[ ] 5/27/2012 #986

REMEMBER: WE ARE IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Joshua 5:13-15

INTRODUCTION: We remember the sacrifices of men and women who have given their lives to protect the freedoms we enjoy today. Someone has said that “over 1.1 million men and women have died to guarantee our freedom as Americans.”They gave their all so that we might enjoy all the blessings of this great land.Today, we honor they memory and their sacrifice.Thank God for every one of them.

While great battles have been fought to secure our nation, a spiritual battle is taking place today in America. As God’s people, we need to rise to the occasion against the forces of evil knowing we have the Lord to lead us into battle and victory.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Eph. 6:12

“(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:4-5

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39

I. CHALLENGE BEFORE JOSHUA

A. PREPARING FOR BATTLE.

After the death of Moses, Joshua was given a great responsibility to lead God’s people into the Promised Land. God told Joshua to “Be strong and of good courage; for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land which I swore unto their fathers to give them.”

The Israelites had to be prepared spiritually before engaging the enemy in battle and entering the Promised Land. This generation had not kept the Abrahamic covenant practice of circumcision during their captivity in Egypt. All the young males that were born during their forty years in the wilderness had to be circumcised, too. Circumcision was a sign of the separation of God’s people from all the other people. God named the place where they camped during the circumcising, Gilgal, which means “I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt.”

This is a spiritual lesson for us. The old nature cannot experience the spiritual blessings of God. “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Galatians 5:17

The Passover commemorated God’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. (Ex. 7-12) They were to observe the Passover before going into the Promised Land. It was a reminder of their redemption by the blood.

In the same way, we are to be in constant remembrance of our redemption at Calvary, and live our lives in the shadow of the cross.

B. PLACE OF BATTLE. (Jericho)

Israel’s first battle was with the people of Jericho. There was a wall completely around the city. This was a real challenge to Joshua. These walls would have to come down before Jericho could be defeated. How could Joshua lead God’s people to victory against this walled city?

II. CAPTAIN OVER JOSHUA

A. APPERARANCE OF THE CAPTAIN. “there stood a man”

While Joshua was contemplating how he would defeat Jericho, a man “stood over against him with his sword drawn in his hand.” Joshua went over to the man and asked him, “Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?”

B. AWESOMENESS OF THE CAPTAIN.

Joshua quickly recognized that this man was no ordinary man. This man identified Himself as the “captain of the host of the LORD.” Joshua acknowledged Him as more than an angel. He “fell on his fact to the earth, and did worship.” The Captain was none other than the pre-incarnate Christ.

C. ARMY OF THE CAPTAIN. “host of the LORD”

“Host” speaks of the great angelic armies under the authority of the LORD.

D. AUTHORITY OF THE CAPTAIN. “Loose thy shoe”

Joshua was a general himself, but he quickly submitted to the authority of the Captain. If we are to be conquerors, we have to be yielded to the Lord Jesus Christ. We have no authority against the enemy on our own. We must abide in Christ knowing that apart from Him we can do nothing.

III. CONQUEST OF JERICHO

A. CAPTAIN’S PROMISE. (6:2)“I have given into thine hand Jericho.”

The believer in Christ has the promise of heaven. (John 14:1-3)

B. CAPTAIN’S PLAN. (6:3-5)

The Israelites would conquer Jericho by a strange plan. The LORD only required them to obey and trust Him. They would use no swords, knives, or spears. Instead, they would walk around Jericho following seven priests as they carried the Ark. At God’s command, they were to blow their trumpets and shout. This would be an act of faith for Joshua and for all the Israelites.

The LORD’S plan removed any boasting or pride for the Israelites in defeating Jericho.

C. CAPTAINS’ PRESENCE. (6:27)

The Lord had promised Joshua that He would give him the victory. Joshua was successful because the LORD was with him. Our spiritual victories depend upon the Lord and not on our own strength. We should desire to be in God’s presence by abiding in Christ.

LESSONS FOR LIFE:

The enemies of Christ are on the rise in America. The church has lost her power and influence. This can change if the Lord works mightily through His people like He did with Israel. We cannot trust in our worldly methods and schemes to reach the lost. We have to trust the Lord and not in our talent or schemes.

This Memorial Day let us remember the Captain of our salvation. The Bible describes the suffering and death of Jesus so sinners can be forgiven and saved.

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”Hebrews 2:9-10

In April 1863, inColumbus,Mississippi, after decorating graves of her two sons who died representing their beloved south-land, an elderly woman walked to two mounds of dirt at the corner of the cemetery to place memorial flowers there also. "What are you doing?" friends shouted, "Those are the graves of two union soldiers." Softly that compassionate mother said, "I know. I also know that somewhere in the North, a mother or a young wife mourns for them as we do for ours."