Strategy For Living In Victory

Strategy for Living in Victory

LOGO: The strategy for living in victory is to believe God’s Covenants and behave God’s Commands.

TEXT: Joshua 1:1-9

HOOK: Because of my sordid professional background as a lawyer, I like to read interesting and unusual legal cases. I read recently of a story where a barrister in London, England probated a will. It took over two years to find an heir, but they finally found an heir in U.S. They found him through the obituaries - he had died destitute in an abandoned building.

He had inheritance he never possessed.

He had inheritance that would have provided for his needs beyond his dreams.

He had inheritance that would have saved his life.

So many Christians live this same way. We have so much available to us, yet we don’t possess it and even struggle in poverty without ever possessing it.

Recite John 10:10:

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

God has planned for us a victorious life. This is the central truth of God’s grace. Have you ever heard of the definition of grace using the word as an acrostic? God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Then why do so many Christians live defeated lives in which they never possess what Christ died on the cross for them to have? We must learn to possess this inheritance He created for us at Calvary.

LOGO: The strategy for living in victory is to believe God’s covenants and behave God’s commands.

The book of Joshua tells the story about possessing God’s inheritance He has set aside for His people. The book of Joshua tells story of:

• God’s deliverer for His people - Joshua

• the inheritance God provided His people

• His plan for victory over their enemies

• His instructions for possessing all He created for them

The book of Joshua is a key book for us because it teaches how to possess victory in our lives. Joshua is a primer, a painting, a parable, and a prophecy for Jesus’ redemption of His people and the plan for appropriating the abundant life He promises. Joshua is an Old Testament picture of the New Testament truth of victory in Jesus. Joshua foretells of:

• God’s promised deliverer - Jesus

• the abundance He has promised for our life

• His plan for living in Victory

• His instructions for life

Joshua teaches us that (logo) the strategy for living in victory is to believe God’s covenants and behave God’s commands.

A. The Battle Commenced

Read verses 1-2

• God says arise and go over the Jordan to Canaan

-----easier said than done

• Canaan = same Canaan filled with “giants which made them look like grasshoppers”

• Main road leading through the land of Canaan was guarded by the fortress city of Jericho.

• Boy, some “gift” huh?

You may ask the question: What kind of gift is this that you have to fight for it? What was God’s purpose in telling the children of Israel that Canaan was a gift, but requiring them to engage in battle to possess it? Would it not make sense for God to wipe out all the Canaanites with fire from Heaven and then let the children of Israel walk into Canaan? Remember Sodom and Gomorrah? What if He simply flooded Canaan and killed all of those evil nations? Remember the days of Noah?

The answer: The battle was necessary to teach Israel to give God the glory for the victory and to teach them the necessity of obedience. It was to allow time to develop their character so they would appreciate the blessings of God in Canaan and learn to follow Him. God’s plan in settling them in Canaan was to give glory to Himself and spread the message to follow the God of Israel. It was a testimony of God’s power and blessing and Israel would have to be obedient to make that testimony clear to the world.

This type of training through battle would be necessary because this was the same Israel who fled at the sight of the “giant” Canaanites 40 years earlier. This is the Israel that doubted repeatedly during their wandering in the wilderness. This is the same Israel that turned away from God despite His continued miraculous deliverance.

• Bible Scholars have deduced the campaign to conquer Canaan was approximately 7 years. During the seven years of war, people again had periods of doubt and disobedience. Each time they failed to believe God’s covenants or behave God’s commands they suffered a loss. i.e. Ai - the defeat following the victory at Jericho.

• In fact, God deeded over 300,000 square miles of land to Israel. At the apex of their power they only conquered roughly 30,000 square miles. The battle was necessary to teach them what to believe and how to behave.