Today’s Scripture is Joshua 5:1
“ARE YOU READY TO CONQUER YOUR CANAAN?”
A. Joshua 5:1 tells us that the heathen nations in Canaan saw the powerful manner in which the Lord brought His children through the Jordan and that they were totally demoralized by these events. It would seem that they were absolutely resigned to their fate.
- Is this the perfect time for Joshua to lead the people forward into the attack?
- Instead of commanding His people to go into battle, God commands them to remain at Gilgal.
- It even appears the things they are required to do would put them at risk before their enemies.
- The ways of the Lord are not our ways. See Isa. 55:8-9
B. God never gets in a hurry! We have been waiting for over 17 years to getting into our new building!
- God has the liberty to take His time and do things on His schedule—He is sovereign!
- God's people are engaged in battles that go far deeper than the physical realm
See 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Questions
1. What is your “Canaan”?
2. Are you ready to conquer your Canaan?
I. STEPS TO CONQUERING CANAAN - RENEWAL
1st The Renewal! Israel RENEWED Their COVENANT With God!
A. The first command the Lord gives to Israel is that all men are to be circumcised. Joshua 5:2-3
- The men who were born during the 40 years in the wilderness had not been circumcised.
- The rebellious generation was no longer a covenant people.
- They must renew the covenant with the Lord if they wanted His blessings on them and if they wanted to be guaranteed the victory.
B. Israel was required to remove a piece of flesh as a sign that they were a part of the covenant.
We must remove from our lives anything that stands between us and total surrender to the Lord.
2 Cor. 6:17 Circumcision was to be the outward reminder of an inward work of faith
Deut. 10:16 “Circumcise your hearts.”
Questions
1. Do you have anything that must be removed before you can have victory?
2. Is anything preventing your total surrender to the Lord?
II. STEPS TO CONQUERING CANAAN-REMOVAL OF THE REPROACH
1st The Renewal! Israel RENEWED Their COVENANT With God!
2nd The Removal of the Reproach!
A. The term "reproach of Egypt" has reference to 2 events during Israel's wilderness wanderings.
The first time: Ex. 32:1-12 when the Children of Israel made a golden calf and worshiped it.
The 2nd time happened at Kadesh-Barnea when the children of Israel displayed unbelief and refused to enter into the Promised Land. They wanted to go back to Egypt
Num 14:11-14 The LORD said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt?”
B. In a sense, many of God's children are still living under the "reproach of Egypt".
- You may be living with the shame of things you did before you came to faith in Christ.
- “If” you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ for salvation your past is no longer an issue.
Psa. 103:12 and 1 John 1:7
Questions
1. Is your past still an issue?
2. Are you still trying to get back to “Egypt”?
III. STEPS TO CONQUERING CANAAN-RECOGNITION
1st The Renewal! Israel RENEWED Their COVENANT With God!
2nd The Removal of the Reproach!
3rd The Recognition! Then Israel Recognized God!
Joshua 5:13-15
A. The final step in getting ready to conquer your Canaan in learning Who is in control!
One day, as Joshua was looking over the city of Jericho, he saw a man standing with a drawn sword.
Joshua boldly asked the man to identify himself and to state which side he was on!
When the man responded, He said that He was the Captain of the Lord's Host.
He told Joshua that He did not come to take sides, but to take over!
That is, He was in control of the Lord's armies in Heaven and in the earth.
General Joshua had just met the Commander in Chief!
Joshua's response is to fall down before Him and to worship Him.
This indicates that Joshua is submitting to the will of the Lord.
He he knows Who is in control.
Before you can conquer, you must first be conquered.
We must lay down our swords at the feet of the Captain of the Lord's host.
He is Lord and we are His servants. Therefore, what He says must be followed to the letter.
B. God is telling Joshua that he does not have to fight the battles alone.
He is even telling Joshua that the battles are not his responsibility.
The Lord is the Captain of the Army of God.
He is present to direct the battle and to give the victory!
1st Samuel 17:34-37 David knew he was small—but he knew that his God was big.
The same is still true as you and I are called upon to face the battles of life.
1 Sam. 17:47,
Child of God, He has promised to be with you, to support you and to lead you to victory. The key to seeing these promises fulfilled in your life is to do what Joshua did. Get on your face before the Lord, seek the Lord's will for the battle and let Him lead you to victory.) Are you ready to conquer your Canaan this morning? Not if there is sin in your life! Not if there is rebellion in your heart! Not if there are uncontrolled appetites for the things of the world. Not if you are filled with doubt and fear. Not if you have forgotten where the Lord brought you from. Not if you, instead of Jesus is in control in your life. Child of God, do you want the victory? If so, why not deal with those things in your life that keep you from having it and leave this place today ready to conquer you Canaan.
Questions
1.Who is in charge of your battles?
2. Are you the General or the Commander in Chief?
