1 00:00:30,659 --> 00:00:38,979 And the three young men in the center there are my three sons. 2 00:00:39,699 --> 00:00:45,339 I'm just so thankful to my sons who faithfully serving in our 3 00:00:45,339 --> 00:00:45,699 church. 4 00:00:45,779 --> 00:00:48,579 And that was my daughter in law playing the piano and I think 5 00:00:48,579 --> 00:00:49,579 she was singing too. 6 00:00:49,579 --> 00:00:54,819 I think, I think I heard her and just so proud of her and her 7 00:00:54,819 --> 00:00:57,669 parents in our church and just, just a blessing. 8 00:00:58,869 --> 00:00:59,509 Blessing. 9 00:01:01,189 --> 00:01:04,069 Some of you got to see my kids, you know, grow up. 10 00:01:04,389 --> 00:01:07,669 So yeah, especially the youngest one. 11 00:01:07,669 --> 00:01:09,709 We'll talk about the youngest one for a while because that's who 12 00:01:09,709 --> 00:01:10,549 we pick on the most. 13 00:01:11,269 --> 00:01:12,788 He was the strong willed child. 14 00:01:12,869 --> 00:01:20,389 So yeah, we have teachers in here who taught Micah. 15 00:01:21,509 --> 00:01:21,869 Yeah. 16 00:01:21,869 --> 00:01:22,549 His toddler. 17 00:01:23,799 --> 00:01:24,119 Yeah. 18 00:01:29,479 --> 00:01:32,919 Turn if you would in your Bibles to Joshua chapter nine and 19 00:01:32,919 --> 00:01:36,999 continue our series and really along our theme for the year, higher 20 00:01:36,999 --> 00:01:37,399 ground. 21 00:01:37,879 --> 00:01:44,759 Think about in Joshua, chapter 14, 45 years after Caleb was promised 22 00:01:45,399 --> 00:01:50,959 that mountain, 85 years old, said Lord or he said to Joshua, give 23 00:01:50,959 --> 00:01:53,229 me the mountain, Lord, give me the mountain. 24 00:01:53,229 --> 00:01:58,109 And the analogy or the metaphor, the teaching, the application 25 00:01:58,429 --> 00:02:02,029 is again that we as Christians, we are. 26 00:02:03,549 --> 00:02:07,549 Our purpose that God has for us as born again children of God 27 00:02:07,869 --> 00:02:09,789 is to live a victorious life. 28 00:02:10,349 --> 00:02:14,269 That's what his desire is for every child of God is to live an 29 00:02:14,269 --> 00:02:16,509 abundant life, a victorious Christian life. 30 00:02:17,229 --> 00:02:21,909 And so we compare Joshua, the book of Joshua to the book of Ephesians 31 00:02:21,909 --> 00:02:27,609 in the New Testament and we see again the importance of Christians 32 00:02:27,689 --> 00:02:33,329 realizing their purpose again, that is to follow in the footsteps 33 00:02:33,329 --> 00:02:37,489 of Jesus, to walk in his steps, to have that personal relationship 34 00:02:37,489 --> 00:02:38,289 with Jesus Christ. 35 00:02:38,289 --> 00:02:42,489 I was reminded again this week that Christianity is not a religion. 36 00:02:42,489 --> 00:02:43,689 It's not a set of rules. 37 00:02:44,169 --> 00:02:46,689 There's not a set of rules by which we gain eternal life. 38 00:02:46,689 --> 00:02:49,529 Or there's not a set of rules by which we gain love from the Lord. 39 00:02:49,529 --> 00:02:50,089 No, no. 40 00:02:50,349 --> 00:02:54,349 Now Jesus Christ, the God of the universe, loves us unconditionally. 41 00:02:55,869 --> 00:02:56,749 Unconditionally. 42 00:02:57,069 --> 00:03:00,269 Salvation is not by works, lest any man should boast. 43 00:03:00,269 --> 00:03:01,069 It's by faith. 44 00:03:01,069 --> 00:03:02,429 It's by grace, through faith. 45 00:03:03,069 --> 00:03:07,669 And so we talk about again higher ground or that victorious 46 00:03:07,669 --> 00:03:10,389 Christian living and reminder of that. 47 00:03:10,389 --> 00:03:12,349 I'm not going to read this whole chapter because we already 48 00:03:12,989 --> 00:03:14,669 have some time is flying. 49 00:03:14,909 --> 00:03:17,229 But look at Joshua, chapter 9, verse 1. 50 00:03:17,389 --> 00:03:20,749 And it came to pass when all the kings which were on this side 51 00:03:20,749 --> 00:03:24,629 Jordan in the hills and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of 52 00:03:24,629 --> 00:03:28,869 the great sea, over against Lebanon, the Hittite, the Amorite, 53 00:03:28,869 --> 00:03:34,029 the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusites, I just 54 00:03:34,029 --> 00:03:38,509 call them all the ITE people heard thereof in other words, they 55 00:03:38,509 --> 00:03:40,629 heard what God had done. 56 00:03:40,949 --> 00:03:42,949 They heard what the children of Israel had done. 57 00:03:42,949 --> 00:03:45,109 And of course, they here give credit to Joshua. 58 00:03:45,109 --> 00:03:46,469 But Joshua didn't do it. 59 00:03:46,469 --> 00:03:47,349 The Lord did it. 60 00:03:47,639 --> 00:03:51,959 Defeating Jericho and defeating AI, crossing the River 61 00:03:51,959 --> 00:03:52,319 Jordan. 62 00:03:52,319 --> 00:03:52,839 Verse 2. 63 00:03:53,239 --> 00:03:57,479 That they gathered themselves together to fight with Joshua and 64 00:03:57,479 --> 00:03:59,159 with Israel with one accord. 65 00:03:59,719 --> 00:04:03,439 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done 66 00:04:03,439 --> 00:04:07,239 unto Jericho and to AI, they did work wily. 67 00:04:07,719 --> 00:04:08,839 There's your word. 68 00:04:08,919 --> 00:04:09,399 Wily. 69 00:04:10,919 --> 00:04:14,479 And went and made as if they had been ambassadors and took old 70 00:04:14,479 --> 00:04:18,869 sacks of upon their asses and wine bottles and old and rent and 71 00:04:18,869 --> 00:04:23,749 bound up, and old shoes and clouded upon their feet, and old 72 00:04:23,749 --> 00:04:24,789 garments upon them. 73 00:04:24,789 --> 00:04:27,829 And all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. 74 00:04:27,909 --> 00:04:30,549 And they went to Joshua unto the camp of Gilgal. 75 00:04:30,869 --> 00:04:32,869 I just want to point out where they were at. 76 00:04:34,069 --> 00:04:36,789 We talked about how that Gilgal was going to be the home base. 77 00:04:36,789 --> 00:04:40,709 It's kind of the place they would come back to after every battle. 78 00:04:41,019 --> 00:04:41,779 After every battle. 79 00:04:41,779 --> 00:04:45,299 So we see that after chapter eight, they made their journey back 80 00:04:45,299 --> 00:04:46,219 to Gilgal. 81 00:04:46,619 --> 00:04:47,099 All right? 82 00:04:47,099 --> 00:04:51,379 Remember, they were in Shechem and between the two mountains. 83 00:04:51,379 --> 00:04:54,059 And so here they're back in Gilgal. 84 00:04:57,179 --> 00:05:00,539 And the Bible says, here, and look back there, Gilgal. 85 00:05:00,539 --> 00:05:02,179 And said unto them, look at verse six. 86 00:05:02,179 --> 00:05:04,979 And they went to Joshua into the camp of Gilgal and said unto 87 00:05:04,979 --> 00:05:08,619 them, to the men of Israel, we be come from a far country. 88 00:05:09,579 --> 00:05:12,219 Now therefore make ye a league with us. 89 00:05:13,259 --> 00:05:14,779 So here's the Gibeonites. 90 00:05:14,779 --> 00:05:18,419 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, peradventure ye 91 00:05:18,419 --> 00:05:22,139 dwell among us, and how shall we make a league with you? 92 00:05:22,379 --> 00:05:24,859 And they said unto Joshua, we are thy servants. 93 00:05:26,699 --> 00:05:28,619 And Joshua said unto them, who are ye? 94 00:05:28,859 --> 00:05:30,219 And from whence come ye? 95 00:05:30,379 --> 00:05:34,139 And they said unto him, from a very far country, thy servants. 96 00:05:34,489 --> 00:05:36,089 By the way, it was 25 miles away. 97 00:05:36,649 --> 00:05:38,089 They didn't come from a far country. 98 00:05:38,249 --> 00:05:39,849 They came 25 miles away. 99 00:05:43,049 --> 00:05:43,609 Servants. 100 00:05:43,609 --> 00:05:45,529 Because the name of the Lord thy God. 101 00:05:45,689 --> 00:05:49,729 For we have heard the fame of him talking about God and all that 102 00:05:49,729 --> 00:05:54,049 he God did in Egypt and all that he did to the two kings of the 103 00:05:54,049 --> 00:05:56,249 Amorites that were beyond Jordan. 104 00:05:56,249 --> 00:06:01,509 Sihon, king of Heshbon, and Og, king of Bashan, which was at 105 00:06:01,509 --> 00:06:02,949 Ashtaroth, by the way. 106 00:06:02,949 --> 00:06:06,829 Og king of Bashan was taller and bigger than Goliath. 107 00:06:07,789 --> 00:06:09,869 His bed was 14ft long. 108 00:06:10,669 --> 00:06:12,589 It was nine feet wide. 109 00:06:13,469 --> 00:06:14,149 He was of. 110 00:06:14,149 --> 00:06:14,989 The Bible makes it clear. 111 00:06:14,989 --> 00:06:15,949 He was of the giants. 112 00:06:15,949 --> 00:06:19,309 He was a big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, 113 00:06:19,309 --> 00:06:19,949 big man. 114 00:06:20,029 --> 00:06:25,869 Verse 11 Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of us, saying, 115 00:06:26,469 --> 00:06:30,109 take victuals with you for the journey and go to meet them and say 116 00:06:30,109 --> 00:06:33,149 unto them, we are your servants, therefore now make ye a 117 00:06:33,149 --> 00:06:35,109 league with us, make an alliance with us. 118 00:06:35,829 --> 00:06:39,749 This is our bread we took hot from our provision out of our house 119 00:06:39,749 --> 00:06:42,669 on the day we came forth to go unto you. 120 00:06:42,669 --> 00:06:46,789 But now behold, it is dry, it is moldy, and these bottles of wine 121 00:06:46,789 --> 00:06:48,909 which we filled were new. 122 00:06:48,909 --> 00:06:52,389 And behold, they be rent, you know, again talking about the leather 123 00:06:52,389 --> 00:06:53,989 pouches or leather wine holders. 124 00:06:54,499 --> 00:06:57,859 And these are our garments and our shoes are become old by reason 125 00:06:57,939 --> 00:06:59,459 of a very long journey. 126 00:07:00,659 --> 00:07:05,779 And the men took of their victuals and asked not counsel at 127 00:07:05,779 --> 00:07:07,379 the mouth of the Lord. 128 00:07:09,459 --> 00:07:10,179 Verse 15. 129 00:07:10,179 --> 00:07:13,739 And Joshua made peace with them and made a league with them, 130 00:07:13,739 --> 00:07:15,379 alliance with them to let them live. 131 00:07:15,779 --> 00:07:19,139 And the princes of the congregation sware unto them. 132 00:07:20,669 --> 00:07:23,349 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made 133 00:07:23,349 --> 00:07:29,229 a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors 134 00:07:29,789 --> 00:07:31,389 and that they dwelt among them. 135 00:07:31,949 --> 00:07:32,749 We'll stop there. 136 00:07:32,749 --> 00:07:36,189 Heavenly Father, Lord, we do pray that you would again bless the 137 00:07:36,189 --> 00:07:37,149 reading of your word. 138 00:07:37,949 --> 00:07:42,349 Lord, may we be reminded today of the enemy and may we keep guard. 139 00:07:43,309 --> 00:07:48,919 May we not be gullible and fooled by Satan's devices. 140 00:07:50,119 --> 00:07:54,559 Lord, may you give us the spirit of wisdom, the spirit of life 141 00:07:54,559 --> 00:07:58,039 that we need to overcome, to live victoriously. 142 00:07:58,839 --> 00:08:01,239 We thank you in Jesus name, Amen. 143 00:08:02,199 --> 00:08:06,119 God's desire again for every Christian is that you live a victorious 144 00:08:06,119 --> 00:08:06,439 life. 145 00:08:08,039 --> 00:08:12,169 God's desire for every person is that they would come to the saving 146 00:08:12,169 --> 00:08:13,409 knowledge of Jesus Christ. 147 00:08:13,969 --> 00:08:15,769 I hope this morning you know you're saved. 148 00:08:15,769 --> 00:08:18,449 I hope this morning that you have been rescued, that you have 149 00:08:18,449 --> 00:08:20,129 been rescued from the penalty of sin. 150 00:08:20,369 --> 00:08:24,369 And realizing what I'm saying is that there is a penalty for sin. 151 00:08:25,489 --> 00:08:27,569 The wages of sin, the Bible says, is death. 152 00:08:27,569 --> 00:08:29,329 But the gift of God is eternal life. 153 00:08:29,329 --> 00:08:32,969 Through Jesus Christ our Lord, we can have eternal life through 154 00:08:32,969 --> 00:08:33,489 Jesus. 155 00:08:33,969 --> 00:08:35,689 He died in our place. 156 00:08:35,689 --> 00:08:36,529 He died for us. 157 00:08:36,529 --> 00:08:38,129 He paid the sin debt for us. 158 00:08:38,699 --> 00:08:41,419 He was our substitute on the cross. 159 00:08:41,419 --> 00:08:43,099 He shed his blood for us. 160 00:08:43,099 --> 00:08:45,979 He shed his blood for me and for our sins. 161 00:08:46,699 --> 00:08:47,819 Well, how do we get saved? 162 00:08:47,819 --> 00:08:49,739 How do we have eternal life? 163 00:08:49,819 --> 00:08:51,099 By trusting in him. 164 00:08:51,899 --> 00:08:54,618 By transferring your trust from any other source. 165 00:08:54,619 --> 00:08:57,619 In other words, by transferring your trust from maybe 166 00:08:57,619 --> 00:09:01,299 a baptism that you think is getting you to heaven, maybe it's 167 00:09:01,299 --> 00:09:02,979 good works you think that are getting you to heaven. 168 00:09:02,979 --> 00:09:05,379 You think that when we get to heaven that there'll be a big Scale 169 00:09:05,379 --> 00:09:05,779 up there. 170 00:09:05,779 --> 00:09:07,939 And your good works will go on one side and your bad works will 171 00:09:07,939 --> 00:09:08,614 go on one side. 172 00:09:08,614 --> 00:09:08,769 And. 173 00:09:08,999 --> 00:09:11,279 And if your good works outweigh your bad works, then you 174 00:09:11,279 --> 00:09:11,999 get to go to heaven. 175 00:09:11,999 --> 00:09:13,319 That's not what the Bible says. 176 00:09:14,119 --> 00:09:15,279 Again, it's not of works. 177 00:09:15,279 --> 00:09:16,359 Lest any man should boast. 178 00:09:16,839 --> 00:09:18,679 Salvation's by grace, through faith. 179 00:09:18,999 --> 00:09:20,119 It's freely given. 180 00:09:20,359 --> 00:09:21,239 It's not earned. 181 00:09:21,239 --> 00:09:22,159 It's a gift of God. 182 00:09:22,159 --> 00:09:23,639 The Bible says, not of works. 183 00:09:23,879 --> 00:09:27,879 And so understanding that it's not St. Peter sitting at the gate 184 00:09:28,119 --> 00:09:31,679 deciding who gets in, who has to stay out, that's not it. 185 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:33,799 By the way, Peter doesn't have the keys to death and hell. 186 00:09:33,799 --> 00:09:36,279 Jesus Christ has the keys to death and hell, not Peter. 187 00:09:36,279 --> 00:09:37,719 Peter does not have the key to heaven. 188 00:09:40,569 --> 00:09:41,849 I hope you're saved this morning. 189 00:09:42,409 --> 00:09:47,529 I hope you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, he desires that that's 190 00:09:47,529 --> 00:09:49,689 the purpose for everyone's life. 191 00:09:49,849 --> 00:09:52,289 He's not willing that any should perish, but that all should 192 00:09:52,289 --> 00:09:53,129 come to repentance. 193 00:09:54,089 --> 00:09:55,209 The blood of Jesus. 194 00:09:58,489 --> 00:09:59,329 The blood of Jesus. 195 00:09:59,329 --> 00:10:00,169 He died for all. 196 00:10:00,969 --> 00:10:01,929 He died for all. 197 00:10:06,259 --> 00:10:08,499 At the moment of salvation, we begin a battle. 198 00:10:09,539 --> 00:10:12,939 At the moment of we accept Christ as our Savior, a battle begins. 199 00:10:12,939 --> 00:10:14,419 A spiritual battle begins. 200 00:10:16,899 --> 00:10:21,579 Salvation happens in a moment when you truly trust Jesus Christ 201 00:10:21,579 --> 00:10:24,419 as your Savior and you ask him to save you. 202 00:10:24,419 --> 00:10:27,779 You repent of your sins and understanding and knowing that my 203 00:10:27,779 --> 00:10:31,219 sin put Jesus on the cross and I'm asking him for forgiveness of 204 00:10:31,219 --> 00:10:31,779 that sin. 205 00:10:31,779 --> 00:10:34,539 And Lord, I believe you lived and that you died and that you rose 206 00:10:34,539 --> 00:10:34,779 again. 207 00:10:34,779 --> 00:10:39,039 Lor, I trust you for my salvation at that moment that you 208 00:10:39,039 --> 00:10:41,159 truly transfer your trust to him and him alone. 209 00:10:41,159 --> 00:10:43,199 By faith you're saved. 210 00:10:43,999 --> 00:10:45,199 Eternally saved. 211 00:10:45,919 --> 00:10:50,839 But also at that moment begins a process not concerning justification 212 00:10:50,839 --> 00:10:53,119 and salvation, but sanctification. 213 00:10:53,119 --> 00:10:55,599 In other words, it's God working in us. 214 00:10:55,839 --> 00:10:58,039 That little song that I learned as a kid. 215 00:10:58,039 --> 00:11:01,679 He's still working on me to make me what I ought to be. 216 00:11:02,079 --> 00:11:04,919 Took him just a week to make the moon Took him just a week to 217 00:11:04,919 --> 00:11:08,239 make the moon and the stars, the sun and the earth and Jupiter 218 00:11:08,239 --> 00:11:12,319 and Mars how loving and patient he must be he's still working 219 00:11:12,479 --> 00:11:17,359 on me There really ought to be a sign upon my heart don't judge 220 00:11:17,359 --> 00:11:18,959 me yet I'm finished. 221 00:11:19,359 --> 00:11:22,959 I'll be perfect Just according to his passion by the message. 222 00:11:22,959 --> 00:11:27,519 Okay, what's sad is all those songs are still stuck in my mind, 223 00:11:30,669 --> 00:11:33,069 taking up room that could be used for other stuff. 224 00:11:36,349 --> 00:11:37,789 He's still working on me. 225 00:11:38,349 --> 00:11:41,629 The Bible speaks about him working us, doing his good pleasure 226 00:11:42,109 --> 00:11:43,869 he's working in us still. 227 00:11:44,189 --> 00:11:48,349 In other words, that growth process as a Christian, from growing 228 00:11:48,349 --> 00:11:52,349 from a babe in Jesus, being born again, to being the toddler 229 00:11:52,349 --> 00:11:53,829 and being a teenager. 230 00:11:53,829 --> 00:11:58,109 And that analogy, for us to understand our Christian growth process, 231 00:11:58,109 --> 00:11:58,909 it's a process. 232 00:12:00,909 --> 00:12:01,709 It's a process. 233 00:12:02,589 --> 00:12:05,949 Romans, chapter eight, we quoted here just a few weeks ago, 234 00:12:06,269 --> 00:12:09,829 that God works all things together for good to them that love 235 00:12:09,829 --> 00:12:12,029 God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 236 00:12:12,029 --> 00:12:16,069 But the next verse of verse 29 says, whom he did predestinate to 237 00:12:16,069 --> 00:12:16,309 what? 238 00:12:16,309 --> 00:12:17,029 To be saved? 239 00:12:17,029 --> 00:12:19,629 No, to be conformed to the image of His Son. 240 00:12:20,229 --> 00:12:26,069 In other words, as Christians, we are predestinated to be conformed 241 00:12:26,069 --> 00:12:27,509 to the image of Jesus Christ. 242 00:12:28,869 --> 00:12:29,869 That should be our goal. 243 00:12:29,869 --> 00:12:32,709 We want to be like Jesus, to be a Christian. 244 00:12:32,709 --> 00:12:36,188 The word Christian means imitator of Jesus or imitator of 245 00:12:36,188 --> 00:12:39,669 Christ again following in his steps. 246 00:12:40,149 --> 00:12:43,989 And that is the process by which God is continually working 247 00:12:43,989 --> 00:12:47,759 in us, working through us, and again from the inside out. 248 00:12:47,759 --> 00:12:51,799 It's an amazing thing how God continues to work on us, conforming 249 00:12:51,799 --> 00:12:53,679 us, he says, into the image of His Son. 250 00:12:53,679 --> 00:12:57,879 That was, by the way, that was a sculptor chiseling away at a sculptor. 251 00:12:57,879 --> 00:12:59,159 Did everybody get that one? 252 00:12:59,399 --> 00:13:00,759 I had to explain it, didn't I? 253 00:13:02,839 --> 00:13:03,119 No. 254 00:13:03,119 --> 00:13:04,119 He's sculpting us. 255 00:13:04,519 --> 00:13:09,399 God is conforming us into the image of His Son, that selfless Savior. 256 00:13:11,729 --> 00:13:14,849 Faith and obedience, lived out by the power of the Holy Spirit, 257 00:13:14,849 --> 00:13:15,889 is the key to victory. 258 00:13:16,929 --> 00:13:21,889 Winning any war requires planning and strategy requires discipline. 259 00:13:22,689 --> 00:13:24,849 And we as Christians should have a plan. 260 00:13:26,049 --> 00:13:27,089 And let me put it this way. 261 00:13:27,089 --> 00:13:27,408 Again. 262 00:13:28,369 --> 00:13:30,289 The Christian life is a daily process. 263 00:13:30,689 --> 00:13:32,769 Take up thy cross daily and follow me. 264 00:13:33,009 --> 00:13:36,289 The inward man is renewed day by day again. 265 00:13:36,289 --> 00:13:40,489 You don't have to wait till January to have a New Year's resolution. 266 00:13:40,489 --> 00:13:42,529 No, in the Christian life, you can start. 267 00:13:43,199 --> 00:13:43,959 No, you can't. 268 00:13:43,959 --> 00:13:44,999 You do start over. 269 00:13:44,999 --> 00:13:45,599 Every day. 270 00:13:47,279 --> 00:13:49,319 Every day and every day. 271 00:13:49,319 --> 00:13:51,479 There ought to be a plan in place in your life. 272 00:13:51,479 --> 00:13:53,199 A game plan, a strategy. 273 00:13:53,279 --> 00:13:56,559 There should be some daily disciplines there that enable you 274 00:13:56,559 --> 00:14:01,519 and encourage you and strengthen you to overcome and live 275 00:14:01,519 --> 00:14:02,559 a victorious life. 276 00:14:04,079 --> 00:14:06,399 These disciplines do not necessarily guarantee success. 277 00:14:08,479 --> 00:14:10,799 You can memorize all the scripture you want and get up in 278 00:14:10,799 --> 00:14:12,999 the morning and read your Bible 75 times. 279 00:14:12,999 --> 00:14:16,109 It doesn't necessarily mean mean success in your life that day. 280 00:14:16,989 --> 00:14:19,949 Now your heart makes that decision. 281 00:14:21,869 --> 00:14:25,629 We, again, understand those disciplines put us in a position 282 00:14:25,629 --> 00:14:27,629 where the Lord can give us victory. 283 00:14:29,229 --> 00:14:32,909 These disciplines, again, do not guarantee success. 284 00:14:33,629 --> 00:14:34,429 The enemy. 285 00:14:34,669 --> 00:14:35,469 The enemy. 286 00:14:35,709 --> 00:14:38,749 The enemy is the world. 287 00:14:39,629 --> 00:14:40,589 The world system. 288 00:14:41,429 --> 00:14:43,069 The enemy is the flesh. 289 00:14:43,069 --> 00:14:45,669 You've seen that little cartoon that says, I met the enemy, 290 00:14:45,669 --> 00:14:47,029 and it's me. 291 00:14:48,229 --> 00:14:49,589 And I would say if you. 292 00:14:49,669 --> 00:14:52,869 You know, there used to be a show where a little kid used to say 293 00:14:52,869 --> 00:14:55,109 all the time, he said, well, the devil made me do it. 294 00:14:56,629 --> 00:15:01,829 Well, we blame a lot on the devil, that it's just us, our flesh, 295 00:15:03,909 --> 00:15:05,429 but the enemy is the devil. 296 00:15:06,879 --> 00:15:09,719 These three enemies are described over and over again in 297 00:15:09,719 --> 00:15:10,239 the Bible. 298 00:15:10,559 --> 00:15:13,199 Again, the devil uses our flesh and uses the world. 299 00:15:13,279 --> 00:15:15,439 I mean, the devil's the orchestrator of it all. 300 00:15:17,119 --> 00:15:20,239 And man is he conniving, deceitful. 301 00:15:21,359 --> 00:15:24,879 The Bible describes him as a roaring lion seeking whom they devour. 302 00:15:25,439 --> 00:15:26,279 And we use. 303 00:15:26,279 --> 00:15:27,159 I use that verse a lot. 304 00:15:27,159 --> 00:15:30,599 But I always need to remember that Bible also describes him as 305 00:15:30,599 --> 00:15:31,199 a snake. 306 00:15:33,369 --> 00:15:36,009 And a snake can be far more dangerous than a lion. 307 00:15:37,449 --> 00:15:39,329 Lion roars, makes a lot of noise. 308 00:15:39,329 --> 00:15:41,649 The snake, you know, sneaks up on. 309 00:15:41,649 --> 00:15:45,449 You hear the hiss or you hear the. 310 00:15:47,289 --> 00:15:48,489 If you live in Texas. 311 00:15:52,809 --> 00:15:58,839 And here we see a classic example of the wiles, Wiley, the 312 00:15:58,839 --> 00:16:00,159 wiles of the devil. 313 00:16:02,639 --> 00:16:07,519 So we see here the victory may bring a more organized enemy. 314 00:16:07,839 --> 00:16:11,199 So the first place, the very first verses, here we see the Canaanites 315 00:16:11,359 --> 00:16:15,119 said, all right, let's put away our tribal squabbles. 316 00:16:15,839 --> 00:16:18,079 You know, they were infighting, fighting each other. 317 00:16:18,079 --> 00:16:20,359 And they set those things aside and said, all right, let's 318 00:16:20,359 --> 00:16:23,359 come together and let's go and battle against Israel. 319 00:16:24,649 --> 00:16:27,129 And setting those things aside, the word had spread. 320 00:16:29,049 --> 00:16:32,089 I want to remind you that after a great victory many times, 321 00:16:32,089 --> 00:16:34,649 and it doesn't even have to be of a great victory, but battling 322 00:16:34,649 --> 00:16:37,449 and blessings kind of go side by side. 323 00:16:38,969 --> 00:16:43,609 If you're attacked, the Bible says you should take joy in that. 324 00:16:44,409 --> 00:16:45,849 How in the world can you do that? 325 00:16:46,569 --> 00:16:49,369 How do you take joy in being under attack? 326 00:16:51,369 --> 00:16:55,969 Well, it's a good sign that you're being tempted or tested from 327 00:16:55,969 --> 00:16:58,969 the right and from the left and from the back and from the front. 328 00:16:59,849 --> 00:17:02,449 And James said, in James 1:2, he said, Count it all. 329 00:17:02,449 --> 00:17:02,689 Joy. 330 00:17:02,689 --> 00:17:06,409 When you fall into diverse temptations, when you fall into various 331 00:17:06,409 --> 00:17:12,809 testings and various again, you know, detours in life, it means 332 00:17:13,529 --> 00:17:14,649 you're doing something. 333 00:17:17,379 --> 00:17:19,419 It means you're going forward for the Lord. 334 00:17:19,419 --> 00:17:20,699 It means you're in the will of God. 335 00:17:20,699 --> 00:17:21,859 And the devil hates that. 336 00:17:21,859 --> 00:17:24,739 And he's going to throw everything he can at you to try to 337 00:17:24,739 --> 00:17:26,339 divert you and get you off course. 338 00:17:27,539 --> 00:17:34,379 He uses many of his wiles, his trickery, in fact. 339 00:17:34,379 --> 00:17:38,099 If you haven't been tempted or tested lately, why not? 340 00:17:39,459 --> 00:17:41,859 Maybe you need to go to God and ask him why you haven't been, 341 00:17:44,178 --> 00:17:46,258 you know, are you going forward? 342 00:17:46,898 --> 00:17:49,058 Are you living victorious life? 343 00:17:49,058 --> 00:17:49,618 Are you? 344 00:17:50,818 --> 00:17:51,458 Amen. 345 00:17:55,058 --> 00:17:56,338 Ask the Lord to show you. 346 00:17:57,138 --> 00:18:03,218 A church not under attack means it's not doing nothing. 347 00:18:05,458 --> 00:18:07,858 That's the way you say in Texas, not doing anything. 348 00:18:08,899 --> 00:18:11,339 Many times, a church that's not under attack, most of the time, 349 00:18:11,339 --> 00:18:13,739 when a church is not under attack, it means they're not doing 350 00:18:13,739 --> 00:18:15,539 anything to cause Satan to fight against it. 351 00:18:16,499 --> 00:18:19,539 You know, if they're just a social club, why should the devil 352 00:18:19,539 --> 00:18:20,419 fight against them? 353 00:18:20,899 --> 00:18:25,619 If they're just all coming and hanging out and, you know, no, no, 354 00:18:25,779 --> 00:18:26,059 no. 355 00:18:26,059 --> 00:18:30,419 He fights against the churches that are spreading the gospel because 356 00:18:30,419 --> 00:18:31,219 he hates it. 357 00:18:32,099 --> 00:18:35,539 He hates the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he hates that a church 358 00:18:35,979 --> 00:18:38,259 would make that their number one purpose. 359 00:18:38,259 --> 00:18:42,619 Instead, we see churches all over the globe whose primary purpose 360 00:18:42,619 --> 00:18:44,299 is not spreading the gospel. 361 00:18:45,499 --> 00:18:48,219 I had a lady walk up to me last night at the Fall Fest. 362 00:18:48,539 --> 00:18:52,779 I don't remember her name, but she said, I love this because we 363 00:18:52,779 --> 00:18:54,619 hung a lot of door hangers around our community. 364 00:18:54,619 --> 00:18:58,339 And we got a few negative comments by way of email. 365 00:18:58,339 --> 00:19:00,059 In fact, one really interesting one. 366 00:19:01,339 --> 00:19:05,279 But last night, this lady walks by me and says, thank you for 367 00:19:05,279 --> 00:19:06,879 putting a door hanger on our door. 368 00:19:07,599 --> 00:19:10,679 She said, you're the only church I know of who's actually in. 369 00:19:10,679 --> 00:19:16,919 Her indication was that it's propagating the gospel that is evangelizing 370 00:19:16,919 --> 00:19:19,359 the community, who's getting out there and doing it. 371 00:19:19,759 --> 00:19:23,039 And I can tell you, a church that's doing that, the devil hates 372 00:19:23,039 --> 00:19:23,279 it. 373 00:19:24,159 --> 00:19:25,279 And there's enemies. 374 00:19:25,439 --> 00:19:28,639 Constant and constant struggle and a constant battle. 375 00:19:28,639 --> 00:19:30,799 And we as a church need to stay focused. 376 00:19:31,909 --> 00:19:37,509 We did not let petty squabbles distract us or divide us. 377 00:19:37,829 --> 00:19:41,949 Remember, oh, Nehemiah, in the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah had the 378 00:19:41,949 --> 00:19:44,189 opportunity to go back to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. 379 00:19:44,189 --> 00:19:46,988 He heard the walls who had fallen down, and he got permission 380 00:19:46,988 --> 00:19:47,509 from the king. 381 00:19:47,509 --> 00:19:50,149 And the king gave him everything he needed to rebuild the 382 00:19:50,149 --> 00:19:52,709 walls, the material and everything he needed. 383 00:19:52,789 --> 00:19:54,829 He goes back and he begins to rebuild the walls. 384 00:19:54,829 --> 00:19:55,989 And didn't take long. 385 00:19:57,039 --> 00:19:58,359 Sanballat and Tobiah, right? 386 00:19:58,359 --> 00:19:59,759 Y' all know, most of you know the story. 387 00:20:00,479 --> 00:20:05,879 These enemies from without began to spread rumors that Nehemiah 388 00:20:05,879 --> 00:20:07,199 was trying to make himself king. 389 00:20:07,199 --> 00:20:11,679 They began to spread rumors to the king, Artaxerxes, and there in 390 00:20:12,478 --> 00:20:15,159 Medo, Persian, hey, he's trying to overthrow. 391 00:20:15,159 --> 00:20:16,479 He's setting himself up. 392 00:20:17,839 --> 00:20:18,719 But he wasn't. 393 00:20:19,839 --> 00:20:21,839 They were just trying to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. 394 00:20:22,969 --> 00:20:25,609 And if it wasn't Sanballat and Tobiah, the enemy from without. 395 00:20:26,009 --> 00:20:30,009 It was the priests and some of the leadership inside the walls. 396 00:20:34,009 --> 00:20:37,129 It wasn't just the waves and the wind coming in the boat and the 397 00:20:37,129 --> 00:20:38,249 water coming in the boat. 398 00:20:38,249 --> 00:20:40,729 It was the guys in the back of the boat drilling holes in the back, 399 00:20:41,209 --> 00:20:42,209 in the bottom of the boat. 400 00:20:42,209 --> 00:20:43,209 You're going, really? 401 00:20:43,209 --> 00:20:47,129 I've got to contend with this from without and this from without 402 00:20:47,289 --> 00:20:48,559 and this from without. 403 00:20:48,559 --> 00:20:52,079 And then I got people in the back of the boat drilling holes in 404 00:20:52,079 --> 00:20:53,039 the bottom of the boat. 405 00:20:53,039 --> 00:20:54,439 Listen, we need to be careful. 406 00:20:55,239 --> 00:20:56,159 That's the enemy. 407 00:20:56,159 --> 00:20:56,839 That's the devil. 408 00:20:56,839 --> 00:21:00,119 He wants a church to be divided. 409 00:21:00,679 --> 00:21:02,599 He wants a church to lose focus. 410 00:21:03,079 --> 00:21:06,719 He wants an individual to be divided, if you would. 411 00:21:06,719 --> 00:21:10,839 He wants an individual to lose focus and keep our eyes on Jesus 412 00:21:10,839 --> 00:21:15,489 Christ, keep our focus on the Lord, stay united. 413 00:21:16,609 --> 00:21:17,889 Don't be one of those people. 414 00:21:18,769 --> 00:21:23,409 You know, we got enough issues outside the church to have church, 415 00:21:23,409 --> 00:21:25,089 you know, stuff inside the church. 416 00:21:26,609 --> 00:21:30,289 Thankful for a good church, thankful for a church that can put 417 00:21:30,289 --> 00:21:32,689 on a festival like we did last night. 418 00:21:33,249 --> 00:21:36,489 In fact, this lady commented, she said, I don't know if any church 419 00:21:36,489 --> 00:21:38,369 that get volunteers to go out and do door hangers. 420 00:21:39,659 --> 00:21:42,179 I had a guy call, we had a guy call several years back and said, 421 00:21:42,179 --> 00:21:45,779 hey, would you tell that company that's distributing your 422 00:21:45,779 --> 00:21:47,339 flyers to stop putting them in our door. 423 00:21:48,139 --> 00:21:49,899 I said, oh. 424 00:21:50,219 --> 00:21:52,779 And then he also accused him of stealing shoes off the front porch. 425 00:21:55,819 --> 00:21:57,259 Ms. Eva, you remember this one? 426 00:21:59,819 --> 00:22:04,859 And we knew who did that, who hung the door hangers on that street. 427 00:22:04,859 --> 00:22:07,729 And we're like, yeah, it wasn't. 428 00:22:08,369 --> 00:22:09,569 He didn't take your shoes. 429 00:22:09,649 --> 00:22:11,329 And that was a volunteer. 430 00:22:11,569 --> 00:22:13,649 That was not somebody being paid to do that. 431 00:22:14,049 --> 00:22:16,929 And this guy finally figured out it wasn't our. 432 00:22:17,889 --> 00:22:18,369 Yeah. 433 00:22:18,929 --> 00:22:21,889 Anyway, he had to eat his own words. 434 00:22:22,529 --> 00:22:28,049 He did apologize, but thankful for volunteers who will get out, 435 00:22:28,049 --> 00:22:32,609 who will propagate the gospel, who will again put door hangers in 436 00:22:32,609 --> 00:22:35,579 the community, who will support missionaries around the world, 437 00:22:36,139 --> 00:22:38,299 who will keep the main thing, the main thing. 438 00:22:38,539 --> 00:22:40,059 And boy, the devil hates that. 439 00:22:40,299 --> 00:22:41,259 We got to move on. 440 00:22:42,379 --> 00:22:46,819 We see here the inhabitants deceitfulness again. 441 00:22:46,819 --> 00:22:47,859 Israel was going forward. 442 00:22:47,859 --> 00:22:51,059 They had some great victories and they wanted to go forward. 443 00:22:51,059 --> 00:22:52,379 But we have the Gibbonites. 444 00:22:52,779 --> 00:22:55,379 They heard of Israel's success and the Bible says they dealt with 445 00:22:55,379 --> 00:22:56,059 them wily. 446 00:22:57,339 --> 00:23:01,179 That means deceitfully or craftily or again, they just clearly 447 00:23:01,179 --> 00:23:01,579 lied. 448 00:23:02,749 --> 00:23:04,429 They only lived 25 miles away. 449 00:23:04,429 --> 00:23:06,589 They were pretending to have traveled a long ways. 450 00:23:06,589 --> 00:23:08,829 Old shoes, old clothes, moldy food. 451 00:23:10,189 --> 00:23:15,709 Man, does this not describe for you Satan as you think about 452 00:23:15,789 --> 00:23:18,429 what Satan does and can do. 453 00:23:18,589 --> 00:23:21,069 And he is our adversary. 454 00:23:21,949 --> 00:23:24,109 That's what Satan, the name Satan means. 455 00:23:24,269 --> 00:23:25,269 He's the deceiver. 456 00:23:25,269 --> 00:23:27,389 That's his title, Lucifer. 457 00:23:28,609 --> 00:23:29,889 He knows we're on guard. 458 00:23:30,609 --> 00:23:34,049 If you're going forward, if you're trying to live with Jesus 459 00:23:34,049 --> 00:23:37,849 and you're trying to live a holy life and you're trying to stay 460 00:23:37,849 --> 00:23:40,209 focused, the Devil knows that. 461 00:23:40,369 --> 00:23:43,809 And many times he's not going to come to you at your front gate. 462 00:23:44,849 --> 00:23:47,569 He's going to be deceitful and try to get you from behind. 463 00:23:48,369 --> 00:23:50,529 He's going to come at you from a different angle. 464 00:23:51,089 --> 00:23:53,929 He's not going to come for you from an obvious direction. 465 00:23:53,929 --> 00:23:54,689 No, no, no. 466 00:23:54,689 --> 00:23:56,049 He's going to deceive. 467 00:23:56,289 --> 00:23:59,099 He's deceitful, he's slippery. 468 00:23:59,579 --> 00:24:01,979 And that's why again, Ephesians chapter six says, put on 469 00:24:01,979 --> 00:24:04,579 the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against 470 00:24:04,579 --> 00:24:06,579 the what wiles of the devil. 471 00:24:06,579 --> 00:24:07,499 It's the same word. 472 00:24:07,499 --> 00:24:09,259 Wily wiles of the devil. 473 00:24:09,419 --> 00:24:16,099 The trickery, the deceit of the devil, the wiles, the artful 474 00:24:16,099 --> 00:24:17,419 method of persuasion. 475 00:24:17,739 --> 00:24:21,099 To trick so as to deceive or snare. 476 00:24:21,499 --> 00:24:23,739 Ever built a trap for trying to catch a rabbit? 477 00:24:24,489 --> 00:24:27,929 You get the box with a stick, some bait underneath. 478 00:24:27,929 --> 00:24:28,409 The box. 479 00:24:29,049 --> 00:24:31,849 Never works, but as a little kid you thought it would. 480 00:24:31,929 --> 00:24:33,049 Maybe it worked for you. 481 00:24:33,689 --> 00:24:34,489 I have add. 482 00:24:34,569 --> 00:24:37,249 I'd set the box up, do everything and then I'd just walk 483 00:24:37,249 --> 00:24:37,929 off from it. 484 00:24:38,169 --> 00:24:41,689 Or I would stay there like maybe, you know, 35 seconds, but 485 00:24:41,689 --> 00:24:43,209 I'm not patient enough to wait. 486 00:24:45,449 --> 00:24:46,329 Mousetrap. 487 00:24:48,089 --> 00:24:48,969 Think about it. 488 00:24:49,539 --> 00:24:52,659 By the way, here recently I have a barn and I have rats about 489 00:24:52,659 --> 00:24:53,219 this big. 490 00:24:54,099 --> 00:24:57,059 And I was looking for old fashioned rat traps. 491 00:24:57,059 --> 00:25:00,259 I mean the big ones, you know, they would kill a person. 492 00:25:01,139 --> 00:25:04,539 And you know what, a lot of places don't sell those anymore because 493 00:25:04,539 --> 00:25:06,339 some kind of they're not humane. 494 00:25:07,539 --> 00:25:11,139 I had to go like to the old Ace Hardware, finally found some 495 00:25:11,139 --> 00:25:14,219 of these rat traps this big, put them out and it was remarkable 496 00:25:14,219 --> 00:25:14,979 how well they work. 497 00:25:16,409 --> 00:25:16,729 Bam. 498 00:25:16,889 --> 00:25:17,249 Done. 499 00:25:17,249 --> 00:25:20,889 Snare that bait, brought that rat in. 500 00:25:20,889 --> 00:25:23,209 And that's what Satan does. 501 00:25:23,529 --> 00:25:24,609 He puts the bait out. 502 00:25:24,609 --> 00:25:25,609 He puts the snare out. 503 00:25:25,689 --> 00:25:27,049 The art of persuasion. 504 00:25:27,049 --> 00:25:28,169 He's being deceitful. 505 00:25:28,329 --> 00:25:31,849 And man, when you're not looking, bam, it comes down on you. 506 00:25:32,089 --> 00:25:35,529 We need to be on guard, we need to be aware. 507 00:25:37,289 --> 00:25:39,369 He attacks where we are vulnerable. 508 00:25:39,609 --> 00:25:41,049 He knows our weak spots. 509 00:25:41,049 --> 00:25:42,889 He uses discouragement. 510 00:25:42,969 --> 00:25:46,769 He uses again moral failures and frustrations. 511 00:25:46,769 --> 00:25:48,229 And I could go on and on and on. 512 00:25:48,549 --> 00:25:52,309 He can use possessions to. 513 00:25:52,389 --> 00:25:54,549 Again, to entice you. 514 00:25:54,549 --> 00:25:56,709 He uses all sorts of methods and things. 515 00:25:56,949 --> 00:26:01,109 He can use position to entice you, a person, whatever it may be. 516 00:26:02,389 --> 00:26:04,389 We ought to be aware of his devices. 517 00:26:06,069 --> 00:26:07,829 But many times it's not that obvious. 518 00:26:09,349 --> 00:26:10,709 Many times it's subtle. 519 00:26:12,309 --> 00:26:15,589 Maybe he whispers in your ear things like, you're too committed, 520 00:26:18,219 --> 00:26:19,259 you're too zealous. 521 00:26:19,339 --> 00:26:21,979 Remember when David danced before the Lord as they came back 522 00:26:22,459 --> 00:26:23,779 with the Ark of the Covenant? 523 00:26:23,779 --> 00:26:27,379 And his wife looked down and saw David dancing before the Lord 524 00:26:27,379 --> 00:26:29,579 leading the ark. 525 00:26:29,579 --> 00:26:33,339 He had taken off his royal robes, and his wife looks down and 526 00:26:33,339 --> 00:26:37,899 the Bible says she disdained him, that he would stoop to the level, 527 00:26:38,779 --> 00:26:42,429 that he would dress like a commoner, and that he would dance 528 00:26:42,429 --> 00:26:44,389 and be zealous before the Lord. 529 00:26:46,149 --> 00:26:48,069 And sometimes the devil whispers in your ear. 530 00:26:49,589 --> 00:26:50,109 Maybe. 531 00:26:50,109 --> 00:26:52,709 Maybe you just need to pull it back a little. 532 00:26:53,989 --> 00:26:58,029 You know, maybe you just a little too much, loosen up a little 533 00:26:58,029 --> 00:26:58,229 bit. 534 00:26:58,229 --> 00:26:58,589 Give it. 535 00:26:58,589 --> 00:26:59,349 Give an inch. 536 00:26:59,669 --> 00:27:01,909 Compromise this or compromise that and. 537 00:27:01,989 --> 00:27:05,669 But I'm telling you, you can't give him an inch, by the way. 538 00:27:05,669 --> 00:27:08,829 You can't give your flesh an inch, much less Satan. 539 00:27:09,789 --> 00:27:11,589 Maybe he appeals to your common sense. 540 00:27:11,589 --> 00:27:15,869 Maybe he appeals to just rationalization, that faith is irrational. 541 00:27:15,869 --> 00:27:19,509 Maybe he gets to try to get you to doubt what you believe in 542 00:27:19,509 --> 00:27:21,469 and what you put your trust in. 543 00:27:22,189 --> 00:27:26,029 Can I remind you that who you're listening to by way of podcasts 544 00:27:26,029 --> 00:27:26,829 and other things is. 545 00:27:26,989 --> 00:27:28,109 You got to be careful. 546 00:27:28,749 --> 00:27:31,469 The Bible makes it very clear that the devil is. 547 00:27:31,549 --> 00:27:32,349 He is not. 548 00:27:32,429 --> 00:27:33,229 He is not. 549 00:27:33,229 --> 00:27:37,309 He is not this guy who's red with the little horns and the pitchfork 550 00:27:37,309 --> 00:27:38,269 and the tail. 551 00:27:38,269 --> 00:27:39,869 No, the Bible says he's an angel of light. 552 00:27:39,869 --> 00:27:46,389 In fact, the Bible says he was a beautiful creation and he absolutely 553 00:27:46,389 --> 00:27:50,709 comes to us in that form and again deceives us. 554 00:27:51,589 --> 00:27:52,549 First John 4. 555 00:27:52,949 --> 00:27:55,029 Again, verse 1 says, Try the spirits. 556 00:27:55,429 --> 00:27:57,149 In other words, we need to be careful. 557 00:27:57,149 --> 00:28:01,479 Whomever we're listening to, whomever we are allowing to influence 558 00:28:01,479 --> 00:28:01,839 us. 559 00:28:02,959 --> 00:28:04,159 Do they line up with this? 560 00:28:05,599 --> 00:28:06,559 Try the spirits. 561 00:28:06,559 --> 00:28:07,439 Whether they be true. 562 00:28:07,439 --> 00:28:09,327 You look to that verse up, it's First John 4. 563 00:28:09,391 --> 00:28:09,679 1. 564 00:28:10,239 --> 00:28:13,599 And we see this in this passage, if you've noticed, in chapter 565 00:28:13,599 --> 00:28:18,319 9, verses 9 through 13, the Gibeonites use. 566 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:20,159 They use Bible. 567 00:28:20,639 --> 00:28:23,479 They're like, we've heard of your God and how your God. 568 00:28:23,479 --> 00:28:25,679 And they began to use religious terms. 569 00:28:25,759 --> 00:28:28,439 Listen, just because somebody's using religious terms 570 00:28:28,439 --> 00:28:29,119 doesn't mean. 571 00:28:29,619 --> 00:28:30,659 Doesn't mean they're right. 572 00:28:31,459 --> 00:28:32,819 Doesn't mean they're of God. 573 00:28:32,979 --> 00:28:35,979 Be careful A lot of. 574 00:28:35,979 --> 00:28:39,299 Lot of religion today, a lot of Christianity today are wolves 575 00:28:39,299 --> 00:28:40,339 in sheep's clothing. 576 00:28:41,459 --> 00:28:42,819 Do they line up with this? 577 00:28:44,259 --> 00:28:45,339 Search the Scriptures. 578 00:28:45,339 --> 00:28:46,179 The Bible says. 579 00:28:46,259 --> 00:28:49,139 That's why we encourage you to bring your Bibles or encourage you 580 00:28:49,139 --> 00:28:53,939 to bring your Bible on your phone and listen not only to the 581 00:28:53,939 --> 00:28:54,989 preacher as he's preaching, but. 582 00:28:55,139 --> 00:29:00,579 But look at the Scripture again. 583 00:29:00,659 --> 00:29:02,899 Satan uses many devices. 584 00:29:04,019 --> 00:29:07,579 Maybe it's, he says, whispers in your ear, one drink won't hurt 585 00:29:07,579 --> 00:29:07,859 you. 586 00:29:08,659 --> 00:29:09,979 One try won't hurt you. 587 00:29:09,979 --> 00:29:10,339 One. 588 00:29:10,659 --> 00:29:12,579 One click of the mouse won't hurt you. 589 00:29:12,819 --> 00:29:13,939 One look won't. 590 00:29:14,099 --> 00:29:15,459 Won't hurt anything. 591 00:29:16,019 --> 00:29:20,019 One word, man, our tongues get us in so much trouble. 592 00:29:21,869 --> 00:29:22,509 One date. 593 00:29:23,549 --> 00:29:27,469 Well, I can go out with so and so, or I can go out with so and so. 594 00:29:27,549 --> 00:29:28,989 I know they're not a Christian. 595 00:29:28,989 --> 00:29:31,949 I know they're not saved, but, you know, it'll be okay. 596 00:29:32,109 --> 00:29:35,549 No, the Bible says don't be unequally yoked together. 597 00:29:35,869 --> 00:29:37,069 How could together be. 598 00:29:37,069 --> 00:29:38,509 I encourage you young people. 599 00:29:38,509 --> 00:29:41,949 Listen, you date saved people. 600 00:29:43,149 --> 00:29:44,589 You date other Christians. 601 00:29:47,639 --> 00:29:51,239 By the way, Bible says not to be unequally yoked together. 602 00:29:51,959 --> 00:29:54,359 It means a saved person shouldn't marry a lost person. 603 00:29:55,559 --> 00:29:56,999 I'm just putting it out there. 604 00:29:58,199 --> 00:30:03,679 You find yourself in a mess, making a mistake, and that's what 605 00:30:03,679 --> 00:30:04,439 Israel did. 606 00:30:04,999 --> 00:30:07,239 They found themselves in a mess and they made a mistake. 607 00:30:07,639 --> 00:30:08,599 They sinned. 608 00:30:10,599 --> 00:30:13,889 They sinned, but what happened? 609 00:30:14,209 --> 00:30:15,489 The Lord intervened. 610 00:30:16,529 --> 00:30:18,049 Aren't you glad for second chances? 611 00:30:18,769 --> 00:30:20,449 Say, I'm only glad for second chances. 612 00:30:20,449 --> 00:30:24,289 I'm glad for 95 chances because I need every one of them. 613 00:30:27,648 --> 00:30:29,049 Say, well, is it too late? 614 00:30:29,049 --> 00:30:29,569 You know? 615 00:30:30,129 --> 00:30:31,249 No, it's not too late. 616 00:30:32,849 --> 00:30:37,289 Mistakes made in battle does not mean you lose the war or that 617 00:30:37,289 --> 00:30:38,289 you have to lose the war. 618 00:30:39,429 --> 00:30:44,869 God is able to overcome any sin or mistake in your life if you'll 619 00:30:44,869 --> 00:30:45,909 just turn them over to him. 620 00:30:47,109 --> 00:30:49,909 By the way, he could take those mistakes and make them a blessing. 621 00:30:53,109 --> 00:30:56,789 You have to go read the rest of the rest of the chapter. 622 00:30:56,789 --> 00:31:03,989 But we know at the end that Joshua makes the Gibeonites servants. 623 00:31:05,499 --> 00:31:06,299 Servants of what? 624 00:31:07,099 --> 00:31:10,139 Well, to cut wood and to supply water for the temple. 625 00:31:12,459 --> 00:31:13,899 That's a lot of work, by the way. 626 00:31:14,219 --> 00:31:16,379 Sacrifices were made morning, noon and night. 627 00:31:18,219 --> 00:31:19,259 It's a lot of work. 628 00:31:21,819 --> 00:31:23,979 The Gibeonites were made to serve. 629 00:31:25,979 --> 00:31:27,339 In other words, who they deceived. 630 00:31:27,339 --> 00:31:32,349 Who the Gibeonites deceived, they were now servants of. 631 00:31:32,749 --> 00:31:34,029 They were humiliated. 632 00:31:35,709 --> 00:31:36,269 Hmm. 633 00:31:39,949 --> 00:31:49,309 I tell you, one mistake, one sin can bring about a lot of destruction. 634 00:31:50,349 --> 00:31:56,189 But I am thankful that God is well able to overcome our own stupidity. 635 00:31:57,689 --> 00:31:57,929 Good. 636 00:31:58,729 --> 00:31:59,929 I'm so thankful for that. 637 00:32:00,329 --> 00:32:03,129 By the way, if you read about the Gibeonites, later down the road, 638 00:32:03,689 --> 00:32:05,609 the Name changes to Nihams. 639 00:32:06,649 --> 00:32:10,969 500 of them come back to help rebuild the temple from Babylon. 640 00:32:11,369 --> 00:32:12,249 They were still around. 641 00:32:14,569 --> 00:32:16,569 Apparently they became believers. 642 00:32:17,609 --> 00:32:21,049 It's an amazing thing to give you some more application and we'll 643 00:32:21,049 --> 00:32:21,449 be done. 644 00:32:22,089 --> 00:32:26,139 I'm thankful that God empowers and strengthens us by way of His 645 00:32:26,139 --> 00:32:30,499 Holy Spirit, that His purpose for us and his goal for us as Christians 646 00:32:30,579 --> 00:32:32,019 is to live on higher ground. 647 00:32:33,139 --> 00:32:36,339 And if we are to do that, then we need to have some daily disciplines 648 00:32:36,339 --> 00:32:38,579 in our own life relying on the Holy Spirit. 649 00:32:39,299 --> 00:32:41,219 Understanding and knowing the enemy is important. 650 00:32:41,379 --> 00:32:44,739 And we need to be careful of the wiles of the devil and be alert. 651 00:32:45,299 --> 00:32:48,019 The Bible says, again, put on the whole armor of God. 652 00:32:49,779 --> 00:32:51,219 I did not read verse 14. 653 00:32:52,569 --> 00:32:53,529 We did read verse 14. 654 00:32:53,689 --> 00:32:55,129 What did verse 14 say? 655 00:32:55,769 --> 00:32:59,289 It says they did not pray and ask God for counsel. 656 00:33:00,809 --> 00:33:02,009 Why did this happen to them? 657 00:33:02,009 --> 00:33:03,209 Because they did not pray. 658 00:33:04,329 --> 00:33:05,049 They did not pray. 659 00:33:05,049 --> 00:33:05,929 That's why it happened. 660 00:33:06,169 --> 00:33:07,289 Why were they deceived? 661 00:33:07,289 --> 00:33:08,489 Because they did not pray. 662 00:33:10,329 --> 00:33:11,449 Why were they tricked? 663 00:33:11,449 --> 00:33:13,209 Because they didn't go to God for counsel. 664 00:33:15,449 --> 00:33:17,009 Again, we need a reminder here. 665 00:33:17,009 --> 00:33:19,209 What happens when you neglect prayer in your life. 666 00:33:20,459 --> 00:33:21,499 It's a sign of pride. 667 00:33:22,699 --> 00:33:25,659 Going to God and praying to him is a sign of dependence upon 668 00:33:25,659 --> 00:33:25,979 Him. 669 00:33:26,779 --> 00:33:30,139 And there's so many decisions that we reason out and we maybe use 670 00:33:30,139 --> 00:33:34,459 common sense and we should be praying about those decisions. 671 00:33:35,819 --> 00:33:37,739 And the devil, he'll use that on you. 672 00:33:37,979 --> 00:33:39,619 He'll say, well, this is a small matter. 673 00:33:39,619 --> 00:33:40,619 This is a little thing. 674 00:33:40,779 --> 00:33:41,899 You don't need God on this. 675 00:33:41,899 --> 00:33:42,579 No, no, no, no. 676 00:33:42,579 --> 00:33:43,419 We need the Lord. 677 00:33:43,419 --> 00:33:44,779 We found that out at AI. 678 00:33:45,429 --> 00:33:47,509 Israel had already found that out at AI. 679 00:33:47,909 --> 00:33:51,949 They were defeated at AI not just because of the sin of Achan. 680 00:33:51,949 --> 00:33:55,549 They were defeated at AI because of a lack of dependence upon 681 00:33:55,549 --> 00:33:57,749 God, a lack of prayer. 682 00:33:58,309 --> 00:34:00,589 Prayer is the muscle that moves the arm of God. 683 00:34:00,589 --> 00:34:04,629 And prayer is one of the most neglected things in our Christian 684 00:34:04,629 --> 00:34:04,949 lives. 685 00:34:07,109 --> 00:34:10,629 We need to be zealous when it comes to having a daily discipline, 686 00:34:10,629 --> 00:34:12,949 a daily plan, a daily strategy in our own life. 687 00:34:13,189 --> 00:34:17,499 And that includes daily prayer, praying to him on a daily 688 00:34:17,499 --> 00:34:21,019 basis, spending time with the Lord, walking with the Lord, not 689 00:34:21,019 --> 00:34:23,299 trusting our own judgments, but waiting on Him. 690 00:34:23,619 --> 00:34:26,979 If you don't have time to pray for some decision, then don't make 691 00:34:26,979 --> 00:34:27,459 a decision. 692 00:34:28,659 --> 00:34:31,338 If you haven't prayed about a decision, then don't do it. 693 00:34:31,338 --> 00:34:34,459 If you haven't gotten peace about a decision, then don't make 694 00:34:34,459 --> 00:34:34,899 the decision. 695 00:34:34,979 --> 00:34:40,659 Don't do it until you do receive that peace from God. 696 00:34:41,999 --> 00:34:46,319 I'm so thankful that God can take a mistake and make them a blessing, 697 00:34:48,079 --> 00:34:49,039 and that's what he did. 698 00:34:50,319 --> 00:34:54,799 You say, well, how can God take these sins and mistakes and 699 00:34:55,199 --> 00:34:56,559 make a blessing out of them? 700 00:34:57,919 --> 00:35:01,239 Well, because it's in those mistakes and those sins that we go 701 00:35:01,239 --> 00:35:01,639 to God. 702 00:35:01,639 --> 00:35:06,039 And if you're going forward, if you're wanting to live victoriously, 703 00:35:06,039 --> 00:35:08,559 if you're wanting to live the abundant life, then it's those mistakes 704 00:35:08,559 --> 00:35:13,339 and those sins that bring us to God to pray for forgiveness first. 705 00:35:13,339 --> 00:35:17,019 John 1:9 as we pray for forgiveness, we feel the weight lifted. 706 00:35:17,579 --> 00:35:20,579 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our 707 00:35:20,579 --> 00:35:22,499 sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 708 00:35:22,499 --> 00:35:27,659 And we feel the weight lifted and we will feel closer to the Lord. 709 00:35:28,139 --> 00:35:29,659 The fellowship is restored. 710 00:35:30,059 --> 00:35:32,739 And as this happens time and time again, because we're just sinners 711 00:35:32,739 --> 00:35:36,579 saved by grace, we will find ourselves getting closer and closer 712 00:35:36,579 --> 00:35:37,739 and closer to Jesus Christ. 713 00:35:39,329 --> 00:35:42,769 And through these things, our memories will help us. 714 00:35:43,889 --> 00:35:49,009 That in that mistake and in that sin and in that, you know, that 715 00:35:49,089 --> 00:35:53,569 problem that I created that God was able to take that and bring 716 00:35:53,569 --> 00:35:58,769 me closer to him to make my relationship with him sweeter. 717 00:35:59,569 --> 00:36:02,849 That's possible as we see in this story. 718 00:36:04,059 --> 00:36:05,099 If you will go to Him. 719 00:36:07,659 --> 00:36:11,619 This happened because of lack of prayer again. 720 00:36:11,619 --> 00:36:16,139 The memories of my failures the memories of my failures drive 721 00:36:16,139 --> 00:36:17,259 me closer to the cross. 722 00:36:18,699 --> 00:36:22,699 The memories of my failures and past mistakes drive me to the 723 00:36:22,699 --> 00:36:23,499 cross daily. 724 00:36:24,459 --> 00:36:27,819 Because I need him if I'm going to live a victorious life. 725 00:36:27,819 --> 00:36:29,899 Let's all stand, have a verse invitation. 726 00:36:29,979 --> 00:36:30,369 This is.