that the sole of your feet shall tread upon, that have I given you” (1:3).
14. Trust God for courage and faith. “March obedient” in the face of the enemy.
15. Take God with you every step of the way. “You shall march around the city . . . before the ark” (6:3-4).
16. Let the unsaved hear your songs of joy and praise. “When they make a long blast with the ram’s horn . . . all the people shall shout with a great shout” (6:5).
17. God wins victories in unusual ways. “Our battle is fought on the spiritual level. Our weapons are not human weapons, but are powerfully used by God in spiritual warfare to destroy the enemy’s stronghold, to break down deceptive arguments against truth, and pretentious defenses of error” (II Cor. 10:3-5, ELT).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord,
I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
For more information on the TRBC Pastor’s Bible Class, log on to the Internet for TRBC Home page at www.trbc.org/pbc.
