|
THE
PROMISE OF VICTORY Introduction: God promised His people victory if they would
obey His voice and possess the land. Even so, they failed to completely
drive out their enemies. God had promised victory, yet they were living
in defeat. The same victory God promised Israel then is yours today in
Jesus Christ the Lord! There is
VICTORY IN JESUS! I.
THOSE WHO FIGHT FOR IT (VV.9-11) In
this Christian life there will be struggles and conflict. We are in a
warfare. Israel’s enemy was the Canaanites. Giants in Hebron, the
three sons of Anack (v.10). Who are our enemies:
A.
The World (1
John 2:16) "For all
that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." (1
John 2:15) "Love not
the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the
world, the love of the Father is not in him." The
Christian life is going against the grain of the world. We must rise up
and fight (resist) conforming to this world (Rom.12:2). Victory comes to
those who fight the world system.
B.
The Flesh (Gal
5:17) "For the flesh
lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these
are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that
ye would." When you get
saved you still have to deal with the flesh (the old man). Those
who were crucified where considered dead from the time they were placed
on the cross, even if it took all day for them to die. Our
weakness is in our flesh. Victory comes to those who fight the flesh
C.
The Devil Our
adversary - (1 Pet 5:8) “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary
the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may
devour:" God
gives victory to those who will, by the power of God, slay the giant of
the devil, the flesh, and the world! (Ills. Chopping the head off a
rattle snake) II.
THOSE WHO HUNGER FOR IT (VV.12-13) Some
Christians are satisfied to be like those Jews who wandered in the
wilderness, (expound). Caleb
represents a Christian who is hungry for victory, one who has a hunger
for more. Give me this mountain! (Jos.14:9-13) - At 85 he takes that
mountain and is the only man totally obedient to remove all. He
represents those who are hungry and want more of the things of God. Why
did Caleb promise his daughter in marriage to the man who would take
Kirjathsepher? Because he wanted his daughter to marry a man who had the
same kind of faith he had! He
weeded out the riff-raff. Here is a man who wanted God’s best for his
daughter, he wanted her to marry a man of God!
(expound) Othniel
was a man of God and became the first Judge. III.
THOSE WHO ASK FOR IT (VV.14-15) Achsah
pictures a victorious Christian. She pictures a witnessing Christian.
Her name means “a decorated ankle, Isa.52:7. She asks for a blessing.
She had land, but asks for springs of water! Caleb
gives her upper springs and lower springs - The upper springs speak of
Heaven’s recourses. The lower springs speak of temporal resources
(expound). Sometimes these lower springs dry out, but the upper,
heavenly springs never give out! These
springs also picture the ministry of the Holy Spirit of God - (John
7:38-39) “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of
his belly shall flow rivers of living water. {39} (But this spake he of
the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy
Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet
glorified.)" The
city Kirjathsepher, (city of the book) was renamed Debir, (Oracle or
Word). they took possession of the Word! The only way they could really
develop the word or appropriate the word and enjoy the word which was
their possession as a believer was to have the springs of water that
would water their field. The only way I can apply the Word, understand
the Word, benefit from the Word, have victory from the Word of God is to
through the ministry of the Holy Spirit of God that is living in me! So
who gets victory? I’ll tell you gets victory, Those who FIGHT for it,
Those who HUNGER for it, and those who are bold enough to ASK for it! Conclusion: “What God expects us to
attempt, He equips us to achieve.” |
|
|