Sermon Notes:
Saints & Struggles: Joshua
Pastor Justin Miller
"Humility is the posture of victory. We rise up when we bow down." When we are on God’s side, we are able to be in victory. Pastor Justin’s message on Joshua’s victory is all about learning to be obedient in the struggle. True worship starts with obedience. Choose to be on God’s side today, because the battle is already won!
- To be a Saint is to be in the struggle.
- God wants us to know these struggles because their struggles of yesterday are our struggles today.
- We overcome our struggles through the power of Jesus Christ.
Joshua was Moses’ “understudy” and became the leader of the Israelites after Moses passed.
He was a leader and a warrior who was charged by God with ridding the Promised Land of evil.
His most famous and well know victory was the battle of the city of Jericho.
Jericho was a notorious walled city, gateway to the land of Cannan.
Before the city fell as Joshua and his troops approached the encountered an unusual sight; a lone man standing in the road with his sword raised.
Joshua 5:13-15 New International Version
13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” 14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” 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 so.
God is never on our side but He always invites us to be on His side.
God doesn’t need to seek the truth or take the side of truth because He is the truth.
John 14:6 New International Version
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
- God doesn’t do good, He is good.
- God isn’t for love – He is love.
- With God there are no sides.
The question becomes, is God on my side?
No, God is His side. In truth everything is His.
Our world is actively divided but God does not take sides. He invites everyone to be on His side.
Our lives cannot be about taking sides and hating one another.
The only side that matters is God’s side.
Revelation 22:12-13 New International Version
12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
The judge is coming soon and the judge is not history it’s Jesus.
The thought becomes, is God on my side when it should be asked, am I on God’s side?
Joshua 5:14-15 New International Version
“Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” 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 so.
Joshua stops worrying if God is on His side and realizes he must humble himself before God and choose to be on God’s side.
Joshua assumes the posture of humility before God, of complete and total surrender.
Humility is the posture of victory. With God we rise up when we bow down.
Why is humility the posture of victory? Because humility gives testimony that we put nothing before God. We honor and worship God but choosing His will and His way.
Humble yourself before God and give Him the glory instead of trying to prove yourself right move to God.
God will never be with me if I’m against you. God doesn’t want anyone to lose, He wants you to join Him so that everyone wins.
Are you on God’s side?
- Obedience to God is the key to victory.
- Obedience is always the mark of someone who wants to be on God’s side.
- Blessing is found in obedience.
The most spiritual thing we can do is to choose God’s will over our own will.
The only thing better than praying is obeying.
We will have the same victory as Joshua when we choose to be on the side of God.
Joshua 24:14-15 New International Version
14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Are you ready to join with God in every area of your life?
Are you coming to God to surrender your will to His? |