SundaySermon - Prince - Keys to Spiritual Victory

 Keys to Spiritual Victory

The children of Israel were wandering in the desert for 40 years and the Moses who promised them the promised land is dead. There is a turmoil 

Verse: Joshua 1:1-3

1 After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, 

2 “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. 

3 I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you—

And God is urging Joshua to be "Strong and Courageous" (Joshua 1:6,9)

And Joshua was strong and courageous and led the people to victory

How did Joshua do this? 

  1. Worship
  2. Praise
  3. Audacious Prayers
  4. Godly man beside you
  5. Passion for your family 

Worship

As Joshua was preparing to face his first battle as the leader of the people of Israel, he had an encounter. His response to this encounter was to  worship

Verse: Joshua 5:13‭-‬15

13 When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?” 

14 “Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the Lord’s army.” At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your servant to do?” 

15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did as he was told.

Look at his posture of worship.... "he fell...". Do you see how serious he took this encounter? Do we take our worship and the meeting with God seriously enough to fall down. 

Verse: Ezekiel 1:28

28 All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me.

When you understand that the God is bigger than situation, you will not fall because of your situation..... instead you will fall to the great God only. This falling down will bring that victory!!!

The other act that he did in this encounter, he removed his sandals.... He threw away everything he thought he could depend on. Worship dismantles the trust in yourself!!!

Praise

The most unusual way to fight a battle meant for wielding of iron is the use of praise and shouts of people. But the evidence of this strategy is proved by Joshua. 

Verse: Joshua 6:1-5

5 When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.”

Was there a reason for this shout? Not until they began to shout. They shouted and then walls began to fall. The war is won when we have won the battle in our hearts with Praise and Celebration

Here is Gideon with the shout of praise

Verse: Judges 7:22

22 When the 300 Israelites blew their rams’ horns, the Lord caused the warriors in the camp to fight against each other with their swords. Those who were not killed fled to places as far away as Beth-shittah near Zererah and to the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.

Do you need a victory? The sound of praise and celebration will bring you victory

Audacious Prayers

The man Joshua prayed and then the God moved into action. And Joshua prayed audacious prayers

Verse: Joshua 10:12‭-‬14

12 On the day the Lord gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said, “Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.” 

13 So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day. 

14 There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer. Surely the Lord fought for Israel that day!

A prayer that stopped the course of the whole universe.... the sun and the moon stopped so that they could win a battle

Godly man beside you

Joshua had a friend.... Caleb. It was their partnership and agreement that helped them to see the promised land..... the only two from the prior generation. What was it that spurred each other to gain the access to the promised land?

Well, Caleb was one man who held on to a promise. He kept this promise in his heart for 45 years through rebellion, wars and wandering. And when the time came, he asked for the fulfillment of his promise 

Verse: Joshua 14:9‭-‬12

9 So that day Moses solemnly promised me, ‘The land of Canaan on which you were just walking will be your grant of land and that of your descendants forever, because you wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God.’ 

10 “Now, as you can see, the Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old.

12 So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said.”

He remembered and asked for what was rightly his. Prayers backed by promise will come through.

Passion for your family 

Years had passed by. The people of Israel were getting influenced by the people of the neighbouring countries. But Joshua was determined to save himself and his family 

Verse: Joshua 24:15

15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

The other person who cared for the family was the prostitute - Rahab

Verse: Joshua 2:12

12 “Now swear to me by the Lord that you will be kind to me and my family since I have helped you. Give me some guarantee that

13 when Jericho is conquered, you will let me live, along with my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families.”

She caused for her family to saved at the peril of her own life.

Are we ready to be courageous and pray for our families? To uphold the weak ones in our family, church and community....

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