The Victorious Christian Life Part 1
Joshua 1:1-9
S-1570
Have you noticed the all too often disturbing difference between what the Bible says Christians are—and what they really are? Maybe you have sensed that in your life.
I wonder if people ever see us and say, “I have the picture of a Christian in the Bible—but, you don’t look much like it”?
Several years ago Julie and her hairdresser talked me into changing my hairstyle. Got a curly perm. At least I had enough hair to get one then. I took one look in the mirror and was horrified. It was awful. “Get rid of it.” Convinced me to leave it on and see if I get used to it.
I did not. I knew it was bad when I went to a meeting in Phoenix that week and one of the denominational leaders told me I looked like a gigolo. I didn’t know what that meant. I looked up the word and was very offended. I had not been called anything that bad since high school.
I have a picture of that curly perm—only because Julie and I were going to Brazil on a global outreach trip and I needed a new passport.
►SLIDE #1: So I got my passport picture taken that week. I got that curly perm straightened after two weeks. Passports are good for ten years.
I traveled to several countries on that passport over the next ten years—and each time I it took me quite a while to clear immigration to leave or enter a country.
“I see your picture, but you don’t look anything like the picture.” Then they would chuckle.
It is often difficult to recognize Christians from the description of Christians given in the Bible.
►SLIDE #2: God’s beautiful people don’t look much at all like the beautiful people of media land. People’s most beautiful people
We don’t have to wonder what a Christian looks like. Let’s take a quick look at our photograph:
►SLIDE #3: The beatitudes: Matthew 5:3-10
Poor in spirit, mourn—comforted, meek, hunger and thirst for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, persecuted because of righteousness,
►SLIDE #4: The fruit of the spirit: Galatians 5:22-23
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Let’s add another dimension to this: victory. Many verses on the concept of victory. Here’s one.
►SLIDE #5: Romans 8:37: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
►SLIDE #6: úπερνικωμεν: The Greek word translated “more than conquerors” is difficult to translate adequately. The word conveys the idea of super- and supra-conquerors. The Christian doesn’t merely conquer – he overwhelmingly conquers.
Most Christians believe we’ll win in the end. The Lord is going to be victorious finally. But it’s going to be close! It’s like a soccer game played to a draw. In overtime he’ll be awarded a penalty kick and beat the devil 1 to 0. No, that’s not what Paul says. It’s not the Christians 1 and the devil 0; it’s the Christians 100 and the devil 0.
One of clearest pictures of the victorious life is found in God’s dealings with Israel. The book of Joshua is God’s object lesson on living the victorious Christian life.
Explain OT uses as allegory and illustrations of NT truth.
►SLIDE #7: 1 Corinthians 10:11: These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
Talk several weeks about the victorious life from Joshua. Open your Bibles to Joshua 1.
►SLIDE #8: Explain story of exodus, wanderings, and entrance to Promised land.
Explain Genesis to Numbers = Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy is story of Exodus and wandering. Joshua is story of entering Canaan.
►SLIDE #9: DRAW ON OVERHEAD: Understand that the Christian life can be divided into two stages, the Red Sea stage and the River Jordan stage, with a wilderness in between.
The Red Sea was to Israel as the cross is to us.
Crossing the Red Sea was the symbol their deliverance from the bondage of Egypt. Just as the Cross is the symbol of our freedom from the bondage of sin. They celebrated the Passover as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
Escape from slavery in Egypt was not God’s goal for his people. He took them out of Egypt in order to bring them into the land he had promised them.
The land of Canaan was a land flowing with milk and honey to be enjoyed in life here on earth.
Picture of entering Canaan is our enjoying the fullness of the Christian life.
It wasn’t enough to get out of Egypt. They had to get into the Promised Land.
►SLIDE #10: Deuteronomy 6:23: “But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers.”
This may surprise you, but Canaan never symbolizes heaven in the Bible. Church hymns may say that, but the Bible doesn’t.
There were giants in Canaan – there are no giants in Heaven. There were battles to be fought in Canaan – there will be no battles in Heaven. God’s people sinned in Canaan – in Heaven all traces of sin will be erased.
The real goal is for us to cross over the Jordan River and experience the victorious Christian life that he has promised us in Christ. This is not an incidental emphasis in Scripture, but its heart.
►SLIDE #11: Colossians 1:26-27: “…the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but now has been manifested to His saints… which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
God’s goal is the victorious full release of the life of Jesus Christ in you.
DRAW ON OVERHEAD: He brought us out that he might bring us in.
Many Christians are out but not in. They, like those spoken of in 1 Corinthians 10:5, die in the wilderness without ever experiencing the life of fullness in Christ.
Are you in? Are you out? Are you still in Egypt? Are you wandering around in the wilderness?
►SLIDE #12: Living in victory inside the land of Canaan is the normal Christian life.
A victorious life is not a superior brand of Christianity. It is the normal life for every Christian.! The Christian life is a victorious life, and anything less is a cheap imitation of the real thing.
►SLIDE 13: Watchman Nee: The Normal Christian Life.
The first nine verses of Joshua tell us several important things about enjoying the life of victory:
►SLIDE #14: Read Joshua 1:1-9:
The best way to define the victorious life is to describe it.
►SLIDE #15: 1. The promises of the Bible are experiential instead of theological (1:2-3, 6).
God’s promises to Joshua were definite. He told the Israelites the land was theirs; they needed only to act – and the promises made generations earlier were fulfilled before their eyes.
I’m afraid that many Christians look at the promises of God as I looked at Christmas catalogues as a boy. When I was about ten I spotted something I desperately wanted in the catalogue and I had to have it. It cost twenty-five dollars, but it might as well have been a thousand. Knowing it was beyond my reach, I would get out the catalogue, turn to the page that displayed the picture, and dream. No wonder the catalogue is called “the wish book”. I wished and wished, but I knew I couldn’t have it.
And to many Christians the Bible is just that – a wish book. They read the promises, but never really expect to see hem fulfilled in their own lives.
But the Bible is not a wish book; it is a faith book. Those who cross over into victory by faith, find that all the promises of God are real.
►SLIDE #16: 2. The Presence of God is most intimate (Joshua 1:5, 9).
One of the promises God made to Israel and repeated often in this chapter is “I will be with you.” They would experience his continuing presence. God would be real to them.
Ball game with dad in seat, parents at recital, or wedding
►SLIDE #17: 3. The Power of God flows increasingly (Joshua 1:5)
Resurrection Power: “I pray that… you may know… what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe… in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, then He raised Him from the dead…” (Ephesians 1:18-20).
The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is made available to us. You’re facing a problem. If God can raise one from the grave, he can do anything. You have resurrection power residing in you.
Doctor after ileostomy: “People with your physical condition have to be careful. Maybe some day you can ride a bicycle.”
After 1700 different sermons and a zillion services in doggie years, hiking alps, water skiing, basketball, etc. I believe in God’s resurrection power.
►SLIDE #18: Teen-facing temptation with sex, drugs, or peers
►SLIDE #19: Ethical issues at work
►SLIDE #20: Standing at the casket
►SLIDE #21: Lost job
►SLIDE #22: Mom tells you dad is not coming home again.
►SLIDE #23: VICTORY IS A GIFT TO THE CHRISTIAN (Joshua 1:3).
Notice the tense: “I have given,” not “I will give”. It was already theirs. God had given the land with all its riches to his people before they even saw what it was like.
Understanding that the victorious life is a gift already given us by God is essential. This means victory is assured. There is no reason why every Christian cannot live a life of victory. It is part of our birthright as a child of God. The victory of Christ is ours for the taking.
►SLIDE #24: however, VICTORY MUST BE GAINED BY THE CHRISTIAN (Joshua 1:5).
You may think I am contradicting myself when I say that the gift must be gained. But the Scripture holds to both concepts. God told Joshua he had already given them the land but that they would have to possess it. Although the gift was absolute, it had to be appropriated.
►SLIDE #25: Hebrews 4:9-11: “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.”
How do we gain it? What is our part? Three things are mentioned in Joshua 1.
►SLIDE #26: 1.The victory is gained by faith (Joshua 1:2).
Joshua was to take God at his word and start walking.
We exercise faith when we acknowledge that Christ has already won the victory for us. The Christian life is lived from a platform of victory already accomplished.
Visualize the Victory.
Illustration: The Inner Game of tennis: Inner game of golf: Visualize and learn to do it. Visually see self in place of victory and then do it.
The quickest route to defeat is to concentrate on your circumstances.
Illustration: Dog and prince Andrew.
God had already given the land, but Joshua had to walk across it before he received it. And he was given only as much as he walked across. The same is true for us.
God gives us only as much as we are willing to walk across in obedience.
He lets us choose our level of spirituality.
►SLIDE #27: 2.The victory is gained by following THE DIRECTIONS (Joshua 1:7-8).
OVERHEAD: The word translated “law” means “directions”, and that’s what God’s law is: divine directions on how to put together a successful life.
Illustration: Directions to church in St. Chads: convoluted directions and driving on left hand side.
Roads were clearly marked.
The word “prosperous” carries the idea of making right and wise decisions. The word of God would give Joshua the ability to make the right and wise decision in every situation and thus ensure success in his appointed task. We must learn this truth. Regardless of natural talent or ability, only disciplined devotion to God’s word can quip us to do God’s will.
Illustration: Dr with knee injury: You dummy, don’t you know…?”
The Hebrew word translated “meditate” has the overtones of “humming”. A famous popular singer was asked why he always kept humming. He answered that humming kept his vocal cords warmed up and ready to perform at a moment’s notice.
Our constant humming of the word, meditating on it day and night, will keep us warmed up and ready to obey at a moment’s notice. The word of God us to be like a tune that you can’t get out of your head; it is to permeate your life and be absorbed into your system. Then and only then will you be able to act wisely. When you encounter a situation you don’t know how to handle, God will be able to give you unbelievable wisdom, because you have been abiding in his word.
Watch Brass guys in orchestra. They whinny like horses to keep lips warm.
Meditation on last man at Red Sea during time of stress.
God is telling us that meditating on the word of God is the secret of spiritual prosperity!
This third point may startle you.
►SLIDE #28: 3.The victory is gained by fighting (Joshua 1:9).
When the people left Egypt, God could have taken them straight into Canaan, but he deliberately led them by a circuitous route. God deliberately made the journey longer. Why?
►SLIDE #29: The explanation is recorded in Exodus 13:17: “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”
They weren’t ready to fight, and entering Canaan required courageous fighting men, so God postponed military confrontation until they were ready.
When a person first becomes a Christian, it often seems everything is easy. We witnesses, pray, read the Bible with radiant and tireless enthusiasm. Temptations seem not to exist. God, as he did for the Israelites, is leading him in he easy way. He is not yet ready to fight.
When he is suddenly besieged by difficulties, he becomes frustrated and confused and wonders what went wrong. At this moment Satan may take advantage of his predicament and accuse him of failure, trying to convince him that God has surely abandoned him. But God has not deserted him; he had merely enrolled the new Christian in basic training in order to get him ready to fight.
The land of fullness is occupied by the enemy. We will not go in unopposed. Spiritual warfare is the order of the day when we move into our victory. Have you noticed that while in the wilderness, Israel didn’t fight a single battle (except among themselves)? Only when they entered Canaan did they encounter warfare. That is significant.
Illustration: Eleanor: Daughter in Denmark: Converts mostly from witchcraft and occult. Spiritual hunger, incense to Diana.
The life of victory. It is God’s goal and gift for every believer. It is already accomplished by the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
But that doesn’t mean that every Christian automatically experiences this victory. There is something for us to do. We must appropriate what God has made available.
►SLIDE #30: Let me illustrate it like this. There’s a water fountain in the foyer of our church. It contains cool, refreshing water for those who are thirsty. Suppose one Sunday morning after the service I see you in the foyer on your knees before that fountain. With hands clasped in prayer, you’re begging the fountain for water, just one little drink. But nothing happens. And nothing will happen, except that someone may carry you off in a straitjacket. You don’t get water from a fountain by begging and pleading. You go up to it, bend over, push the lever, open your mouth and swallow. It’s that simple. Jesus invited all who were thirsty to come to him and drink. He doesn’t force our mouths open and our it down us. We must do our own drinking. The fountain is waiting; come and drink.