Introduction

Good morning, everyone!

You know, I've got something on my heart today that I can't wait to share with you all. It's a message that's been stirring in my spirit, and I believe it's a word that's going to touch each and every one of us in a special way.

Before we get to it, I want to share a quote from A.W. Tozer. He once said, "God is looking for people through whom He can do the impossible. What a pity we plan only the things we can do by ourselves." Now, that's something to chew on, isn't it?

Our God is a God of the impossible. He's not limited by our weaknesses or our circumstances. He's a God who empowers us, strengthens us, and equips us for every battle we face. And that's what we're going to talk about today.

But first, let's look at our Scripture passage for today. It's from the book of Joshua, chapter 1, verse 9:

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Isn't that powerful? God's promise to Joshua is also His promise to us. He's with us, no matter what we're facing, no matter where we're going. We don't have to be afraid. We don't have to be discouraged. We can be strong and courageous because God is with us.

Let's pray together before we get started.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day. We thank You for Your Word that is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. We ask that You open our hearts and minds to receive what You have for us today. Help us to understand Your Word and to apply it to our lives. We pray that Your Holy Spirit would guide us and empower us, just as You promised Joshua. We love You, Lord. We're excited to see what You're going to do in us and through us today. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Alright, folks, let's get to it. We've got three main points we're going to talk about today: Training for the Battle, Understanding the Enemy's Tactics, and Empowered by God for Victory. I can't wait to see how God is going to move in our hearts as we talk about these things together. So, let's get started, shall we?

Training for the Battle

Let's start by considering the life of a soldier. A soldier doesn't just wake up one day and decide to go to war. There's a process, a period of preparation. They have to go through rigorous training to be ready for the battle. They need to learn how to use their weapons, how to strategize, how to work as a team. They need to build their strength and endurance. They need to be mentally and emotionally prepared for the challenges they'll face. It's a process that requires time, effort, and commitment.

As believers we need to go through our own spiritual training: We need to learn how to use our spiritual weapons, how to strategize against the enemy, how to work together as the body of Christ. We need to build our spiritual strength and endurance. We need to be mentally and emotionally prepared for the spiritual battles we'll face. And just like a soldier, this requires time, effort, and commitment.

What does this spiritual training look like: Well, it starts with spending time in God's Word. The Bible is our primary weapon against the enemy. It's our source of truth, our guide for living. It's how we learn about God's character, His promises, His plan for our lives. The more we read and study the Bible, the more equipped we'll be for the battle.

But it's not enough to just read the Bible. We also need to meditate on it, to let it sink deep into our hearts and minds. We need to apply it to our lives, to let it shape our thoughts, our attitudes, our actions. We need to let it transform us from the inside out. This is how we grow in our faith, how we become more like Christ.

Prayer is how we communicate with God, how we express our love for Him, our dependence on Him. It's how we seek His guidance, His wisdom, His strength. It's how we intercede for others, how we fight against the enemy. Prayer is a powerful weapon, and the more we use it, the more effective we'll be in the battle.

We're meant to do it together, as the body of Christ. We need each other for encouragement, for accountability, for support. We need each other to learn and grow, to serve and love. We need each other to fight the good fight of faith.

Our training is ongoing: It's not something we do once and then forget about. It's a daily, lifelong process. We never stop learning, never stop growing, never stop fighting. Because the battle is ongoing, and so is our training.

Understanding the Enemy's Tactics

In the book of Joshua, we see a leader who was well-acquainted with the tactics of his enemies ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO