The Lord Fights For His People

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>The Lord Fights For His People</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Guarding Against Deception"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id162.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Success in Obeying God"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Ministry Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org"><U>stan@stanbaker.org</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Joshua 10.1-14, Berean Bible Church, Jan 28, 2001pm, “Because the Lord Fights for His People.”</B></div> <bR> <div>      When we align ourselves with God’s program and follow his way, he will work on our behalf. The Lord fights for his people so that he gets his work done! To accomplish his work, he still fights for his people (Joshua 10.14, 42). In this chapter, Israel is facing battle, particularly as a part of their southern campaign to conquer the land God promised them.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Because the Lord fights for his people . . .</B></div> <div> <B>1.  . . . we can stand against the alliances of the world (vss. 1-5).</B></div> <div>      A. We face battle with outside forces. There are spiritual forces, as well as people who oppose the work of God in the world. When we seek to do the will of God and accomplish his work, we will be fighting against spiritual alliances.</div> <div>      B.  We face the battle with self-will (vs. 1). The first battle at Ai, a losing one, was rooted in the problem of lack of self-control on the part of Achan. It illustrates that we will not be prepared to battle outside forces until we can effectively conquer ourselves. We must make sure that we are living lives that are submitted to the will of God.</div> <bR> <div> <B>2.  . . . we can safely fulfill our obligations (vss. 6-8).</B></div> <div>      Gibeon asked for help from her new ally, Israel.  Even though Israel made a commitment to Gibeon after being deceived, they still kept their vow.</div> <div>      A.  God gives a reason for trust (vs. 8).  We can trust God because of his promises. When God makes a promise, we have assurance of the outcome based on our faith in the promise of God.</div> <div>      B.  Trust in God gives a reason for enthusiasm (vss. 6-7, 9). Israel responded immediately; in fact, they marched all night.  They knew God was in it; they knew they had made a promise to Gibeon; and so they did not hesitate.</div> <bR> <div> <B>3.  . . . we can trust in his creative methods, vss. 10-11.</B></div> <div>      A.  God can be creative in the routine, vs. 10. At the beginning, Israel fought a fairly standard battle. Yet God was with them and empowered them to have victory.</div> <div>      B.  God can be creative in the spectacular, vs. 11.  The ending of the battle was less than standard. God performed genuine miracles on behalf of Israel. He worked outside the box of expectation and the box of natural processes.</div> <div>      God can work both through natural regular processes or through miracles. For example, he can bring about healing and recovery for a medical need either through doctors and medicine or through a miracle apart from doctors and medicine. God can work through the ordinary or through the extraordinary. Are we willing to let him be creative either way? Can we trust him when he stays within the box or steps outside the box? Either way, when he is at work, he will gets done.</div> <bR> <div> <B>4.  . . . we can freely ask for his help, vss.  12-15.</B></div> <div>      A.  Prayer should be based on, but not limited to, his promises (vs. 12.) God said he would give them victory.  Joshua prayed for an<I> extraordinary </I>event (the sun standing still) in order to finish the battle victoriously. Pray creatively: God will do what is best, and he responds to the prayer of his people.</div> <div>      B.  Prayer should be motivated by his glory (vs. 14). It was God who got the credit, and that was exactly how Joshua wanted it.</div> <div> <I>     Ephesians 3:20-21:  Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.  </I>So pray, grounded in his promises and striving for his glory — he will answer.</div> <bR> <div>      When the situation looks hopeless; when you aren’t sure what to do next; when it looks like there is no solution; when you are struggling against temptation; when you feel you don’t have the strength to do what is right — you need the Lord to fight for you, to be on your side. He will bring about true success and victory when you align yourself with his program.</div> <bR> <div> (copyright, 2001, Stan Baker)</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>