1. Preparations
In April, 1988 the evening news reported on a photographer who was also a skydiver. He had jumped from a plane along with several other skydivers and filmed the group as they individually dove out of the plane and opened their parachutes. As the video was being shown of each member of the crew jumping out and then pulling their rip cord so that their parachute opened to the wind, the final skydiver opened his chute and then the picture went berserk.
The announcer reported that the cameraman had fallen to his death, having jumped out of the plane without a parachute. It wasn’t until he reached for the ripcord that he realized he was free falling without a parachute. Up until then, he was enjoying himself and was absorbed in what he was doing. But tragically, he was unprepared for the jump.
It did not matter how many times he had done it before or what skill he had. By forgetting the parachute he made a foolish and deadly mistake. Nothing could save him, because his faith was in a parachute, which he had never taken the trouble to buckle on. No one can wear a parachute for you and you expect to be all right. There is another thing that no one can do for us, no one can make the preparations that we need for the return of the bridegroom, Jesus Christ.
2. The Hebrews were approaching the coming fight in Jericho – preparations had to be made (Joshua 5-6)
a. Partnership with God
. . . we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 1 Thessalonians 3.2
b. Danger of extremes
3. How to be victorious – Joshua 5.13-15
13 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?” 14 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?” 15 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.
I. Remember the Commander
A. The Lord is in Charge and Wins –
A man told of being in the Washington, D. C. area on business at the Pentagon. He had gotten caught in an endless traffic loop that kept taking him over the Potomac River. Spotting a jogger along the road, he called out, "Which side is the Pentagon on?" Keeping his pace, the jogger answered, "I think they’re on our side."
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8.31-32
B. Joshua is “Second in Command” and Following THE Leader
Back during the Civil War, President Lincoln spoke with a man who expressed the hope that God was on the side of the north in the war. Lincoln replied: “…we know that the Lord is always on the side of right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and the nation should choose to be on the Lord’s side.”
1. Learned the lesson with Amalek in Exodus 17
2. Declares his place in Joshua 24.15
II. Respect the Commander
It is reported that in the late 1860s, President Ulysses S. Grant gave a cigar to Horace Norton, philanthropist and founder of Norton College. Because of his respect for the President, Norton chose to keep the cigar rather than smoke it. Upon Norton’s death, the cigar passed to his son, and later it was bequeathed to his grandson. It was Norton’s grandson who in 1932 chose to light the cigar ceremoniously during a speech at Norton College’s 70th anniversary celebration. Waxing eloquent, Norton lit the famous cigar and proceeded to extol the many virtues of Grant until...Boom! The renowned cigar exploded! That’s right—over sixty years earlier Grant had passed a loaded cigar along to a good friend, and at long last it had made a fool of his friend’s grandson!
A. Express Humble Worship (5.14)
1. Had Passover (5.10-12)
2. No more manna – new provisions from God
B. Exhibit a Holy Walk (5.15)
1. Covenant Renewal in Circumcision tied to Abraham (5.2-7)
2. “Holy Ground” – tied to Moses
III. Resolve to Follow the Commander
“No man is worth his salt who is not ready at all times to risk his body; to risk his well-being; to risk his life in a great cause.” T. Roosevelt
We have a great cause that is bigger than we.
A. Heavenly Warfare – Joshua 23.9-11
9 For the LORD has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day. 10 One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the LORD your God who fights for you, just as he promised you. 11 Be very careful, therefore, to love the LORD your God.
B. Heavenly Weapons
When Hitler and the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939, the Polish army fought valiantly against them. However, they efforts were in vain, because they were fighting again tanks with horses. Although their efforts were noble, their means were outclassed.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6:10
Conclusion
One Chicago youth minister was concerned that his youth might become distracted on their upcoming mission trip to Florida’s balmy beaches. So, he fashioned a cross from 2 pieces of lumber. Just before they climbed on the bus, he showed it to the group.
"I want all of you to remember the whole purpose of our going is to glorify the name of Christ, to lift up the Cross - the message of the cross, the emphasis of the Cross, the Christ of the Cross," he announced. "So, we’re going to take this cross wherever we go."
The teenagers looked at one another, a little unsure of his plan. But they agreed to do it and dragged the cross on the bus. It banged back and forth in the aisle all the way to Florida. It went with them into restaurants. It stayed overnight where they stayed overnight. It stood in the sand while the ministered on the beach.
At first, lugging the cross around embarrassed the kids. But later, it became a point of identification. That cross was a constant, silent reminder of who they were and why they had come. They eventually regarded carrying it as an honor and privilege.
The night before they went home, the youth leader handed out two nails to each of the kids. He told them that if they wanted to commit themselves to what the cross stood for they could hammer one nail into it, and keep the other with them.
One by one, the teens drove their nail into the cross.
About 15 years later, one fellow - now a stockbroker - called the youth leader. He told him that he still keeps the nail with him in his desk drawer. Whenever he loses his sense of focus, he looks at the nail and remembers the cross on that beach in Florida. It reminds him of what is at the core of his life - his commitment to Jesus Christ.
