Victory at Ai (Part A)

So this conflict between Israel and AI between my flesh in my spirit. It is to death.

It is force versus force, and there's no other way around.

We get that in our heads we have the advantage.

So as with AI, God had to set the battle plan is going to be a victory. Remember, he showed up to Joshua as the commander with the sword out ready for war. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Joshua. Please stay with us after today's message here. More information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in the book of Joshua chapter 7, but for now, here's Pastor Rick in the book of Joshua chapter 8 the brand-new message called victory AI Joshua chapter 8 victory at AI in the last chapter, chapters 7. We discussed the defeat at AI, which was because of the sin of Aiken God wanted to expose what the cause of the defeat was in a very dramatic way and he had of course the clans and tribes marched before until Aiken was singled out so that they all understood that there have defeat was because of flagrant disobedience that was not addressed and that it would affect all of them and it did affect all of them.

36 men killed in action.

Get rid of Aiken get the victory that was the message but they could not get rid of Aiken. They could not identify the sin without God. And so the dependency on God is just something that would never going to get away with it. Get away from as his people, and nor do we want to. Another lesson that came out of the story of Aiken is there on the field of battle was an enormous temptation you are serving God fighting the enemy, and temptation comes your way. Jesus warned his disciples want all of us that he got to the disciples said to them when you pray, pray this way. Do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, power and the glory for Aiken was only one thing one thing that tripped him up covetousness that involves several things. Of course there was the silver of the gold Babylonian garment garment from Shinar and it spread to others who are as covetous as he was in his own family members. Jesus there and disseminate told his disciples watch and pray less you enter into temptation. Spirit is indeed willing but the flesh is weak and I think you we are susceptible in serving God. To think that because were serving him were somehow shielded from things that we would otherwise not be shielded from well we are not fully shielded from anything in this life without prayer. Paying attention and hard work. This eighth chapter of course keeping chapter 7 and mine in the way it was written there wasn't split into chapters. These were events that just move one on to the other. We have the destruction of AI in verses one through 29 and then in verses 30 through 35. We have the proclamation of the Laura law of God with worship in a very dramatic way in preparing for this is through the week just thinking about it of my head at time to time. Looking forward to the first 29 versus the battle but then I preparation getting to verses 3035 space.

This is better. What a bonus. The proclamation of the law. The blessing for the obedient, the curses for the disobedience that is the law. Thank God we got grace Douglas MacArthur by one of America's greatest generals and Nimitz might not like hearing that he said in war. There is no substitute for victory. Isn't that true spiritual war. I believe the parallels exist everywhere. They abound with the facts of the laws we find an application. It is in physics and life. They exist spiritually. Also Israel.

In this chapter is fighting for their survival. They can't go back to the wilderness, they have to win this no return is not opting out. There's nowhere else to go. When Jesus said to those who had a problem with his sermon, he said to his apostles are you two going to leave because everybody was leaving Simon Peter as often was the case it sells us in John chapter 6, but Simon Peter so typical is so courageous, but Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go. You have the words of eternal life is nowhere else stresses it. Everything is on this fight.

There's no getting out of it. We try to get that across to unbelievers.

We should spend a life trying to get that across to unbelievers that the gospel these truths are held in the book we love so much.

The Bible the word of God.

AI, of course, the flesh and type, but the city of AI was fighting for its life. They refused to leave this such an apt picture of our spirit fighting against the flesh, the flesh refuses to leave. It's got nowhere else to go Rick.

In practice, it's dastardly deed, it stays with us were stuck with it for one lifetime and we have to fight it every step of the way they're going to be setbacks and losses. The disappointments and mistakes of all kind, but the one thing that Satan can't stop is when we get up and we keep going. This is pictured a bit here with the Jews were defeated and they come back first Peter chapter 2 beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lust with war against soul Peter is saying a been around a long time.

I been all the been young. I've never seen the righteous forsaken other offspring begging for bread and I've never seen Christian, not fighting the flesh. I added that, but I added it on the strength of everything the New Testament tells us about the flesh that sinful nature of hours propensity to sin choices.

These things they war against us, though, when just traveling through this life are not here forever were making it through. We are pilgrims and sojourners. We have a destination. This is not it. But we have a cause here on the way to the destination but to destroy Pilgrim's progress in Galatians 517 for the flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary one to another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. Romans 87 because the carnal mind is at war against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So this conflict between Israel and AI between my flesh in my spirit. It is to the death. It is force versus forest and there's no other way around it. We get that in our heads we have the advantage.

So as with AI, God had to set the battle plan if there's going to be a victory.

Remember, he showed up to Joshua as the commander with his sword out ready for war and he is going to assert himself in this chapter. Just that way and that's the only way they get the victory verse one. Now we read now Yahweh said to Joshua.

Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed. Take all the people of war with you and arise, and go up to AIC. I have given into your hand, the king of AI is people his city and his land yet well with that tragic loss behind him.

Joshua was kinda confused even though the Lord said to sin in the camp get up why delay it before made Ari that was settled but still Joshua façade not already go back to this. I don't want another taste of defeat is anything else we should know anybody needs to march in front of us now, what about the New Testament, does it have that strong kind of a cheer for the Christian to to to don't be dismayed, be strong go back after AI again.

You failed yesterday. Your flesh got the upper hand, get up, get back in there. Yes, it does Corinthians. The first one, verse six, chapter 16, Paul says to the Corinthians as he is ending his letter and just, you know how I always don't take shots.

It is always bring it to mind as we see it everywhere. The Corinthian church was problematic head to toe. And yet Paul does not give up on them at the end of his letter he says watch stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong, I would've said something like I matter here.

Get yourself another pastor if you had people say that I don't think I would at all because I got this thing called the fear of God want him telling me what you think you're doing get back in there. I rather just get back in there. Not happy here so the language stands not going to read this and Joshua say that was for those Jews. Everybody else but me know this is for us continues in verse one. See, I have given into your hand, the king of AI is people's city and his land. The promise of the promised land is unfolding right there. As Moses said it would, by faith, and fighting. When God says I'm giving you this land. I would've said give like in here you go or give like to go fight for his goal.

I go will go fight for what is that not true. In Christianity, I mean some get become disillusioned with theirs. They give their life to Christ all emotional and then they find out how much glorying takes place against everything and they quit what God calls for an invasion force will be read again in verse one.

Take all the people of war with you and arise, and go up to AI God as commander. He does not call for reduced troop strength, as did the reconnaissance force that came out of spying on AI will send all the people we don't need and we can take AI they were trying to look out doing the right thing. The way I don't sense that they were puffed up with pride or anything like that. God says no you going to need 10 times as much as you sent to bring down AI. He called for an invasion in forests. AI was a little city compared to Jericho, but the little things in life can become great obstacles very quickly, especially in the pursuit of God's directives, God told them to go to AI they went. They did everything they thought by the book were clobbered but that is wonderful disjunctive at this point unless we move forward. According to the word of God in pursuit of holiness. We are going to get beaten but if we if we pursue holiness. According to the word we still going to take hits but we will prevail.

You going to junk you got personal battles stuff you're up against. Stick to the Lord, you will prevail you going to be frightened you going to again be wounded a little bit but in the end, Lord will say well done. The day will come when you will be off the planet with your father and you will know you're there because you see me waving hey I'm in the right place first two and you shall do to AI as its king by me and its king as you did to Jericho and its king only at spoil and its cattle. You shall take as booty for yourselves laying in ambush for the city behind it all, headache, and waited. He would've gotten the spoils from this city. There's a lesson there.

God says lay in ambush for the city. These forming the battle plan who shall set the order to the battle Ahab that creepy King once asked one of the profits of the property you of course he failed but he was given a chance he won the battle but failed to serve God. Here God is ordering the battle and he's saying I need I need some slick tactics to bring these guys down. Remember God is not the author of confusion or his people, but for everybody else. He has the prerogative of the of setting them up of deceiving them because that's what they want they want life without him and is very clear in Scripture and the end of Isaiah. In Thessalonians's and other places in Scripture and its war verse three so Joshua arose, and all the people of war to go up against AI and Joshua chose 30,000 mighty men of valance set them away.

By night, up early again this Joshua, we see that can't miss it.

With this man and the people with him.

God's mercies are new every morning. We love that part. We want the forgiveness but also the battles.

That's why the mercy is given mercies are given so we can be up and again to war against the flesh in the interests of our Lord and Joshua chose 30,000 mighty men of valor and sent them away. By night, while yes 550,000 men ready for war. They can send them all just be tripping over each other.

None of space but still 30,000, 10 times more than the 3000 sent initially that was defeated, the population of AI was about 13,000. Again, not room enough 500,000 men to invade today. This would be equal to a core sending in accorded military divisions of the very carefully want to know how many to send because the gotta supply them and if you sent too many. One way you won't have enough the other way is just a lot that goes into it and it helps to divide your troop numbers into companies battalions regiments divisions and cores in them.

Once you get the 60,000 so you have yourself an army classifications armies well here he's sending in a coronets of a large force of 30,000 men.

Now we like to say will Gideon only needed 312 know he did not he did to start the battle but to finish it. God brought the other tribes in and is very clear there in the book of Judges, which will be getting to at some point one man armies like Samson are rare.

Samson took out a battalion of men with the jawbone of a donkey, but that's rare small churches and usually small because of troop desertion. You cannot accomplish very much. You just don't have the strength this. What can you do. I know we hear a lot of folks I don't like large churches. It does not mean all you can fellowship will that's not the reason you should or should not like a churches word preach there that's paramount mostly other things, a secondary but let's not beat up on the big ones on the small ones, are any of them.

But let's remember there is strength in numbers us. We have a book called numbers why is it called numbers. The book of Numbers is the book of battalions of how many troops each tribe had. That's why it's called numbers.

This car had the number this many men valid men of valor for war. I don't know about you but if I'm going to war. I want as many helpers as I can get, so we look at this lesson. Here we see that the 3000 were not enough, you know Napoleon said God was on the side of big battalions and as her younger Christian reading other Christian i.e. something that was wrong is right. Napoleon was wrong. Overall what that point, there is a need for force in dealing with my flesh and I think that is one of the great lessons that comes out of this. This chapter AI difficult to beat easy to underestimate so gobble up the lessons that come out of the Scriptures we learned what it takes to bring down the flesh courage Joshua, be strong large number send him 30,000 men. This time weapons will see Joshua has a spear in his hand, and he's the commander thinking you know it is a dagger and then it it also took the battle plan of God. God commanded the marching around Jericho with horns.

Now he is commanding the Israelites to throw a feint in ambush put a rearguard in place and then to attack that is God's battle plan is assaying a military saying no no battle plan survives contact with the enemy will God's plans to God's plan survives contact with it. What it means is you can plan whatever you want when you get on the battlefield. Everything shifts and changes in things will come out the way you thought they were going that would not with God, with God they come out precisely the way he knew they would happen. Our role is to be ready. As Joshua was verse four and he Joshua commanded them, the people, saying, behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city behind the city. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready. These battle tactics that are being given wheat with no reason to think that Joshua has recorded every detail. He has recorded the facts and God does not say Joshua I've given you 30,000 men stormed the gates. He says you better think this one through effective done it for you and God is told him how to do it and charging right and what a lesson for so many missionaries with many Christians were pastors for churches for all of us. Just because you want something and you feel the fire doesn't mean you can just charge right in and get it. Unfortunately, many folks to think that way you can tell them otherwise and then to do with the sales they tried again. He says, but all of you be ready is another thing that what we can lose sight of. As believers, God expects us to be ready on the battlefield, not desist, you know were magically equipped, not being unprepared is not faith.

You know you talk about a pastor come up and just speaking without notes away can do that if he's giving a gospel message if he's an evangelist because the messages this very simple review going to teach the word of God, you better start fact checking your own ideas and thoughts before you get up and start telling people what you found it really means you better be prepared and blaming the holes Holy Spirit for you not doing what you're supposed to do is not recommended is not good enough to want to serve the Lord, you have to have more. You've got to have diligence, the desire has to be long-lasting flash in the pan doesn't really help anyone. It hurts we say well on a go can go on about this. I do from time to time so I'm just going to move forward but you can listen to all the recorded messages to find out what else I have a say about it. If you really must know verse five.

Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city and it will come about when they come out against us as at the first we shall flee before them. So Chaucer was saying we going to draw their forces out we going to get them to commit their forces standard battle tactics against another army that is no better a smarter force was sent relieving troops in reserve rather than to commit all of our courses into this.

It could be in ambush well. AI doesn't didn't have the manual and Joshua is the invading force God.

The commander who has set the battle plan.

John's gospel chapter 15 verse five Jesus that I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him will bear much fruit, for without me you can do nothing.

And may we not forget it can't truly conquer without Christ. Nor should we want. So here is a feint victory through apparent defeat so that coming up to AI than the retreating and AI is going to say hi. We've got them again were going to defeat them.

Again, this is Christianity the cross of Christ is victory through apparent defeat. He saved others, he can save himself. That's what they said when they mocked him on the cross. If you are the son of God, come down off that cross dictating this is what we want you to do as though they were sovereign and the disciples. Of course, they were devastated because apparently they were defeated and came Sunday morning and this is the story of Christianity victory through apparent defeat, I could tell story upon story not only my own life and others around me.

The thought they lost, only to find out they one. But they one God's way, not their own way. So verse six, for they will come out after us until we have drawn them from the city, for they will say they are fleeing before us is that the first.

Therefore, we will flee before them, then you shall arise from the ambush and sees a city for Yahweh your God would deliver it into your hands or Joshua was laying out the battle plan is God laid it out to him. Josh was reading the enemy well say this is what they going to do this is the battle plan is going to survive. His plan survives. And that's exactly what happens. He knows are going to be overconfident. The going to commit all their forces, and then the Jews wipe them out in the hills. The ravines and maybe forest in that area at that time would've provided ample coverage for them to lie low move. Good night, and set up at night they went tactical, very quietly, thanks for tuning into cross reference radio for this study in the book of Joshua cross reference is the teaching ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia. If you're interested in more information about this ministry, please visit our website cross reference radio.com find additional teachings from pastor Rick available there also encourage you to subscribe to our podcast by doing so you will be notified of each new edition of cross reference radio. Just search for cross reference radio in iTunes Google play music or your favorite podcast.

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Glad we were able to spend time with you today to do next time to continue learning from the book of Joshua right here on cross reference radio