THE CONQUEST BEGINS!

1. THE CONQUEST BEGINS! Joshua 6 By Warren W. Wiersbe

2. “You are but a poor soldier of Christ if you think you can overcome without fighting, and suppose you can have the crown without the conflict.” John Chrysostom (347-407) Christian life involves challenge and conflicts whether we like it or not The world, the flesh, and the Devil (Eph. 2:1-3) are united against Christ and His people Main theme of the Bible: God's holy warfare against Satan and sin If you eliminate the militant side of the Christian faith, then you must abandon the cross, for it was on the cross that Jesus won the victory over sin and Satan (Col. 2:13-15)

3. The Christian warfare is not against flesh and blood, but against the enemies in the spiritual realm (Eph. 6:10-18); weapons are spiritual (2 Cor. 10:3-6) No neutrality Before the Challenge; Remember that you fight from victory, not just for victory (6:1-5) Jesus defeated Satan in the wilderness (Matt. 4:11) and also during His earthly ministry (Matt. 12:22-29), on the cross (Col. 2:13-15), and in His Resurrection and ascension (Eph. 1:19-23) “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) The fear of the Lord (v 1)

4. Jericho: 8 acres, two high parallel walls (15 feet apart) “I will send my fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you (Ex. 23:27 NKJV) Queen of Scots (Mary) feared John Knox’s prayer more than enemy army We imitate the world’s methods; we cater to the world’s appetites; we look for the world’s approval; and we measure what we do according the world’s standards Joshua and Israel made no compromise The promise of the Lord (v 2)

5. I have given Jericho into your hand (6:2) Victorious Christians: know the promises of God, because they meditate on God’s Word (1:8) Believe the promises of God, because God’s Word generates faith (Romans 10:17) Reckon on promises and obey Reckon: to count time in your life what God says about you in His Word “Be of good cheer, I have over come the world (John 16:33) Believing a promise is like accepting a check, but reckoning is like endorsing the check and cashing The instructions of the Lord (v3-5)

6. “The strategy was the Lord’s” Francis A. Schaeffer No situation is too great for the Lord to handle John 6:5-6 – He knows what He would do Our responsibility: to wait for Him to tell us all that we need to know and then obey it God’s plan for the conquest seeemed foolish, but it worked I Cor. 1:26-29 shows that God delights in using weakness Joshua with trumpets Gideon with torches (Judge 7) David with sling (I Sam. 17) 2 Chron. 16:9For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him…

7. God’s instructions for Joshua 7: Priests, trumpets, days of marching, circuits of the city of 7th day Trumpets: silver and ram’s horn Ram’s horn used for celebrations Silver for war Trumpet: shofar; jobel for ram’s horn Jobel, root word for word “jubilee” Ram’s horn to “proclaim liberty throughout all the land” (Lev. 25:10) Priests used the ram’s horns, not silver in circuit; no war We should live like victors, not victims From victory because God already won the battle

8. During The Challenge: Remember that you overcome the Enemy by Faith (6:6-16, 20) By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days (Heb. 11:30) Lord’s plan with the priests Ark – 8 times in 6:6-15; presence of God with His people Solders – few, not 600,000, front and rearward Leaders – receive orders from God and those who follow the leaders, obey their instructions Test of Israel’s faith and patience “through faith and patience that God’s people inhereited what He has promised (Heb. 6:12) God is never in a hurry Patient obedience Test of self-control

9. Be still, and know that I am God (Ps. 46:10) People who couldn’t control their tongues couldn't control their bodies (James 3:1-2) Enemies' reaction to daily procession Fright Encouragement to trust God’s promises and obey His instructions no matter how impossible the situation may appear. The only way to grow in faith is to accept new challenge and trust God to give you the victory. After the Victory: Remember to Obey God’s Commands and Give Him the Glory (6:17-19, 21-27)

10. “Let’s be as watchful after the victory as before the battle” Joshua’s four instructions to obey after the conquest of Jericho. Devote the entire city to God (17-19) Jericho, as first fruits of victories to come Achan’s disobedience Rescue Rahab and her family (22-23, 25- 26) One section of wall didn’t fall Faith saved Rahab (Heb. 11:3) “outside the camp” because Rahab’s family were unclean Gentiles (Num. 5:1-4, 12:14, Deut. 23:9- 14) Our present world under the judgment of God (John 3:18-21) Destroy the people (21)

11. The civilization in Canaan was wicked Threat to God’s purpose in Jewish men married pagan women “God is at war with sin, that is the whole explanation of the extermination of the Canaanites” G. Campbell Morgan The people of the land had been given opportunity to repent and turn to the Lord like Rahab. (II Peter 3:9) He will tolerate no compromise with sin in the lives of His people Burn the City (v 24) “God is a consuming fire” (Deut. 4:24) Jericho was a wicked city Joshua put curse on Jericho King Ahab (I Kings 16:34) God was with Joshua (Josh. 1:5,9) God magnified him

12. When we are strong we becomeoverconfidentand forget to trust the Lord.) II Chron. 26:15 (NKJV)And he made devices in Jerusalem, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and large stones. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong. (Uzziah)